Spanish Beginners 2019 HSC exam pack
2019 Spanish Beginners HSC exam papers
Spanish Beginners HSC Exam paper - transcript - audio 2019
Marking guidelines
Marking guidelines are developed with the examination paper and are used by markers to guide their marking of a student's response. The table shows each question and the criteria with each mark or mark range.
Sample answers may also be developed and included in the guidelines to make sure questions assess a student's knowledge and skills, and guide the Supervisor of Marking on the expected nature and scope of a student's response. They are not intended to be exemplary or even complete answers or responses.
Marking feedback
Select from the link(s) below to view feedback about how students performed in this year’s examination.
Use the feedback to guide preparation for future examinations. Feedback includes an overview of the qualities of better responses. Feedback may not be provided for every question.
Feedback on practical examination
Conversation
Students should:
- familiarise themselves with the topics outlined in the Spanish Beginners syllabus
- expect to be asked questions on a range of topics.
In better responses, students were able to:
- use sophisticated vocabulary, for example, ‘despejar la mente’
- use a variety of vocabulary and language structured across topics, for example, ‘una dieta variada y equilibrada’
- consistently include past and future tenses as well as conditional
- elaborate on responses by providing additional comments, for example, ‘En este momento juego al fútbol. Juego en un equipo tres veces a la semana. Prefiero los deportes de equipo porque es más gracioso jugar con amigos’.
Areas for students to improve include:
- conjugating verbs and avoiding phrases such as ‘yo leer, yo viajar’
- ensuring the use of a verb in full sentences
- using a wider variety of adjectives, beyond ‘interesante, divertido’
- focussing on adjectival agreement
- changing the personal pronoun and possessive article when responding to questions
- ensuring the correct use of syntax
- using a range of language structures to express likes and dislikes, beyond the repetitious use of ‘me gusta’.
Feedback on written examination
Listening
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 on to the lines, using the space provided for each question
- use the lines provided as a guide to the length of the response required
- ensure their responses are clear and address all parts of the question
- use their own words and respond in English
- avoid translating text as part of their response
- edit their work.
In better responses, students were able to:
- provide detailed responses
- summarise main ideas concisely
- demonstrate knowledge of a variety of language structures
- demonstrate knowledge of tenses.
Areas for students to improve include:
- reviewing vocabulary and language structures by using the transcripts of past HSC papers
- supporting their responses with detailed references to the text.
Reading
Students should:
- read the whole text(s)
- address all parts of each question
- use the lines, table and/or chart allocated for the response
- provide all necessary details to respond to the question fully
- support their responses with evidence from the text where required
- use their own words rather than giving a literal translation
- use their dictionary appropriately to find the correct meaning of the word(s) in context.
In better responses, students were able to:
- understand a range of vocabulary, expressions and idiomatic expressions
- provide a succinct and concise response when required to summarise
- support opinions and points of view by referring to the texts.
Areas for students to improve include:
- ensuring their responses make sense in English.
Writing in Spanish
Students should:
- write to the word length required
- address audience, purpose and context required by the question
- apply the conventions of the type of text indicated in the question
- use correct register throughout the response
- use a range of tenses, sentence structures and a variety of vocabulary
- avoid repeating the same expressions throughout the response
- use the dictionary carefully to access vocabulary and expressions that are meaningful in the context of their response
- avoid listing
- edit their work.
In better responses, students were able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of verb conjugation and verb tenses in singular and plural.
Areas for students to improve include:
- focusing on communicating relevant ideas and information that addresses the requirements of the question.
HSC exam resources
Search for more HSC standards materials and exam packs.
Spanish Beginners syllabus
Find out more about the Spanish Beginners syllabus.
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