AQA
GCSE
BENGALI
8638/WH
Paper 4 Writing Higher Tier
Mark scheme
June 2023
2
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE BENGALI – 8638/WH – JUNE
2023
Part 1 – General marking guidance for GCSE MFL Writing Tests
Level of response marking instructions
Level of response mark schemes are broken down into levels, each of which has a descriptor. The
descriptor for the level shows the average performance for the level. There are marks in each level.
Before you apply the mark scheme to a student’s answer read through the answer and annotate it (as
instructed) to show the qualities that are being looked for. You can then apply the mark scheme.
Step 1 Determine a level
Start at the lowest level of the mark scheme and use it as a ladder to see whether the answer meets the
descriptor for that level. The descriptor for the level indicates the different qualities that might be seen in
the student’s answer for that level. If it meets the lowest level then go to the next one and decide if it
meets this level, and so on, until you have a match between the level descriptor and the answer. With
practice and familiarity you will find that for better answers you will be able to quickly skip through the
lower levels of the mark scheme.
When assigning a level you should look at the overall quality of the answer and not look to pick holes in
small and specific parts of the answer where the student has not performed quite as well as the rest. If
the answer covers different aspects of different levels of the mark scheme you should use a best fit
approach for defining the level and then use the variability of the response to help decide the mark within
the level, ie if the response is predominantly level 3 with a small amount of level 4 material it would be
placed in level 3 but be awarded a mark near the top of the level because of the level 4 content.
Step 2 Determine a mark
Once you have assigned a level you need to decide on the mark. The descriptors on how to allocate
marks can help with this. The exemplar materials used during standardisation will help. There will be an
answer in the standardising materials which will correspond with each level of the mark scheme. This
answer will have been awarded a mark by the Lead Examiner. You can compare the student’s answer
with the example to determine if it is the same standard, better or worse than the example. You can then
use this to allocate a mark for the answer based on the Lead Examiner’s mark on the example.
You may well need to read back through the answer as you apply the mark scheme to clarify points and
assure yourself that the level and the mark are appropriate.
Indicative content in the mark scheme is provided as a guide for examiners. It is not intended to be
exhaustive and you must credit other valid points. Students do not have to cover all of the points
mentioned in the Indicative content to reach the highest level of the mark scheme.
An answer which contains nothing of relevance to the question must be awarded no marks.
3
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE BENGALI – 8638/WH – JUNE
2023
Marks will be allocated in the following way at Higher Tier:
Content Quality of Range of Accuracy Conveying Application of Total
Language language key grammatical
messages knowledge of
language and
structures
Question 1 10 6 16
Question 2 15 12 5 32
Question 3 6 6 12
Total 25 6 12 5 6 6 60
Higher Question 1/Foundation Question 4
10 marks for Content + 6 marks for Quality of Language (16 marks in total).
Candidates write approximately 90 words in total about four different bullet points. All bullet points must
be covered, but there is no need for equal coverage of the bullets.
When deciding a particular mark, it is advisable to identify the band of marks first, and then decide
whether you are tempted by the band above or the band below. This will enable you to award an
appropriate mark within a mark range.
The question is marked for Content and for Quality of language, according to the following criteria
(NOTE THAT THESE CRITERIA ARE DIFFERENT FROM FOUNDATION QUESTION 2):
Content
Marks Response
A very good response covering all aspects of the task. Communication is clear and a lot
9–10
of information is conveyed. Opinions are expressed.
A good response covering all aspects of the task. Communication is mostly clear but
7–8 perhaps with occasional lapses. Quite a lot of information is conveyed. Opinions are
expressed.
A reasonable response covering almost all aspects of the task. Communication is
5–6 generally clear but there are likely to be lapses. Some information is conveyed. An
opinion is expressed.
A basic response covering some aspects of the task. Communication is sometimes clear
3–4 but there are instances where messages break down. Little information is conveyed. An
opinion is expressed.
A limited response covering some aspects of the task. Communication is often not clear
1–2 and there may be frequent instances where messages break down. Very little
information is conveyed. There may be no opinions expressed.
0 The content does not meet the standard required for a mark at this tier.
The candidate’s response must be relevant to the bullet points. Any information which cannot be
deemed relevant in the broadest sense must be ignored when awarding the mark for Content.
4
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