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Cambridge IGCSE
First Language English
0500
For examination from 2015
Copyright Acknowledgements:
Paper 1:
Questions 1 & 2
Question 3
Adapted: Will Randall; Botswana Time; Abacus; 2005/6. Permissions applied for.
Adapted: Stephen Moss; Tracking wild dogs in the Okavango Delta; Guardian News & Media Ltd 2008.
Paper 3:
Question 1 Adapted: Fleur Britten; Sunday Times Style Magazine; Times Newspapers Ltd; 18 October
2009.
Cambridge International Examinations retains the copyright on all its publications. Registered Centres are
permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own internal use. However, we cannot give permission
to Centres to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within a
Centre.
Cambridge International Examinations 2014 v1.1
Updated: 09.03.16
Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 2
Assessment at a glance ........................................................................................................ 3
Paper 1 Reading Passages (Core) ......................................................................................... 4
Paper 2 Reading Passages (Extended) .............................................................................. 36
Paper 3 Directed Writing and Composition ......................................................................... 69
Introduction
Introduction
The main aim of this booklet is to exemplify standards for those teaching Cambridge IGCSE First Language
English (0500), and to show how different levels of candidates performance relate to the subjects
curriculum and assessment objectives.
This booklet contains a range of candidate responses to the 2015 specimen papers, which have been
marked by Cambridge examiners. For the Core Curriculum (Paper 1) candidates are eligible for grades CG
so two examples are given for each question. For Paper 2 candidates are eligible for grades AE and for
Paper 3 candidates are eligible for grades AG, so three examples are given for each question, for these
papers. Each response is accompanied by a brief commentary explaining the strengths and weaknesses of
the answers.
The following format for each paper has been adopted:
Each question is followed by an extract of the mark scheme used by examiners. This, in turn, is followed by
examples of marked candidate responses, each with an examiner comment on performance. Comments are
given to indicate where and why marks were awarded, and how additional marks could have been obtained.
In this way, it is possible to understand what candidates have done to gain their marks and what they still
have to do to improve their grades.
Past papers, examiner reports and other teacher support materials are available on Teacher Support at
http://teachers.cie.org.uk
Assessment at a glance
Assessment at a glance
Paper 1
Paper 1
Question 1
Paper 1
Paper 1
Paper 1
Mark scheme
Paper 1
Paper 1
10
Paper 1
Passage A
11
Paper 1
Question 1(a)
Examiner comment
This is a clear, fully explained response that was awarded both available marks. The candidate identifies the
two necessary details (i) that both boys and girls arrived similarly dressed in their neat clothes and (ii) the
boys became increasingly untidy while the girls remained looking smart. The use of own words is a clear
indication of the candidates understanding.
Mark awarded = 2 out of 2
Question 1(a)
Examiner comment
Although this response shows some straightforward understanding of the passage it is not fully focused on
the requirements of the question and fails to identify the two distinct points as it does not make clear the
initial similarity between the boys and girls is that they both arrived smartly dressed. It is important when
answering these sub-questions in Question 1 that what may seem the more obvious points in an answer
are clearly stated and not taken for granted. This response was awarded one mark.
Mark awarded = 1 out of 2
Question 1(b)
Examiner comment
The response clearly identifies both languages referred to in the passage and was awarded the one mark
available for this question.
Mark awarded = 1 out of 1
12
Paper 1
Question 1(b)
Examiner comment
As above, this response clearly identifies both languages referred to in the passage and was awarded the
one mark available for this question.
Mark awarded = 1 out of 1
Question 1(c)(i)
Examiner comment
The response identifies the two appropriate points that the national anthem was sung with pride and the
children stood to attention. It is important to note that as this is a question testing the candidates reading
(and not writing) ability there is no penalty for the error of expression (great solemn).
Mark awarded = 1 out of 1
Question 1(c)(i)
Examiner comment
The response gained the one mark available for this question by quoting the appropriate statement that the
ceremony was conducted with a simple dignity and pride. Please note: there is no requirement for answers
to this question to be written in the candidates own words.
Mark awarded = 1 out of 1
13
Paper 1
Question 1(c)(ii)
Examiner comment
In this response the candidate has focused closely on the wording of the question and identified two
appropriate details about the effect of the childrens singing on the writer (he was deeply involved; like
them he stood to attention) and gives a full explanation of them, using the candidates own words.
Mark awarded = 2 out of 2
Question 1(c)(ii)
Examiner comment
In this response, the candidate answers this question by lifting selectively from the passage and achieves
both available marks. Although this answer does not strictly use own words, understanding is clearly
conveyed through selecting phrases which contain appropriate information and then indicating them as two
discrete points. Such an approach is acceptable in questions of this type - in those that require explanations
of specific vocabulary usage, however, repetition of words from the passage would not be credited.
Mark awarded = 2 out of 2
14
Paper 1
Question 1(d)
Examiner comment
Own words are used to express the candidates understanding of the two points made by the writer, about
the way in which the piano player spoilt the effect of the national anthem. Both strands of the answer (both
the volume of the piano players singing and its effect on the singing of the children) are clearly explained
and the response was awarded both available marks.
Mark awarded = 2 out of 2
Question 1(d)
Examiner comment
This is an incomplete response in which it would appear that what the writer said about the performance of
the piano player has been poorly understood. The passage states that it was the piano players singing (not
playing) that drowned out the singing of the others. One mark was awarded, however, for the second part of
the answer as the result of the piano players performance has been understood.
Mark awarded = 1 out of 2
15
Paper 1
Question 1(e)
Examiner comment
Although the phrase profoundly fascinated is not an exact explanation of deeply impressed, it is a clear
attempt at own words from the candidate and the concluding part of the answer, explaining why the writer
was impressed, is evidence of secure understanding and justifies the award of both marks for this question.
Mark awarded = 2 out of 2
Question 1(e)
Examiner comment
This answer does not gain any marks as it does not respond precisely to the wording of the question which
requires an explanation of what the writer means by the phrase deeply impressed. Rather than supplying
such an explanation, the candidate describes the reason contained in the passage as to why the writer was
impressed, which implies that the question has not been read closely.
Mark awarded = 0 out of 2
Question 1(f)
Examiner comment
The question asks for an explanation of why the writer was surprised that the football team had played in
Ghanzi and the response focuses closely on this point and provides an answer which clearly answers this
question and gains the one mark available.
Mark awarded = 1 out of 1
16
Paper 1
Question 1(f)
Examiner comment
This answer does not directly relate to the question which asks why the writer was surprised at the football
teams playing in Ghanzi. As it stands, the answer here does not make it clear to the marker that the
candidate has understood that the isolated area is a very long distance from the school in which the writer
will work. The answer did not gain the mark available for this question.
Mark awarded = 0 out of 1
Question 1(g)(i)
Examiner comment
Rather than attempt to provide a one word synonym for encouraging, the candidate opts for the perfectly
acceptable approach of using a longer description to exemplify the meaning of the word (the teacher was
being reassuring but also enthusiastic).
The explanation of animated is precise and clearly gains the mark.
As with the attempt to define encouraging, the candidate chooses to use a phrase rather than a single
word; although showing much interest whilst being exuberant may not be an absolute explanation of the
word, it shows more than sufficient understanding to gain the mark available.
Mark awarded = 3 out of 3
17
Paper 1
Question 1(g)(i)
Examiner comment
The candidates statement that the word smug shows that the head teacher is proud, almost cocky,
knowing his schools abilities shows clear understanding of the vocabulary and gained the mark despite the
colloquialism (almost cocky). However, the attempted definitions of animated and enthusiastic are both
insufficiently precise for further marks to be awarded.
Mark awarded = 1 out of 3
18
Paper 1
Question 1(g)(ii)
Examiner comment
This is one of the more challenging questions in the Core exam and this candidate does not gain full marks
here. The key word in the wording of the question is how, and although the candidates comments on all
three phrases show evidence of appreciation and understanding, none is sufficiently focused on the specific
words used by the writer to explain fully how he has produced his required effect. For example, although
the candidate identifies the word thump in the first explanation, the response does not go beyond this
to explain how the suggestions in this particular vocabulary choice capture the effect of the piano players
response to the writer, and consequently the candidate gains only one of the two available marks. The
remaining two explanations also contain similar glimmers of appreciation of the effects of the language used
but are insufficiently developed to gain more than one mark in each case.
Mark awarded = 3 out of 6
19
Paper 1
Question 1(g)(ii)
Examiner comment
The explanation of the smug satisfaction quotation was awarded one mark because although it does not
give a definite comment of the writers use of language, overall, the answer implies an awareness of the
writers attitude towards the head teacher.
However, the explanations of the other two quotations are both lacking in focus on the requirements of the
question and tend to describe the situation the author observed, rather than making any convincing attempt
to explain how the language he uses conveys the atmosphere of enthusiasm that he is describing. No
further marks were awarded.
Mark awarded = 1 out of 6
20
Paper 1
Question 2
Mark scheme
21
Paper 1
Passage A
22
Paper 1
23
Paper 1
Question 2 Band 1
24
Paper 1
25
Paper 1
Question 2 Band 2
26
Paper 1
27
Paper 1
Question 3
28
Paper 1
Mark scheme
29
Paper 1
30
Paper 1
Passage B
31
Paper 1
Question 3(a)
Examiner comment
In this response each point made can be found in the mark scheme for this question and the response gains
all ten marks available. It is worth noting that this candidate does sometimes make more than one point per
line. They are credited for each point they identify on each separate line. As there are more points in the
passage than are needed for this question, the candidate is still able to achieve full marks.
Mark awarded = 10 out of 10
32
Paper 1
Question 3(a)
Examiner comment
This response gains five marks. Although the candidate correctly identifies six points from the mark scheme
(6, 12, 4, 11, 10, 5), points six and 12 are both mentioned in the same line of the response, and therefore
only one mark was awarded. Although point 10 is not made exactly as expressed in the mark scheme, the
response shows sufficient understanding to be credited.
Mark awarded = 5 out of 10
33
Paper 1
34
Paper 1
35
Paper 2
Question 1
36
Paper 2
Mark scheme
37
Paper 2
Passage A
38
Paper 2
39
Paper 2
Question 1 Band 2
40
Paper 2
41
Paper 2
Question 1 Band 3
42
Paper 2
43
Paper 2
Question 1 Band 4
44
Paper 2
45
Paper 2
Question 2
Mark scheme
46
Paper 2
47
Paper 2
48
Paper 2
Passage A
49
Paper 2
50
Paper 2
Question 2 Band 2
51
Paper 2
Paper 2
Question 2 Band 3
53
Paper 2
54
Paper 2
Question 2 Band 4
55
Paper 2
56
Paper 2
Question 3
57
Paper 2
Mark scheme
58
Paper 2
59
Paper 2
Passage B
60
Paper 2
61
Paper 2
62
Paper 2
63
Paper 2
64
Paper 2
65
Paper 2
66
Paper 2
67
Paper 2
68
Paper 3
Question 1
69
Paper 3
Mark scheme
70
Paper 3
71
Paper 3
72
Paper 3
Passages
73
Paper 3
74
Paper 3
Question 1 Band 2
75
Paper 3
76
Paper 3
77
Paper 3
Question 1 Band 3
78
Paper 3
79
Paper 3
80
Paper 3
Question 10 Band 4
81
Paper 3
82
Paper 3
Question 2 (Descriptive)
Mark scheme
83
Paper 3
84
85
Paper 3
86
Paper 3
87
Paper 3
88
Paper 3
89
Paper 3
90
Paper 3
91
Paper 3
92
Paper 3
Question 3 (Narrative)
Mark scheme
93
Paper 3
94
95
Paper 3
96
Paper 3
97
Paper 3
98
Paper 3
99
Paper 3
100
Paper 3
101
Paper 3
102
Paper 3
103
Paper 3
104