Cambridge Assessment International Education

Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education

MANDARIN CHINESE 0547/42

Paper 4 Writing May/June 2019
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 45

Published

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.

Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the May/June 2019 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level and Cambridge Pre-U components, and
some Cambridge O Level components.

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This syllabus is regulated for use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as a Cambridge International Level 1/Level 2 Certificate.

This document consists of 21 printed pages.

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Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the
specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond the
scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level

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descriptors.

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GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may
be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or
grade descriptors in mind.

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Both traditional and simplified characters are accepted and should be marked in the same way.

SECTION 1

Question Answer Marks

1 Question 1 5

Candidates are required to list 5 items in Chinese. Read all the items the candidate has listed and award marks as follows:

• Select the most correct items up to a maximum of 5

• Award 1 mark for each correct item up to a maximum of 5
• Stop ticking once 5 items have been rewarded
• On Question 1 award marks for items wherever the candidate has written them
• If the candidate offers more than one word per line, award a mark for each acceptable item

Generic mark scheme for Question 1

• Mark for communication. Tolerate inaccuracies, provided the message is clear

• Do not award marks to words written in pinyin and English

• If you suspect a word is used in another region e.g.手巾、手信, please check with the team leader or award BOD
• Miswritten characters:

(a) Look-alike test: award the mark when the character the candidate has written looks like the correct answer e.g. strokes
missing or added, but character still recognisable. However, when the miswritten character creates a new character
with a different meaning, the mark cannot be awarded.
(b) If a prefix or suffix is missing, or a modifier word is miswritten, award a mark if meaning is still communicated, e.g. 面
条: if a candidate has only written 条, it does not mean anything and a mark shouldn’t be awarded. If a candidate has
written 面 which contains the main meaning of the word noodle, the mark should be awarded.
(c) If the mis-formed characters create a different meaning, e.g. 书木，no mark will be awarded.

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(d) Candidates must communicate the meaning very clearly. If there are more than two characters in the answer, and the

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meaning is clearly communicated, we can tolerate the wrong characters, e.g.中语书, 白反笔

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Question Answer Marks

1 Session specific instructions for Question 1: 请用中文写出你在新学期需要的五件东西。

Make a list in Chinese of 5 things you need for the new term.

• If there are five clearly acceptable items, books, clothes, food & drink, daily used items, award marks wherever these
are in the list.
• If candidates list a single item with different descriptive word/adjectives, a maximum of 2 marks can be awarded, e.g.
蓝衣服、大衣服、小衣服 award 2 marks
• Ignore measure words and the verb 需要 (already in the rubric)
• If more than 5 words have been written, award the 5 correct ones even outside of the space provided
• If words are directly copied from the question e.g.东西，no mark will be awarded

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Question Answer Marks

1 The following are examples. Accept anything the candidate might take to school

ACCEPT REFUSE

食物 大衣 人

饮料 毛衣 牛、狗… or any other animals

书 牙刷 喝水/ 买书 (words with verbs)

玩具 纸 脑子, 眼睛, 手 or any other body parts

水 蓝球 火

果汁 体育衣 木

水果 学校的衣 飞机 or any other public transport

毛巾 衣 校车

包 课体

电脑 本书

手机 书句

皮带 书抱

鞋 铅毛

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工课

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Question Answer Marks

2 Question 2
Candidates are required to answer the question. Read the whole answer and award marks as follows:

• Communication: award a mark out of 10 according to the instructions in 2.1

• Language: award a mark out of 5 according to the instructions in 2.2

2 2.1: award a mark out of 10 for Communication 15

Generic mark scheme for Communication (Question 2)

(i) Place the appropriate ‘numbered’ tick as close as possible to each relevant communication point

(ii) Award ticks flexibly across the tasks for each piece of relevant information conveyed up to a maximum of 10 ticks.
HOWEVER, each of the 5 tasks must be covered to get the 10 communication marks:

(iii) If 1 of the tasks is missing, the maximum communication mark is 9

(iv) If 2 of the tasks are missing, the maximum communication mark is 8 (and so on)

(v) Add up the ticks to give a mark out of 10 for Communication

(vi) For COMMUNICATION be tolerant of time-frames and minor character errors, provided the characters written are
clear enough to be understood
• for language, use ‘rules’ in Question 1: miswritten characters, etc.
• incorrect word order will not usually compromise communication

(vii) LISTS = a maximum of 3 marks for communication. LISTS 最多给三分。

• 我家有爸爸的房间，妈妈的房间，哥哥的房间，厨房和厕所。(3 marks for task 2)
• 我最喜欢厨房，很大，很好，有很多吃的。(4 marks for task 3)

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(viii) Up to 5 further marks available for additional details

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(ix) Do not penalise factual errors

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Total marks for Communication: 10

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Question Answer Marks

2 Use of pinyin
If a candidate uses pinyin in their answer, you should read the work as if the pinyin words were not there – they do not
count towards the Communication mark. If the Communication requirements are still fulfilled, discounting the pinyin, the
mark can be awarded.
See 2.2 page 11 for language marks.

e.g. Question: 你喜欢吃什么

Answer 1: 我喜欢吃 jiao子. (pinyin is used for the word ‘jiao’. This is a key word in the sentence, and relates directly to the
question. Therefore, no Communication mark can be awarded.)
Answer 2: 我喜欢吃面bao. (pinyin is used for the word ‘bao’. Ignoring this word in the sentence would not affect
comprehension - it is not a key word in the sentence. The Communication mark can be awarded here.)

How to award marks for extra details:

An extra detail is defined as any extra detail which is related in some way to any one of the five tasks.

Example: 我想住在海边，因为每天早上可以看太阳和海，十分美丽。
(4 Communication marks are awarded for this response)

In the above example:

• Award 1 tick for 我想住在海边 as this is a generic statement which addresses the requirement of task 4
• Award 1 tick for 太阳 as this justifies the statement which addresses the requirement of task 5
• Award 1 tick for 海 as this is an extra detail which is relevant to task 5
• Award 1 tick for 十分美丽 as this is an extra detail which is relevant to task 5

However, if the extra piece of information is not directly answering any of the bullet points, we only award 1 mark even if it
is a list, e.g. 我最喜欢厨房(1 mark)，因为那里有好吃的东西。(1 mark)。我喜欢吃炒面、炒饭和面条。(1 mark)

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Question Answer Marks

2 Session specific instructions for Communication marks (Question 2):

你最近搬家了，请写一写你的新家。
You moved house recently. Write about your new home.

Tick Accept Refuse

1 你的新家在哪里
Where is your new home?
If the name of the place is in the core vocabulary list,
then it must be in characters. Other places could be
in the original language, e.g. Greenlake.

2 你家有几个房间
How many rooms are there?
REWARD: numbers such as 1, 2, 3.
REWARD: extra information, e.g. 我的朋友最近也搬
家了。她家有五个房间。(2 marks)
REWARD: 三个卫生
REWARD: 有很多房间

3 你最喜欢哪个房间
Which room do you like the most?
REWARD: any relevant information

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Question Answer Marks

2
Tick Accept Refuse

4 你将来想住在哪里；
Where would you like to live in the future?
Candidates must refer to a future timeframe e.g. 想
，要，以后，将来 etc.

5 为什么。
Why?
REWARD: any opinion

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Question Answer Marks

2.2: award a mark out of 5 for Accuracy of Language

If some characters are written incorrectly without hindering communication, candidates should not be penalised in the Language mark.

• Award a mark out of 5 for Language*, according to the Grade descriptors in the table below (see Note on using mark schemes with Grade
descriptors (last page of mark scheme)):

Grade descriptors for Language (Question 2)

5 Straightforward vocabulary and structure.

The style of writing is basic, but reasonably coherent.
Use of a limited range of verbs, generally successful.
More accuracy than inaccuracy.

4 Basic vocabulary and structure.

Some awareness of verb usage, but inconsistent.
The writing is sufficiently accurate for meaning to be conveyed.

3 Very basic vocabulary and structure.

Little awareness of verb usage (e.g. infinitives regularly used instead of finite verbs).
Despite regular errors, the writing often conveys some meaning.

2 A few phrases or short sentences are accurate enough to be comprehensible. Very simple sentence
structure.

1 Disjointed words or short phrases, one or two of them accurate enough to be comprehensible.

0 One or two disjointed words or short phrases may be recognisable.

*Consider the whole answer when awarding mark for language

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Total for Communication: 10 marks

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Total marks for Language: 5

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Total for Question 2: 15 marks

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SECTION 2

Question Answer Marks

Question 3

Candidates answer 1 question from a choice of 3. Read the whole answer and award marks, as follows:

• Communication: award a mark out of 5 according to the instructions in 3.1

• Language:
• award a mark out of 5 for Accuracy of Characters according to the instructions in 3.2
• award a mark out of 10 for Accuracy of Grammar and Structures according to the instructions in 3.3
• award an Impression mark out of 5 according to the instructions in 3.4

3.1 – award a mark out of 5 for Communication

Generic mark scheme for Communication (Question 3):

(i) There are 5 relevant communication points per question, each worth a maximum of 1 mark.

(ii) For each relevant communication point, use the appropriate numbered tick and place 1 of these ticks as close as possible to each relevant
communication point

(iii) Add up the ticks to give a mark out of 5 for Communication

[Total marks for Communication: 5]

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Question Answer Marks

3(a) Session specific instructions for Communication marks (Question 3): 5

Question 3(a): 爷爷送给你几张音乐节的票。请给笔友写一封信。信里说说：

Your grandfather has given you a few tickets for a music festival. Write a letter to your pen-pal, saying:

Tick Accept Mark

1 你和谁去了音乐节； 1
Who did you go to the festival with?

REWARD: anyone

2 你是什么时候去的； 1
When did you go?

REWARD: any relevant information

3 音乐节怎么样； 1
How was the festival?

REWARD: any opinion

REWARD: 我很喜欢音乐节

4 爷爷为什么给你票； 1
Why did your grandfather give you the tickets?

REWARD: any reason

5 下次你还想再去音乐节吗；为什么。 1
Do you want to go to music festival again? Why?

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REWARD: any justification with a future timeframe

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Candidates need to give a reason. If they only say “yes” or “no” without a justification, no marks are

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Question Answer Marks

3(b) Question 3(b): 《中学生杂志》想了解一下学生对写小说的看法： 5

“Middle School Magazine” wants to know the students’ views on writing novels. Please write an article for the magazine.

Tick Accept Mark

1 你在哪里写过小说 1
Where have you written novels?

REWARD: anything relevant

2 你用了多长时间 1
How long did you spend?

REWARD: any length of time

3 你从什么时候开始写小说； 1
When did you begin writing novels?

REWARD: anything relevant in a past timeframe

4 写小说有什么好处/坏处； 1
What are the advantages/disadvantages of writing novels?

REWARD: any opinion or justification

5 你将来还会写小说吗；为什么。 1
Are you going to write novels in the future? Why?

REWARD: any opinion in a future timeframe

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Question Answer Marks

3(c) Question 3(c): 你跟三个朋友迷路了。请说说： 5

You and three friends got lost. Please say:

Tick Accept Mark

1 当时你们想去哪里；为什么 1
Where did you want to go at the time?

REWARD: any place

2 为什么 1
Why?

REWARD: any reason

3 你们做了什么； 1
What did you do?

REWARD: any action

4 你们打算怎么回家； 1
How did you plan to go home?

REWARD: any opinion in a past timeframe

REWARD: 工车

5 后来发生了什么事。 1
What happened afterwards?

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REWARD: any sequence of events expressed in past timeframe

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REWARD: 后来发生了好事

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Question Answer Marks

3 3.2 – award a mark out of 5 for Accuracy of Characters

Generic mark scheme for Accuracy of Characters (Question 3):

• Award a mark out of 5 for Accuracy of Characters according to the Grade descriptors in the table below:

Grade descriptors for Accuracy of Characters (Question 3)

5 Highly accurate, with a wide range of characters including some more difficult or unusual ones correctly
written, with occasional minor slips.

4 A good range of characters attempted with easy and moderately easy characters correctly written.

3 Limited range, but with most easy characters correctly written (or a wide range with a lot of errors).

2 A number of examples of easy characters correctly written.

1 Substantially inaccurate, with only isolated examples of correctly written characters.

0 No examples of correctly written characters.

[Total marks for Accuracy of Characters: 5]

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Question Answer Marks

3 3.3 – award a mark out of 10 for Accuracy of Grammar and Structures

Generic mark scheme for Accuracy of Grammar and Structures (Question 3):

• Award a mark out of 10 for Accuracy of Grammar and Structures according to the Grade descriptors in the table below:

Grade descriptors for Accuracy of Grammar and Structures (Question 3)

10/9 Highly accurate including use of more complex structures, but with occasional minor slips.

8/7 A little more ambitious than the 5/6 band. Accurate in the use of simple structures, except for occasional
more serious errors/more frequent slips.

6/5 Limited in range, but displays some control of simple structures.

4/3 Inconsistent, but a number of examples of accurate usage.

2/1 Substantially inaccurate, with only isolated examples of accurate usage.

0 No examples of accurate usage.

[Total marks for Accuracy of Grammar and Structures: 10]

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Question Answer Marks

3 How to deal with short essays

If the candidate has written less than half the suggested number of characters (75 or less), a maximum of 3 marks can be
awarded for Accuracy of Characters and 5 marks for Grammar/Structures.
An essay of 75–100 characters can be awarded a maximum of 4 marks for Accuracy of characters and 7 for
Grammar/Structures.

For a letter, the addressee and ending greeting are not included in the word count.

Pinyin
The volume of pinyin in the answer should be considered when awarding the Language mark. If pinyin is used
extensively, it is no longer genuinely a piece of Chinese writing.
Occasional use of pinyin will not affect marking for Language, but for essays written predominantly in pinyin (i.e.
more pinyin than characters) this must be taken into account in the Language mark.

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Question Answer Marks

3 3.4 – award a mark out of 5 for Impression

Award a mark out of 5 for Impression according to the conversion table below.

Conversion Table for Impression (Question 3)

Mark out of 15 Pro rata (General Impression)

(for Accuracy of Language) Max 5

15 5

14 5

13 4

12 4

11 4

10 3

9 3

8 2

7 2

6 2

5 1

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Question Answer Marks

3
Mark out of 15 Pro rata (General Impression)
(for Accuracy of Language) Max 5

2 0

1 0

0 0

[Total mark for Impression: 5]

[Total for Question 3: 25 marks]

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Note on using mark schemes with Grade descriptors

It is important that you award marks positively. In order to ensure that you reward achievement rather than penalise failure or omissions, you should
start at the bottom of the mark scheme and work upwards through the descriptors when awarding marks.

You should adopt a ‘best fit’ approach. You must select the set of descriptors provided in the mark scheme that most closely describes the quality
of the work being marked. As you work upwards through the mark scheme, you will eventually arrive at a set of descriptors that fits the candidate’s
performance. When you reach this point, you should always then check the descriptors in the band above to confirm whether or not there is just
enough evidence to award a mark in the higher band.

For example when marking Question 3, you may, find that a candidate uses a variety of relevant vocabulary but has varied success with more
complex structures. In such cases, you will need to award a mark that takes into account both the strengths and weaknesses of the piece of work.

To select the most appropriate mark within each set of descriptors, you should use the following guidance:

• If most of the descriptors fit the piece (and after you have considered the band above), then you will award the top mark in the band.
• If there is just enough evidence (and you had perhaps been considering the band below), then you would award the lowest mark in the band.

Note on irrelevant material

In the case of a deliberately evasive answer which consists entirely of irrelevant material exploited in defiance of the rubric, a score of 0 is given.
These are extremely rare.

A genuine attempt to answer the question which fails due to a misunderstanding of the rubric will normally lose Communication marks but will score
for Language. You should consult your Team Leader.

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