Essay Competition: Mark Scheme

6 - Building 5 - Emerging 4 - Developing 3 - Achieving (applying, 2 - Securing (Analysing, 1 - Exceeding (evaluating

(recalling, (remembering, (interpreting, executing, inferring) differentiating, organising, judging, hypothesising
recognising) recognising, classifying, attributing) creating)
recalling, summarising,
describing) explaining)

Communica The candidate has The candidate has The candidate has The candidate has The candidate has mostly The candidate has effectively
ting ideas - made an attempt to made a fair attempt at made a good attempt communicated their ideas communicated their ideas communicated their ideas clearly,
30% answer the essay communicating their to communicate their well with somewhat of an clearly and effectively, with effectively and imaginatively, with
question however has ideas. Some ideas have ideas well. Further understanding of their careful selection of tone careful selection of tone, adapted
not done so been presented editing may have been purpose and audience. The relevant to the purpose and where necessary, along with, style
effectively. The however further needed to improve submission may use basic audience. This submission and register for the form and
submission may be explanation and sentence structures in conventions of essay writing. has used some imagination purpose of this essay. The
incomplete or contain summarising may have order to convey points to communicate ideas well. submission shows a clear
irrelevant information been needed to more effectively. The submission is mostly free understanding of its audience and
to the topic. communicate them from structural and has organised information and ideas
more coherently. grammatical errors and is effectively, using structural and
overall coherent. grammatical features to support
coherence and cohesion of texts.

Word The candidate has The candidate has The candidate The candidate has used The candidate has used a range The candidate has effectively used a
choice & used a limited range made an attempt has made a good relevant vocabulary of vocabulary to communicate range of relevant vocabulary and
structure - of vocabulary. This to use relevant attempt to use throughout their essay to their ideas, mostly free from sentence structures for clarity, purpose
20% submission may word choice to relevant word communicate their ideas. spelling and punctuation errors. and effect, with accurate spelling and
contain many spelling communicate their choice. Some There may be some spelling There may be some use of punctuation. This submission will likely
and punctuation ideas. Word choice words may be and punctuation errors that topical terminology. contain relevant and consistent topical
errors that lead to may be repetitive, used incorrectly. detract from the ideas being terminology.
confusion when used incorrectly or In some places conveyed.
reading. misspelt and/or the structure
misused, may not be
detracting from the logical or
ideas expressed. coherent.

Critical The candidate has The candidate may The candidate has The candidate has made a The candidate has made a strong The candidate has effectively
analysis - likely recalled or have recalled, made an attempt to good attempt to offer a attempt to offer a critical explained, commented on and
20% recognized some recognized or offer a critical critical analysis of the analysis of the essay question, analysed the essay question sharing
relevant information described relevant analysis of the essay essay question, inferring offering insight and some insightful knowledge and a deep
relating to the information but has question. Some from the sources they have thought provoking ideas to understanding of the topic at hand.
question however has not effectively inferences may have used to inform their ideas. extend further thinking. The The essay demonstrates a thorough
not effectively demonstrated a critical been made however essay demonstrates a good understanding on a range of
offered a critical analysis of the essay this may not be understanding of the topic at perspectives which is free from
analysis. question. consistent. hand, mostly free from personal personal bias. The answer represents

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 bias. The answer contains some a personal and informed response.
elements of a personal and
informed response.

Using The candidate has The candidate has used The candidate has The candidate has made a The candidate has used relevant The candidate has effectively identified
evidence not used any very little evidence to made an attempt to strong attempt at using evidence to support the claims and interpreted explicit and implicit
and evidence to support their claims. use evidence to evidence to support their made as well as inferences to information from reputable sources and
inference - support the claims Evidence used may be support the claims claims. In-text citations may draw relevant conclusions. The referenced these throughout their essay.
20% made. This anecdotal or from made however may not be referenced correctly or sources referenced are Relevant ideas have been selected and
submission does sources which either not have done so consistently. Some inferences reputable and relevant to the synthesised using evidence from
not contain a cannot be identified or accurately. Evidence may have been made but will essay question. The candidate different sources to support the claims
reference list or are not credible. There will likely not have likely have benefited from has included an accurate made. The candidate has used in-text
in-text citations. may not be a reference been referenced further reference to evidence. reference list as well as used citations effectively as well as included
list submitted or the correctly. Few The reference list may be in-text citations accurately. an accurate reference list as per the
reference list is inferences may have incomplete or incorrectly referencing guide.
incorrect/incomplete. been made. submitted.

Spelling, The submission is This submission The submission lacks This submission is partly free This submission is mostly free This submission is free from spelling,
punctuation illegible and cannot contains a wide range of correct spelling, from spelling, punctuation and from spelling, punctuation and punctuation and grammar errors. The
and be understood due spelling, punctuation punctuation and grammar errors. The grammar errors. The candidate candidate has demonstrated a firm grasp
grammar - to the range of and grammar errors that grammar. The errors candidate has demonstrated has demonstrated a good grasp of the conventions of standard English
10% spelling, detract from the overall may detract greatly some understanding of the of the conventions of standard throughout their writing.
punctuation and ideas presented. The from the ideas being conventions of standard English throughout their writing.
grammar errors candidate has not expressed. The English throughout their
throughout. The demonstrated a candidate has not writing however not
candidate has not consistent grasp of demonstrated a consistently. The errors may
demonstrated a basic conventions of consistent grasp of not greatly detract from the
consistent grasp of English in their writing. basic conventions of overall ideas communicated.
basic conventions English in their
of English in their writing.
writing.

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