briefing session for hkdse category c subjects€¦ · section 1: presentation • the best...

Briefing Session for HKDSE

Category C Subjects

HKEAA

Cameron Smart 13 September 2018

Rundown

• The exam: structure & constructs

• 2018 Results

• 2017 & 2018 candidates’ performances

• 2019 exam

• Change to exam structure for Hindi & Urdu

• Teacher support provision

• Q & A

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Exam Structure

Component Weighting Time

1. Speaking 30% 20 mins.

2. Reading & Writing 50% 1 hr. 45 mins.

3. Essay 20% 1 hr. 30 mins.

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Structure of Paper 1

Section Mark Allocation Time

1. Presentation 20 3 mins 30 seconds

2. Topic conversation 40 7 -8 minutes

3. General conversation 40 8-9 minutes

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Paper 1: Timing logistics

– Examiners will use a visible timer

– It will be set at 20 minutes

– A 1-minute sign will be held up after 2 mins.

30 secs. of presentation

– Section 1 will finish approx. 16 mins. 30 left

– Section 2 will start at approx. 16 mins left

– Section 3 will start at approx. 9 mins left

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Paper 1: Speaking

• Test constructs

– What is being tested?

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Section 1: Presentation (20 marks)

• Three domains:

– Content and presentation (10 maximum)

– Pronunciation and intonation (5 maximum)

– Language (5 maximum)


• Content and presentation (10 maximum)

– Coverage of topic

– Organization and coherence

– Opinions and facts

– Delivery

– Interest

– N.B. If no specific reference to society or cultural heritage of country where language spoken- half marks for this domain, i.e. max. is 5.


• Pronunciation & intonation (5 maximum)

– Accurate pronunciation and intonation

– Mother tongue influence / comprehensibility

– N.B. Not necessarily native speaker for full

marks. May have some hesitation and errors

for full marks.


• Language (5 maximum)

– Feel for language

– Fluency

– Accuracy

– Use of relevant idiomatic language

– Range of structures

– Range of vocab

– Clarity of meaning

Section 2: Topic conversation (40 marks)

• 5 domains

– Comprehension & responsiveness (10 max)

– Accuracy (10 max)

– Feel for language (10 max)

– Range of vocab & structures

(Providing info & opinion) (5 max)


(Seeking info & opinion) (5 max)


• Comprehension & responsiveness (10 max)

– Problems in understanding examiner

– Naturalness in responses

– Spontaneity and initiative

– Ability to defend point of view


• Accuracy (10 max)

– Frequency of errors

– Understanding of grammatical usage


• Feel for language (10 max)

– Naturalness

– Fluency of expression

– Appropriate idiom

– Influence of or translation from mother tongue


• Range of vocab & structures


– Variety

– Confidence in use vs. limiting expression


• Range of vocab & structures (Seeking info & opinion)

– Ability and number of questions asked

– Spontaneity

– Initiative

– Accuracy and variety of question forms

– Comprehensibility

Section 3: General Conversation (40 marks)

• 5 domains









• Same as Section 2


• 5 domains









Passage Question Question type example Mark allocation

Passage 1 1 Vocabulary: seeking synonym in text

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2 Grammatical manipulation 5

3 Comprehension questions 20 (15+5)

Passage 2 4 Comprehension questions 20 (15+5)

Passage 1 & 2

5 (a) Summary of details from both texts

(b) Personal response

20 (10 +5+5)

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Paper 2: Reading & Writing

• Question 1 : Seeking a phrase: Do not to omit words or to include

extra words.

• Question 2: Rewriting phrases: Answers should fit back into the

original text, retaining the same meaning.

• Questions 3 and 4: Comprehension of texts. Answer in their own

words.

• Direct copying of four or more words from the text will usually invalidate

an answer.

• Question 5(a): Summary: Introduction, conclusions and vague

generalizations not required. Specific, relevant details attract marks.

• Question 5(b): Personal response: Give a point of view and, if

possible, offer ideas which have not appeared in the texts.

• Total of 140 words / 280 Japanese characters for both parts in Question

5.

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Word guide Mark Allocation

250–400 words (600–800 characters in Japanese).

40 marks total: 24 marks: Quality of Language 16 marks: Content

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HKEAA website

• http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/en/HKDSE/assessment/subject_information/category_c_subjects/

http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/en/HKDSE/assessment/subject_information/category_c_subjects/



Results 2018 examination (in number of candidates)

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A B C D E U Total

French 7 5 7 12 10 20 61

German 2 1 1 0 0 0 4

Hindi 4 2 2 2 1 0 11

Japanese 181 64 35 7 8 10 305

Spanish 3 2 4 5 1 1 16

Urdu 15 7 4 0 1 0 27

Results 2018 examination (in percentages)

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A B C D E U Total

French 11.5 8.2 11.4 19.7 16.4 32.8 100

German 50.0 25.0 25.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 100

Hindi 36.4 18.1 18.2 18.2 9.1 0.0 100

Japanese 59.3 21.0 11.5 2.3 2.6 3.3 100

Spanish 18.8 12.5 25.0 31.2 6.3 6.3 100

Urdu 55.6 25.9 14.8 0.0 3.7 0.0 100

Results 2018 examination

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0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

French German Hindi Japanese Spanish Urdu

A

B

C

D

E

U

2018 Candidates’ Performance





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Performance: French • Specific Sections Section 1: Presentation • It is important to express not only facts, but also ideas and opinions in the presentation. • Most candidates were able to speak for the required 3 to 3½ minutes; others needed

encouragement to do so; a few were unable to achieve this. A few presentations were too short.

• A wide variety of appropriate topics was offered, such as: La cuisine française, La santé, La vie en France, Le Petit Prince, Les effets du divorce en France, Les banlieues et l’immigration, Les bandes dessinées, L’économie française et chinoise.

Section 2: Topic Conversation • Candidates are reminded that they should ask more than one question of the Examiner to be

eligible for maximum marks. • Questions were often poorly formulated and hard to understand. Section 3: General Conversation • Most candidates asked questions, although not all focused their question or questions on the

subject under discussion. • In order to improve further, candidates need to widen their vocabulary, develop a firmer

grasp of basic constructions, express more ideas and opinions.

Performance: German

• Specific Sections

Section 1: Presentation

• The presentation topic should clearly refer to the culture or society of a German-speaking country.

• It is important to express not only facts, but also ideas and opinions, and to structure the presentation to fit into a maximum of 3½ minutes.

Section 2: Topic Conversation

• Candidates were enthusiastic about their topics.

• Candidates should be prepared to ask the Examiner questions to seek information and opinions. In some cases candidates needed to be prompted.

• The best candidates maintained a high level of accuracy and had a good range of structures at their disposal.

Section 3: General Conversation

• In future, candidates should concentrate on the accuracy of the questions they put to the Examiner and have some additional general questions ready that they could use in any circumstances.

Performance: Hindi


• • It is important to structure the presentation to fit into the allocated 3½ minutes and to include relevant facts, ideas and opinions.

• The best presentations were well researched and structured.


• This provides candidates with the opportunity to extend their ideas and discuss issues around the presentation topic with the Examiner.

• The best candidates made use of the opportunity to expand on the ideas they had already presented.

• • The topic conversation should be interactive and provide the opportunity to extend ideas and opinions rather than simply repeat elements of the presentation.


• Candidates are reminded that they must ask the Examiner questions in this section of the test in order to score marks for ‘seeking information and opinions’.

Performance: Japanese

Key messages

• • Candidates should: – remember that an examination is a formal situation, and take care to

speak to the examiner in appropriate formal language. Language they have picked up from manga or anime is likely to be too informal.

– • Candidates should take care to address the examiner as 先生 rather than あなた.

– • Candidates are encouraged to work more on their pronunciation and intonation.

Performance: Japanese



• The best presentations were those which were based on an aspect of personal interest to the candidate, which the candidate had then gone on to research.

• Very occasionally some presentations seemed to only have very tenuous links to Japan or Japanese culture.

• Candidates should not over stretch themselves to the extent that they cannot confidently use what they have prepared


• Candidates are encouraged to take the initiative to develop their answers, and also to ask questions.


• The stronger candidates were also able to be reflective, debate using reasons and opinions, and engage in discussion about social problems in Hong Kong.

Performance: Spanish

• Comments on specific sections


• Candidates should remember that they are outlining situations or topics to an uninformed but interested listener.

• Clear references must be made to Hispanic culture or society in the presentation and topic

• conversation. Wherever possible, the choice of the subject for the presentation should reflect a candidate’s own interest.

• • Candidates should remember that the time limit for the presentation is 3½ minutes.

• Candidates should try to include a personal viewpoint.


• They should be prepared to offer their own opinions and justification for these throughout the test.

• Weaker candidates found difficulty when dealing with unexpected questions and clearly struggled with going beyond their prepared material. Candidates should adopt strategies to deal with unexpected, unprepared questions

• Section 3: General Conversation

• In both conversation sections candidates should be ready to ask at least two questions.

Performance: Urdu



• Clear reference should be made to Urdu culture or society.

• The most popular topic was ‘importance of sport’.


• In order to have access to the full range of available marks, candidates need to ask further questions, for example, ‘what are your thoughts on this issue?’, ‘how did you overcome difficulties?’, etc.

• Pronunciation was generally acceptable, with some instances of first-language interference, for example, use of Panjabi or English words. In order to improve, candidates should focus on the use of Urdu idioms.

• Section 3: General Conversation

• Most candidates managed to ask one question. Candidates are advised to practise formulating different types of question.

Exam Components





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Paper 3: Essay – Key Points

• Select the title with which they feel most comfortable.

• Write a response that is clearly relevant, well illustrated, coherently structured and well informed.

• Use target language which is accurate and of a suitably advanced nature, as well as demonstrate a good use of idiom and appropriate topic-related vocabulary.

• Use sentence patterns which show some evidence of complexity in a style which is easy to follow.

• Leave some time at the end of the examination to check for avoidable language errors.

• Stay within the prescribed word limits (250-400 words / 600 – 800 Japanese characters).

• Do not to use transliterations of English words instead of the appropriate vocabulary items in Hindi / Urdu.

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2019 Examination

No of candidates French 42 German 3 Hindi 10 Japanese 321 Spanish 17 Urdu 28

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2012-19 Candidate Numbers

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2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

French 88 89 65 59 64 61 65 42

German 3 1 4 12 8 9 5 3

Hindi 10 8 6 12 0 8 11 10

Japanese 135 114 140 199 203 213 327 321

Spanish 9 20 14 7 11 14 18 17

Urdu 5 13 16 15 30 19 28 28

TOTAL 250 245 245 304 316 324 454 421


40

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

French

German

Hindi

Japanese

Spanish

Urdu


0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

French German Hindi Japanese Spanish Urdu

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2019 Exam (Nov. 2018 series)

• Dates:

– Paper 1 (Nov. series)

• 1 October – 21 October 2018

– Paper 2 and 3

• 2 October – 30 October 2018

• http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/DocLibrary/HKDSE/Exam_Timetable/Cat_C_Nov_2019_Timetable_E.pdf

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Change in Exam Structure in Hindi & Urdu from 2020

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Cambridge International AS level

Language Syllabus Code

Exam paper structure

Subject with speaking test

French 8682 Component 1: Speaking (29%) Component 2: Reading & Writing (50%) Component 3: Essay (21%)

German 8683

Japanese 8281

Portuguese 8684

Spanish 8685

Subject without speaking test

Afrikaans 1 8679 Component 2: Reading & Writing(70%) Component 3: Essay (30%) Arabic 8680

Chinese 8681

Hindi 8687

Tamil 8689

Urdu 8686

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[1] Optional speaking test available but is reported separately and does not contribute to overall final grade.

Cambridge International AS level

Language Syllabus Code

Exam paper structure

Subject with speaking test

French 8682 Component 1: Speaking (29%) Component 2: Reading & Writing (50%) Component 3: Essay (21%)

German 8683

Japanese 8281

Portuguese 8684

Spanish 8685

Subject without speaking test

Afrikaans 1 8679 Component 2: Reading & Writing(70%) Component 3: Essay (30%) Arabic 8680

Chinese 8681

Hindi 8687

Tamil 8689

Urdu 8686

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[1] Optional speaking test available but is reported separately and does not contribute to overall final grade.

Change in Exam Structure in Hindi & Urdu

• To adopt international version of Hindi and Urdu

• In order to align them with international practices

• Effect from 2020 examination

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Teaching support provision

Other Languages Resource Corner (OLRC):

https://334.edb.hkedcity.net/new/en/index.php

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http://334.edb.hkedcity.net/EN/other_languages_resources.php




Teaching support

• Education Bureau

• Curriculum Development:

– Ms Lam Wai Kuen

– [email protected]

– Tel: 28926403

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mailto:[email protected]

Examination support

Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority

• Exam logistics:

• Christine Lee: [email protected]

• Speaking exam administration:

• Cameron Smart: [email protected]

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Questions?

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briefing session for hkdse category c subjects€¦ · section 1: presentation • the best...

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