MARK SCHEME - GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE 8700/1 - JUNE 2018 - Version/Stage 1.0 Final

Sep 5, 2026

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GCSE English Language (8700/1) mark scheme for June 2018, Version/Stage 1.0 Final, setting out guidance for how exam responses to Paper 1 are assessed. It explains how the standardisation process prepares and aligns assessors, including handling amendments and unusual answers. It also defines level-of-response marking using four levels with skills keywords, skills descriptors, and an Indicative Standard column, and then details the marking workflow: annotate the response, determine a level, and assign a mark within that level.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Level of response marking instructions

Step 1 Annotate the response

Step 2 Determine a level

Step 3 Determine a mark

GCSE English Language 8700/1-Paper 1 Explorations in creative reading and writing Mark scheme 8700 June 2018 Version/Stage: 1.0 Final MARK SCHEME – GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE – 8700/1 – JUNE 2018 Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’ responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way. As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are required to refer these to a Senior Examiner. It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination paper. Further copies of [this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk](this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk) Copyright © 2017 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. AQA retains the copyright on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for AQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own internal use, with the following important exception: AQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within the centre. MARK SCHEME –GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE – 8700/1 – JUNE 2018 Introduction The information provided for each question is intended to be a guide to the kind of answers anticipated and is neither exhaustive nor prescriptive. All appropriate responses should be given credit. Level of response marking instructions Level of response mark schemes for GCSE English Language are broken down into four levels (where appropriate) . In the first column each level is identified with one or two keywords that represent the differences in the skills then described. These key words show the progression from Level 1 to 4 and are: Level 4 Perceptive, detailed Level 3 Clear, relevant Level 2 Some, attempts Level 1 Simple, limited. This is followed in the second column by a description of the different qualities required in the student’s answer for that level. These are called the skills descriptors. In order to reach a given level, a student must fulfil one or more of the skills descriptors for that level. The third column of the mark scheme is the Indicative Standard. This is an important feature of the mark scheme for GCSE English Language. It provides exemplification of the skills descriptors at each level and offers a small number of different comments at the required standard to give an indication of the quality of response that is typical for that level. It shows the progression from Level 1 to 4. The Indicative Standard is not intended to be a model answer nor a complete response, and it does not exemplify required content. Students may reach a given level by making one or more comments of the quality demonstrated by the Indicative Standard and do not have to meet all the skill descriptors at that level. The standardising scripts will further exemplify each of the levels. You must refer to the standardising material throughout your marking. Step 1 Annotate the response When marking a response you should first read through the student’s answer and annotate each sec

FAQs

What is the purpose of the GCSE English Language 8700/1 mark scheme?

It guides the kinds of answers expected and supports consistent marking. It also includes amendments from standardisation and explains how assessors should apply it.

How are responses graded using the level of response approach?

The mark scheme uses four levels (Level 1 to Level 4) with skills keywords and skills descriptors. A student reaches a level by meeting one or more descriptors for that level.

What are the main steps for marking a student response?

Assessors annotate the response using the statement bank comments (Step 1), determine the appropriate level using the descriptors and indicative standard (Step 2), then decide the final mark within that level based on the quality and balance of skills demonstrated (Step 3).

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Oliver