Cambridge IGCSE Chinese (Mandarin) - Foreign Language 0547 — 2025 May/June Paper 4 · Variant 2
0547/42/M/J/25 · 45 marks · 75 min
The question paper and its mark scheme, free to read here and free to download. This is Cambridge’s own paper, exactly as it was sat.
Question paper8 pages








Mark scheme19 pages
Answers below. Sit the paper first if you are practising.



















Paper as text
Question paper, page 1
This document has 8 pages. Any blank pages are indicated. [Turn over NL 341625/2 © UCLES 2025 * 7 5 2 2 4 3 4 5 2 6 * MANDARIN CHINESE 0547/42 Paper 4 Writing May/June 2025 1 hour 15 minutes You must answer on the question paper. No additional materials are needed. INSTRUCTIONS ● Answer three questions in total: Answer Question 1. Answer Question 2. Answer either Question 3(a) or Question 3(b). ● Use a black or dark blue pen. ● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page. ● Write your answer to each question in the space provided. ● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid. ● Do not write on any bar codes. ● Dictionaries are not allowed. INFORMATION ● The total mark for this paper is 45. ● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ]. Cambridge IGCSE™ , , * 0000800000001 * ¬Oz> 4mHuOªE]|6W ¬isM¤ª|f|{¢/Rq ¥5¥u5EU Eu EUeUuU
Question paper, page 2
2 0547/42/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 1 学校要在校园里安排欢迎新学生的活动。你是大卫,你想帮忙。请用中文 中文填 写下面的表格。 Your school is organising activities in the campus to welcome new students. You are David and you want to help. Please fill in the following form in Chinese: 姓名 大卫 日期 九月二十号 年级 高二 能帮忙多长时间 … 可以在哪里帮忙 … 能带来的食物 (写两种) …;… 能带来的饮料 … 手机号码 07888-999000 [5] * 0000800000002 * , , ĬÍú¾Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊàú¸þ× ĬéėôÐĨĞĎÍąýîÚÅĢÉĉĂ ĥĥõĕµÕąµµąåÅÅĕÅĕÕÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 3
3 0547/42/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 [Turn over 2 写一写你的假期活动。 Write about your holiday activities. Say: • 你假期一般做什么活动; • 你和谁一起做这些活动; • 你在哪里做这些活动; • 你为什么喜欢这些活动; • 下个假期你想做什么新的活动。 用中文 中文写80–100个字。 Write 80–100 characters in Chinese. 90 180 [12] * 0000800000003 * , , ĬÏú¾Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊàü¸þ× ĬéĘóØĢĢĞìóô»þ¶ÉùĂ ĥĥąÕõµĥÕåõõÅÅõåÕÅÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 4
4 0547/42/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 3 从题目3(a)和3(b)中选择一个 一个,用中文 中文写150个字左右。 Answer Question 3(a) or Question 3(b). Write about 150 characters in Chinese. (a) 留学生生活 留学生生活 你在国外留学。写一封电子邮件给你的朋友,说说: • 你是从什么时候开始在国外学习的; • 你住在什么样的地方; • 那里的生活怎么样; • 将来你还想去哪个国家学习;为什么。 [28] (b) 外语俱乐部 外语俱乐部 《中学生杂志》想了解学生对外语俱乐部的看法。请给杂志写一篇文章, 说说: • 你参加过什么外语俱乐部; • 谁安排俱乐部的活动; • 你觉得每次最好活动多长时间; • 学外语有哪些困难; • 学校应该怎样帮助学生解决这些困难。 [28] 90 * 0000800000004 * , , ĬÍú¾Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊÞú¸Ā× ĬéĘòØĬĔīÏíû´àđĘÙāĂ ĥÕÕÕµµĥõÅÕąÅąõąÕÕÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 5
5 0547/42/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 180 270 360 450 * 0000800000005 * , , ĬÏú¾Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊÞü¸Ā× ĬéėñÐĞĐěêċĆõüĩÄÙñĂ ĥÕåĕõÕąĕÕåÕÅąĕĥĕÅÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 6
6 0547/42/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 BLANK PAGE * 0000800000006 * , , ĬÑú¾Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊßüµþ× ĬéĘñÓĨøđâĀ÷ĀĜđáñāĂ ĥąąĕõõąµĕÅõÅÅĕÅÕĕÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 7
7 0547/42/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 BLANK PAGE * 0000800000007 * , , ĬÓú¾Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊßúµþ× ĬéėòÛĢüġ×úĊÉÀĩõññĂ ĥąõÕµĕĥÕąµåÅÅõåĕąÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Question paper, page 8
8 0547/42/M/J/25 © UCLES 2025 Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity. To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series. Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge. BLANK PAGE * 0000800000008 * , , ĬÑú¾Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊÝüµĀ× ĬéėóÛĬĊĨäøāÂĞÅ×ġĉĂ ĥµåÕõĕĥõĥĕÕÅąõąĕĕÕ DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN DO NOT WRITE IN THIS MARGIN
Mark scheme, page 1
This document consists of 19 printed pages. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 [Turn over Cambridge IGCSE™ MANDARIN CHINESE 0547/42 Paper 4 Writing May/June 2025 MARK SCHEME Maximum Mark: 45 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 2025 series for most Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level components.
Mark scheme, page 2
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 2 of 19 Generic Marking Principles These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alon gside the specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptions 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.
Mark scheme, page 3
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 3 of 19 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 thre sholds or grade descriptors in mind.
Mark scheme, page 4
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 4 of 19 Annotations guidance for centres Examiners use a system of annotations as a shorthand for communicating their marking decisions to one another. Examiners are trained during the standardisation process on how and when to use annotations. The purpose of annotations is to inform the standard isation and monitoring processes and guide the supervising examiners when they are checking the work of examiners within their team. The meaning of annotations and how they are used is specific to each component and is understood by all examiners who mark the component. We publish annotations in our mark schemes to help centres understand the annotations they may see on copies of scripts. Note that there may not be a direct correlation between the number of annotations on a script and the mark awarded. Similarly, the use of an annotation may not be an indication of the quality of the response. The annotations listed below were available to examiners marking this component in this series. Annotations Annotation Meaning Unclear Omission mark Benefit of the doubt Incorrect point Good language Dynamic, Horizontal Wavy line that can be expanded Harmless addition Irrelevant Highlighter Highlighting areas of text No benefit of doubt given
Mark scheme, page 5
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 5 of 19 Annotation Meaning Off-page comment Allows comments to be entered at the bottom of the RM marking window and then displayed when the associated question item is navigated to. Indicates that the point has been noted, but no credit has been given. Correct point Correct awarding one mark Correct awarding two marks Correct awarding three marks Correct awarding four marks Correct awarding five marks Dynamic, Vertical Wavy line that can be expanded
Mark scheme, page 6
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 6 of 19 Additional guidance • Crossing out: (a) If a candidate changes his/her mind over an answer and crosses out an attempt, award a mark if the final attempt is correct. (b) If a candidate crosses out an answer to a whole question but makes no second attempt at it, mark the crossed out work. • For Questions 2 and 3, if the candidate has written an answer in the space provided for that purpose, you should ignore anyth ing written anywhere else, unless: (a) there is an indication from the candidate that other material should be considered. (b) the candidate has continued their answer outside the space provided. (c) there is no answer in the space provided. • Annotation used in the Mark Scheme: (a) tc = ‘tout court’ and means that on its own the material is not sufficient to score the mark. • No response and ‘0’ marks (a) Award NR (No Response): If there is nothing written at all in the answer space or If there is only a comment which does not in any way relate to the question being asked (e.g. ‘can’t do’ or ‘don’t know’) or If there is only a mark which isn’t an attempt at the question (e.g. a dash, a question mark). (b) Award 0: If there is any attempt that earns no credit. This could, for example, include the candidate copying all or some of the question, or any working that does not earn any marks, whether crossed out or not.
Mark scheme, page 7
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 7 of 19 • Optional questions: Mark all questions attempted by the candidate. Where the candidate attempts more than one of the alternatives in Question 3, the marking system will take the best mark. • Using mark schemes with grade descriptors: Start at the bottom of the mark scheme and work upwards through the descriptors when awarding marks. The marker should look at the work and then make a judgement about which level statement is the ‘best fit’. In practice, work does not always match one level statement precisely so a judgement may need to be made between two or more level statements. Once a ‘best-fit’ level statement has been identified, use the following guidance to decide on a specific mark: • If the candidate’s work convincingly meets the level statement, award the highest mark. • If the candidate’s work adequately meets the level statement, award the most appropriate mark in the middle of the range (whe re middle marks are available). • If the candidate’s work just meets the level statement, award the lowest mark.
Mark scheme, page 8
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 8 of 19 Detailed mark scheme Question Answer Marks 1 Candidates are required to complete 5 gaps in Chinese. Read all of the items that the candidate has listed and award marks as follows: • Award 1 mark for each correct item. • On Question 1, award marks for items wherever the candidate has written them provided the candidate has made clear which part of the form they refer to. • Mark for communication. Tolerate inaccuracies, provided the message is clear. Ignore any measure word, possessive adjective, etc. Ignore any verbs. • If a character is inaccurate, start by referring to the table below. Refer to the questions below if no decision on the character you have encountered is recorded there. If you read aloud what the candidate has written, does it sound like the correct answer and would a native speaker of the target language understand it? Does what the candidate has written look like the correct answer, e.g. one stroke missing but no other word created? Would a native speaker of the target language understand it? • Reject inaccurate characters which suggest a word with a quite different meaning. • All answers must fulfil the communicative purpose described in the rubric. 5
Mark scheme, page 9
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 9 of 19 Question Answer Marks 1 Your school is organising activities in the campus to welcome new students. You are David and you want to help. Please fill in the following form in Chinese: 学校要在校园里安排欢迎新学生的活动。你是大卫,你想帮忙。请用中文填写下面的表格。 ACCEPT Guidance/Reject Gap 1 Any appropriate length of time, e.g. 一个小时、一天 Refuse vocabulary which cannot be considered as length of time e.g. 二 点、一个时间、三个小过、明天、三个xiǎo时、三十分、五十分中 (key words need to be correct) Gap 2 Any appropriate places, e.g. 学 校餐厅、运动中心 Refuse vocabulary which cannot be considered as a place e.g. 中国、学 校、校园、家里、公元(园)、体育官、篮球扬、在足球帮忙、门、 (action/verbs) 安排食物、卖小吃 Gaps 3 + 4 (1 mark each) Any appropriate food items, e.g. 苹果、糖、面包 Refuse vocabulary which cannot be considered as a food items e.g. 音 乐、学生证、手机、水、炒饮、平果、水课、年肉、三明冶、西红市、包 Gap 5 (1 mark) Any appropriate items for drinks, e.g. 水、果汁、汽水 Refuse vocabulary which cannot be considered as an item for drinks, e.g. 汽油、果斗、气水、咖非、水果(淉)、不来饮料、可口可了
Mark scheme, page 10
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 10 of 19 Question Answer Marks 2 写一写你的假期活动。 Write about your holiday activities. Say: • 你假期一般做什么活动; • 你和谁一起做这些活动; • 你在哪里做这些活动; • 你为什么喜欢这些活动; • 下个假期你想做什么新的活动。 用中文写80–100个字。 Write 80–100 characters in Chinese. Read the whole answer and award a mark out of 12 using the table below. 12
Mark scheme, page 11
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 11 of 19 Marks Descriptor Guidance 10–12 • Completes all tasks in the required level of detail. • Provides consistently relevant information and opinions. • Meaning is clear and communication is achieved, although there may be some linguistic inaccuracies. • Uses straightforward vocabulary and structures. • (Links words and phrases using a range of simple connectors.) Examples of linguistic inaccuracies: word order, time frames, characters Examples of linking words and phrases: and, or, but, because, then 7–9 • Completes most tasks in the required level of detail. • Provides mostly relevant information and opinions. • Meaning is mostly clear and communication is generally achieved, despite linguistic inaccuracies. • Uses limited vocabulary and structures with some repetition. • (Some attempt to link words and phrases using a range of simple connectors.) 3–4 tasks 4–6 • Completes some tasks with some of the required detail. • Provides some relevant information. • Meaning is sometimes clear and some communication is achieved, despite linguistic inaccuracies. • Uses basic vocabulary and structures with frequent repetition. • (Some attempt to link words or phrases using a limited range of simple connectors repetitively (e.g. and, or).) 2–3 tasks 1–3 • Attempts task(s), with little or none of the required detail. • May provide information; is almost always irrelevant. • Meaning is unclear and communication is rarely achieved. • Uses isolated words/phrases appropriate to the task. • (Little attempt to link words or phrases.) 1–2 tasks 0 • No creditable content. Numbered ticks will be added to the list of annotations to help with task completion. If a candidate has completed most tasks rather than all, but the 10–12 descriptors are the best fit in other respects, then the answer can, in theory, access the lower end of the 10–12 band.
Mark scheme, page 12
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 12 of 19 On the contrary, if they complete all tasks without submitting much detail, they will drop to the 7–9 band. Very short answers If a response is under 40 characters long, a maximum of 6 marks can be awarded. If a response is between 40–75 characters long, a maximum of 11 marks can be awarded. Pinyin Occasional use of pinyin will not affect marking for communication, but for essays written predominantly in pinyin (i.e. more pinyin than characters) this must be taken into account for marks.
Mark scheme, page 13
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 13 of 19 Question Answer Marks 从题目3(a)和3(b)中选择一个,用中文写150个字左右。 Answer Question 3(a) or Question 3(b). Write about 150 characters in Chinese. 3(a) (a) 留学生生活 你在国外留学。写一封电子邮件给你的朋友,说说: • 你是从什么时候开始在国外学习的; • 你住在什么样的地方; • 那里的生活怎么样; • 将来你还想去哪个国家学习;为什么。 Marking note: 1. 我下个星期开始在国外学习。No mark for tick1 2. 大学校开始早上八点。(具体的时间点–not awarded) No mark for tick1 3. 我住在中国,那里又大又美;我哥哥的家很大; tick2 can be awarded when a country or a place with adjectives to describe it is given. If the candidate only writes a country without adjectives or descriptions, the response cannot be awarded. 28
Mark scheme, page 14
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 14 of 19 Question Answer Marks 3(b) (b) 外语俱乐部 《中学生杂志》想了解学生对外语俱乐部的看法。请给杂志写一篇文章,说说: • 你参加过什么外语俱乐部; • 谁安排俱乐部的活动; • 你觉得每次最好活动多长时间; • 学外语有哪些困难; • 学校应该怎样帮助解决这些困难。 Marking note: 1. 学外语很有困难;有很多困难 etc without any further details to explain, it doesn’t warrant tick4 Read the whole answer, award a mark from each of the three tables below and add up the total. Marks are available for: • task completion (maximum 10 marks) • range (maximum 10 marks) • accuracy (maximum 8 marks). 28
Mark scheme, page 15
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 15 of 19 Task completion Marks Descriptor 9–10 • Completes all tasks. • Gives detailed information, opinions/reactions and explanations. • The writing is focused and wholly relevant. 7–8 • Completes most tasks. • Gives straightforward information, opinions/reactions and explanations. • The writing is mostly relevant. • 3–4 tasks 5–6 • Completes some tasks. • Gives some information, opinions and simple explanations. • The writing is more relevant than irrelevant. • 2–3 tasks 3–4 • Attempts some tasks with some success. • Gives basic information and opinions. • The writing is occasionally relevant. • 1–2 tasks 1–2 • Attempts task(s) with little or no success. • Gives some information and is almost always irrelevant. • 0–1 task 0 • No creditable response.
Mark scheme, page 16
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 16 of 19 Task completion Numbered ticks will be added to the list of annotations to help award marks for Task completion. A response can only be considered complete if all elements of all part-questions are attempted reasonably successfully. If a task is What did you think about the movie? and the candidate answers The movie was interesting (and nothing else), then they do not meet the criteria Gives detailed information, opinions/reactions and explanations. If a candidate has completed most tasks rather than all, but the 9–10 descriptors are the best fit in other respects, then the answer can, in theory, access the lower end of the 9–10 band. If a candidate completes all tasks without submitting much detail, they will drop to the 7–8 band.
Mark scheme, page 17
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 17 of 19 Range Marks Descriptor 9–10 • Uses extended, well-linked sentences frequently. • Uses a wide range of simple and complex structures listed in the syllabus to produce sentences of varying length. • Uses a wide range of vocabulary appropriate to the task(s). 7–8 • Uses some extended sentences, mostly well linked. • Uses a range of structures listed in the syllabus, including some complex structures, to produce sentences of varying length. • Uses a range of vocabulary appropriate to the task(s) with occasional repetition. 5–6 • Uses some extended sentences, with some evidence of linkage. • Uses simple structures and attempts to use some complex structures listed in the syllabus. • Uses mostly straightforward vocabulary appropriate to the task(s) with some repetition. 3–4 • Uses simple structures and makes no attempt at using the complex structures listed in the syllabus. • Relies on repeated use of a small range of straightforward vocabulary. 1–2 • Uses isolated phrases and makes some attempt at basic structures. • Relies on repetition of a small range of basic vocabulary. 0 • No creditable response.
Mark scheme, page 18
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 18 of 19 Accuracy Marks Descriptor 7–8 • Writing in characters and use of grammar are accurate; not necessarily faultless. • Occasional errors in characters and grammar do not impede communication. 5–6 • Mostly accurate writing in characters and use of grammar. • Errors in characters and grammar sometimes impede communication. 3–4 • Some accurate writing in characters and use of grammar. • Errors in characters and grammar frequently impede communication. 1–2 • Rarely accurate writing in characters and use of grammar. • Errors in characters and grammar persistently impede communication. 0 • No creditable response. How to deal with short essays If the candidate has written less than half the suggested number of characters (75 or less), a maximum of 5 for Range and 4 f or Accuracy An essay of 75–100 characters can be awarded a maximum of 7 for Range and 6 for Accuracy. For a letter, the addressee and ending greeting are not included in the word count. Pinyin The volume of pinyin in the answer should be considered when awarding the Accuracy mark. If pinyin is used extensively, it is no longer genuinely a piece of Chinese writing. Occasional use of pinyin will not affect marking for Accuracy, but for essays written predominantly in pinyin (i.e. more pinyin than characters) this must be taken into account in the Accuracy mark. Note on using mark schemes with Grade descriptors It is important that you award marks positively. In order to ensure that you reward achievement rather than penalise failure or omissions, you should start at the bottom of the mark scheme and work upwards through the descriptors when awarding marks.
Mark scheme, page 19
0547/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme PUBLISHED May/June 2025 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2025 Page 19 of 19 You should adopt a ‘best fit’ approach. You must select the set of descriptors provided in the mark scheme that most closely describes the quality of the work being marked. As you work upwards through the mark scheme, you will eventually arrive at a set of descriptors that fits the candidate’s performance. When you reach this point, you should always then check the descriptors in the band above to confirm whether or not there is just enough evidence to award a mark in the higher band. For example, when marking Question 3 you may find that a candidate uses a variety of relevant vocabulary but has varied success with more complex structures. In such cases, you will need to award a mark that takes into account both the strengths and weaknesses of the piece of work. To select the most appropriate mark within each set of descriptors, use the following guidance: • If most of the descriptors fit the piece (and after you have considered the band above), award the top mark in the band. • If there is just enough evidence (and you had perhaps been considering the band below), award the lowest mark in the band. Irrelevance • Sections of material unrelated to any of the bullet points will be disregarded. • If the whole answer to Question 3 is irrelevant (e.g. contains no evidence of being related to the bullet points set), award 0 for Task completion, Range and Accuracy. • If Question 3 is attempted but communication is not achieved (i.e. the candidate misunderstood the question), award a maximum of 8 for Range and a best fit for Task completion and Accuracy.
What you needed in this session
Cambridge’s own grade thresholds for 2025 May/June, Paper 4 · Variant 2. A higher threshold means an easier paper — the bar moves with how the cohort did.