Reading
Can computers spot when a candidate has made a mistake transferring the answers?
If more than one lozenge has been completed for one question, the computer rejects the answer sheet, which is then dealt with on an individual basis. Checks are in place to identify incomplete answer sheets, which are also then checked.
Cases where all the answers have been entered incorrectly, e.g. by putting answer 1 to question 2, answer 2 to question 3 etc., cannot be identified.
Candidates should be careful when filling in their answer sheets.
Writing
Are candidates penalised for writing over-long or over-short answers?
Candidates are not penalised simply for writing more or fewer than the stipulated number of words. An exception to this is made where answers have fewer than 60 words — these are awarded a score of Band 0.
However, as length of answer is a factor of task achievement, candidates would be penalised for over-long answers where the extra material is considered to be irrelevant and has a negative effect on the target reader. Similarly, a candidate who produces considerably fewer than the stipulated number of words is unlikely to have included all the features of content necessary to achieve the task.
All CPE Writing tasks are extensively trialled before they appear on a live paper, and care is taken to ensure that tasks do not expect answers that are significantly longer or shorter than the required number of words.
Do candidates have to study all the set texts?
The set text questions are optional. If candidates decide to answer on a set text, it is only necessary to study one of the texts as there is always a question on each of them.
N.B. From June 2009, there will be a choice of two books of a different style and genre. Each book will normally remain on the list for two years. Information on which set texts have been selected for a particular year can be found in Exam Details and Timetables. Will any edition of the set texts do?Any full-length edition will do. CPE candidates should not be reading simplified editions, which are acceptable at FCE level.
Download the sample papers for CPE and other exams.
Are addresses to be omitted ONLY when stated in the task?
As a matter of policy, where the genre is given as a letter, the instruction 'You do not need to include postal addresses' is added to the rubric. Where other genres are given in the rubric (e.g. report, article), candidates sometimes choose to use a letter format to answer the question if appropriate to the task. In no case will the address, if included by the candidate, be subject to assessment, either negative or positive.
Is report or proposal format obligatory for such questions on the Writing paper?
Reports and proposals should be clearly organised and may contain headings. The report/proposal format is not obligatory, but will make a good impression on the target reader if used appropriately. The mark awarded to the report/proposal will, however, depend on how the writing meets the requirements of the General Mark Scheme and the Task Specific Mark Scheme for the question.
Use of English
What happens if candidates miss a negative in the transformations, thereby giving the opposite meaning to the original?
The instructions to the candidate state that the second sentence must have a similar meaning to the first. However, in the mark scheme the answer is divided into two parts (see below). The two parts of the sentence (either side of the dividing line) are always treated separately, so a candidate will receive one mark for correctly completing one part of the sentence even if a negative has been omitted from the other part.
e.g. I've never thought of asking the hotel staff for advice about restaurants.
OCCURRED
It has ............. the hotel staff for advice about restaurants.
never occurred to me (1)
to ask (1)
Listening
Which accents are used in the Listening paper?
In General English examinations, there is a range of accents. These correspond to standard variants of English native speaker accents, and to English non-native speaker accents that approximate to the norms of native speaker accents, as this is what people have to listen to in real life.
Is wrong spelling penalised in the Listening paper?
Where candidates are asked to produce answers containing a word or words, as in Part 2, these must be spelled correctly. However, items are extensively pretested and care is taken that no word targeted as an answer causes candidates undue spelling problems.
Are candidates supposed to write the words they hear on the recording in answers to Part 2, or do they get more marks if they use their own words?
Candidates should try to use the actual words they hear on the CD. They do not get more marks for using their own words.
In the Listening paper, can candidates fill in the answer sheet directly?There is nothing to prevent candidates from doing this. However, it is recommended that candidates put their answers on the question paper while listening to the recording and then transfer these answers to the answer sheet when the recording has finished.
Speaking
What should candidates do if they don't understand the instructions?
Candidates should ask the examiner to repeat the instructions. They will not be penalised for this. However, for reasons of standardisation, no variation on the instructions can be given.
What is done when there's only one candidate left at the end of a Speaking test session?
In all General English examinations, candidates are examined in pairs with two examiners. At centres with an uneven number of candidates, the last single candidate will be examined with the last pair to form a group of three.
Can computers spot when a candidate has made a mistake transferring the answers?
If more than one lozenge has been completed for one question, the computer rejects the answer sheet, which is then dealt with on an individual basis. Checks are in place to identify incomplete answer sheets, which are also then checked.
Cases where all the answers have been entered incorrectly, e.g. by putting answer 1 to question 2, answer 2 to question 3 etc., cannot be identified.
Candidates should be careful when filling in their answer sheets.
Writing
Are candidates penalised for writing over-long or over-short answers?
Candidates are not penalised simply for writing more or fewer than the stipulated number of words. An exception to this is made where answers have fewer than 60 words — these are awarded a score of Band 0.
However, as length of answer is a factor of task achievement, candidates would be penalised for over-long answers where the extra material is considered to be irrelevant and has a negative effect on the target reader. Similarly, a candidate who produces considerably fewer than the stipulated number of words is unlikely to have included all the features of content necessary to achieve the task.
All CPE Writing tasks are extensively trialled before they appear on a live paper, and care is taken to ensure that tasks do not expect answers that are significantly longer or shorter than the required number of words.
Do candidates have to study all the set texts?
The set text questions are optional. If candidates decide to answer on a set text, it is only necessary to study one of the texts as there is always a question on each of them.
N.B. From June 2009, there will be a choice of two books of a different style and genre. Each book will normally remain on the list for two years. Information on which set texts have been selected for a particular year can be found in Exam Details and Timetables. Will any edition of the set texts do?Any full-length edition will do. CPE candidates should not be reading simplified editions, which are acceptable at FCE level.
Download the sample papers for CPE and other exams.
Are addresses to be omitted ONLY when stated in the task?
As a matter of policy, where the genre is given as a letter, the instruction 'You do not need to include postal addresses' is added to the rubric. Where other genres are given in the rubric (e.g. report, article), candidates sometimes choose to use a letter format to answer the question if appropriate to the task. In no case will the address, if included by the candidate, be subject to assessment, either negative or positive.
Is report or proposal format obligatory for such questions on the Writing paper?
Reports and proposals should be clearly organised and may contain headings. The report/proposal format is not obligatory, but will make a good impression on the target reader if used appropriately. The mark awarded to the report/proposal will, however, depend on how the writing meets the requirements of the General Mark Scheme and the Task Specific Mark Scheme for the question.
Use of English
What happens if candidates miss a negative in the transformations, thereby giving the opposite meaning to the original?
The instructions to the candidate state that the second sentence must have a similar meaning to the first. However, in the mark scheme the answer is divided into two parts (see below). The two parts of the sentence (either side of the dividing line) are always treated separately, so a candidate will receive one mark for correctly completing one part of the sentence even if a negative has been omitted from the other part.
e.g. I've never thought of asking the hotel staff for advice about restaurants.
OCCURRED
It has ............. the hotel staff for advice about restaurants.
never occurred to me (1)
to ask (1)
Listening
Which accents are used in the Listening paper?
In General English examinations, there is a range of accents. These correspond to standard variants of English native speaker accents, and to English non-native speaker accents that approximate to the norms of native speaker accents, as this is what people have to listen to in real life.
Is wrong spelling penalised in the Listening paper?
Where candidates are asked to produce answers containing a word or words, as in Part 2, these must be spelled correctly. However, items are extensively pretested and care is taken that no word targeted as an answer causes candidates undue spelling problems.
Are candidates supposed to write the words they hear on the recording in answers to Part 2, or do they get more marks if they use their own words?
Candidates should try to use the actual words they hear on the CD. They do not get more marks for using their own words.
In the Listening paper, can candidates fill in the answer sheet directly?There is nothing to prevent candidates from doing this. However, it is recommended that candidates put their answers on the question paper while listening to the recording and then transfer these answers to the answer sheet when the recording has finished.
Speaking
What should candidates do if they don't understand the instructions?
Candidates should ask the examiner to repeat the instructions. They will not be penalised for this. However, for reasons of standardisation, no variation on the instructions can be given.
What is done when there's only one candidate left at the end of a Speaking test session?
In all General English examinations, candidates are examined in pairs with two examiners. At centres with an uneven number of candidates, the last single candidate will be examined with the last pair to form a group of three.
Post comments asking Angela Dias any further questions and earn a medal for your relevant particpation!
2 comments:
Hi Angela!
I´m rather worried about part 5 in Paper 3. I´m not very pragmatic and I often startle at the short answers I find in the Key. Will I be penalised if I write more than expected?
Thanks in advance
Hi, Ana!
In Part 5 (questions 40, 41, 42, 43), try to keep your answers short. You won't be penalised if your answer's overlong. However, you might lose all the marks if you include 'irrelevant' material.
Pay particular attention to questions like "What phrase suggests ...?" You should only write the phrase (2or 3 words), If you write the whole sentence where the phrase is, you'll lose all the marks.
I hope I've answered your question.
XXX
Angela
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