CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education

MARK SCHEME for the October/November 2014 series

0500 FIRST LANGUAGE ENGLISH

0500/22 Paper 2 (Reading Passages – Extended),
maximum raw mark 50

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of
the examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not
indicate the details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began,
which would have considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner
Report for Teachers.

Cambridge will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2014 series for
most Cambridge IGCSE®, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some
Cambridge O Level components.

® IGCSE is the registered trademark of Cambridge International Examinations.

 Page 2 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – October/November 2014 0500 22

Note: All Examiners are instructed that alternative correct answers and unexpected
approaches in candidates’ scripts must be given marks that fairly reflect the relevant
knowledge and skills demonstrated. Nonetheless, the content must be clearly related to and
derived from the passage.

Question 1

This question tests Reading Objectives R1–R3 (15 marks):

• understand and collate explicit meanings
• understand, explain and collate implicit meanings and attitudes
• select, analyse and evaluate what is relevant to specific purposes.

AND Writing Objectives W1–W5 (5 marks):

• articulate experience and express what is thought, felt and imagined

• order and present facts, ideas and opinions
• understand and use a range of appropriate vocabulary
• use language and register appropriate to audience and context
• make accurate and effective use of paragraphs, grammatical structures, sentences,
punctuation and spelling.

Imagine that you are the new head teacher in Passage A. You address the staff on the first
day of the next term.
Write what you say to them.

You should:

• describe what you have noticed about the students in this school
• explain how the staff have contributed to the poor ethos of the school
• present and justify your three-point plan for improving the school during the coming
year.

Base your writing on what you have read in Passage A. Address all three bullet points. Be
careful to use your own words.
Begin with the words, ‘The impressions that I have formed of this school...’
Write between 1½ and 2 sides, allowing for the size of your handwriting.

Up to 15 marks are available for the content of your answer, and up to 5 marks for the quality
of your writing. [20]

General notes:

Candidates should select ideas from the passage (see below) and develop them relevantly,
supporting what they write with details from the passage and judging the appropriate register for the
genre, which is a talk to teachers, one’s colleagues.

Look for a clear and balanced response which covers the three areas of the question, is well
sequenced, and is in the candidate’s own words.

© Cambridge International Examinations 2014

 Page 3 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – October/November 2014 0500 22

Responses might use the following ideas:

A1: What you have noticed about the students in this school:
• Like to talk and act (drama) det: production [dev: get involved when given opportunity].
• Dislike reading and writing [dev: are capable of it though].
• Reluctant to do homework / lack work ethic det: sketchy response, little time taken.
• Poor results in exams [dev: have noticed better results in one or two areas recently].
• Behaviour is an issue, det: rowdy in some lessons and in the corridors / obedient in others.
• Lack of concentration / interest [dev: though editorial team proves it can be inspired].
• Resent school rules / uniform, det: tyrannical / ugly.
• Magazine evidence of creativity / humour / irreverence / ridiculing / bullying, det: photo of
deputy head.
[Development is likely to be judgements about what headteacher has noticed e.g. potential to do
better.]

A2: How the staff has contributed to the poor ethos of the school:
• Lazy / work to rule, det: do not set homework, do not police corridors, go home quickly at
the end of the day.
• Poor team work / poor communication, det: infrequent meetings.
• Ineffective management, det: head / head of department not likely to leave their own offices
/ visit new teacher / go to school play / buy a magazine, [dev: lack of support for young staff].
• Show little interest / pride in surroundings / classrooms messy, det: don’t create attractive
displays.
• Uninspiring teaching methods [det: make children copy things out to keep them quiet, read
newspapers in class].
• Low expectations of students, det: examination perfomance, rehearsals.
• Ineffective classroom managers, det: do not always keep order / shout at students.
• No sense of fun / humour, det: against making the school ‘lively’, magazine confiscated.
• Staff have been there too long / stale, det: some had spent their whole career in the school
[dev: defeatest attitude / resistant to change].
[Development is likely to be explanation of how / why the behaviour of staff might have affected
students e.g. set bad example.]

A3: Present and justify your three-point plan for improving the school:
Note: the idea of only three points is to encourage good candidates to explain and
develop, rather than to list. Credit all relevant ideas offered.
• Improve teaching: Staff to be energetic, interested, inspiring in class using proper teaching
methods.
• Expand / encourage extra curricular activities: Staff to contribute to the life of the school,
including dramatic productions and school publications (allow candidates to add, for
example, sporting activities, and school trips).
• Improve exam results: Have higher expectations of students’ performance in exams.
• Improve conduct of pupils: Change attitudes to school rules, staff to challenge instances of
bad behaviour.
• Establish a work ethic / find ways to motivate students: meaningful homework is to be
set and steps taken to ensure that it is done properly.
• Improve the school environment visually: All classrooms to be neat, tidy and bright,
improved displays etc., and the general appearance of the school to be improved, for
example by repainting / improving the ‘ugly’ uniform.
• Improve management: Support staff, schedule more frequent meetings.
[Development is likely to be in terms of details of how this might happen and why it might be
necessary or desirable in this school (justification) e.g. parental reactions.]

© Cambridge International Examinations 2014

Page 4 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – October/November 2014 0500 22

Marking Criteria for Question 1

A CONTENT (EXTENDED TIER)

Use the following table to give a mark out of 15.

Band 1: The response reveals a thorough reading of the passage. Developed ideas are
13–15 sustained and well related to the passage. A wide range of ideas is applied. There is
supporting detail throughout, which is well integrated into the response, contributing to
a strong sense of purpose and approach. All three bullets are well covered. A
consistent and convincing voice is used.

Band 2: The response demonstrates a competent reading of the passage. A good range of
10–12 ideas is evident. Some ideas are developed, but the ability to sustain them may not be
consistent. There is frequent, helpful supporting detail, contributing to a clear sense of
purpose. All three bullets are covered. An appropriate voice is used.

Band 3: The passage has been read reasonably well. A range of straightforward ideas is
7–9 offered. Opportunities for development are rarely taken. Supporting detail is present
but there may be some mechanical use of the passage. There is uneven focus on the
bullets. The voice is plain.

Band 4: There is some evidence of general understanding of the main ideas, although the
4–6 response may be thin or in places lack focus on the passage or the question. Some
brief, straightforward reference to the passage is made. There may be some reliance
on lifting from the text. One of the bullets may not be addressed. The voice might be
inappropriate.

Band 5: The response is either very general, with little reference to the passage, or a
1–3 reproduction of sections of the original. Content is either insubstantial or unselective.
There is little realisation of the need to modify material from the passage.

Band 6: There is little or no relevance to the question or to the passage.

0

© Cambridge International Examinations 2014

Page 5 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – October/November 2014 0500 22

B QUALITY OF WRITING: STRUCTURE AND ORDER, STYLE OF LANGUAGE (EXTENDED

TIER)

Use the following table to give a mark out of 5.

Band 1: The language of the response has character and sounds convincing and consistently
5 appropriate. Ideas are firmly expressed in a wide range of effective and / or interesting
language. Structure and sequence are sound throughout.

Band 2: Language is mostly fluent and there is clarity of expression. There is a sufficient range
4 of vocabulary to express ideas with subtlety and precision, and to give an indication of
the personality of the character. The response is mainly well structured and well
sequenced.

Band 3: Language is clear and appropriate, but comparatively plain and / or factual, expressing
3 little opinion. Ideas are rarely extended, but explanations are adequate. Some sections
are quite well sequenced but there may be flaws in structure.

Band 4: There may be some awkwardness of expression and some inconsistency of style.
2 Language is too limited to express shades of meaning. There is structural weakness
and there may be some copying from the passage.

Band 5: There are problems of expression and structure. Language is weak and undeveloped.
1 There is little attempt to explain ideas. There may be frequent copying from the
original.

Band 6: 0 Sentence structures and language are unclear and the response is difficult to follow.

© Cambridge International Examinations 2014

 Page 6 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – October/November 2014 0500 22

Question 2

This question tests Reading Objective R4 (10 marks):

• understand how writers achieve effects.

Re-read the descriptions of

(a) the school magazine and the reactions to it in paragraph 4, beginning ‘I also allowed the
senior students…’;

(b) the head of department and his room in paragraph 8, beginning ‘Because he left me to
my own devices…’.

Select words and phrases from these descriptions, and explain how the writer has created
effects by using this language.

Write between 1 and 1 ½ sides, allowing for the size of your handwriting. Up to 10 marks are
available for the content of your answer. [10]

General notes:

This question is marked for the ability to select evocative or unusual words and for an understanding
of ways in which the language is effective. Expect responses to provide words that carry connotations
additional to general meaning.

Mark for the overall quality of the response, not for the number of words chosen, bearing in mind that
a range of choices is required to demonstrate an understanding of how language works, and that
these should include images. Do not take marks off for inaccurate statements; simply ignore them. It
is the quality of the analysis that attracts marks.

The following notes are a guide to what good responses might say about the selections. They can
make any sensible comment, but only credit those that are relevant to the correct meanings of the
words in the context and that have some validity. Alternative acceptable explanations should be
credited.

© Cambridge International Examinations 2014

Page 7 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – October/November 2014 0500 22

(a) The school magazine and reactions to it in paragraph 4

The general effect is that the magazine is deliberately provocative in its humour, inciting
uprising against an overly repressive regime.

Gaudy: The bright but tasteless colours contrast with the head of department’s brown room.
Screamed (image): Emphasises the brightness of the colours and suggests that they roused
the students, excited / provocative / demanding attention of sleepy readers.
‘Action!’: The punctuation suggests that someone is shouting the word as a command.
Made fun: ridicules but in a relatively harmless way, suggests the reaction to the magazine
is disproportionate.
Uproarious: provoking a very strong reaction, riotous, as if everyone laughed remarkably
loudly.
Like a Roman senator (image): Suggests ridiculous solemnity, imperiousness; she is
something out of place and old fashioned.
Denounced as tyrannical: the language of condemnation with political overtones.
Journalistic exaggeration, but criticising school leadership seen as autocratic.
Attacked: strong feeling, war like, confrontational, rebellious.
Like a flash of lightning (image): That they sold out instantly. Suggests dramatic impact.
Ferocious thunderstorm (image): After the lightning comes the powerfully negative
reaction of the staff (inevitable after a flash of lightning). Divine retribution.

(b) The head of department and his room in paragraph 8

The general effect of this description is of a jaded, dull head of department hiding and
avoiding notice.

Secreted: literally ‘hidden away’, concealed deliberately, as if his existence was a secret.
Cosy little nest (image): suggests that he surrounded himself with things that made him
comfortable and safe, in hibernation.
Sort of enlarged stockroom: as if he too is in storage, hoarding books.
Maze of tortuous passages (image): an intricate, confusing network of winding ways.
Narrow rows (image): military, restricted, confined.
Shabby: suggests old and falling apart, taking away the life of the room.
Faded sepia: a dull shade of brown, associated with the past, but ‘faded’ suggests that it has
no longer any impact.
The colour of biscuit (image): another shade of brown suggesting no visual impact,
association with tea breaks.
Dressed in beige: the head of department is dressed in a third shade of unimposing brown,
he does not stand out, is not easily seen.
Camouflaged (image): suggests not only that he had faded into his room, but that he
wished not to be seen, perhaps by the enemy (who could be the students or other members
of staff).
Mournfully: Suggests melancholy, sadness, a defeated / wistful / sorrowful character.

Only credit comments on stylistic effect where explicitly linked to choices.

© Cambridge International Examinations 2014

 Page 8 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – October/November 2014 0500 22

Marking Criteria for Question 2

READING

Use the following table to give a mark out of 10.

Band 1: Wide ranging discussion of language with some high quality comments that add
9–10 meaning and associations to words in both parts of the question, and demonstrate the
writer's reasons for using them. May give an overview of the paragraph’s combined
effect, or comment on language features additional to vocabulary. Tackles imagery
with some precision and imagination. There is clear evidence that the candidate
understands how language works.

Band 2: Reference is made to a number of words and phrases, and explanations are given and
7–8 effects identified in both parts of the question. Images are recognised as such and the
response goes some way to explaining them. There is some evidence that the
candidate understands how language works.

Band 3: A satisfactory attempt is made to identify appropriate words and phrases. The
5–6 response mostly gives meanings of words and any attempt to suggest and explain
effects is basic or very general. One half of the question may be better answered than
the other.

Band 4: The response provides a mixture of appropriate choices and words that communicate
3–4 less well. The response may correctly identify linguistic devices but not explain why
they are used. Explanations may be few, general, slight or only partially effective. They
may repeat the language of the original or do not refer to specific words.

Band 5: The choice of words is sparse or rarely relevant and any comments are inappropriate
1–2 or the response is very thin.

Band 6: The response does not relate to the question. Inappropriate words and phrases are
0 chosen or none are selected.

© Cambridge International Examinations 2014

 Page 9 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – October/November 2014 0500 22

Question 3

This question tests Reading Objectives R1–R3 (15 marks):

• understand and collate explicit meanings

• understand, explain and collate implicit meanings and attitudes
• select, analyse and evaluate what is relevant to specific purposes.

AND Writing Objectives W1–W5 (5 marks):

• articulate experience and express what is thought, felt and imagined

• order and present facts, ideas and opinions
• understand and use a range of appropriate vocabulary
• use language and register appropriate to audience and context
• make accurate and effective use of paragraphs, grammatical structures, sentences,
punctuation and spelling.

Summarise:

(a) the advantages and disadvantages of attending evening classes, as described in

Passage B;

(b) the reasons why the writer felt pleased with her job, as described in Passage A.

Your summary must be in continuous writing (full sentences; not note form). Use your own
words as far as possible. Aim to write no more than one side in total, allowing for the size of
your handwriting.

Up to 15 marks are available for the content of your answer, and up to 5 marks for the quality
of your writing. [20]

© Cambridge International Examinations 2014

Page 10 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – October/November 2014 0500 22

A CONTENT

Give 1 mark per point up to a maximum of 15.

(a) Advantages and disadvantages of attending evening classes, as described in

Passage B

Reward a point about:

Advantages:
1: Improved qualifications / skills updated / renovated (accept improve English)
2: Improves / safeguards employment prospects
3: Being able to work / continue earning by day and learn by night
4: Keeping lively / young in attitude
5: Forgetting unpleasant happenings at work

Disadvantages:
6: Being tired during the lessons / not concentrating
7: Inconsistent teaching
8: Having to re-sit examinations (accept failing exams)
9: Going through crowded streets / rush hour to get to the class
10: Stress / anxiety about being late
11: Missing classes (because of the rains / weather)
12: Late home / missing dinner / missing family time
13: Unable to fulfil family duties

(b) Why the writer felt pleased with her job, as described in Passage A

Reward a point about:

14: Relationship with students

15: The (successful) production
16: Magazine sold out / had an impact / was successful
17: Editorial team worked hard on magazine
18: Her first examination results
19: Parental support / positive reaction from parents
20: Improved work from her students
21: Attractive displays in her classroom
22: Her friend / having a giggle
23: New headteacher / change imminent

Examiners should decide whether understanding of a point has been expressed sufficiently
clearly for it to be rewarded. Be aware that there will be a great variety of expression, and be
prepared to give the benefit of the doubt in borderline cases.

© Cambridge International Examinations 2014

Page 11 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – October/November 2014 0500 22

Marking Criteria for Question 3

B QUALITY OF WRITING: CONCISION, FOCUS AND WRITING IN OWN WORDS

Use the following table to give a mark out of 5.

Band 1: Both parts of the summary are well focused on the passage and the question. All points
5 are expressed clearly, concisely and fluently, and in own words (where appropriate)
throughout.

Band 2: Most points are made clearly and concisely. Own words (where appropriate) are used
4 consistently. The summary is mostly focused but may have an introduction or
conclusion.

Band 3: There are some areas of concision. There may be occasional loss of focus or clarity.
3 Own words (where appropriate) are used for most of the summary.

Band 4: The summary is sometimes focused, but it may include comment, repetition, explanation
2 or lifted phrases. It may exceed the permitted length.

Band 5: The summary is unfocused, wordy or overlong. It may be answered in the wrong form
1 (e.g. narrative or commentary). There may be frequent lifting of phrases and sentences.

Band 6: Excessive lifting; no focus; excessively long.

0

It is important that candidates follow the instruction about writing a side in total for the summary,
allowing for the size of the handwriting. The guidelines are as follows: large handwriting is
approximately five words per line, average handwriting is eight / nine words per line, and small
handwriting is eleven and more. Typed scripts consist of approximately 15 words per line. Allowing for
the size of the handwriting, a response is considered long if it goes up to 11/4 pages; overlong if it
reaches 11/2 pages; excessively long if more than 11/2 pages.

N.B.:
If a response is a copy of most or all of the passage, or consists entirely of the words of the passage
(even in note form), then follow the procedure below.
• Mark the points as usual, add them up and take away a half of the marks gained (round up
any half marks).
• Give 0 marks for writing.
Thus, a candidate who, by copying a large body of the passage word for word, or almost so, gets all
15 points for content will score 8 + 0 out of 20.

Do not, however, follow the above procedure for responses which incorporate sections of the
passage but also include their own words, even where the response is a close paraphrase. In this
case, use the band descriptors for content and quality of writing.

N.B. 2:
If a response is in note form but in the candidate’s own words, mark the points as usual, add them up
and take away a third of the marks gained (round up any half marks). Give 1 mark for Writing.

© Cambridge International Examinations 2014