Cambridge International AS Level

ENGLISH GENERAL PAPER 8021/22

Paper 2 Comprehension October/November 2022
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 50

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 October/November 2022 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some Cambridge O Level
components.

This document consists of 9 printed pages.

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8021/22 Cambridge International AS Level – Mark Scheme October/November
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Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers.
They should be applied alongside the specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors
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.

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 thresholds or grade descriptors in mind.

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Question Answer Marks

1(a) Considering the advantages and one disadvantage, explain why Jos 10
would be most likely to choose the TeknoKratz job.

You should not refer to the other jobs.

Answer in continuous prose.

Credit any of the following points or any other valid points.

Jos would be able to maintain a good income / lifestyle as he could be earning
around $60 000 a year.
He would also receive a Golden Hello payment right at the start and this
would further ease the transition from employee to being self-employed.
He would be able to work the 40 hours when he wanted to, so he could
devote more time than he is currently to playing football and watching movies
with his children.
His children might be happier if he were working from home almost all the
time as they would see more of him.
Being self-employed, if they did ask him to work more hours, then they would
have to pay him for these hours, making him feel more valued.
By working mainly from home and with all the places he would occasionally
have to visit being nearby, he would hardly have to travel.
If he had the offer of a better contract down the line, he would only have to
give one month’s notice and then he could be off / less limiting contract
The ten per cent discount offered by Triple C offers everybody doing work for
them would also boost the family finances by reducing their food costs, which
could potentially alleviate Marika’s money worries.
The food industry is usually a very buoyant sector of the business world, so
Jos would be working in a reasonably recession-proof environment.
Triple C care for their customers might tempt Jos on an ethical level (motto)
which could outweigh
there is no indication how long the Triple C contract might last, so Jos cannot
be sure that this would keep him in work for as long as he would like,
especially as the founders had to take out loans at a very high rate of interest
to fund their expansion, so the business might fail in the future.
TeknoKratz being run by two people not long out of university might affect the
company’s future as they might still be very naive regarding the business
world / how to sustain a successful business.
TeknoKratz only have to give him one month’s notice, so, if they lost the
Triple C contract, he would not have long to find replacement contracts.
However, both TeknoKratz and Triple C are expanding rapidly, so they might
become more and more demanding to work for / might become just as
stressful as his current job.
Marika worries a lot, so her health might deteriorate if she were anxious about
the fact that the length of the contract is unknown / the hours could easily be
reduced as it only states ‘initially’.

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Question Answer Marks

1(a) In assessing the answer award marks for a coherent appraisal, clearly
expressed of four or more relevant considerations, including balance, that
make use of analytical skills.

Levels Mark(s) Descriptors

4 9–10 • Capacity to interpret evidence and sustained

ability to present relevant arguments, analysis
and exemplification maintaining a strong focus
on the main issues in the question.
• Comprehensive approach demonstrating ability
to identify and select relevant information,
data, concepts and opinions and maintain a
strong focus on the key issues.
• Shows the ability to communicate clearly and
accurately in a fluent and organised manner.

3 6–8 • Moderate range of arguments, analysis and

exemplification covering some of the main
issues in the question.
• Demonstrating some grasp of the nature of key
issues but with a restricted range or a loss of
focus leading to the inclusion of some
irrelevant material.
• Shows the ability to communicate clearly and
accurately in a fluent and organised manner.

2 3–5 • Limited analysis shown in a response

consisting of mainly undeveloped material.
• A modest range of selected points, perhaps
some of which are irrelevant or incorrect.
• Ability to convey meaning but with limited
powers of expression with some errors in
spelling, punctuation or grammar which
impede the flow and hinder communication.

1 1–2 • Some simple, mainly unexplained or

undeveloped points or perhaps a very narrow
range – with little interpretation or analysis and
little development or exemplification.
• Limited range, dubious choice showing
restricted appreciation of key issues.
• Ability to convey meaning but with limited
powers of expression with some errors in
spelling, punctuation or grammar which
impede the flow and hinder communication.

0 0 • A mark of zero should be awarded for no

creditable content.

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Question Answer Marks

1(b) Considering two disadvantages, explain why Jos would be least likely to 4
choose the Pumpkin Pot job.

You should not refer to the other jobs.

Credit any of the following points or any other valid points.

He would be working mostly / three days a week in Pumpkin Pot’s offices (1)
which would involve a daily round trip of 60 km (1) so he still wouldn’t see
much of his children on those days / as much as he had hoped (1).
Their offices are very cramped and noisy / Jos would have to share a desk
and a phone (1) which would be a stressful / unprofessional/not an ideal
environment for him to work in (1).
The salary is a lot less / the least amount of money on offer (1) which
exacerbates further Marika’s worries about money (1).
If he were offered a better contract by another bank he would not be allowed
to work for them for six months (1), meaning the opportunity would probably
be lost to him (1).
He is currently unhappy working for a bank (1), so he might feel that, by
accepting this offer, he would be in the same, unhappy / stressful banking
environment as before (1).
He is required to work set days and hours in the office (1) meaning he is
unlikely to achieve the improved / hoped for control over his work-life
balance / time on those days (1).

1(c) Identify the one piece of the Additional Information that is the least 1
relevant when Jos is deciding which offer to accept.

Point 16. Jos and Marika met through mutual friends 10 years ago. (1)

1(d)(i) Identify the phrase in the extract from the conversation between Jos 1
and Marika that mean the following: delay in taking action.

let the grass grow under your feet (1)

1(d)(ii) Identify the phrases in the extract from the conversation between Jos 1
and Marika that mean the following: thinking about it at length.

mulling it over (1)

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Question Answer Marks

1(e) Explain two reasons why, during the conversation, Jos’s face was 4
‘clouding over’ and he was sounding ‘increasingly downbeat’.

Credit any of the following points or any other valid points.

He has a friend working at KQX Accountants (1) so he knows that he would
be expected to work long hours again / might feel overworked and
undervalued again / would be back on the corporate ladder (1).
KQX Accountants demand that employees move around the world at a
moment’s notice (1) but he doesn’t want to move away from his home town
(1).
He would be under pressure from Marika to take this job if he were offered it
(1) as she would love to live abroad and experience different cultures (1).
He might feel emotionally blackmailed to take it if offered to him / It might
impact their relationship negatively if he did not apply / accept it if offered (1)
as she is talking about the prospect so excitedly (1).
He realises that she would feel that she no longer had to be worried (1) as he
would regard the high salary as helping to reduce her money worries (1).
Jos is dismayed by Marika’s emphasis on the high salary at KQX
Accountants (1) as both the roles he has found for himself pay significantly
less (so it will be tough to persuade her that self-employment is a good move)
(1).

1(f)(i) Explain why Mateus’s experience of being self-employed might make 2

Marika not want Jos to become self-employed too.

Credit any of the following points or any other valid points.

Mateus has had gaps in between his contracts when he hasn’t been working
(1) so Marika would not have been happy that his earnings might be uneven
(1).
His circumstances are entirely different (1) as he has not got a family (1).
2 1 or 1  2

1(f)(ii) Explain why in your opinion, Jos’s idea, that he would be his own boss 2
and more in control of his work–life balance if he were self-employed,
might not be true.

Credit any of the following points or any other valid points.

Even being self-employed it makes little difference (1), as you are still
answerable to whomever is paying you to do the work (1).
If someone knows they are employing you as a consultant, they can
sometimes be even more demanding / rude to your face about your work / so
that they can pay you less than agreed, etc. (1) as they know you are
dependent on their work (1).
The self-employed have to find work for themselves and this can be
difficult / stressful (1).
2  1 or 1  2

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Question Answer Marks

2(a) According to Andrew Tuck, identify who needs to read this article. 1

Someone who needs to pass for a local (1) / who is a beginner with regard to
Austria / the country. (1)

2(b)(i) According to the material, explain what is noteworthy about the current 3
Austrian government.

Answer using your own words as far as possible.

Credit any three of the following points.

(At present) all other people who lead countries (across the globe) are older
(than Kurz who is aged just 33) (1)
and this is the second time he has been in charge (of the government too)
(1).
It is the first time that the People’s Party and the Greens have formed a
government. (1)
There is an equal number of males and females in the cabinet. (1)
Alma Zadić is the first refugee to become a government minister. (1)

2(b)(ii) According to the material, explain what is noteworthy about Austria’s 3

military.

Answer using your own words as far as possible.

Credit any three of the following points.

(Unusually for Europe,) Austria (still) requires citizens to serve in the armed
forces. (1)
The ones who choose not to join the armed forces (1)
carry out invaluable / essential (1)
community-based / non-combatant roles / work in hospitals and care homes
(1)
or they assist when there is an emergency (in Austria). (1)
The Austrian armed forces are non-aligned (1)
so Austria managed to stay as one nation (after the Second World War) (1)
unlike Germany (1)
and has assisted the UN to maintain peace (1)
for nearly three decades / subsequent to 1995 (1).

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Question Answer Marks

2(b)(iii) According to the material, explain what is noteworthy about Austria’s 2

Nobel prizewinners.

Answer using your own words as far as possible.

Credit any two of the following points.

An Austrian was the first female to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (in
1905) (1)
for her fictional text arguing against war (1)
that became very prominent at the time. (1)
The country ranks tenth in the league table/number of recipients: (1)
to date 22 Austrians have won Nobel prizes. (1)

2(c) Identify the evidence in the material that Austria has been developing 5
into a more environmentally friendly country (lines 7 to 69). Answer in
about 50 words.

Credit any five of the following points.

The government pledged Austria will be carbon neutral (by 2040). (1)
Austria has never produced electricity using nuclear power / quashed
production of nuclear power. (1)
People voted against nuclear power in 1978. (1)
The Greens run the super-ministry, including energy, transport and
technology. (1)
About 33% is renewable energy (1)
which is a high rate for Europe. (1)
The new / night train promotes slower / more eco-friendly transportation. (1)
Any relevant content above 50 words should not be considered as part of the
answer.

2(d) Identify the various links between Austria and the ‘Breakfast of 1
champions’(lines 26 to 31). Answer in about 10 words.

Danish pastries, croissants and the cappuccino are Austrian creations / were

invented by Austrians (1).
Any relevant content above 10 words should not be considered as part of the
answer.

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Question Answer Marks

2(e)(i) According to the material, explain why students of design might want to 5
visit Austria. Answer in about 50 words.

Credit any five of the following points.

Businesses still stand out by using well-designed / contemporary boards. (1)
Designed in Vienna, the Thonet No. 14 Chair was the first mass-produced
(piece of) furniture (1)
and is still the world’s most-sold chair. (1)
The Wiener Werkstätte led (modern) design from 1903 to 1932. (1)
Now, Werkraum Bregenzerwald helps artisans working in woodwork,
ceramics and painting. (1)
Innsbruck attracts top architects (from around the world), (1)
such as Zaha Hadid (1)
who designed the daring (Bergisel) Ski Jump (in 2002) (1)
and global firms who beautify the city and region. (1)
Any relevant content above 50 words should not be considered as part of the
answer.

2(e)(ii) According to the material, explain why tourists might want to visit 3
Austria. Answer in about 30 words.

Credit any three of the following points.

The Alps provide many opportunities for hikers / climbers. (1)
They can visit Europe’s oldest restaurant, (built into rock). (1)
Schönbrunn Zoo is the world’s oldest operating zoo. (1)
Innsbruck will have world-class facilities (1)
thanks to having hosted Winter Olympics (twice). (1)
In Vienna, many small family businesses survive (1)
which were once royal suppliers. (1)
Any relevant content above 30 words should not be considered as part of the
answer.

2(f) The article is described as a ‘line-up of facts and anecdotes’. Explain 2

why, in your opinion, this might be a problem for the reader.

Credit any two of the following points or any other valid material.
The reader needs to be cautious / read carefully (1)
as they might get confused (1)
between what is true and what could be an unreliable account / just a story.
(1)

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