Cambridge IGCSE™: Chinese As A Second Language 0523/02 May/June 2021
Cambridge IGCSE™: Chinese As A Second Language 0523/02 May/June 2021
Cambridge IGCSE™: Chinese As A Second Language 0523/02 May/June 2021
Published
This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.
Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.
Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.
Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the May/June 2021 series for most Cambridge
IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some Cambridge O Level components.
These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers.
They should be applied alongside the specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors
for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these marking principles.
• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.
Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).
• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit
is given for valid answers which go beyond the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme,
referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these
features are specifically assessed by the question as indicated by the mark scheme. The
meaning, however, should be unambiguous.
Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed
instructions or in the application of generic level descriptors.
Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question
(however; the use of the full mark range may be limited according to the quality of the candidate
responses seen).
Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should
not be awarded with grade thresholds or grade descriptors in mind.
It is not possible to list all acceptable alternatives in the Detailed Mark Scheme. You will need to
consider all alternative answers and unexpected approaches in candidates’ scripts, make a decision
on whether they communicate the required elements, in consultation with your Team Leader if
necessary (or with your Product Manager if you are a single Examiner), and award marks accordingly.
The following marking principles underpin the detailed instructions provided in the Mark Scheme.
Crossing out:
(a) If a candidate changes his/her mind over an answer and crosses out an attempt, award a mark
if the final attempt is correct.
(b) If a candidate crosses out an answer to a whole question but makes no second attempt at it,
mark the crossed out work.
4.3 More than the stipulated number of boxes ticked/crossed by the candidate:
(a) If more than one attempt is visible, but the candidate has clearly indicated which attempt is
his/her final answer (e.g. by crossing out other attempts or by annotating the script in some
way), mark in the usual way.
(b) If two attempts are visible (e.g. 2 boxes ticked instead of the 1 box stipulated), and neither has
been crossed out/discounted by the candidate, no mark can be awarded.
Award 0:
If there is any attempt that earns no credit. This could, for example, include the candidate copying all
or some of the question, or any working that does not earn any marks, whether crossed out or not.
ANNOTATIONS
Annotation Meaning
Correct or credit for good content point
Unclear
Candidates need to communicate in their answers that they have understood what they have heard
and can answer the given question. If a candidate has chosen to write their answers to the Listening
component in pinyin instead of Chinese characters, there is no requirement for them to use tones on
the pinyin, and the spelling of the pinyin does not have to conform to the standard spelling rules.
However, the answer must be completely unambiguous within the context.
If a candidate has written an incorrect character in their response, please consider the following:
• Does the incorrect character have the same pinyin (or sound)? Accept homophone characters (接
受同音形近字) as long as they do not communicate something different or interfere with the
meaning of the answer given.
• Does the incorrect character have different pinyin (or sound)? In this case, consider whether the
incorrect character communicates the required elements or not. If it does, award the mark.
• Miswritten characters (错字): if a candidate has written a character inaccurately (e.g. missing
stroke, additional or misplaced stroke) award the mark if it is still recognisable / alike enough to
the intended character to communicate the intended meaning.
Exercise 1
5 一半/百分之五十/50%/便宜了五折 1 reject: 三折
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
8(h) 人性化/以人为本 1
Exercise 4
9(a) B 1
9(b) C 1
9(c) A 1
9(d) B 1
9(e) B 1
9(f) A 1
9(g) B 1
9(h) C 1