Cambridge IGCSE™

MANDARIN CHINESE 0547/41

Paper 4 Writing May/June 2024
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 45

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 2024 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level and Cambridge Pre-U components, and some
Cambridge O Level components.

This document consists of 16 printed pages.

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Generic Marking Principles

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 descriptions for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

 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.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

 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.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.

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GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

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).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

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.

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Additional guidance

 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.

 For Questions 2 and 3, if the candidate has written an answer in the space provided for that purpose, you should ignore anything
written anywhere else, unless:

(a) there is an indication from the candidate that other material should be considered.

(b) the candidate has continued their answer outside the space provided.

(c) there is no answer in the space provided.

 Annotation used in the Mark Scheme:

(a) tc = ‘tout court’ and means that on its own the material is not sufficient to score the mark.

 No response and ‘0’ marks

(a) Award NR (No Response):

If there is nothing written at all in the answer space or
If there is only a comment which does not in any way relate to the question being asked (e.g. ‘can’t do’ or ‘don’t know’) or If there is
only a mark which isn’t an attempt at the question (e.g. a dash, a question mark).

(b) 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.

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 Optional questions:
Mark all questions attempted by the candidate. Where the candidate attempts more than one of the alternatives in Question 3, the marking
system will take the best mark.

 Using mark schemes with grade descriptors:

Start at the bottom of the mark scheme and work upwards through the descriptors when awarding marks.

The marker should look at the work and then make a judgement about which level statement is the ‘best fit’. In practice, work does not always
match one level statement precisely so a judgement may need to be made between two or more level statements.

Once a ‘best-fit’ level statement has been identified, use the following guidance to decide on a specific mark:

– If the candidate’s work convincingly meets the level statement, award the highest mark.
– If the candidate’s work adequately meets the level statement, award the most appropriate mark in the middle of the range (where
middle marks are available).
– If the candidate’s work just meets the level statement, award the lowest mark.

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Detailed mark scheme

Question Answer Marks

1 Candidates are required to complete 5 gaps in Chinese. Read all of the items that the candidate has listed and award 5
marks as follows:

 Award 1 mark for each correct item.

 On Question 1, award marks for items wherever the candidate has written them provided the candidate has made
clear which part of the form they refer to.

 Mark for communication. Tolerate inaccuracies, provided the message is clear. Ignore any measure word, possessive
adjective, etc. Ignore any verbs.

 If a character is inaccurate, start by referring to the table below. Refer to the questions below if no decision on the
character you have encountered is recorded there.

Does what the candidate has written look like the correct answer, e.g. one stroke missing but no other word created?
Would a native speaker of the target language understand it?

 Reject inaccurate characters which suggest a word with a quite different meaning.

 All answers must fulfil the communicative purpose described in the rubric.

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Question Answer Marks

1 你是John Taylor。你想申请去中国的签证。请用中文填写下面的表格。
You are John Taylor. You would like to apply for a visa to go to China. Please fill in the following form in Chinese

ACCEPT Reject

Gap 1 Any nationalities, e.g. 英国、美国、日本

Gap 2 Any appropriate cities, e.g. 北京、上海 Country, e.g.中国

Gaps 3 + 4 Any appropriate reasons: 旅游、看朋友 签证

(1 mark each)

Gap 5 Any appropriate places, e.g. 酒店、朋友家 中国、国家

(1 mark)

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Question Answer Marks

2 写一写你最喜欢的运动。 12
Write about your favourite sport. Write about:

 你最喜欢什么运动；
 你常常跟谁一起做这个运动；
 你每次运动多长时间；
 你的体育老师怎么样；
 你下次去哪儿参加比赛。
用中文写80–100个字。

Write 80–100 characters in Chinese.

Read the whole answer and award a mark out of 12 using the table below.

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Marks Descriptor Guidance

10–12  Completes all tasks in the required level of detail. Examples of linguistic
 Provides consistently relevant information and opinions. inaccuracies: word order,
 Meaning is clear and communication is achieved, although there may be some linguistic time frames, characters
inaccuracies. Examples of linking words
 Uses straightforward vocabulary and structures. and phrases: and, or, but,
 (Links words and phrases using a range of simple connectors.) because, then
Give ticks to items on a list

7–9  Completes most tasks in the required level of detail. 3–4 tasks
 Provides mostly relevant information and opinions.
 Meaning is mostly clear and communication is generally achieved, despite linguistic inaccuracies.
 Uses limited vocabulary and structures with some repetition.
 (Some attempt to link words and phrases using a range of simple connectors.)

4–6  Completes some tasks with some of the required detail. 2–3 tasks
 Provides some relevant information.
 Meaning is sometimes clear and some communication is achieved, despite linguistic inaccuracies.
 Uses basic vocabulary and structures with frequent repetition.
 (Some attempt to link words or phrases using a limited range of simple connectors repetitively (e.g.
and, or).)

1–3  Attempts task(s), with little or none of the required detail. 1–2 tasks
 May provide information; is almost always irrelevant.
 Meaning is unclear and communication is rarely achieved.
 Uses isolated words/phrases appropriate to the task.
 (Little attempt to link words or phrases.)

0  No creditable content.

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Numbered ticks will be added to the list of annotations to help with task completion.

If a candidate has completed most tasks rather than all, but the 10–12 descriptors are the best fit in other respects, then the answer can, in theory,
access the lower end of the 10–12 band.

On the contrary, if they complete all tasks without submitting much detail, they will drop to the 7–9 band.

Very short answers

If a response is under 40 characters long, a maximum of 6 marks can be awarded.
Pinyin
Occasional use of pinyin will not affect marking for communication, but for essays written predominantly in pinyin (i.e. more pinyin than characters)
this must be taken into account for marks.

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Question Answer Marks

从题目3(a)和3(b)中选择一个，用中文写150个字左右。

Answer Question 3(a) or Question 3(b). Write about 150 characters in Chinese.

3(a) 婚礼 28

你参加了一个婚礼。写一封信给你的奶奶，信里说说：

 你参加了谁的婚礼；
 婚礼是在哪儿举行的；
 婚礼上有什么表演；
 你觉得这个婚礼怎么样；
 你将来想结婚吗；为什么。

3(b) 或者 28

快餐

《中学生杂志》要了解一下学生对吃快餐的看法。给这家杂志写一篇文章，说说:

 你一个星期吃几次快餐；
 你上次去快餐店吃了什么；
 你觉得吃快餐有哪些好处；
 你觉得吃快餐有哪些坏处；
 为什么中学生学做饭很重要。

Read the whole answer, award a mark from each of the three tables below and add up the total. Marks are available for:
 task completion (maximum 10 marks)
 range (maximum 10 marks)
 accuracy (maximum 8 marks).

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Task completion

Marks Descriptor

9–10  Completes all tasks.

 Gives detailed information, opinions/reactions and explanations.
 The writing is focused and wholly relevant.

7–8  Completes most tasks.

 Gives straightforward information, opinions/reactions and explanations.
 The writing is mostly relevant.
 3–4 tasks

5–6  Completes some tasks.

 Gives some information, opinions and simple explanations.
 The writing is more relevant than irrelevant.
 2–3 tasks

3–4  Attempts some tasks with some success.

 Gives basic information and opinions.
 The writing is occasionally relevant.
 1–2 tasks

1–2  Attempts task(s) with little or no success.

 Gives some information and is almost always irrelevant.
 0–1 task

0  No creditable response.

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Task completion

Numbered ticks will be added to the list of annotations to help award marks for Task completion.

A response can only be considered complete if all elements of all part-questions are attempted reasonably successfully.

If a task is What did you think about the movie? and the candidate answers The movie was interesting (and nothing else), then they do not meet
the criteria Gives detailed information, opinions/reactions and explanations.

If a candidate has completed most tasks rather than all, but the 9–10 descriptors are the best fit in other respects, then the answer can, in theory,
access the lower end of the 9–10 band.

If a candidate completes all tasks without submitting much detail, they will drop to the 7–8 band.

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Range

Marks Descriptor

9–10  Uses extended, well-linked sentences frequently.

 Uses a wide range of simple and complex structures listed in the syllabus to produce sentences of varying length.
 Uses a wide range of vocabulary appropriate to the task(s).

7–8  Uses some extended sentences, mostly well linked.

 Uses a range of structures listed in the syllabus, including some complex structures, to produce sentences of varying length.
 Uses a range of vocabulary appropriate to the task(s) with occasional repetition.

5–6  Uses some extended sentences, with some evidence of linkage.

 Uses simple structures and attempts to use some complex structures listed in the syllabus.
 Uses mostly straightforward vocabulary appropriate to the task(s) with some repetition.

3–4  Uses simple structures and makes no attempt at using the complex structures listed in the syllabus.
 Relies on repeated use of a small range of straightforward vocabulary.

1–2  Uses isolated phrases and makes some attempt at basic structures.
 Relies on repetition of a small range of basic vocabulary.

0  No creditable response.

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Accuracy

Marks Descriptor

7–8  Writing in characters and use of grammar are accurate; not necessarily faultless.
 Occasional errors in characters and grammar do not impede communication.

5–6  Mostly accurate writing in characters and use of grammar.

 Errors in characters and grammar sometimes impede communication.

3–4  Some accurate writing in characters and use of grammar.

 Errors in characters and grammar frequently impede communication.

1–2  Rarely accurate writing in characters and use of grammar.

 Errors in characters and grammar persistently impede communication.

0  No creditable response.

How to deal with short essays

If the candidate has written less than half the suggested number of characters (75 or less), a maximum of 5 for Range and 4 for Accuracy
An essay of 75–100 characters can be awarded a maximum of 7 for Range and 6 for Accuracy.

For a letter, the addressee and ending greeting are not included in the word count.

Pinyin
The volume of pinyin in the answer should be considered when awarding the Accuracy mark. If pinyin is used extensively, it is no longer genuinely
a piece of Chinese writing.
Occasional use of pinyin will not affect marking for Accuracy, but for essays written predominantly in pinyin (i.e. more pinyin than characters) this
must be taken into account in the Accuracy mark.

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Note on using mark schemes with Grade descriptors

It is important that you award marks positively. In order to ensure that you reward achievement rather than penalise failure or omissions, you should
start at the bottom of the mark scheme and work upwards through the descriptors when awarding marks.

You should adopt a ‘best fit’ approach. You must select the set of descriptors provided in the mark scheme that most closely describes the quality
of the work being marked. As you work upwards through the mark scheme, you will eventually arrive at a set of descriptors that fits the candidate’s
performance. When you reach this point, you should always then check the descriptors in the band above to confirm whether or not there is just
enough evidence to award a mark in the higher band.

For example, when marking Question 3 you may find that a candidate uses a variety of relevant vocabulary but has varied success with more
complex structures. In such cases, you will need to award a mark that takes into account both the strengths and weaknesses of the piece of work.

To select the most appropriate mark within each set of descriptors, use the following guidance:

 If most of the descriptors fit the piece (and after you have considered the band above), award the top mark in the band.
 If there is just enough evidence (and you had perhaps been considering the band below), award the lowest mark in the band.

Irrelevance

 Sections of material unrelated to any of the bullet points will be disregarded.

 If the whole answer to Question 3 is irrelevant (e.g. contains no evidence of being related to the bullet points set), award 0 for Task
completion, Range and Accuracy.

 If Question 3 is attempted but communication is not achieved (i.e. the candidate misunderstood the question), award a maximum of 8 for
Range and a best fit for Task completion and Accuracy.

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