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 2016 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 3 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 2016 HKDSE Question Papers booklet (with
marking schemes and comments on candidates’ performance).

1
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part A Task 1

2
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part A Task 2

3
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part A Task 3

4
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part A Task 3

5
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part A Task 4

6
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part A Task 4

7
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 8

8
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 8

9
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 9

10
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 9

11
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 10

12
Level 5 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 10

13
Level 5 exemplar 1

Comments

 The candidate shows a good comprehension of all listening tasks in Part 3A including those
which include complex texts with an elaborated argument and expressed attitudes.
 The candidate interprets all Data File instructions appropriately and has included most
relevant information in the texts created.
 The candidate uses an impressive range of written sentence structures and demonstrates an
ability to skillfully manipulate the Data File material.
 The candidate’s writing is generally accurate, although errors occur. Most noticeably there is a
frequent awkwardness in expression. However any errors that occur do not affect meaning.
 The candidate shows an impressive ability to adapt language for the genre of each task, i.e.
from courteous response email, to a website for young people, to an internal report.
 The organization is coherent throughout, though the candidate does over-use rhetorical
questions a little in Task 9.

14
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part A Task 1

15
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part A Task 2

16
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part A Task 3

17
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part A Task 3

18
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part A Task 4

19
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part A Task 4

20
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 8

21
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 8

22
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 9

23
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 9

24
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 10

25
Level 5 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 10

26
Level 5 exemplar 2

Comments

 The candidate shows a good comprehension of all listening tasks in Part 3A including those
which include complex texts with an elaborated argument, narrative or expressed attitudes.
 The candidate interprets all Data File instructions appropriately and has included most
relevant information in the texts created.
 The candidate uses a wide range of written sentence structures and demonstrates a good
ability to skillfully manipulate the Data File material.
 The candidate’s writing is generally accurate, though there are some issues related to
grammatical accuracy and awkwardness of phrasing. However any errors that occur do not
affect meaning.
 Register, tone and style are generally appropriate to the tasks, though could be a little more
defined in Task 9.
 The organization of the texts is very clear throughout.

27
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part A Task 1

28
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part A Task 2

29
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part A Task 3

30
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part A Task 3

31
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part A Task 4

32
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part A Task 4

33
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 8

34
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 8

35
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 9

36
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 9

37
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 10

38
Level 4 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 10

39
Level 4 exemplar 1

Comments

 The candidate shows a good comprehension of all listening tasks in Part 3A including those
which include complex texts with an elaborated argument and expressed attitudes.
 The candidate manages to follow the Data File instructions appropriately and includes most
relevant information across the three tasks.
 In terms of manipulation of the Data File material, this candidate shows a good ability to
integrate material and convey meaning but there are some quite obtrusive and frequent
grammatical errors.
 Register, tone and style are generally appropriate for the task. The candidate obviously tries
hard to differentiate the style used for each task and shows some ability to adapt language for
the genre. However, the candidate is less successful in this aspect in Task 9.
 The organization is generally coherent. However, the candidate over relies on
paragraph-initial connectors to try to create coherence.

40
Level 4 exemplar 2

Part A Task 1

41
Level 4 exemplar 2

Part A Task 2

42
Level 4 exemplar 2

Part A Task 3

43
Level 4 exemplar 2

Part A Task 3

44
Level 4 exemplar 2

Part A Task 4

45
Level 4 exemplar 2

Part A Task 4

46
Level 4 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 8

47
Level 4 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 8

48
Level 4 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 9

49
Level 4 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 10

50
Level 4 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 10

51
Level 4 exemplar 2

Comments

 The candidate shows a good comprehension of all listening tasks in Part 3A including those
which include complex texts with an elaborated argument, narrative or expressed attitudes.
 The candidate manages to follow the Data File instructions appropriately and includes most
relevant information across the three tasks.
 In terms of the manipulation of Data File material, this candidate shows a good ability to
integrate material and convey meaning. However, there are a number of grammatical errors.
 Register, tone and style are generally appropriate and s/he shows some ability to adapt his/her
own language to the task, though the candidate’s limitations are evident in this regard
particularly in Task 9.
 The organization is generally coherent and focused though the candidate struggles in
particular in Task 9 to produce a coherent text.

52
Level 3 exemplar 1

Part A Task 1

53
Level 3 exemplar 1

Part A Task 2

54
Level 3 exemplar 1

Part A Task 3

55
Level 3 exemplar 1

Part A Task 3

56
Level 3 exemplar 1

Part A Task 4

57
Level 3 exemplar 1

Part A Task 4

58
Level 3 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 8

59
Level 3 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 8

60
Level 3 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 9

61
Level 3 exemplar 1

Part B2 Task 10

62
Level 3 exemplar 1

Comments

 The candidate shows a good comprehension of the more straightforward listening tasks in
Part 3A. However, this is less evident in Task 4 where candidates were required to follow an
elaborated argument.
 The candidate locates some of the relevant information from the Data File, but less so in Task
10.
 In terms of manipulation of language from the Data File, this candidate makes an attempt to
integrate the material, though this could be done better.
 His/her own sentence structures tend to contain quite obtrusive errors though these do not
generally affect understanding.
 The candidate tries to vary register, tone and style for each task.
 The organization is reasonable though there is an overreliance on sentence and paragraph
initial connectors. Sometimes coherence is impeded by faulty given/new information referents
e.g. there is, there was

63
Level 3 exemplar 2

Part A Task 1

64
Level 3 exemplar 2

Part A Task 2

65
Level 3 exemplar 2

Part A Task 3

66
Level 3 exemplar 2

Part A Task 3

67
Level 3 exemplar 2

Part A Task 4

68
Level 3 exemplar 2

Part A Task 4

69
Level 3 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 8

70
Level 3 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 8

71
Level 3 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 9

72
Level 3 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 10

73
Level 3 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 10

74
Level 3 exemplar 2

Comments

 The candidate shows a good comprehension of the more straightforward listening tasks in
Part 3A, although this is less evident in Task 4 when s/he was asked to follow an elaborated
argument.
 The candidate locates some of the relevant information from the Data File.
 In terms of manipulation of language from the Data File, this candidate is reasonably
successful in adapting material from the Data File, although s/he could have done much better
in this aspect.
 As regards his/her own sentence structures, there are frequent intrusive errors sometimes
affecting comprehension.
 The candidate struggles to show an awareness of register, tone and style. The candidate relies
too much on copying material from the Data File to maintain any consistency.
 The effectiveness of the organization is inconsistent and s/he over relies on paragraph-initial
connectors e.g. first, last but not least, besides.

75
Level 2 exemplar 1

Part A Task 1

76
Level 2 exemplar 1

Part A Task 2

77
Level 2 exemplar 1

Part A Task 3

78
Level 2 exemplar 1

Part A Task 3

79
Level 2 exemplar 1

Part A Task 4

80
Level 2 exemplar 1

Part A Task 4

81
Level 2 exemplar 1

Part B1 Task 5

82
Level 2 exemplar 1

Part B1 Task 6

83
Level 2 exemplar 1

Part B1 Task 7

84
Level 2 exemplar 1

Part B1 Task 7

85
Level 2 exemplar 1

Comments

 The candidate shows some comprehension of the more straightforward listening tasks in Part
3A. S/he shows less understanding of the more complex tasks.
 The candidate locates most of the relevant information from this the Data File. As this is 3B1
the texts and tasks are less complex.
 In terms of language, this candidate makes frequent basic errors which often affect
understanding, although s/he generally manages to convey the basic meaning.
 Register, tone and style are inconsistent. The candidate shows little awareness of audience,
genre and the purpose of each task.
 The candidate makes an attempt to organize his/her writing.

86
Level 2 exemplar 2

Part A Task 1

87
Level 2 exemplar 2

Part A Task 2

88
Level 2 exemplar 2

Part A Task 3

89
Level 2 exemplar 2

Part A Task 3

90
Level 2 exemplar 2

Part A Task 4

91
Level 2 exemplar 2

Part A Task 4

92
Level 2 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 8

93
Level 2 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 8

94
Level 2 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 9

95
Level 2 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 9

96
Level 2 exemplar 2

Part B2 Task 10

97
Level 2 exemplar 2

Comments

 The candidate shows some comprehension of the more straightforward listening tasks in Part
3A. S/he shows much less understanding of the more complex texts.
 The candidate locates some of the relevant information from the Data File.
 His/her language is characterized by serious errors which often make the text difficult to
understand.
 Register, tone and style are inconsistent and inappropriate. Due to copying from the Data File,
the audience changes from one part of the text to another, or is unclear.
 There is an attempt at organization through the use of paragraphing in all three tasks, though
these are often one sentence long.

98
Level 1 exemplar 1

Part A Task 1

99
Level 1 exemplar 1

Part A Task 2

100
Level 1 exemplar 1

Part A Task 3

101
Level 1 exemplar 1

Part A Task 3

102
Level 1 exemplar 1

Part A Task 4

103
Level 1 exemplar 1

Part A Task 4

104
Level 1 exemplar 1

Part B1 Task 5

105
Level 1 exemplar 1

Part B1 Task 6

106
Level 1 exemplar 1

Part B1 Task 6

107
Level 1 exemplar 1

Part B1 Task 7

108
Level 1 exemplar 1

Comments

 This candidate shows some understanding of some straightforward explicit information in 3A

but very little in Tasks 3 and 4.
 S/he includes occasionally relevant pieces of information, in each of the three tasks in 3B1.
However, they are characterized by indiscriminate and often irrelevant copying from the Data
File.
 Almost all of the candidate’s work is entirely copied verbatim from Data File. Whenever s/he
has to rely on his/her own language, it is very difficult to understand.
 There is no evidence of an ability to adapt tone or register. Faulty and inconsistent references
to the audience are frequent.
 There is an attempt at organizing the texts in Tasks 6 and 7 but within the paragraphs
coherence tends to break down.

109
Level 1 exemplar 2

Part A Task 1

110
Level 1 exemplar 2

Part A Task 2

111
Level 1 exemplar 2

Part A Task 3

112
Level 1 exemplar 2

Part A Task 3

113
Level 1 exemplar 2

Part A Task 4

114
Level 1 exemplar 2

Part A Task 4

115
Level 1 exemplar 2

Part B1 Task 5

116
Level 1 exemplar 2

Part B1 Task 6

117
Level 1 exemplar 2

Part B1 Task 7

118
Level 1 exemplar 2

Comments

 This candidate shows some understanding of some straightforward explicit information in 3A

but very little in Tasks 3 and 4.
 He/she locates some relevant information and has transferred it from the simple texts in the
3B1 Data file.
 Much of the candidate’s work is copied verbatim from Data File. Where the candidate uses
his/her own language, this is characterized by being extremely difficult to understand.
 Since much is copied verbatim, there is no real sense of the candidate being able to adapt
language for style or register. The purpose of Task 7 is particularly unclear.
 There is an attempt to organize the texts into rudimentary paragraphs and coherent text in Task
7. Task 6, however, is one continuous paragraph of seemingly unconnected ideas.

119