GUIDELINES FOR MARKING BACCALAUREATE EXAM
“A MAJORS” (LITERARY BRANCHES)
I. WRITTEN TEST
1. Guided commentary
The following are elements teachers take into account when marking essays or compositions:
- Correct grammar
- Length
- Originality of ideas
- Spelling
- Punctuation
- Variety of vocabulary
- Complex sentences
- Well-constructed sentences
- Good organisation
- Lay out and handwriting
- Good introduction, body and conclusion
- Relevance and coherence of arguments
Assessment, however, may focus on specific points. For example, the Baccalaureate exam requires the pupils to write a "Guided commentary", but on closer look, it appears that some questions are, in fact, COMPREHENSION questions. Although we cannot ignore the necessity of good expression, if we apply all the above or more, it will be detrimental to what the questions seek to assess, that is to say, the understanding of the text. That is why after analysis of the various questions of the exam the English Inspectorate has made proposals that aim at giving all the teachers in this session, the same tools. We believe that this way, the pupils get a fairer chance, since the mark will be focused and not divided between many items.
Comprehension questions: testing candidates' comprehension of the text
a) Emphasis on content (75%) rather than accuracy (25%) of the mark should be given for accuracy.
b) Response:
Ø Copying appropriate chunks (acceptance rate 50%)
Ø Responding autonomously and understandably (full rate)
Ø Copying a whole paragraph in which there is the answer or not (0%)
c) Essay
Writing: testing candidates' skills (content and quality of language)
Ø Content (in-questions + organisation of ideas) 50%
Ø Quality of language use (grammar-vocabulary-style-clarity) 50%
Ø Out of subject but quality of language (grammar-vocabulary-style-clarity) + organisation of topic the candidate is dealing with (acceptance rate 25%)
2. Translation
Testing candidates' ability to transfer L2 to L1
Content:
Ø Presence of message 50%
Ø Quality of French 50%
Ø Out of the text 0%
II.ORAL EXAM
1. Communicative abilities - most important 75%
Quality of the language:
Ø Pronunciation ( stress intonation, rhythm)
Ø Vocabulary (word choice)
Ø Grammar
Ø fluency
2. Understanding of the text 25%
Focus the discussion on topic instead of comprehension (look at the text as discussion starter).
NB: NO TRANSLATION OF PASSAGES DURING ORAL EXAM
OTHER MAJORS
Guided commentary
Comprehension questions: testing candidates' comprehension of the text
a) Emphasis on content (75%) rather than accuracy (25% of the mark should be given for accuracy)
b) Response:
Ø Copying appropriate chunks (acceptance rate 50%)
Ø Responding autonomously and understandably (full rate)
Ø Copying a whole paragraph (0 %)
c) Essay
Writing: testing candidates' writing skills (content and quality of language) ,
Ø Content (in-question + organisation of ideas) 50%
Ø Quality of language use (grammar; vocabulary; style; clarity) 50%
Ø Out of subject but quality of language (grammar- vocabulary -style - clarity) + organisation of topic the candidate is dealing with (acceptance rate 25%)
English Inspectorate
Emile Boyo PARE
Inspecteur de l'Enseignement Secondaire
Chevalier des Palmes Académiques