Group 2 (language acquisition) grade descriptors
Grade descriptors8
Grade 1
Receptive skills: students very rarely respond clearly to basic information.
Interactive skills: students very rarely respond accurately or demonstrate comprehension; pronunciation
and intonation very rarely facilitate the understanding of the message; students very rarely sustain
participation in simple exchanges. The message is very rarely clear.
Productive skills: students very rarely develop ideas; they very rarely use simple cohesive devices; they
very rarely use basic grammatical structures accurately; they very rarely use basic vocabulary or appropriate
register successfully; they very rarely demonstrate evidence of intercultural understanding where required.
Classical languages (Latin and classical Greek)
Grade 7
Demonstrates excellent content knowledge and understanding, conceptual and contextual awareness and
critical, reflective thinking. Responses are logical and structured, make very effective use of well-selected
examples, demonstrate awareness of alternative points of view and provide clear evidence of intercultural
understanding. Translations are very accurate and convey the meaning of the original text, with use of
grammar and vocabulary that is appropriate for the original text.
Highly effective research, investigation and technical skills are evident, as is the ability to analyse, evaluate
and synthesize evidence in an insightful way.
Grade 6
Demonstrates very good content knowledge and understanding, conceptual and contextual awareness and
critical, reflective thinking. Responses are mostly logical and structured, make effective use of well-selected
examples, demonstrate sufficient awareness of alternative points of view and provide clear evidence of
intercultural understanding. Translations are accurate and mostly convey the meaning of the original text,
with use of grammar and vocabulary that is mostly appropriate for the original text.
Effective research, investigation and technical skills are evident, as is the ability to analyse, evaluate and
synthesize evidence competently.
Grade 5
Demonstrates sound content knowledge and understanding, conceptual and contextual awareness, and
critical, reflective thinking. Responses are generally logical and structured, make good use of examples,
demonstrate generally accurate awareness of alternative points of view and provide some evidence of
intercultural understanding. Translations are somewhat accurate and convey the general meaning of the
original text, with use of grammar and vocabulary that is generally appropriate for the original text.
Good research, investigation and technical skills are evident; the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesize
evidence is evident but not consistently developed.
Grade 4
Demonstrates secure content knowledge and understanding (although there are some gaps), some
conceptual and contextual awareness, and some critical, reflective thinking. Responses are somewhat
logical and structured, make use of examples, demonstrate some awareness of alternative points of view
and provide some evidence of intercultural understanding. Translations are partially accurate and convey