TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Level 5 exemplar 1
Level 5 exemplar 2
Level 4 exemplar 1
Level 4 exemplar 2
Level 3 exemplar 1
Level 3 exemplar 2
Level 2 exemplar 1
Level 2 exemplar 2
Level 1 exemplar 1
Level 1 exemplar 2
INTRODUCTION
To enhance understanding of the standards of the HKDSE Examination, authentic samples of candidates’
scripts in the 2019 examination are selected to form this set of exemplars which serve to illustrate the
typical performance standards at different levels.
There are four papers in this subject. This set of exemplars is selected from candidates’ scripts of
Paper 3 to illustrate the typical performance standards at different levels.
It is advisable to read this set of exemplars together with the question papers and the marking schemes
in order to understand the requirements of the questions and the marking criteria. The question papers
and the marking schemes are published in the 2019 HKDSE Question Papers booklet (with marking
schemes and comments on candidates’ performance).
1
Level 5 exemplar 1
Part A Task 1
2
Level 5 exemplar 1
Part A Task 1
3
Level 5 exemplar 1
Part A Task 2
4
Level 5 exemplar 1
Part A Task 3
5
Level 5 exemplar 1
Part A Task 3
6
Level 5 exemplar 1
Part A Task 4
7
Level 5 exemplar 1
Part A Task 4
8
Level 5 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 8
9
Level 5 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 8
10
Level 5 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 8
11
Level 5 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 9
12
Level 5 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 9
13
Level 5 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 10
14
Level 5 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 10
15
Level 5 exemplar 1
Comments
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The candidate shows a good comprehension of all listening tasks in Part 3A including those
which include complex texts with an elaborated argument or expressed attitudes.
The candidate interprets all Data File instructions appropriately and has included most
relevant information in the texts created.
The candidate uses a wide range of written sentence structures and demonstrates an ability to
skillfully manipulate the Data File material.
The candidate’s writing is generally accurate, although by no means error-free. Most
noticeably in some low-grade frequent minor errors. However. any errors that occur do not
affect meaning.
Register, tone and style are generally appropriate to the tasks. The candidate shows a good
ability to adapt language for the different genres in Tasks 8 and 10. This is less the case,
however, in in Task 9.
The organisation is coherent throughout, though Task 9 is less well organised.
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Level 5 exemplar 2
Part A Task 1
17
Level 5 exemplar 2
Part A Task 1
18
Level 5 exemplar 2
Part A Task 2
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Level 5 exemplar 2
Part A Task 3
20
Level 5 exemplar 2
Part A Task 3
21
Level 5 exemplar 2
Part A Task 4
22
Level 5 exemplar 2
Part A Task 4
23
Level 5 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 8
24
Level 5 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 8
25
Level 5 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 8
26
Level 5 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 9
27
Level 5 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 9
28
Level 5 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 10
29
Level 5 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 10
30
Level 5 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 10
31
Level 5 exemplar 2
Comments




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
The candidate shows a good comprehension of all listening tasks in Part 3A including those
which include complex texts with an elaborated argument or expressed attitudes.
The candidate interprets all Data File instructions appropriately and has included most
relevant information in the texts created.
The candidate uses a wide range of written sentence structures and demonstrates a good
ability to skillfully manipulate the Data File material.
The candidate’s writing is generally accurate though errors are certainly evident. However any
errors that occur do not affect meaning.
Register, tone and style are generally appropriate to the tasks, though the candidate does not
fully reflect the text types, audience or purpose of the text in Task 9.
The organisation of the texts is very clear throughout though there is an overreliance on
formal sentence-initial connectives.
32
Level 4 exemplar 1
Part A Task 1
33
Level 4 exemplar 1
Part A Task 1
34
Level 4 exemplar 1
Part A Task 2
35
Level 4 exemplar 1
Part A Task 3
36
Level 4 exemplar 1
Part A Task 3
37
Level 4 exemplar 1
Part A Task 4
38
Level 4 exemplar 1
Part A Task 4
39
Level 4 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 8
40
Level 4 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 8
41
Level 4 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 9
42
Level 4 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 10
43
Level 4 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 10
44
Level 4 exemplar 1
Comments

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The candidate shows a good comprehension of all listening tasks in Part 3A including though
less so in Task 4, which contains complex responses elaborated arguments and/or expressed
attitudes.
The candidate manages to follow the Data File instructions appropriately and includes most
relevant information across the three tasks.
In terms of manipulation of the Data File material, this candidate shows a good ability to
integrate material and convey meaning. However, there is quite a lot of copying from the data
file affecting coherence at times.
Register, tone and style are generally appropriate for the task with the candidate showing
some ability to adapt language for the genre, though the fact that this candidate copies
frequently from the Data File material affects consistency of style.
The organisation is generally coherent. However, the candidate tends to rely on
paragraph-initial connectives (see particularly Task 8), some of which are inappropriate for
the genre.
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Level 4 exemplar 2
Part A Task 1
46
Level 4 exemplar 2
Part A Task 1
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Level 4 exemplar 2
Part A Task 2
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Level 4 exemplar 2
Part A Task 3
49
Level 4 exemplar 2
Part A Task 3
50
Level 4 exemplar 2
Part A Task 4
51
Level 4 exemplar 2
Part A Task 4
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Level 4 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 8
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Level 4 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 8
54
Level 4 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 9
55
Level 4 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 10
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Level 4 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 10
57
Level 4 exemplar 2
Comments


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
The candidate shows a good comprehension of all listening tasks in Part 3A including those
which include complex texts with an elaborated argument, narrative or expressed attitudes.
The candidate manages to follow the Data File instructions appropriately.
In terms of the manipulation of Data File material, this candidate shows a good ability to
integrate material and convey meaning. The candidate’s use of language can be characterised
as being rather simple but accurate.
Register, tone and style are generally appropriate and s/he shows a good awareness of the task
setting and audience, especially in Task 10. Task 8 could have been more concise.
The organisation is generally coherent.
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Level 3 exemplar 1
Part A Task 1
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Level 3 exemplar 1
Part A Task 1
60
Level 3 exemplar 1
Part A Task 2
61
Level 3 exemplar 1
Part A Task 3
62
Level 3 exemplar 1
Part A Task 3
63
Level 3 exemplar 1
Part A Task 4
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Level 3 exemplar 1
Part A Task 4
65
Level 3 exemplar 1
Part B1 Task 5
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Level 3 exemplar 1
Part B1 Task 6
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Level 3 exemplar 1
Part B1 Task 7
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Level 3 exemplar 1
Comments
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The candidate shows a good comprehension of the more straightforward listening tasks in
Part 3A. However, this is less evident in Task 4 where candidates were required to process
some complex information.
The candidate locates most relevant information from this the easier B1 Data File.
In terms of manipulation of language from the Data File, this candidate makes a good attempt
to integrate the material. His/her own sentence structures contain quite frequent errors though
these do not generally affect understanding.
The candidate does quite well at maintaining the correct register, tone and style are evident,
across the three tasks.
The organisation is clear in both Tasks 6 and 7.
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Level 3 exemplar 2
Part A Task 1
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Level 3 exemplar 2
Part A Task 1
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Level 3 exemplar 2
Part A Task 2
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Level 3 exemplar 2
Part A Task 3
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Level 3 exemplar 2
Part A Task 3
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Level 3 exemplar 2
Part A Task 4
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Level 3 exemplar 2
Part A Task 4
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Level 3 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 8
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Level 3 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 8
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Level 3 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 9
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Level 3 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 9
80
Level 3 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 10
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Level 3 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 10
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Level 3 exemplar 2
Comments
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The candidate shows a good comprehension of the more straightforward listening tasks in
Part 3A, although this is less evident in the more challenging items in Task 4.
The candidate locates quite a lot of the relevant information from the Data File.
In terms of manipulation of language from the Data File, this candidate is reasonably
successful in adapting material from the Data File, although s/he could have done much better
in this aspect.
As regards his/her own sentence structures, there are frequent quite basic errors throughout,
sometimes affecting understanding.
The candidate shows some awareness of register, tone and style, though Tasks 8 and 9 in
particular often read like a series of answers for a reading comprehension rather than a
coherent text.
The effectiveness of the organisation is reasonable though s/he does sometimes over rely on
paragraph-initial connectives.
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Level 2 exemplar 1
Part A Task 1
84
Level 2 exemplar 1
Part A Task 1
85
Level 2 exemplar 1
Part A Task 2
86
Level 2 exemplar 1
Part A Task 3
87
Level 2 exemplar 1
Part A Task 3
88
Level 2 exemplar 1
Part A Task 4
89
Level 2 exemplar 1
Part A Task 4
90
Level 2 exemplar 1
Part B1 Task 5
91
Level 2 exemplar 1
Part B1 Task 6
92
Level 2 exemplar 1
Part B1 Task 7
93
Level 2 exemplar 1
Comments

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
The candidate shows some comprehension of the more straightforward listening tasks in Part
3A. S/he shows less understanding of the more complex tasks.
The candidate locates most of the relevant information from the easier B1 Data File.
In terms of language, this candidate makes frequent basic errors which often affect
understanding, although s/he generally manages to convey the basic meaning.
The candidate does show some good awareness of audience, genre and the purpose of each
task and attempts to vary his/her language accordingly. However, register, tone and style are
inconsistent overall.
The candidate organises his/her writing reasonably well, though there is an overreliance on
paragraph-initial enumerators.
94
Level 2 exemplar 2
Part A Task 1
95
Level 2 exemplar 2
Part A Task 1
96
Level 2 exemplar 2
Part A Task 2
97
Level 2 exemplar 2
Part A Task 3
98
Level 2 exemplar 2
Part A Task 3
99
Level 2 exemplar 2
Part A Task 4
100
Level 2 exemplar 2
Part A Task 4
101
Level 2 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 8
102
Level 2 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 8
103
Level 2 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 9
104
Level 2 exemplar 2
Part B2 Task 10
105
Level 2 exemplar 2
Comments





The candidate shows some comprehension of the more straightforward listening tasks in Part
3A. S/he shows less understanding of the more complex tasks.
The candidate locates a lot of the relevant information from the Data File though this is less
than satisfactory in all three tasks.
In terms of language, this candidate makes frequent basic errors and tends to use short simple
sentence structures.
Register, tone and style are inconsistent, often due to copying. The candidate does show quite
good awareness of audience, genre and the purpose of each task.
The candidate is reasonably successful in organising his/her writing at the macro level.
However, within the paragraphs or section his/her writing is characterised by being a series of
seemingly isolated statements.
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Level 1 exemplar 1
Part A Task 1
107
Level 1 exemplar 1
Part A Task 1
108
Level 1 exemplar 1
Part A Task 2
109
Level 1 exemplar 1
Part A Task 3
110
Level 1 exemplar 1
Part A Task 3
111
Level 1 exemplar 1
Part A Task 4
112
Level 1 exemplar 1
Part A Task 4
113
Level 1 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 8
114
Level 1 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 8
115
Level 1 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 8
116
Level 1 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 9
117
Level 1 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 9
118
Level 1 exemplar 1
Part B2 Task 10
119
Level 1 exemplar 1
Comments
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This candidate shows some understanding of some straightforward explicit information in 3A
but very little in Tasks 3 and 4.
S/he includes some relevant information, in each of the three tasks but this is infrequent in
comparison to the array of irrelevant information included.
The candidate frequently copies verbatim from the Data File, sometimes seemingly
indiscriminately. On occasions when s/he uses his/her own language, it is difficult to
understand.
There is no real evidence of an ability to adapt tone or register.
There is an attempt at organising the texts in tasks at the macro level. However within the
paragraphs the writing is characterised as by being a string of unconnected sentences rather
than a coherent text.
120
Level 1 exemplar 2
Part A Task 1
121
Level 1 exemplar 2
Part A Task 1
122
Level 1 exemplar 2
Part A Task 2
123
Level 1 exemplar 2
Part A Task 3
124
Level 1 exemplar 2
Part A Task 3
125
Level 1 exemplar 2
Part A Task 4
126
Level 1 exemplar 2
Part A Task 4
127
Level 1 exemplar 2
Part B1 Task 5
128
Level 1 exemplar 2
Part B1 Task 6
129
Level 1 exemplar 2
Part B1 Task 6
130
Level 1 exemplar 2
Part B1 Task 7
131
Level 1 exemplar 2
Part B1 Task 7
132
Level 1 exemplar 2
Part B1 Task 7
133
Level 1 exemplar 2
Comments
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This candidate shows some understanding of some straightforward explicit information in 3A
but very little in Tasks 3 and 4.
He/she locates some relevant information and has transferred it from the simple texts in the
3B1 Data file. However, Task 7 is characterised by indiscriminate copying of material.
The candidate’s use of his/her own language is characterised by very frequent errors. S/he
struggles to make even the most simple sentence.
There is a sense that the candidate knows the purpose of each task and the audience and s/he
makes some attempt at least to use language for the appropriate style or register. The texts are
organised into paragraphs though organisation within the paragraphs is less successful.
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