TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Level 5 exemplar 1
Level 5 exemplar 2

Level 4 exemplar 1
Level 4 exemplar 2

Level 3 exemplar 1
Level 3 exemplar 2

Level 2 exemplar 1
Level 2 exemplar 2

Level 1 exemplar 1
Level 1 exemplar 2
 INTRODUCTION

To enhance understanding of the standards of the HKDSE Examination, authentic samples of

candidates’ scripts in the 2020 examination are selected to form this set of exemplars which serve to
illustrate the typical performance standards at different levels.

There are four papers in this subject. This set of exemplars is selected from candidates’ scripts of
Paper 1 to illustrate the typical performance standards at different levels.

It is advisable to read this set of exemplars together with the question papers and the marking
schemes in order to understand the requirements of the questions and the marking criteria. The
question papers and the marking schemes are published in the 2020 HKDSE Question Papers (with
marking schemes and comments on candidates’ performance).

1
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part A

2
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part A

3
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part A

4
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part A

5
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part B2

6
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part B2

7
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part B2

8
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part B2

9
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part A

10
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part A

11
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part A

12
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part A

13
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part B2

14
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part B2

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Level 5 exemplar 2

Part B2

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Level 5 exemplar 2

Part B2

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Level 5 exemplars 1 & 2

Comments

 Understands the ideas presented in a range of text types

 Is able to comprehend the main ideas and reads carefully for details
 Is able to understand points of views of the people mentioned in the texts and evaluate views
presented
 Is able to inference information from the texts and understand their messages
 Can identify words within the text that had specific meanings
 Is able to identify the use of metaphor and discourse marker
 Is able to paraphrase and manipulate the text to complete gap-fill items

18
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part A

19
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part A

20
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part A

21
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part A

22
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part B2

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Level 4 exemplar 1

Part B2

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Level 4 exemplar 1

Part B2

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Level 4 exemplar 1

Part B2

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Level 4 exemplar 2

Part A

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Level 4 exemplar 2

Part A

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Level 4 exemplar 2

Part A

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Level 4 exemplar 2

Part A

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Level 4 exemplar 2

Part B2

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Level 4 exemplar 2

Part B2

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Level 4 exemplar 2

Part B2

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Level 4 exemplar 2

Part B2

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Level 4 exemplars 1 & 2

Comments

 Understands some of the main ideas presented in different texts types

 Is able to follow some of the writers’ points of view and evaluate some of the views presented
 Is able to interpret some of the differing views and attitudes of the writers
 Has some difficulty interpreting metaphor used in the texts
 Is able to inference some information from the texts and understand their messages
 Is able to paraphrase and manipulate the text to complete some gap-fill items

35
Level 3 exemplar 1

Part A

36
Level 3 exemplar 1

Part A

37
Level 3 exemplar 1

Part A

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Level 3 exemplar 1

Part A

39
Level 3 exemplar 1

Part B1

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Level 3 exemplar 1

Part B1

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Level 3 exemplar 1

Part B1

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Level 3 exemplar 1

Part B1

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Level 3 exemplar 2

Part A

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Level 3 exemplar 2

Part A

45
Level 3 exemplar 2

Part A

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Level 3 exemplar 2

Part A

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Level 3 exemplar 2

Part B2

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Level 3 exemplar 2

Part B2

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Level 3 exemplar 2

Part B2

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Level 3 exemplar 2

Part B2

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Level 3 exemplars 1 & 2

Comments

 Understands the main theme and ideas of texts in fairly complex texts
 Is able to identify explicitly expressed views or stated information and arguments
 Is able to understand some of the details of the text but has more difficulty understanding
expressed views and arguments
 Is able to make more inferences for straightforward texts
 Is able to complete summary when the information is straightforward

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Level 2 exemplar 1

Part A

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Level 2 exemplar 1

Part A

54
Level 2 exemplar 1

Part A

55
Level 2 exemplar 1

Part A

56
Level 2 exemplar 1

Part B2

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Level 2 exemplar 1

Part B2

58
Level 2 exemplar 1

Part B2

59
Level 2 exemplar 1

Part B2

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Level 2 exemplar 2

Part A

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Level 2 exemplar 2

Part A

62
Level 2 exemplar 2

Part A

63
Level 2 exemplar 2

Part A

64
Level 2 exemplar 2

Part B1

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Level 2 exemplar 2

Part B1

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Level 2 exemplar 2

Part B1

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Level 2 exemplar 2

Part B1

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Level 2 exemplars 1 & 2

Comments

 Understands explicitly stated information on a familiar topic

 Is able to identify some of the main ideas in a simple paragraph when the text is simply
structured and the topic is familiar
 Is able to find specific information for straightforward gap fill reading comprehension
questions
 Is able to identify basic factual information

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Level 1 exemplar 1
Part A

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Level 1 exemplar 1

Part A

71
Level 1 exemplar 1

Part A

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Level 1 exemplar 1

Part A

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Level 1 exemplar 1

Part B1

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Level 1 exemplar 1

Part B1

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Level 1 exemplar 1

Part B1

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Level 1 exemplar 1

Part B1

77
Level 1 exemplar 2

Part A

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Level 1 exemplar 2

Part A

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Level 1 exemplar 2

Part A

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Level 1 exemplar 2

Part A

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Level 1 exemplar 2

Part B2

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Level 1 exemplar 2

Part B2

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Level 1 exemplar 2

Part B2

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Level 1 exemplar 2

Part B2

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Level 1 exemplars 1 & 2

Comments

 Understands the texts which are simply structured and the topic is familiar
 Is able to identify main ideas of a simple paragraph
 May have difficulty interpreting basic information
 May have difficulty completing the summary

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