Reading and Writing Examination

Applies to all modern foreign language modules except Translation Skills, Art Historians.

Reading and Writing Examinations will take place in April/May 2020听and are timetabled by 香港六合彩中特网听Student and Registry Services. Your examination timetable, which includes dates, times and locations, will be available on in March 2020.

Date: April/May 2020

This examination tests Reading and Writing skills through a number of integrated tasks.听

Although the skills to be tested are listed separately here, in the examination several skills may be tested through each task.听

Candidates should not indicate their identity through the use of their own names etc, especially in the Writing task. Only candidate numbers should be used.听

Unless indicated otherwise all tasks are to be performed in the target language.听

Levels 1-2

Duration: 2 hours

General information听

Language of questions/tasks:

Level 1 (all languages): English
Level 2: target language (Arabic, Japanese, Mandarin: English)

Maximum length of texts altogether:听

Level 1: 500-700 words (Arabic: 400-500 words; Japanese: 1200-2000 characters; Mandarin: 400-550 characters)听
Level 2: 600-800 words (Arabic: 600-800 words; Japanese: 1400-2200 characters; Mandarin: 500-700 characters)听

Number of Writing tasks: one.听

Number of words required for Writing task (approximate):听

Level 1: 150 words (Arabic: 100 words; Japanese: 300 characters; Mandarin: 120 characters)听
Level 2: 200 words (Arabic: 150 words; Japanese: 400 characters; Mandarin: 160 characters)听

Dictionaries are not permitted.听

1. Ability to extract the main ideas from a text and to form an overall impression of a text听

14 points (Reading Competence) [see below regarding Linguistic Competence points for this task].听

This may (though not necessarily limited to) be assessed through one of the following tasks:听

Writing a summary;听
Choosing one of several summaries;听
Finding or choosing a title for the text or titles for sections of the text;听
Gap-filling exercise with key words missing or summary of the text to be completed;听
Connecting sentences or segments about the text.听

2. Ability to extract specific information, to understand detail and to infer meaning听

29 points (Reading Competence) in total, of which 6 points will be for inferring meaning [see below regarding Linguistic Competence points for this task].听

This may (though not necessarily limited to) be assessed through one of the following tasks:听

True or false questionnaire (with an active component: e.g. correct the false statements, locate the passage in the text if it is correct or underline the part of the statement which is incorrect);听
Comprehension questions;听
Connecting sentences or segments about detailed aspects of the text;听
Gap-filling exercise;听
Words or expressions to be explained or paraphrased (synonyms).听

3. Ability to respond to a text听

14 points (Reading Competence) [see below regarding Linguistic Competence points for this task].听

This may (though not necessarily limited to) be assessed through one of the following tasks:听

Writing the continuation of a story or article;听
Writing a response to a text or letter;听
Writing a letter making practical and active use of a text;听
Formulating questions about something that goes beyond the text and which is relevant;听
Formulating questions to answers which are already given.听

The above tasks are awarded points as follows:听

57 points for Reading Competence (as allocated above);听
12 points for Written Linguistic Competence.听

4. Writing task听

31 points (Linguistic Competence).听

One task which will be guided (i.e. points to be covered or visual elements to be used will be included).听

This task is awarded points as follows:听

23 points for Written Linguistic Competence;听
8 points for content.听

Level 3

Duration: 2 hours

General information听

Language of questions/tasks: target language听

Maximum length of texts altogether: 700-900 words (Arabic: 700-900 words; Japanese: 1600-2400 characters; Mandarin: 600-800 characters)听

If there is more than one text for the Reading tasks they will be on a similar topic.听

Number of Writing tasks: one (from a choice of two).听

Number of words required for Writing task (approximate): 250 words (Arabic: 200 words; Japanese: 500 characters; Mandarin: 200 characters)听

Dictionaries are not permitted.听

1. Ability to extract the main ideas from a text and understand the organisation of a text听

14 points (Reading Competence) [see below regarding Linguistic Competence points for this task].听

This may (though not necessarily limited to) be assessed through one of the following tasks:听

Writing a summary;听
Choosing one of several summaries;听
Finding, choosing or writing a title for the text or titles for sections of the text;听
Gap-filling exercise with key words missing or summary of the text to be completed;听
Connecting sentences or segments about the text;听
Ordering statements about the text;听
Selecting a statement that most appropriately defines the style and register of the text.听

2. Ability to extract specific information, to understand detail, paraphrase, explain and infer meaning听

29 points (Reading Competence) [see below regarding Linguistic Competence points for this task].听

This may (though not necessarily limited to) be assessed through one of the following tasks:听

True or false questionnaire (with an active component);听
Comprehension questions;听
Connecting sentences or segments about detailed aspects of the text;听
Gap-filling exercise;听
Words or expressions to be explained or paraphrased (synonyms);听
Editing task.听

3. Ability to respond to a text听

14 points (Reading Competence) [see below regarding Linguistic Competence points for this task].听

This may (though not necessarily limited to) be assessed through one of the following tasks:听

Writing the continuation of a story or article;听
Writing a response to a text or letter;听
Writing a letter making practical and active use of a text;听
Formulating questions about something that goes beyond the text and which is relevant;听
Formulating questions to answers which are already given.听

The above tasks are awarded points as follows:听

57 points for Reading Competence (as allocated above);听
12 points for Written Linguistic Competence.听

4. Writing task听

31 points (Linguistic Competence).听

Candidates should choose one task from a choice of two. One task will be related to the text(s) and the other task will be more open. Both tasks will clearly indicate the format and purpose of the act of writing (e.g. letter, report, article, story etc). The same performance is not expected in the answer for the task not related to the documents as in the writing task related to the documents (where candidates have source material to hand).听

This task is awarded points as follows:听

23 points for Linguistic听Competence;
8 points for Content.听

Levels 4-6 and 7 (Professional Purposes, Academic Purposes, Professional and Academic Purposes)听

Duration: 2.5 hours

General information听

Language of questions/tasks: target language听

Maximum length of texts altogether:听

Level 4: 800-1000 words (Arabic: 800-1000 words; Japanese: 1800-2600 characters; Mandarin: 700-900 characters)听
Level 5: Business and Current Affairs: 900-1200 words (Arabic: 900-1200 words; Japanese: 2000-2800 characters; Mandarin: 800-1000 characters)听
Level 6: Current Affairs and Culture: 1000-1300 words (Japanese: 2200-3000 characters; Mandarin: 1000-1300 characters)听
Level 7 (Professional Purposes, Academic Purposes, Professional and Academic Purposes): 1100-1400 words (Japanese: 2400-3200 characters; Mandarin: 1100-1400 characters)听

If there is more than one text for the Reading tasks they will be on a similar topic.听

Number of Writing tasks: one (from a choice of two)听

Number of words required for Writing task (approximate):听

Level 4: 300 words (Arabic: 250 words; Japanese: 600 characters; Mandarin: 250 characters)听
Level 5: Business and Current Affairs: 350 words (Arabic: 300 words; Japanese: 700 characters; Mandarin: 300 characters)听
Level 6: Current Affairs and Culture: 400 words (Japanese: 800 characters; Mandarin: 350 characters)听
Level 7 (Professional Purposes, Academic Purposes, Professional and Academic Purposes): 450 words (Japanese: 900 characters; Mandarin: 400 characters)听

Dictionaries are not permitted.听

1. Ability to summarise and evaluate a text听

14 points (Reading Competence) [see below regarding Linguistic Competence points for this task].听

This may (though not necessarily limited to) be assessed through one of the following tasks:听

Writing a summary of the text or of a section of the text;听
Selecting a sentence which best summarises the text or a section of it;听
Selecting and ordering given sentences which summarise the text;听
Selecting one of several summaries of the text;听
Editing a summary of the text.听

2. Ability to extract specific information, to understand detail, paraphrase, explain and infer meaning听

29 points (Reading Competence) [see below regarding Linguistic Competence points for this task].听

This may (though not necessarily limited to) be assessed through one of the following tasks:听

True or false questionnaire (with an active component);听
Editing a fragment about the text;听
Comprehension questions;听
Connecting sentences or segments about detailed aspects of the text;听
Gap-filling exercise;听
Words or expressions to be explained or paraphrased (synonyms);听
Finding words or expressions in the text;听
Linking external information with information contained in the text and justifying it;听
Writing an article or a letter requiring the use of specific information from the text;听
Exhaustive lists of specific information or specific semantic fields.听

3. Ability to respond to a text听

14 points (Reading Competence (Evaluation)) [see below regarding Linguistic Competence points for this task].听

This may (though not necessarily limited to) be assessed through one of the following tasks:听

Giving a critical account and reaction to the text or to a given part of the text (e.g. letter);听
Comparing two texts.听

The above tasks are awarded points as follows:听

57 points for Reading Competence (as allocated above);听
12 points for Written Linguistic Competence.听

4. Writing task听

31 points (Linguistic Competence).听

This task is awarded points as follows:听

23 points for Written Linguistic Competence:

Grammar - 7 points;听
Use of language (lexis/syntax) - 11 points;听
Style - 5 points.听

8 points for content.听

Marking criteria (specific)

For general information please see the Marking criteria (general).

If 50% of the answer is copied from the text then 50% of linguistic competence points will be deducted from the candidate's total for that task;听
If more than 50% is copied from the documents then candidate gets 0 linguistic competence points;听
10% deducted from candidates mark if they are 1/3 over or under words required for writing task;听
If answer is not related to task then candidate gets 0 points (Linguistic Competence and Content);听
If only part of the answer is relevant then the candidate loses Linguistic Competence AND Content points proportionally to the amount that is irrelevant. E.g. if 50% of the answer is not relevant/does not answer the task then the candidate should lose 50% of their total mark for this task (Linguistic Competence and Content points);听
Where the number of answers required is given (e.g. give three examples/explanations/synonyms) and this is exceeded: points will be deducted (Reading Competence);听
If a question is answered in the wrong language, then 0 points will be awarded for Reading Competence and 0 points for Linguistic Competence;听
Candidates must not reuse material from their Project/Oral Examination in the Writing task, unless stipulated in the task itself, otherwise the student will lose 50% of their points for this task.听

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