UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
THE MATRICULATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
ARABIC
MAY 2010
EXAMINERS’ REPORT
MATRICULATION AND SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE
EXAMINATIONS BOARD
IM Examiners’ Report – May 2010
IM ARABIC
MAY 2010 SESSION
EXAMINERS’ REPORT
The examination consisted of Paper 1, and Paper II.
This year there were 2 candidates who sat for the examination.
The Grades obtained are shown in the following table:
Grade
Total
%
of
Total
A
-
B
-
C
-
D
-
E
-
F
2
100
Total
2
100
Paper 1 (part 1) Listening Comprehension (15 marks)
One of the candidates performed quite well in this section while the other candidate faired very
poorly. Although no serious spelling mistakes were noted, however none of the candidates were
able to produce complete correct answers. This shows that the candidates have difficulties with
their listening skills.
Paper 1 (part 2) Conversation (5 marks)
The candidates were asked to freely select a prepared topic out of seven topics to talk for a few
minutes with the examiner. Although the candidates performed quite well, they appeared to have
learned their chosen topic by heart. One of the candidates at times could not interact with the
examiner with full confidence and needed prompting. The candidates also lacked fluency and
correct intonation in their conversation.
PAPER II
Only one candidate sat for Paper II since the other candidate was absent for it.
Section 1 – Essay (40 marks)
The candidate’s essay was completely out of point and thus no marks could be allotted in this
section. Besides, this attempted essay was full of spelling mistakes and serious grammatical
errors that are not expected at this level.
Section 2 – Translation from English into Arabic (20 marks)
The candidate’s translation was weak in idiomatic expression, had grammatical errors, full of
serious spelling mistakes and lacked the appropriate vocabulary as required in the translation.
The examiners noted that in the translation not even the basic gist of the translation was
conveyed and thus candidate lost considerable marks in this section.
Section 3 – Translation from Arabic into English/Maltese – Set Book (20 marks)
Once again the candidate did not obtain full marks in this part of the examination. This translation
is always taken from a set book and set section within the same book, thus the examiners expect
the candidate to perform better since this is a seen or prepared translation. In spite of this given
2
IM Examiners’ Report – May 2010
advantage, the candidate produced a very poor translation, with important vocabulary either left
out or totally misinterpreted. Many key words or phrases were left out or improvised with other
words. But on the whole the very basic gist of the translation was conveyed.
Conclusion
The examiners are of the opinion that in general the candidates performed within an acceptable
level in the Listening Comprehension section and that the candidates need to be more trained in
their listening skills. The examiners noted that the major shortcomings were the lack of the right
vocabulary that the candidate should have used in the translations or essays together with a poor
syntax especially in the translation section. Unfortunately several spelling mistakes in the Essay
and in the English into Arabic translation were prominent throughout. Finally the examiners
reckon that the standard attained by the candidates for this level is far from satisfactory since the
candidates proved to lack important knowhow on the usage of the language.
The Chairperson
Board of Examiners
June 2010
3