English B: Standard Level
Experiences — Theme: Experiences
- 1.
Read the text “The night train to Porto”. [1] I had planned every minute of the trip: museums, cafés, a river cruise. Then a strike cancelled my flight, and the only way to reach Porto was a slow overnight train. [2] I was furious at first. The carriage was crowded, the seats were hard, and I did not sleep. But at three in the morning an elderly couple shared their bread and cheese with me, and we talked in a mixture of Spanish, English and hand gestures until sunrise. [3] By the time we arrived, I had thrown away half of my plan. They had told me about a small festival in their village, so I went there instead of the river cruise. [4] I still have my original itinerary. It reminds me that the best part of a journey is often the part you never planned. (a) Why did the writer take the train? (b) True or false? Justify with words from the text: “The writer enjoyed the train journey from the beginning.” (c) How did the writer and the couple communicate? (d) What did the writer do instead of the river cruise? (e) What lesson does the writer draw in paragraph 4?
[5 marks] · no calculator - 2.
Marking analysis: A learner attempts the following task: “Read the text “The night train to Porto”. [1] I had planned every minute of the trip: museums, cafés, a river cruise. Then a strike cancelled my flight, and the only way to reach Porto was a slow overnight train. [2] I was furious at first. The carriage was crowded, the seats were hard, and I did not sleep. But at three in the morning an elderly couple shared their bread and cheese with me, and we talked in a mixture of Spanish, English and hand gestures until sunrise. [3] By the time we arrived, I had thrown away half of my plan. They had told me about a small festival in their village, so I went there instead of the river cruise. [4] I still have my original itinerary. It reminds me that the best part of a journey is often the part you never planned. (a) Why did the writer take the train? (b) True or false? Justify with words from the text: “The writer enjoyed the train journey from the beginning.” (c) How did the writer and the couple communicate? (d) What did the writer do instead of the river cruise? (e) What lesson does the writer draw in paragraph 4?” Their response addresses only this point: “(a) A strike cancelled the flight and the train was the only way to reach Porto.” Evaluate the response against the complete 5-mark task. Identify what earns credit and state every additional requirement needed for full marks.
[5 marks] · no calculator - 3.
Read the text “The lantern evening”. An article in a school magazine: Every November, families in our neighbourhood gather by the canal for the lantern evening. The custom began forty years ago, when a group of newly arrived families wanted to remember relatives they had left behind. Each household makes a paper lantern and writes a name or a wish on it. At sunset the lanterns are lit and carried along the water in silence. Nobody is sure who first suggested the silence, but it has become the most important part. This year the organisers have asked students to help younger children build their lanterns, and to make sure only paper and wax are used, so the evening leaves no litter behind. (a) Where does the lantern evening take place? (b) Why did the custom begin? (c) What do people write on the lanterns? Give one example. (d) Which part of the evening has become the most important? (e) Give one task students have been asked to do this year.
[5 marks] · no calculator - 4.
Marking analysis: A learner attempts the following task: “Read the text “The lantern evening”. An article in a school magazine: Every November, families in our neighbourhood gather by the canal for the lantern evening. The custom began forty years ago, when a group of newly arrived families wanted to remember relatives they had left behind. Each household makes a paper lantern and writes a name or a wish on it. At sunset the lanterns are lit and carried along the water in silence. Nobody is sure who first suggested the silence, but it has become the most important part. This year the organisers have asked students to help younger children build their lanterns, and to make sure only paper and wax are used, so the evening leaves no litter behind. (a) Where does the lantern evening take place? (b) Why did the custom begin? (c) What do people write on the lanterns? Give one example. (d) Which part of the evening has become the most important? (e) Give one task students have been asked to do this year.” Their response addresses only this point: “(a) By the canal (in the writer’s neighbourhood).” Evaluate the response against the complete 5-mark task. Identify what earns credit and state every additional requirement needed for full marks.
[5 marks] · no calculator - 5.
You recently took part in a family or community celebration for the first time. Write a text describing the experience and explaining what it taught you about the tradition. Choose one of these text types: diary entry, blog post, informal email. Write 250–400 words.
[6 marks] · no calculator - 6.
Marking analysis: A learner attempts the following task: “You recently took part in a family or community celebration for the first time. Write a text describing the experience and explaining what it taught you about the tradition. Choose one of these text types: diary entry, blog post, informal email. Write 250–400 words.” Their response addresses only this point: “Content (criterion B): describes the celebration with specific sensory or personal details.” Evaluate the response against the complete 6-mark task. Identify what earns credit and state every additional requirement needed for full marks.
[6 marks] · no calculator - 7.
Put each verb in brackets into the correct past form. “When we (1 arrive) at the airport, our flight (2 already / leave). We (3 wait) for six hours before the next one (4 depart).”
[4 marks] · no calculator - 8.
Marking analysis: A learner attempts the following task: “Put each verb in brackets into the correct past form. “When we (1 arrive) at the airport, our flight (2 already / leave). We (3 wait) for six hours before the next one (4 depart).”” Their response addresses only this point: “(1) arrived.” Evaluate the response against the complete 4-mark task. Identify what earns credit and state every additional requirement needed for full marks.
[4 marks] · no calculator - 9.
Read the short text “Hostel review”. “★★★☆☆ Great location, two minutes from the old town, and the staff were genuinely helpful when my bag was delayed. However, the dormitory was noisy until 2 a.m. and the Wi-Fi only worked in the lobby. Good value for a short stay, but light sleepers should look elsewhere.” (a) Identify the text type. (b) Give one positive and one negative point the writer makes. (c) Identify the word that marks the change from praise to criticism. (d) Who is the final sentence aimed at?
[4 marks] · no calculator - 10.
Marking analysis: A learner attempts the following task: “Read the short text “Hostel review”. “★★★☆☆ Great location, two minutes from the old town, and the staff were genuinely helpful when my bag was delayed. However, the dormitory was noisy until 2 a.m. and the Wi-Fi only worked in the lobby. Good value for a short stay, but light sleepers should look elsewhere.” (a) Identify the text type. (b) Give one positive and one negative point the writer makes. (c) Identify the word that marks the change from praise to criticism. (d) Who is the final sentence aimed at?” Their response addresses only this point: “(a) An online review (of a hostel).” Evaluate the response against the complete 4-mark task. Identify what earns credit and state every additional requirement needed for full marks.
[4 marks] · no calculator