English

Stage 3

Paper 1 Non-fiction 2023

Cambridge Primary Progression Test
Mark Scheme

3123_01_MS_5RP
© UCLES 2023
S3/01 English Stage 3 Paper 1 Mark Scheme From 2023

Section A: Reading

Question Answer Marks

1 Award 1 mark for: 1

• harsh.

Question Answer Marks

2 Award 1 mark each for any two of the following, up to a total of 2 marks: 2

• pebbly / rocky / mountainous / sandy.

Do NOT allow ‘A mixture of these’.

Question Answer Marks

3(a) Award 1 mark for each of the following, up to a total of 2 marks: 2

• It is / Deserts are (almost always very) hot (during the day)

• and/but (very) cold (at night)

Do not accept large chunks of copied text, e.g. ‘Clear blue skies mean … a very
different story’. The answer must be distilled.
3(b) Award 1 mark for: 1

• verb.
3(c) Award 1 mark for: 1

• tail.

Question Answer Marks

4(a) Award 1 mark for: 1

• Gust dust

Accept ‘dust and gust’.

4(b) Award 1 mark for either: 1

• for
• in
4(c) Award 1 mark for either: 1

• (They make it) hard/difficult to see.

• (They make it) hard/difficult to breathe.

Allow the mark if the whole sentence is given, but no more. (This makes it hard
to see and even to breathe.)

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S3/01 English Stage 3 Paper 1 Mark Scheme From 2023

Question Answer Marks

5 Award 1 mark for: 1

• They are dry.

Question Answer Marks

6 Award 1 mark for: 1

• (The writer uses) paragraphs

Accept any recognisable spelling of ‘paragraphs’.

Question Answer Marks

7 Award 1 mark for: 1

• deserts around the world.

Question Answer Marks

8 Award 1 mark for either answer supported by a suitable reason based on the 1
text, e.g.:

• Yes. It has (a few) facts / (some) information about Africa’s Sahara desert /
the Sahara (which is in Africa).
• No. It isn’t (really/just) about Africa. / It is about deserts all over the world. /
It doesn’t have much/any information about Africa. / It doesn’t have enough
information to be useful.

Question Answer Marks

9 Award 1 mark for all four words in the following order: 1

• card
• chopstick
• clay
• cup

Question Answer Marks

10 Award 1 mark for: 1

• (On) page 46.

Question Answer Marks

11 Award 1 mark for: 1

• instruction.

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S3/01 English Stage 3 Paper 1 Mark Scheme From 2023

Question Answer Marks

12 Award 1 mark for: 1

• apart.

Question Answer Marks

13(a) Award 1 mark for either of: 1

• When the paint is dry

• When all five discs (are on the chopstick)

Allow ‘after that’.

13(b) Award 1 mark for: 1

• Carefully

Question Answer Marks

14 Award 1 mark for each of the following up to a maximum of 2 marks: 2

• Bullets / Bulleted list / Bullet point

• Numbered list
• Heading

Question Answer Marks

15(a) Award 1 mark for: 1

• Instructions for making / How to make a (an Aboriginal) (spinning) top.

15(b) Award 1 mark for: 1

• (Add) pictures / illustrations / photographs (of each step).

15(c) Award 1 mark for any explanation based on the text: 1

• E.g. ‘Yes, it looks fun / creative / exciting / interesting’ or ‘No, it’s too difficult
/ there are not enough pictures’.

Explanation must match the choice. Accept any reasonable answer.

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S3/01 English Stage 3 Paper 1 Mark Scheme From 2023

Section B: Writing

Notes to markers

• Use the marking grids on the following pages.

• Marking should always begin from the lowest mark in each column and work upward.
• A ‘best fit’ judgement should be made in judging first in which box to place the response and then,
within that box, which mark is appropriate.
• The lower mark within a box should be given if some the criteria have been met but not all.
• Note on extent:
Award 0 marks where the performance fails to meet the lowest criteria.
Award 0 marks for 20 words or fewer.
Award a maximum of 7 marks for responses of between 21 and 60 words.
You need not count the words unless you think there will be fewer than 60. In normal-sized
handwriting 60 words will be approximately 8 lines.

Marks

Creation of texts (Wc) 5

Vocabulary and language (Wv) 3

Grammar and punctuation (Wg) 7

Structure of texts (Ws) 7

Word structure [spelling] (Ww) 3

[Total 25]

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S3/01
Creation of texts (Wc)
[5 marks]
A relevant response that
elaborates on basic
information with some
development of essential
detail.
Writing for a given purpose is
clear with main features of the
text type clearly evident.
Use of content and language
in writing shows an
awareness of audience.
[4–5]
English Stage 3 Paper 1 Mark Scheme
Vocabulary and language Structure of texts (Ws)
(Wv)
[3 marks] [7 marks]
Structure is clear using
paragraphs/sections with
good attempts to organise
the content.
Chronological or logical links
between paragraphs/
sections help the
development of ideas.
Cohesion within and
between paragraphs is
achieved using devices such
as bullets, numbers, etc.
appropriate to the text type.
[6–7]
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From 2023
Grammar and punctuation Word structure (Ww)
(Wg) (spelling)
[7 marks] [3 marks]
Grammar:
• Grammatically correct
multi-clause sentences
use simple connectives of
time, place and cause.
• Subject and verb usually
agree, and past and
present tense of regular
and common irregular
verbs are used accurately
and consistently
throughout the text.
• Different types of (simple)
sentences use appropriate
grammar.
Punctuation:
• End of sentence
punctuation is used
accurately throughout the
text.
• Apostrophes of omission
are correct.
• Correct use of speech
marks around words
spoken
[6–7]
S3/01
Creation of texts (Wc)
Relevant material has ideas
and content appropriate for
the text type.
Content and language show
an attempt to engage the
reader but may not always be
sustained.
[3]
English Stage 3 Paper 1 Mark Scheme
Vocabulary and language
(Wv)
Accurate use of vocabulary
includes a variety of
appropriate choices to
convey meaning that is
consistent and effective for
the text type.
Words and phrases
strengthen the impact of
writing.
Sentence openings are
varied, using language of
time, place and manner.
[3]
Structure of texts (Ws)
Paragraphs / sections are
generally used to help
organize and sequence
ideas.
Within paragraphs / sections
there are some links
between sentences.
Movement between
paragraphs or sections may
be disjointed.
Some organisational devices
such as bullets / numbered
items, may be evident.
[4–5]
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Grammar and punctuation
(Wg)
Grammar:
• Simple and compound
sentence structures are
used to build clear detail.
• Subject and verb
agreement and tenses are
attempted but may be
inconsistent.
Punctuation:
• Demarcation of simple
and compound sentences
is usually correct with
some accurate use of
question marks and
exclamation marks.
• Commas are evident but
not always used
accurately.
[4–5]
From 2023
Word structure (Ww)
(spelling)
Spelling of words with
consonant phonemes
correctly, e.g., jar, giraffe,
bridge.
Polysyllabic words with
common prefixes and
suffixes are correct.
Consistently spell common
inflections accurately, e.g.,
adding –ing, –ed, –s, –es, to
verbs and doubling
consonants where
necessary.
Spelling of unfamiliar regular
and exception words is
generally correct, including
compound words.
[3]
S3/01 English Stage 3 Paper 1 Mark Scheme From 2023

Creation of texts (Wc)
Basic information may be
inaccurate.
Some general aspects of text
type are evident.
Writing shows little elaboration
with a limited attempt to
engage the reader.
Vocabulary and language
(Wv)
Mostly accurate use of
simple vocabulary with some
word choices to provide
clarity and convey meaning
appropriate to the text type.
Structure of texts (Ws)
Some ideas are in sections
with some attempt to group
related points together.
Some attempt to sequence
relevant ideas logically.
Grammar and Punctuation
(Wg)
Grammar:
• Mainly simple sentences.
• Some successful
attempts at compound
sentences using simple
connectives to join
clauses.
• Some variation in
sentence openings.
Word structure (Ww)
(spelling)
Spelling of common regular
words, including polysyllabic
and compound words, is
generally accurate.
Spell common homophones
correctly, e.g., to, two, too.

Punctuation:
• Demarcation of
straightforward sentences
is usually correct.

Note: if punctuation is totally

lacking and other descriptors
met then give the lower mark
here.

[2] [2] [2–3] [2–3] [2]

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S3/01
Creation of texts (Wc)
Some simple ideas
appropriate to the text type.
Some elements of the text
type can be seen. (A
maximum of 1 mark can be
awarded if not the given text
type.)
[1]
Creation of texts (Wc)
No creditable response
[0]
English Stage 3 Paper 1 Mark Scheme
Vocabulary and language Structure of texts (Ws)
(Wv)
Vocabulary is simple and Some basic sequencing of
relevant. material.
There may be line breaks or
time related words or
phrases.
[1] [1]
Vocabulary and language Structure of texts (Ws)
(Wv)
No creditable response No creditable response
[0] [0]
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Grammar and punctuation
(Wg)
Grammar:
• Some simple sentence
structures are used
successfully but often
with a repetitive
structure.
Punctuation:
• Some correct use of
punctuation, such as full
stops and capital letters.
Note: do not discriminate if
learners write with good
English but there are
punctuation errors. If
ambitious structures are
used, begin marking at 2–3
marks, provided there is
variation in sentence
openings.
[1]
Grammar and punctuation
(Wg)
No creditable response
[0]
From 2023
Word structure (Ww)
(spelling)
All simple high frequency
words are spelt correctly,
e.g., that, she, put.
Spelling of high frequency
words is generally correct,
e.g., their/there, when, were,
what, some etc.
There may be some
attempts to phonetically spell
polysyllabic and compound
words.
[1]
Word structure (Ww)
(spelling)
No creditable response
[0]
S3/01 English Stage 3 Paper 1 Mark Scheme From 2023

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