Cambridge International AS Level

FRENCH LANGUAGE 8682/01

Paper 1 Speaking May/June 2021
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 100

Published

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, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.

Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the May/June 2021 series for most Cambridge
IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some Cambridge O Level components.

This document consists of 5 printed pages.

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8682/01 Cambridge International AS Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2021
PUBLISHED

Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers.
They should be applied alongside the specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors
for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit
is given for valid answers which go beyond the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme,
referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these
features are specifically assessed by the question as indicated by the mark scheme. The
meaning, however, should be unambiguous.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed
instructions or in the application of generic level descriptors.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question
(however; the use of the full mark range may be limited according to the quality of the candidate
responses seen).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should
not be awarded with grade thresholds or grade descriptors in mind.

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Section 1: Presentation (20 marks)

• Content and Presentation – 10 marks

• Pronunciation and Intonation – 5 marks
• Language – 5 marks

Candidates who make no specific reference to the contemporary society or cultural heritage of a
country where the language is spoken will have their mark for Content and Presentation halved.

Content and Presentation Pronunciation and Intonation Language

Knowledge of facts; ability to

express opinions and raise
issues for discussion.

9/10 Full and well organised 5 Outstanding pronunciation 5 Has a very good feeling for
coverage of the topic; and intonation; an the language; speaks
ideas and opinions occasional slight mistake or fluently and accurately;
included as well as hesitation. Not necessarily a shows good use of relevant
factual points; lively native speaker. idiom and uses a wide
presentation; examiner’s range of structures and
interest sustained. vocabulary.

7/8 Good exposition and 4 Good pronunciation, makes 4 Speaks fairly fluently and
sound organisation of the a fair attempt at correct accurately; uses idiom with
topic; makes relevant intonation and expression; a reasonable range of
factual points though may some mistakes and/or structures and vocabulary.
be less good in ideas and hesitation.
opinions; presentation
somewhat stilted though
keeps examiner’s
interest.

5/6 Adequate exposition of 3 A fair degree of accuracy in 3 May speak with hesitation;
the topic; few ideas or pronunciation; quite a adequate range of
opinions; evidence of number of errors; some structures and vocabulary;
preparation but attempt at intonation and no ambiguity of meaning.
presentation pedestrian. expression.

3/4 Material thin; rambling, 2 Intelligible but shows 2 Marked hesitation; limited
repetitious; hardly any marked influence of mother range of structures and
ideas or opinions; in tongue and very many vocabulary; leading to
danger of losing the errors of pronunciation. some ambiguity of
examiner’s interest. meaning.

0/1/2 Very little factual 0/1 Very poor; many gross 0/1 Very marked hesitation;
information; material errors; frequently severe limitations of
irrelevant; vague, incomprehensible. structures and vocabulary;
arguments incoherent; thought processes basically
little effort at presentation. influenced by mother
tongue.

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Section 2: Topic Conversation (40 marks) and Section 3: General Conversation (40 marks)

• Comprehension and Responsiveness – 10 Range of vocabulary and structures

marks • Providing Information and Opinions – 5
• Accuracy – 10 marks marks
• Feel for the Language – 10 marks • Seeking Information and Opinions – 5
marks

Comprehension and Accuracy Feel for the Language

Responsiveness

9–10 Very good 9–10 Very good 9–10 Very good

No problems of comprehension. Consistently accurate. Only Has a very good feeling for the
Responses are natural and occasional minor slips. language and is able to express
spontaneous even to concepts fluently in appropriate
unexpected questions. Able to idiom. Negligible influence from
present and defend a point of the mother tongue.
view in discussion.

7–8 Good 7–8 Good 7–8 Good

Few problems of Accuracy generally good, with Has a very good feeling for the
comprehension. Responds more frequent errors than in the language. Shows competent
thoughtfully, and copes fairly very best candidates. Shows a use of relevant idiom. Avoids
well with unexpected questions. sound basic understanding of significant influence from
Reasonably forthcoming but grammatical usage. mother tongue.
tends to follow Examiner’s lead.

5–6 Satisfactory 5–6 Satisfactory 5–6 Satisfactory

Understands questions on basic Accuracy indicates a measure of Feeling for the language evident
situations and concepts, but has competence but with some with some occasional use of
difficulty with more complicated obvious and significant gaps in relevant idiom. Thought
ideas. Some delay in response. grammatical usage. processes and expression are
Needs encouragement to influenced by mother tongue.
develop topics. OR Relies
heavily on prepared responses.

3–4 Weak 3–4 Weak 3–4 Weak

Has general difficulty in Generally inaccurate use of the Has scant feeling for the idiom.
understanding. Limited response language. Generally translates literally
to questions on the majority of from the mother tongue.
topics raised.

0–2 Poor 0–2 Poor 0–2 Poor

Severe problems of No grasp of grammatical Has no feeling for the foreign
comprehension. Very marked accuracy. Errors constant and target language.
hesitation. Limited repeated.
responsiveness.

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Range of vocabulary and structures

Providing Information and Seeking Information and Opinions*

Opinions

5 Very good 5 Very good

Extensive range of appropriate More than one question asked with confidence. Spontaneous or
vocabulary. prompted, but arising out of conversation and relevant to topic
under discussion.
Able to use a wide range of
structures with confidence. High level of accuracy, using a range of question forms.

4 Good 4 Good
Has sufficient range of vocabulary Asks more than one question confidently. Spontaneous or
and structures to handle prompted, but arising out of conversation and relevant to topic
reasonably mature under discussion.
subjects.
Questions largely accurate, but forms may be limited.

3 Satisfactory 3 Satisfactory
Limited expression of ideas (but not Capable of asking a minimum of one question. Spontaneous or
ambiguity) caused by limitations in prompted, but arising out of conversation and relevant to topic
range of vocabulary and some under discussion.
structures.
Has difficulty in formulating questions, but questions
comprehensible.

2 Weak 2 Weak
Severe limitations of vocabulary Severe limitations in asking questions – possibly one question
and structures restrict discussion to only.
a very basic level.
Question(s) will probably not arise naturally or be relevant to the
topic under discussion. Question(s) difficult to understand.

0–1 Poor 0–1 Poor

Very restricted vocabulary. Only Questions attempted, but incomprehensible. (1)
simple sentences and no variety of
structure. No questions, even when prompted. (0)

* In the case of candidates who do not ask any questions by the end of the Topic Conversation,
Examiners must prompt by asking Do you have any questions to ask of me? in the appropriate
language. The same prompt should be used at the end of the General Conversation. Candidates will
not be penalised for being prompted.

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