Writing.samples.A1.Level

City & Guilds IESOL

Sample Writing Tasks at A1 Preliminary level

Introduction

The aim of this booklet is to familiarize teachers who prepare candidates for the City and Guilds ESOL examinations with tasks, performance samples, assessment criteria and benchmark performance samples.

The tasks and performance samples in the current material represent level A1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference . The CEFR levels and descriptors are embedded in every stage of the production and delivery of the International ESOL and Spoken ESOL tests and are also incorporated in the marking procedures.

The material includes sample tasks from former live tests and authentic performance samples produced by ESOL candidates. An attempt has been made to select samples which represent a wide variety of performance levels within the given CEFR level. All samples have been double marked to ensure that the evaluation criteria are rigorously followed and marking is consistent, accurate and reliable.

Marking the writing tasks

The current guide includes only the open writing tasks which are evaluated with the help of task-specific mark schemes.

Each level has a task-specific mark scheme with descriptors for Task fulfilment, Grammar, Vocabulary and Structure. The Task fulfilment mark reflects how far the candidate has achieved the task, the Grammar mark measures the range, appropriacy and accuracy of grammar, the Vocabulary mark assesses the range, accuracy and appropriacy of vocabulary as well as spelling accuracy. The Structure mark reflects how coherently ideas are linked in the text and how accurate the punctuation is.

There are four levels of performance with a corresponding mark in each of the above criteria: First Class Pass, Pass, Narrow Fail and Fail. The total marks awarded for the task are the sum of the marks awarded to each criterion.

The writing tasks are marked by trained markers who use the task-specific mark scheme for the evaluation of the tasks. The mark-schemes are regularly updated and markers are trained regularly to ensure that they are marking to standard.

Grading the Writing section

If a task has not been attempted, a zero mark should be awarded for that task.

Once each Writing task has been marked, an overall mark is awarded for the Writing section. This overall mark is translated into one of the following grades:

Fail, Narrow Fail, Pass or First Class Pass

Maximum marks for each writing task

Part 1 completing a form Maximum mark: 12

Part 2 identifying correct punctuation Maximum mark: 5

Part 3 writing to produce four sentences on specified topic Maximum mark: 12

Part 4 writing to produce a simple text for a specified reader. Maximum mark: 12

Grade table for Writing section for A1

Grade Total marks: 34

FCP 28-34

PASS 17-27

NF 15-16

F 0-14

Spelling and capitalisation

American spelling is accepted if used consistently. Inappropriate use of capital letters is generally not penalised unless spelling is the focus of the task.

Over and under length answers

The Task Fulfilment criterion with seriously under length answers will probably attract a score of 1 or 0 as there will most likely be no or little expansion of the topic.

Answers which are seriously over length are awarded one mark less for the Task fulfilment criterion than would otherwise have been awarded.

Writing - Tasks

Preliminary Level – (A1)

Skills and focus Format

Writing 1: complete a form with personal details Complete the form

Writing 2: Identify correct punctuation Circle the letter of the correct option

Writing 3: simple sentences to communicate ideas or basic information

Write four sentences

Writing 4: short simple text for an intended audience Write 20 – 30 words

Parts 1 and 2 are marked in accordance with paper-specific mark schemes.

Writing – Marking

CEFR Overall Written Production descriptor

A1

Can write simple isolated phrases and sentences.

CEFR descriptors related to assessment criteria

Task Fulfilment Grammar Vocabulary Structure

A1

Can write simple phrases and sentences about themselves and imaginary people, where they live and what they do.

Shows only limited control of a few simple grammatical structures and sentence patterns in a memorised repertoire. Errors may cause misunderstandings.

Has a very basic repertoire of words and simple phrases related to personal details and particular concrete situations.

Can link words or groups of words with very basic linear connectors like ‘and’ and ‘then’.

Marking Writing Part 3

Writing to produce four sentences on specified topi c: 20-40 words.

Public Version Mark scheme A1 - Part 3


3

First Class Pass

Four sentences on topic AND all complete sentences.

Mostly accurate

Few serious errors of vocabulary usage (appropriacy and spelling).

Overall text organisation completely appropriate for task. Attempts at textual cohesion and accurate punctuation.

2

Pass

Four sentences on topic AND at least three complete sentences.

Some serious errors, though meaning still clear.

Some serious errors of vocabulary usage though meaning is still clear.

Text written in complete sentences, organised appropriately for the text form and mostly accurate punctuation.

1

Narrow Fail

Only three sentences on topic OR only two complete sentences.

Many serious errors, some difficult to follow.

Many serious errors of vocabulary usage resulting in text being sometimes difficult to follow.

A series of phrases, not sentences. Poor punctuation.

0

Fail

Less than three sentences on topic OR less than two complete sentences.

Little language

Little language present or usage so poor as to make the text almost impossible to follow.

No clear system

Marking Writing Part 4

Writing to produce a simple text for a specified re ader: 20-40 words.

Public Version Mark scheme A1 - Part 4


3

First Class Pass

On topic. Effort to develop topic beyond rubric.

Mostly accurate

Few serious errors of vocabulary usage (appropriacy and spelling).

Overall text organisation completely appropriate for task. Attempts at textual cohesion and accurate punctuation.

2

Pass

On topic –mentions two relevant points.

Some serious errors, though meaning still clear.

Some serious errors of vocabulary usage though meaning is still clear.

Text written in complete sentences, organised appropriately for the text form and mostly accurate punctuation.

1

Narrow Fail

On topic mentions one relevant point.

Many serious errors, sometimes difficult to follow.

Many serious errors of vocabulary usage resulting in text being sometimes difficult to follow.

A series of phrases, not sentences. Poor punctuation.

0

Fail Off topic

Little language

Little language present or usage so poor as to make the text almost impossible to follow.

No clear system.

Sample answers and scores with examiner’s comments

A1 Preliminary Writing Part 3

Write four sentences about your best friend. Write between 20 and 40 words.

Sample answer 1

My best friend’s name is Nick. He leoves next to my house. We have the same hobbies: gardening, going to the sea-side, playing tennis. He is good at playing guitar.

Score

Task Fulfilment Grammar Vocabulary Structure Total

3 3 3 3 12

Examiner’s comments

A good attempt that meets the formal requirements on the number of sentences and words.

Grammar structures are used accurately. The piece demonstrates an appropriate range of vocabulary with one major spelling mistake of the word “live” misspelt as “leove”. Although the listing of activities in the third sentence could be improved with the connective “and” before the final element, there is reasonable cohesion within and between the sentences.

Sample answer 2

My best friend is Frank. He is a very lind person. He likes to fly, and practice sport, every week.

Score


1 3 2 2 8


Fails to fully meet the formal requirements of the task writing only three sentences instead of four - thus producing the minimum number of words required. Beyond that the text is clear and coherent. Grammar structures are at the appropriate level and precisely used. There is a reasonable range of vocabulary produced with one single misspelling („lind” instead of „kind”), probably due to carelessness. The sentences are complete, the last even compound with two minor mistakes in punctuation (two commas in the last sentence).

Sample answer 3

My best friend is John, he is tnee and thin and he is a policeman. He likes his one has gun. We dugs go out together in the eving.

Score


1 1 1 1 4


A very poor attempt. The text consists of 3 sentences instead of 4, of which only the first sentence conveys actual message. Due to the impeding errors in grammar (third person “–s” after a plural pronoun), vocabulary (“dug go out”), spelling (“tnee”), as well as the random combination of words in the second sentence, the rest of the text is either very difficult to follow or incomprehensible.

Sample answers and scores with examiner’s comments

A1 Preliminary Writing Part 4

You are writing to a friend. Tell him/her about your new job. Describe where you work.

Write between 15 and 25 words.

Sample answer 1

Dear Nick,

I am writing to tell you about my new job. I work as a waiter to a moder bar in the centre of the city. I like this job because I can speak to lot of people.

Love

Raffael.

Score


3 3 3 3 12


It goes beyond the word limit to an extent for which the candidate could be penalized. On the whole it demonstrates mastery of English above the level expected both in vocabulary and coherence. Grammar usage is accurate; there is only one careless misspelling of the word “modern” and one mistake in punctuation (full stop after the name in the closing).

Sample answer 2

Dear friend,

Now, I have a new job. I work in a school, it is has many students. My work is to computers repair.

Score


2 2 2 2 8


A fair attempt written on the topic though it does not go beyond the rubric. The first two sentences are accurately formed and clear. The third sentence has a serious error in word order, although the reader will still get the meaning. It demonstrates the vocabulary range expected.

Sample answer 3

Dear Nicola,

how are you? I am fine. I have a new job since last month. I am an office worker in a high school.

Score


1 2 2 2 7


Although the length of the answer is just acceptable, the task/letter is incomplete. There are noticeable errors in the script (lack of capital letter after the opening greeting and wrong tense used with ‘since’), even if they do not impede communication.

Writing.samples.A1.Level

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