Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Cambridge O Level
Second Language Urdu 3248
For examination from 2020

Version 1
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Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................5

Question 1.........................................................................................................................................................................6
Example Candidate Response – high ...........................................................................................................................6
Example Candidate Response – middle........................................................................................................................8
Example Candidate Response – low...........................................................................................................................10

Question 2(a)...................................................................................................................................................................12
Example Candidate Response – high..........................................................................................................................12
Example Candidate Response – middle......................................................................................................................14
Example Candidate Response – low...........................................................................................................................16

Question 2(b)...................................................................................................................................................................17
Example Candidate Response – high..........................................................................................................................17
Example Candidate Response – middle......................................................................................................................18
Example Candidate Response – low...........................................................................................................................20

Question 3.......................................................................................................................................................................22
Example Candidate Response – high..........................................................................................................................22
Example Candidate Response – middle......................................................................................................................23
Example Candidate Response – low...........................................................................................................................24
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Introduction
The main aim of this booklet is to exemplify standards for those teaching Cambridge O Level Second Language
Urdu 3248, and to show how different levels of candidates’ performance (high, middle and low) relate to the syllabus
requirements.
In this booklet candidate responses have been chosen from November 2020 exam series to exemplify a range of
answers.
For each question, the response is annotated with a clear explanation of where and why marks were awarded or
omitted. This is followed by examiner comments on how the answer could have been improved. In this way, it is
possible for you to understand what candidates have done to gain their marks and what they could do to improve their
answers. There is also a list of common mistakes candidates made in their answers for each question.
This document provides illustrative examples of candidate work with examiner commentary. These help teachers
to assess the standard required to achieve marks beyond the guidance of the mark scheme. Therefore, in some
circumstances, such as where exact answers are required, there will not be much comment.
The questions and mark schemes and pre-release material used here are available to download from the School
Support Hub. These files are:

November 2020 Question Paper 1

November 2020 Paper 1 Mark Scheme

Past exam resources and other teaching and learning resources are available on the School Support Hub:
www.cambridgeinternational.org/support

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 Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

How to use this booklet

This booklet goes through the paper one question at a time, showing you the high-, middle- and low-level response for
each question. The candidate answers are set in a table. In the left-hand column are the candidate answers, and in
the right-hand column are the examiner comments.

Example Candidate Response – Question 1, High Examiner comments

1 Although the response was

written very well, the candidate
did not use idiomatic language
1 which would gain language
marks and put the answer into
the top level.

Examiner comments are

alongside the answers. These
Answers are by real candidates in exam conditions. explain where and why marks
These show you the types of answers for each level. were awarded. This helps you
Discuss and analyse the answers with your learners in to interpret the standard of
the classroom to improve their skills. Cambridge exams so you can
help your learners to refine
their exam technique.

How the candidate could have improved their answer

This candidate needed to work on keeping to the point and to make sure that they wrote the relevant answer for each
bullet point in detail. The candidate needed to show a better grasp of grammatical structures and avoid spelling errors.
To achieve more marks, more variety of vocabulary is required to illustrate their knowledge of the Urdu language.

This section explains how the candidate could

have improved each answer. This helps you to
interpret the standard of Cambridge exams and
helps your learners to refine their exam technique.

Common mistakes candidates made in this question

• Not answering all three bullet points.
• Not using idiomatic language.
• Spelling and grammatical errors.
• Exceeding the word limit. Lists the common mistakes candidates made
in answering each question. This will help your
Often candidates were not awarded learners to avoid these mistakes and give them
marks because they misread or the best chance of achieving the available marks.
misinterpret the questions.

5
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Question 1

Example Candidate Response – high Examiner comments

6
 Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Example Candidate Response – high, continued Examiner comments

1 1 Although the response is

written very well, the candidate
does not use idiomatic language
which would gain language marks
and put the answer into the top
level.

Total mark awarded =

13 out of 15

How the candidate could have improved their answer

This answer achieved high marks and to gain more marks the candidate needed to use more idiomatic language to
demonstrate their knowledge of the language.

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Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Example Candidate Response – middle Examiner comments

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 Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Example Candidate Response – middle, continued Examiner comments

1 1 In the first paragraph,

unnecessary details are included
and only one benefit of learning
2 foreign language is mentioned.

2 Two reasons for choosing

foreign language are given, but
the language is not clear and
there are spelling errors.

3 In the third point, the candidate

did not clearly describe the
difficulties of learning foreign
languages so only achieved one
mark for the description of one
difficulty. More explanation is
needed.
3

4 To achieve more marks for

language, this candidate needs
to use more accurate extensive
4
vocabulary and idiomatic
language.

Total mark awarded =

10 out of 15

How the candidate could have improved their answer

The candidate did not include enough detail for each bullet point and made quite a few errors. The candidate needed
to explain each bullet point in more detail and to write in more accurate and correct Urdu.

9
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Example Candidate Response – low Examiner comments

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 Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Example Candidate Response – low, continued Examiner comments

1 For the first bullet point, the

candidate uses clear language but
1 wrote only one benefit of learning
foreign language so can only be
awarded one mark.

2 For bullet point two, the

candidate describes two reasons
for choosing their favourite
language and so achieves two
2 marks.

3 The third point is not very clear

and mentions only one difficulty in
learning a foreign language. The
number of marks is an indication
of the points to be made.

3 Total mark awarded =

8 out of 15

How the candidate could have improved their answer

This candidate needed to work on keeping to the point and to make sure that they wrote the relevant answer for each
bullet point in detail. The candidate needed to show a better grasp of grammatical structures and avoid spelling errors.
To achieve more marks, more variety of vocabulary is required to illustrate their knowledge of the Urdu language.

Common mistakes candidates made in this question

• Not answering all three bullet points.
• Not using idiomatic language.
• Spelling and grammatical errors.
• Exceeding the word limit.

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Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Question 2(a)

Example Candidate Response – high Examiner comments

1 1 The candidate includes a good

use of idiomatic language here.

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 Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Example Candidate Response – high, continued Examiner comments

2 2 To gain full marks the candidate

needs to reduce the number of
spelling errors in the answer.
Total mark awarded =
19 out of 20

How the candidate could have improved their answer

This was a good answer which gained a high number of marks. To achieve full marks, the candidate needed to check
their work and avoid spelling errors which can impair communication.

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Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Example Candidate Response – middle Examiner comments

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 Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Example Candidate Response – middle, continued Examiner comments

1 The candidate should try to

avoid spelling and grammatical
errors to achieve higher language
1 marks. The candidate could
achieve better marks by using
more idiomatic language.

2 There is a good conversation

between the mother and daughter
so four marks are given for
content, however, the candidate
loses one mark because the
conversation does not end with
any decision or conclusion.
2

Total mark awarded =

14 out of 20

How the candidate could have improved their answer

For this answer to gain more marks, a better ending or conclusion was needed which included a final decision to the
conversation. The candidate should have avoided including so many spelling and grammatical errors and make an
attempt to use more extensive vocabulary and idiomatic language.

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Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Example Candidate Response – low Examiner comments

1 1 The candidate addresses the

question but writes the response
in the wrong format.

2 There are a lot of spelling and

grammatical errors in this answer.
The candidate should attempt to
2 use a variety of vocabulary and
have a better grasp of grammar to
achieve higher marks.

Total mark awarded =

10 out of 20

How the candidate could have improved their answer

The candidate should have answered the question in the correct format and avoided spelling errors. To gain more
marks, the candidate needs to have a better grasp of grammar and to use more of a variety of vocabulary.

Common mistakes candidates made in this question

• Not writing a suitable start to the dialogue.
• Not writing a decisive or conclusive end to the dialogue.
• Spelling and grammatical mistakes.
• Not using extensive vocabulary and idiomatic language.
• Writing a response which was too long.
• Misunderstanding the rubric and writing the answer in the wrong format/style/register.

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 Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Question 2(b)

Example Candidate Response – high Examiner comments

1 1 This is a good start for the

report. The candidate mentions
three different activities and
achieve full marks for content.

2 2 The candidate needs to use

idiomatic language to gain higher
marks for language.

Total mark awarded =

17 out of 20

How the candidate could have improved their answer

This candidate gained marks for their use of grammar and vocabulary and, to gain more marks, idiomatic language
could have been included.

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Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Example Candidate Response – middle Examiner comments

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 Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Example Candidate Response – middle, continued Examiner comments

1 1 There are spelling errors

in this answer. The candidate
could achieve more marks for
language by using more extensive
vocabulary and idiomatic
language.

2 To achieve full marks the

candidate needs to add more
sentences and to finish the report
properly.
2
Total mark awarded =
14 out of 20

How the candidate could have improved their answer

This candidate did not provide an appropriate ending to the report. This is an important part of the answer to include
and make sure it is not missing, as well as focusing on a variety of vocabulary and idiomatic language.

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Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Example Candidate Response – low Examiner comments

1 1 The candidate writes

unnecessary and irrelevant
information (approximately 90
words) and achieves only two marks
for content.

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 Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Example Candidate Response – low, continued Examiner comments

2 2 The candidate achieves 2

marks for content but could
achieve full marks for content if
they read the question carefully
and include all the information
asked for in the answer.

3 3 This candidate is awarded 6

marks for language.

Total mark awarded =

8 out of 20

How the candidate could have improved their answer

The candidate did not start the report in an organised way, and included too much text which was irrelevant to what
the question asked. The candidate should carefully read the question and make sure they have included all three
activities, which are asked for. More extensive vocabulary and use of idiomatic language would have gained more
marks.

Common mistakes candidates made in this question

• Writing the report in the wrong format, for example, using a letter format.
• Misunderstanding the question rubric, candidates lost marks in content, e.g., 2 marks.
• Not writing within the word limit.
• Not using very extensive vocabulary and idiomatic language.
• Making a lot of spelling and grammatical errors, and so losing marks for language.

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Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Question 3

Example Candidate Response – high Examiner comments

1 1 The candidate uses very clear

and accurate Urdu language to
translate all of the passage.

2 2 This candidate translates two

words in incorrect Urdu, and one
word is mistranslated here.

How the candidate could have improved their answer

The candidate should be careful to include all the words from the text and not miss any of the translation. The key
words need to be translated into Urdu correctly.

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 Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Example Candidate Response – middle Examiner comments

1 1 The candidate uses a lot of

word transliteration. This should
be avoided to achieve more marks
for the answer.

2 2 There are a few incorrect

translations in this answer.

Total mark awarded =

15 out of 20

How the candidate could have improved their answer

This candidate missed out many of the English words and either didn’t provide the translation into Urdu or made
mistakes in the translation. The candidate should avoid transliteration.

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Example Candidate Responses – Paper 1

Example Candidate Response – low Examiner comments

1 1 Although spelling errors are

not penalised in this question, the
errors in this translation impede
communication.

2 The candidate misses a lot of

words which need to be translated
from the passage. There is a lot of
word transliteration in this answer.

Total mark awarded =

6 out of 20

How the candidate could have improved their answer

The candidate did not translate many of the English key words into the correct Urdu translation. The words in Urdu
were often misspelt and, although spelling mistakes are not penalised in the translation question, if they hinder
understanding or communication, marks will not be awarded. There were too many words incorrectly translated and
the candidate should avoid transliteration.

Common mistakes candidates made in this question

• Missing the translation of many key English words.
• Translating words instead in sentences.
• Translating key or target English words incorrectly.
• Using a lot of word transliteration.

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