Mark Scheme

Section A — Reading

Exercise 1 (a) In the centre/heart of the city (town) [1]. (b) Any two of: swimming, tennis, football, dance classes (1 each) [2]. (c) At ten o'clock in the evening (10 p.m.) [1]. (d) 15 euros a month for a student (1); this is half / cheaper than the adult price of 30 euros (1) [2]. (e) Any one of: access to all the facilities; two lessons a week with a qualified coach (1) [1]. (f) Drinks and healthy meals [1]. (g) The first week is free [1]. (h) « au cœur de la ville » [1].

Exercise 2 (i) Learning to play the guitar (1); for a few months (1) [2]. (j) Her fingers hurt / it was difficult at first (1) [1]. (k) Once a week (1); a teacher who lives near her home (1) [2]. (l) Because the lessons are expensive/cost a lot (1) [1]. (m) She feels excited (1) and a bit stressed/nervous (1) [2]. (n) Form a band/group with friends (1) — later on (accept detail) (1) [2].

Exercise 3 (o) Any two of: recycle paper and plastic; turn off the lights when leaving a room (1 each) [2]. (p) A beach clean-up day (1) with his school/college (1) [2]. (q) He was shocked to see so much plastic in the sea (1) [1]. (r) A reusable bottle (1) [1]. (s) Governments should do more (1); but each person/individual can also act (1) [2]. (t) « à mon avis » [1]. (u) It would make a big difference (1) [1].

Section B — Writing

Exercise 4 (12 marks) — Marked for communication (up to 6) and language/accuracy (up to 6).

• Communication: cover the four required points (hobby + when started; two activities; opinion; future wish).
• Language: range and accuracy of vocabulary, structures and tenses (past for when you started, present for what you do, conditional/future for the future).
• Guidance: 10–12 = all points, mostly accurate, good range; 6–9 = most points, generally clear; 3–5 = some points, frequent errors; 0–2 = very limited.

Exercise 5 (18 marks) — Marked for content (up to 8), range of language (up to 6) and accuracy (up to 4).

• Content: all four bullet points addressed and developed.
• Range: variety of tenses (present, past, future/conditional), connectives (parce que, cependant, de plus), opinions (à mon avis, je pense que), and topic vocabulary.
• Accuracy: verb endings, gender/agreement, spelling.
• Guidance: 15–18 = all points developed, wide range, largely accurate; 10–14 = all/most points, generally clear; 5–9 = partly covered, limited range; 1–4 = very limited; 0 = nothing creditable.

Sample Answers with Examiner Commentary

Exercise 4 (Writing) — Sample Answers

Grade A response. "Salut ! Il y a trois mois, j'ai commencé à faire de la photographie. C'est un passe-temps que j'adore. Le week-end, je sors dans la nature pour prendre des photos d'animaux et de paysages, et le soir je modifie mes photos sur l'ordinateur. J'aime beaucoup la photographie parce que c'est créatif et relaxant. À l'avenir, j'aimerais participer à un concours de photographie et peut-être vendre quelques photos. Et toi, as-tu un passe-temps ? À bientôt !"

Mark: 11/12. Examiner commentary: An excellent response covering all four points clearly — the hobby and when it started, two activities, a reasoned opinion, and a future wish. The language is a real strength: the perfect tense is accurate ("j'ai commencé"), the present is used correctly for the regular activities, and the candidate moves into the conditional for the future ("j'aimerais participer... et vendre"). Vocabulary is varied and appropriate. It sits just below full marks only because one more complex structure would show the very top of the range.

Grade C response. "Salut ! Je fais du dessin. Je dessine des animaux et je regarde des vidéos. C'est bien. La prochaine fois je veux dessiner une personne. Au revoir."

Mark: 6/12. Examiner commentary: All four points are touched on, so the message communicates and earns a fair share of the content marks. The weaknesses are tense and development: the task asks when the hobby started, but there is no past tense, and the whole message is in a simple present with short sentences and little detail. The opinion ("c'est bien") is minimal. Adding when the hobby began (with a past tense), more detail on the activities, and a reason for the opinion would raise the mark noticeably.

Exercise 5 (Writing) — Sample Answers

Grade A response. "À mon avis, il est essentiel de protéger l'environnement, car c'est notre seule planète et nous devons la préserver pour les générations futures. Chez moi, ma famille et moi faisons beaucoup d'efforts : nous recyclons le verre et le papier, nous évitons le plastique et nous utilisons les transports en commun au lieu de la voiture.

Le problème qui m'inquiète le plus, c'est la pollution des océans, parce que le plastique tue beaucoup d'animaux marins et met des centaines d'années à disparaître.

Pour l'avenir, je pense que les gouvernements devraient interdire le plastique à usage unique et investir davantage dans les énergies renouvelables. Mais chacun de nous peut aussi agir. Si tout le monde faisait un petit effort, nous pourrions vraiment changer les choses."

Mark: 17/18. Examiner commentary: A near-perfect article. All four content points are covered and developed — a clear opinion with a reason, what the writer's family does, a specific environmental worry, and views on future action. The language shows real range: opinion phrases ("à mon avis", "je pense que"), several tenses (present, conditional "devraient/pourrions"), and connectives ("car", "parce que", "mais"). Accuracy is high throughout, including more ambitious structures. Only a slightly wider range of complex language separates it from full marks.

Grade C response. "Je suis d'accord. Il faut protéger l'environnement. Chez moi, nous recyclons le papier. Un problème est la pollution. C'est mauvais pour les animaux. Dans le futur, on doit faire plus et utiliser moins de plastique."

Mark: 10/18. Examiner commentary: The response addresses all four bullet points at a basic level, so it communicates and earns a mark in the middle band. The weaknesses are range and development. The sentences are short and almost all in the present tense, with few connectives and little detail — "un problème est la pollution... c'est mauvais pour les animaux" states the idea but does not develop it. There is no clear past or conditional. Adding another tense, longer sentences joined with connectives, and more detail on each point would raise the mark considerably.