2015 WRITTEN EXAM REPORT

Exam candidates had to write two essays and the following was noted:
1. Candidates did not answer the question and wrote about something else they had
memorised.
2. Candidates only answered part of the question and missed out other details that were
required.
3. Candidates did not write the maximum number of words.
4. Candidates wrote illegibly and with blots and crossing outs.
5. Candidates still did not know the correct register to use and they used contractions and
informal language in a formal style.
6. Candidates did not know how to begin and end formal letters.
7. Candidates put headings, for example, introduction, advantages, disadvantages and
conclusion in an argument essay when the writing should be continuous and organised
in paragraphs with the appropriate linking words / connectors.
8. Candidates did not use headings in the report and did not follow the ideas given.
9. Candidates did not know how to structure and organise their ideas in paragraphs.
10. Candidates overused linking words / connectors and used them incorrectly, for example,
so and so that.
11. Candidates did not use word inversion correctly after certain linking words.
12. Candidates made grammar mistakes:
adjectives agreeing with nouns
which and what were confused
verb agreement, especially third person singular verb with people instead of third person
plural
subject and possessive adjective and personal pronoun agreement
adjective and adverb use
no it subject with the verb to be
word order: verb and subject instead of subject verb in an indirect question or statement;
also literal Spanish translation: it is also needed a new approach instead of a new
approach is needed; it has to be made a great effort instead of a great effort has to
be made.
se construction in Spanish is not the passive in English. For example, se ha beneficiado
is not it has been benefited but it has benefited.
say and tell
during and for
another and other
I am used to takes the ing form and not the infinitive
article or zero article
conditional sentences
simple past and present perfect
the correct sequence of tenses and using the same tense throughout
Anita Haney October 2015