Mini Resource: Language Exam Paper Gr 8-9 HL (2017)

NOTE: this exam paper was originally published in the 2017 Ratpack (HL) so only 2017 non-subscribers should purchase this exam paper to avoid duplication.

GRADE 8-9 HL LANGUAGE EXAM PAPER

Below is a brief analysis of the contents of this exam paper. We hope that you will find the information useful when looking for a question on a specific area of language for testing or when checking for questions which are not suitable for your learners.

Please note that the questions and memoranda are set according to the ‘Examination Guidelines’ from the DBE. The cognitive levels according to Barrett’s Taxonomy of Reading Comprehension have been indicated for the reading comprehension. We would like to point out that we found some variation in the interpretation of the type of questions in the papers we received from teachers. Some questions are more difficult to categorise but we have tried our best to ensure that they comply with the descriptors in Barrett’s Taxonomy. The cognitive levels are distributed according to the prescribed recommendations as far as possible so as to allow for the different levels of complexity at which the language is being assessed.

Note: Time allocated is 1½ hours but please use your discretion. The mark allocation has changed to 60 so that it can be more easily converted to 30 marks as prescribed.

Comprehension    Reading for meaning and understanding: comprehension skills; American spelling; connotation; initialisms vs abbreviations vs acronyms
Summary    Summarising skills: write a paragraph of 70 – 80 words.
Language
Vocabulary: descendants; tantalising; neighbourhood
Spelling: favorite vs favourite    Visual literacy and language: visual literacy skills; sms language and emoticons; gender stereotypes; speech bubbles; function of colon; reported speech; use of apostrophe; synonym
Analysing an advertisement: purpose; parts of speech

Total number of pages: 13 pages

Compiled by Macrat Publishing