Cambridge International AS & A Level Urdu syllabus. Mark schemes
Syllabus for examination in 2023.
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Candidates are expected to write 500–600 words for each of their answers. Candidates who write more
than 600 words cannot be placed higher than the 16–17 category in the Mark Scheme.
Marks Description
22–25 Exceptional work. Excellent ability to organise material, thorough knowledge, considerable
sensitivity to language and to author’s intentions, understanding of some literary techniques.
Really articulate and intelligent answers should be considered in this band even if there are still
flaws and omissions.
20–21 Very good. Close attention to detail of passages, controlled structure, perceptive use of
illustration, good insight when discussing characters. Ability to look beyond the immediate
material and to show some understanding of author’s intentions and of underlying themes.
18–19 Thoroughly solid and relevant work. Candidate does not simply reproduce information: can
discuss and evaluate material and come to clear conclusion. Good focus on passages. Some
limitations of insight but coherent, detailed approach and aptly chosen illustrations.
16–17 Painstaking. Sound knowledge of texts; mainly relevant. Some attempt to analyse and compare,
some sense of understanding. Possibly not in full control of material; solid but indiscriminate.
Many very conscientious candidates fall into this category: they tend to write far too much as
they are reluctant to leave out anything they have learnt. Focused, coherent essays which lack
really solid detail but convey a good understanding of the text should also be considered for this
band.
14–15 Fair relevance and knowledge. Better organised than work in the 12–13 band: the candidate
probably understands the demands of the question without being able to develop a very
thorough response. Still a fairly simple, black and white approach. Some narrative and ‘learnt’
material but better control and focus than work in the 12–13 band. Many candidates probably fall
into this category.
12–13 Sound, if simple and superficial, knowledge of plot and characters. Makes assertions without
being able to illustrate or develop points. Probably still too dependent on narrative and
memorised oddments but there may be a visible attempt to relate these to the question. Can
extract one or two relevant points from a set passage.
10–11 Some very basic material but not much sense of understanding or ability to answer the
question. The candidate rarely reads the set passage but uses it as a springboard for storytelling
and memorised bits and pieces about characters. Very general, unspecific approach. Random,
bitty structure. Signs of organisation and relevance should be looked for in case the answer can
be considered for a mark in the 12–13 band.
6–9 Marginally more knowledge here than in the 0–5 band. The candidate may have read the text
but is probably unable to see beyond the barest bones of the plot or half-remembered notes.
Insubstantial; very little relevance. The candidate may have problems with the language and will
be unable to express ideas comprehensibly.
0–5 No discernible material. Often very inadequate language. Marks in this section are awarded
almost on the basis of quantity: up to 3 for a sentence or two showing a glimpse of knowledge,
4 or 5 where there is also a hint of relevance to the question. It is possible for a candidate
to write a whole page demonstrating no knowledge at all (have they read the book?), or only
misunderstood background facts or very vague general remarks unrelated to either text or
question.