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General Certificate of Secondary Education

June 2011

Panjabi 46803
(Specification 4680)
Unit 3: Speaking

Mark Scheme
Mark schemes are prepared by the Principal Examiner and considered, together with the relevant
questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all examiners participate in and is the scheme which was used by them
in this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the
candidates’ responses to questions and that every examiner understands and applies it in the same
correct way. As preparation for standardisation each examiner analyses a number of candidates’
scripts: alternative answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for.
If, after the standardisation process, examiners encounter unusual answers which have not been
raised they are required to refer these to the Principal Examiner.

It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of candidates’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
paper.

Further copies of this Mark Scheme are available from: aqa.org.uk

Copyright © 2011 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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 Mark Scheme – General Certificate of Secondary Education Panjabi – 46803 – June 2011

Assessment Criteria – GCSE Speaking (non-controlled assessment)

Communication Range of Accuracy Interaction Total

Language and
Fluency
Presentation 8 4 4 4 20
& Discussion
Conversation 8 4 4 4 20
Total 16 8 8 8 40

Marks Communication (Presentation & Discussion and Conversation)

7-8 A good range of information and points of view are conveyed. Responses are
developed/explained with confidence. Can narrate events.

4-6 A fair amount of information and points of view conveyed.

Responses are regularly developed beyond the minimum.

1-3 Some simple information and opinions conveyed.

Some responses rarely developed beyond the minimum.

0 No relevant information conveyed

Marks Range of Language (Presentation & Discussion and Conversation)

4 A wide range of vocabulary, complex structures and a variety of verb tenses.

3 A range of vocabulary; some complex structures.

2 Limited vocabulary; sentences short and simple.

1 Very limited vocabulary – just isolated words and occasional phrases.

0 No recognisable words.

Marks Accuracy (Presentation & Discussion and Conversation)

4 All messages are clear and errors usually appear only in more complex structures.
Accent and intonation consistently good.

3 Messages are clear in spite of some errors. Accent and intonation generally good
but some inconsistency.

2 Most messages are communicated though errors are quite frequent. Accent and
intonation sometimes delay communication.

1 Some messages are communicated but errors are very frequent. Accent and
intonation make comprehension difficult.

0 No messages are communicated.

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 Mark Scheme – General Certificate of Secondary Education Panjabi – 46803 – June 2011

Marks Interaction and Fluency (Presentation & Discussion and Conversation)

4 Responds readily and shows initiative. Conversation sustained at a reasonable

speed, language expressed fluently.

3 Ready responses; some evidence of an ability to sustain a conversation; may

sometimes take the initiative.

2 Some reaction. Sometimes hesitant, little natural flow of language.

1 Little reaction. Very hesitant and disjointed.

0 No language produced is worthy of credit.

• The marks awarded for Range of Language, Accuracy, Interaction and Fluency must
not be more than one mark higher than the mark awarded for Communication.
• A mark of zero for Communication will automatically result in a zero score for the task
as a whole.

Convert raw or scaled marks into marks on the Uniform Mark Scale (UMS) by using the
link below.

UMS conversion calculator www.aqa.org.uk/umsconversion.

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 Mark Scheme – General Certificate of Secondary Education Panjabi – 46803 – June 2011

Guidance Notes for Examiners

The following guidance, provided to examiners during the marking period, is

reproduced below for information.

1. Principles of marking

1.1 The Speaking Tests are marked in accordance with the criteria for assessment
published in the specification and given on subsequent pages of this booklet.

1.2 No allowances can be made for poor or incorrect teacher conduct of the tests.

2 Mechanics of Marking

Please ensure that the grids on the Detailed Mark Sheet are completed
accurately. Please conform to the lay-out shown in the exemplar Detailed Mark
Sheet given in this guide. Please note in particular that the Presentation and
Discussion and the Conversation marks should be recorded in order:
Communication, Range of Language, Accuracy, Interaction and Fluency.

3 Presentation and Discussion and Conversation

3.1 The Presentation and Discussion is marked separately from the Conversation.
You must assess and award marks for each of the four categories
(Communication, Range of Language, Accuracy, Interaction and Fluency) for the
Presentation and Discussion and then again for the Conversation.

NB: In the Presentation and Discussion the mark for Interaction and Fluency is
awarded on the basis of the Discussion element only.

3.2 If the Presentation or Discussion is missing, a maximum of 4 marks can be

awarded for Communication.

3.3 You may need to listen to each candidate more than once, especially in the early
stages of your marking to ensure that you are marking each category individually.

3.4 The marks awarded for Range of Language, Accuracy and Interaction and
Fluency must not be more than one mark higher than the mark awarded for
Communication.

3.5 A mark of zero for Communication will result in a zero score for the task as a
whole.

3.6 If a mark is awarded for Communication this will inevitably lead to the award of
marks for Range of Language, Accuracy and Interaction and Fluency.

3.7 To score a mark of 4 for Range of Language the candidate needs to use a
minimum of two verb tenses.

3.8 You should stop marking the Presentation and Discussion approximately 3
minutes after the start of the test. You should stop marking the Conversation
approximately 9 minutes from the start of that section of the test.

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 Mark Scheme – General Certificate of Secondary Education Panjabi – 46803 – June 2011

3.9 If a candidate speaks on only one topic throughout the Conversation, you should
find the appropriate band for Communication and then adjust the mark as shown
in the table below. Marks have been halved and half marks rounded up.

For example, if a candidate would have scored 8 marks for Communication for
two topics, this mark would then be reduced to 4 marks for one topic only; if a
candidate would have scored 4 marks for two topics then this would be
reduced to 2 marks for one topic only. Please see table below for illustration of
the full range of marks which can be awarded in these circumstances.

Communication Marks
Two Topics One Topic
8 4
7 4
6 3
5 3
4 2
3 2
2 1
1 1
0 0