FORM 4 & 5 (SPM) 1310208 FJS

MARKING BAND FOR LANGUAGE IN DIRECTED WRITING

Category / Marks allotted / Remarks/Description
Excellent
(A1 – A2) / 19 - 20 /
  • No mistakes in grammar (including spelling and punctuation)
  • Effective use of varied sentence structures
  • Wide vocabulary, used expressively/precisely
  • Good style/tone
  • Coherence in paragraphing

Good
(B3 – B4) / 17 - 18 /
  • Few mistakes in grammar – mistakes arise from more unusual/complex language use
  • Some variety in sentence structures
  • Some width in vocabulary – con convey shades of meaning
  • Satisfactory style/tone
  • Some coherence in paragraphing
  • Points organized in paragraphs

Satisfactory
(C5 – C6) / 15 - 16 /
  • Some mistakes in grammar but language use is mainly accurate. Mistakes arise from more complex language use
  • Some variety in sentence structures – but mostly repetitive sentence types
  • Mainly basic vocabulary – errors use of more ambitious vocabulary
  • Fair style/tone
  • Some coherence in paragraphing

Passable
(D7) / 10-14 /
  • Many mistakes in grammar but the meaning is still clear. Patches of accurate language use occur
  • Little variety of sentence structures
  • Mainly basic vocabulary – errors in use of more ambitious vocabulary
  • Barely adequate style/tone
  • Little coherence in paragraphing

Unsatisfactory
(E8) / 6-9 /
  • Many serious mistakes in grammar but the meaning is fairly clear. A few simple structures may be correct
  • Little variety in sentence structures
  • Only basic vocabulary – errors in use of more ambitious vocabulary
  • Inadequate style/tone
  • Disorganized points

Poor
(F9) / 2 - 5 /
  • Frequent and serious mistakes in grammar vocabulary make the meaning barely comprehensible
  • Only simple sentence structures
  • Very basic vocabulary – many errors in use of even simple words

0 - 1 /
  • Almost unrecognizable as English
  • Almost no sense can be made at all

CONTINUOUS WRITING (50 MARKS)

The free composition is basically assessed by “general impression”. However, the following levels can be noted:

Category / Marks allotted / Remarks/Description
Excellent
(A1 – A2) / 41 – 50 /
  • Hardly any mistakes in grammar (including spelling and punctuation)
  • Effective use of varied sentence structures
  • Wide vocabulary, used expressively/precisely
  • Good and relevant points
  • Coherence in paragraphing
  • Well-organized paragraphing
  • Essay is very interesting and shows originality

Good
(B3 – B4) / 31 - 40 /
  • Few mistakes in grammar – mistakes arise from more unusual/complex language use
  • Some variety in sentence structures
  • Some width in vocabulary – con convey shades of meaning
  • Relevant points
  • Some coherence in paragraphing
  • Points organized in paragraphs
  • Essay is interesting

Satisfactory
(C5 – C6) / 26 - 30 /
  • Some mistakes in grammar but language use is mainly accurate. Mistakes arise from more complex language use
  • Some variety in sentence structures. However, generally, repetitive sentence types are found
  • Mainly basic vocabulary. Errors in use of more ambitious vocabulary
  • Relevant points
  • Some coherence in paragraphing
  • Not very well-organized points
  • Essay is slightly interesting

Passable
(D7) / 21 - 25 /
  • Many mistakes in grammar but the meaning is still clear. Patches of accurate language use occur
  • Little variety of sentence structures
  • Only basic vocabulary. Errors in use of more ambitious vocabulary
  • Points are mostly relevant; some illogical/irrelevant points
  • Little coherence in paragraphing
  • Not very well-organized points
  • Essay is not interesting

Unsatisfactory
(E8) / 16 - 20 /
  • Many serious mistakes in grammar but the meaning is fairly clear. A few simple structures may be correct
  • Little variety in sentence structures
  • Only basic vocabulary. Errors in use of more ambitious vocabulary
  • Topic is not well-treated
  • Disorganized points
  • Little coherence in paragraphing
  • Essay is not interesting

Poor
(F9) / 11 - 15 /
  • Many serious mistakes in grammar and the meaning is not very clear
  • Only simple sentence structures
  • Very basic vocabulary; many errors in use of words
  • Poor treatment of topic due to poor linguistic ability
  • Hardly any organization; probably no paragraphing

6 - 10 /
  • Very frequent and serious mistakes in grammar vocabulary make the meaning barely comprehensible

0 – 5 /
  • Almost unrecognizable as English
  • Almost no sense can be made at all