FORM 4 & 5 (SPM)
1310208 FJS
MARKING BAND FOR LANGUAGE IN DIRECTED WRITING
Marks
Category
Remarks/Description
allotted
Excellent
19 - 20  No mistakes in grammar (including spelling and
(A1 – A2)
punctuation)
 Effective use of varied sentence structures
 Wide vocabulary, used expressively/precisely
 Good style/tone
 Coherence in paragraphing
Good
17 - 18  Few mistakes in grammar – mistakes arise from more
(B3 – B4)
unusual/complex language use
 Some variety in sentence structures
 Some width in vocabulary – con convey shades of
meaning
 Satisfactory style/tone
 Some coherence in paragraphing
 Points organized in paragraphs
Satisfactory
15 - 16  Some mistakes in grammar but language use is mainly
(C5 – C6)
accurate. Mistakes arise from more complex language
use
 Some variety in sentence structures – but mostly
repetitive sentence types
 Mainly basic vocabulary – errors use of more ambitious
vocabulary
 Fair style/tone
 Some coherence in paragraphing
Passable
10-14
 Many mistakes in grammar but the meaning is still
(D7)
clear. Patches of accurate language use occur
 Little variety of sentence structures
 Mainly basic vocabulary – errors in use of more
ambitious vocabulary
 Barely adequate style/tone
 Little coherence in paragraphing
Unsatisfactory
6-9
 Many serious mistakes in grammar but the meaning is
(E8)
fairly clear. A few simple structures may be correct
 Little variety in sentence structures
 Only basic vocabulary – errors in use of more ambitious
vocabulary
 Inadequate style/tone
 Disorganized points
Poor
2-5
 Frequent and serious mistakes in grammar vocabulary
(F9)
make the meaning barely comprehensible
 Only simple sentence structures
 Very basic vocabulary – many errors in use of even
simple words
0-1
 Almost unrecognizable as English
 Almost no sense can be made at all
CONTINUOUS WRITING (50 MARKS)
The free composition is basically assessed by “general impression”. However, the
following levels can be noted:
Marks
Remarks/Description
Category
allotted
Excellent
41 – 50  Hardly any mistakes in grammar (including spelling and
punctuation)
(A1 – A2)
Good
(B3 – B4)
31 - 40
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

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Satisfactory
(C5 – C6)
26 - 30
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Passable
(D7)
Unsatisfactory
(E8)
Poor
(F9)
21 - 25
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16 - 20
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11 - 15
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
6 - 10
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
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
0–5


Effective use of varied sentence structures
Wide vocabulary, used expressively/precisely
Good and relevant points
Coherence in paragraphing
Well-organized paragraphing
Essay is very interesting and shows originality
Few mistakes in grammar – mistakes arise from more
unusual/complex language use
Some variety in sentence structures
Some width in vocabulary – con convey shades of meaning
Relevant points
Some coherence in paragraphing
Points organized in paragraphs
Essay is interesting
Some mistakes in grammar but language use is mainly
accurate. Mistakes arise from more complex language use
Some variety in sentence structures. However, generally,
repetitive sentence types are found
Mainly basic vocabulary. Errors in use of more ambitious
vocabulary
Relevant points
Some coherence in paragraphing
Not very well-organized points
Essay is slightly interesting
Many mistakes in grammar but the meaning is still clear.
Patches of accurate language use occur
Little variety of sentence structures
Only basic vocabulary. Errors in use of more ambitious
vocabulary
Points are mostly relevant; some illogical/irrelevant points
Little coherence in paragraphing
Not very well-organized points
Essay is not interesting
Many serious mistakes in grammar but the meaning is fairly
clear. A few simple structures may be correct
Little variety in sentence structures
Only basic vocabulary. Errors in use of more ambitious
vocabulary
Topic is not well-treated
Disorganized points
Little coherence in paragraphing
Essay is not interesting
Many serious mistakes in grammar and the meaning is not
very clear
Only simple sentence structures
Very basic vocabulary; many errors in use of words
Poor treatment of topic due to poor linguistic ability
Hardly any organization; probably no paragraphing
Very frequent and serious mistakes in grammar vocabulary
make the meaning barely comprehensible
Almost unrecognizable as English
Almost no sense can be made at all