UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS
GCE Ordinary Level
MARK SCHEME for the October/November 2008 question paper
1123 ENGLISH LANGUAGE
1123/01
Paper 1 (Composition), maximum raw mark 60
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.
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.
Mark schemes must be read in conjunction with the question papers and the report on the
examination.
•
CIE will not enter into discussions or correspondence in connection with these mark schemes.
CIE is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2008 question papers for most IGCSE,
GCE Advanced Level and Advanced Subsidiary Level syllabuses and some Ordinary Level
syllabuses.
Page 2
Mark Scheme
Syllabus
Paper
GCE O LEVEL – October/November 2008
1123
01
© UCLES 2008
PART ONE
Assessment Objectives
To test the candidate's ability to:
1. produce a piece of continuous prose in accurate Standard English.
2. respond relevantly to a task chosen from a number of alternatives.
Particular emphasis is placed upon the candidate's ability to:
• write sentences of various lengths and types, using a variety of sentence structures as an aid to
meaning;
• use a wide vocabulary and suitable range of idiom with precision;
• punctuate accurately and helpfully,
• write in paragraphs which demonstrate internal unity and are appropriately linked;
• spell accurately over the full range of vocabulary used;
• respond with relevance and precision to the chosen topic;
• engage and sustain the interest of the reader.
The above objectives are as