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IGCSE First Language English Paper 11 — Nov 2023
GradedA
Grade
63/80
Score
79%
Percentage
Professor Sheldon
“A very commendable effort! Your comprehension skills are on full display. Focus on developing deeper analytical comments — that's your path to an A*.”
Q1(a)Comprehension1/1
Why this worked
Excellent direct retrieval of information. You correctly identified the precise word from the text that answered the question, avoiding the common mistake of adding unnecessary detail.
Q1(b)Inference2/2
Why this worked
Strong use of your own words. You successfully paraphrased both parts of the phrase, using 'Old' for 'ancient' and 'tradition' for 'cultures'. This shows you can break down a phrase and find synonyms for each component.
Q1(e)Vocabulary3/3
Why this worked
Excellent selection and synthesis of information. You correctly identified three separate reasons from the paragraph and expressed them concisely. You avoided the pitfall of just copying phrases directly from the text, showing good comprehension.
Q2(d)Language analysis11/15
How to improve
Marks Awarded: 11/15. This is a strong analysis, placing you in Level 4. You have successfully chosen three effective examples from each paragraph, including imagery, and provided clear explanations of their effects. Your analysis of personification in paragraph 4 ('shaky dance', 'disobedient suitcases') was particularly insightful.
You correctly identified that 'eerily silent' creates a “sense of terror for what has ahead” and that the personified luggage reflects the “frazzled nature of the passenger”.
Marks Lost: To reach the top level (Level 5), your analysis could be a little more detailed and precise throughout. For example, with 'ironic grimace', you could have explored the contrast between a smile ('grimace') and its insincerity ('ironic'), suggesting Edgar's cynical and world-weary attitude towards his job.
How to Improve: For each language choice, push your explanation one step further. After you've explained the meaning and basic effect, ask “What does this tell me about the character's attitude or the atmosphere of the place?” This will help you add more layers of meaning to your analysis.
Correct Answer: The mark scheme suggests for 'ironic grimace contorting his round face': > “unpleasant expression; forced smile; sarcastic/mocking attitude; feels superior to Jeswin”. Your analysis touched on the effect, but could have explored the specific feelings and attitudes of Edgar more deeply.
Topic to Revise: Developing analytical comments. Practice moving from identifying a device and its general meaning to explaining its specific contribution to character, atmosphere, and theme.
Q3Directed writing18/25
How to improve
Marks Awarded: 11/15 for Content (Reading) for a competent response that addresses all three bullet points with a good range of ideas drawn from the text. You adopted an appropriate voice for Edgar. 7/10 for Quality of Writing for a well-structured and mostly fluent report using a suitable formal register.
Marks Lost: To reach the top level, your evaluation of the problems could have been more thorough. You mentioned staff becoming irritable and passengers arguing, but you could have also included issues from the text like the confusing layout of the airport ('labyrinths') or problems with equipment (the 'shaky' trolleys).
Topic to Revise: Comprehensive text selection for directed writing. Practice re-reading a text with specific bullet points in mind, highlighting all possible details that could be used.
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