Chinese Beginners 2025 HSC exam pack

Students should:

• be prepared to communicate about a variety of topics relating to their personal world
• elaborate and provide relevant details to address the questions in a way that engages with the examiner
• use a range of vocabulary, expressions and language structures to respond appropriately to the questions
• provide information, express ideas and comment on their personal world
• be prepared to respond to questions from a different perspective
• be prepared to respond to questions that relate to past, present and future aspects of their personal world
• use a variety of vocabulary, phrases and expressions to manipulate the language and fulfil the requirements of the question
• be prepared to be interrupted by the examiner
• use Chinese to ask for repetition and/or clarification of the question.

In better responses, students were able to:

• use a wide range of language accurately, for example, 阳光明媚、春暖花开、不到长城非好汉、非常棒的厨师
• provide clear responses to questions with minimal hesitation
• provide a response based on the requirements of the question and avoid using pre-prepared material that may be irrelevant to the question
• respond appropriately with correct intonation, including for English cognates, for example, 咖啡、派对、沙拉、披萨
• use tenses appropriate to the question correctly
• conjugate and use a variety of verbs across past, present, future tenses and conditional forms, for example, 将来我会……，毕业后，我可能……
• elaborate and justify ideas and opinions using authentic and personalised examples, such as 我弟弟十分调皮 and我经常一边听音乐，一边学习
• use a variety of adjectives, for example, 开心、生气、紧张、简单、轻松、壮观
• demonstrate a good understanding of various grammatical points, including adjectival endings, and the use of modal verbs, for example, 胖乎乎的、快乐的、能、会、可以、应该、必须
• develop ideas by using connectives, adverbs of frequency and contrasting connectors, for example, 通常、常常、经常、平时、一般、比起……我更…….

Areas for students to improve include:

• expanding ideas by incorporating a range of grammar points and diverse vocabulary
• demonstrating knowledge of sentence structure to respond appropriately
• using linking conjunctions appropriately, for example, 我喜欢打乒乓球、打羽毛球、跑步和游泳not我喜欢打乒乓球和打羽毛球和跑步和游泳。
• making logical connections between sentences, for example, 我喜欢冷的天气，因为我可以穿好看的外套 not 我喜欢冷的天气，因为我会穿外套
• applying comparative forms correctly, for example, 他比我聪明 not他比我非常聪明
• constructing sentences with correct syntax, for example, 我在咖啡店打工 not 我打工在咖啡店
• demonstrating overall fluency.

Students should:

• read each question carefully
• make notes in the Candidate’s Notes column on the right-hand side of the page
• transcribe their response onto the lines, using the space provided for each question
• use the lines provided as a guide to the length of the response required
• ensure that their responses are clear and address all parts of the question
• use their own words and respond in English.

In better responses, students were able to:

• extract all essential information from the audio texts, with a focus on key words, for example, 'on foot’ or ‘walk' (Q2), 'summer’, ‘raincoat’, and ‘swimwear' (Q3), 'hard to find a job' (Q6), and 'singing competition' (Q9)
• provide a comprehensive explanation with detailed references to the text (Q5, Q8)
• summarise effectively (Q7)
• respond to the questions directly and clearly.

Areas for students to improve include:

• providing all necessary information that directly addresses the questions
• interpreting details with greater accuracy
• using their own words (Q7)
• ensuring the key words in the questions are addressed, such as ‘decision’ (Q5, Q6), ‘school activity’ (Q9) and ‘suggestion’ (Q10).

Students should:

• read the whole text(s)
• address all parts of each question
• use the lines, table, chart provided for their response
• respond fully to the question by including details as required
• support their responses with evidence from the text where required
• use their own words, rather than giving a literal translation
• use the dictionary to find the correct meaning of word(s) in context.

In better responses, students were able to:

• identify all relevant details, for example, the change made to Wenwen’s routine (Q13) and Peter’s decision (Q15b)
• answer questions with references from the texts, for example, job requirements (Q14b), and the poster of the musical festival (Q16).

Areas for students to improve include:

• using their own words
• using a dictionary effectively
• demonstrating full understanding of the questions and providing relevant answers
• using all necessary information, for example, the letter written to Mark and the poster of the musical festival (Q16b).

Students should:

• write to the response length required
• address the audience, purpose and context required by the question
• apply the conventions of the type of text indicated in the question
• use the appropriate register throughout the response
• use a range of tenses and sentence structures and a variety of vocabulary
• avoid repeating the same expressions throughout the response
• use the dictionary to access vocabulary and expressions that are meaningful in the context of their response
• plan their response prior to writing, and edit their work.

In better responses, students were able to:

• address questions with relevant information and well-developed ideas
• present thoughts logically, for example, 今天是第一天打工，所以我很紧张 (Q18)，因为这个星期六是妹妹十八岁的生日，所以我们应该给她准备一个大的派对 (Q19)
• select the most relevant details when developing ideas
• use the correct tense in sentences, for example, 今天我在咖啡馆学了很多有用的东西 (Q18)
• use linking words to create a coherent narrative, for example, 我们在中国饭馆吃完饭以后，可以去公园打球 (Q19), and 因为作业不太多，所以我们做很多运动 (Q20)
• apply a wide range of vocabulary and language structures accurately.

Areas for students to improve include:

• responding to the questions with relevant information, demonstrating thorough understanding
• demonstrating knowledge of structures, vocabulary and grammar, such as 我等你在火车站 (Q17)
• addressing the question by using the key words to organise ideas, for example, ‘sport event’ and ‘arrangements’ (Q17), ‘local shop’ and ‘experience’ (Q18), ‘plan’ (Q19).