Write a story about someone who had to look after a younger brother or sister on two occasions – one occasion which went well and one occasion which went badly.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [30] Candidates are advised to write between 350 and 500 words.
2. [30] Marks will be awarded for accurate use of language and relevant content: 30.
3. [30] Language (Band 8): Highly accurate writing, apart from very occasional slips.
4. [30] Language (Band 8): Sentence structures varied for particular effects.
5. [30] Language (Band 8): Verb forms largely correct and appropriate tenses consistently used.
6. [30] Language (Band 8): Vocabulary wide and precise.
7. [30] Language (Band 8): Punctuation accurate and helpful.
8. [30] Language (Band 8): Spelling accurate, apart from very occasional slips.
9. [30] Language (Band 8): Paragraphs have unity, are linked, and show evidence of planning.
10. [30] Appropriateness and Content (Band 8 - Narrative): Consistently relevant.
11. [30] Appropriateness and Content (Band 8 - Narrative): Interest aroused and sustained.
12. [30] Appropriateness and Content (Band 8 - Narrative): Tone and register entirely appropriate.
13. [30] Appropriateness and Content (Band 8 - Narrative): Narratives are complex, sophisticated, possibly tense, and may contain devices such as flashbacks.