Cambridge International AS Level

JAPANESE LANGUAGE 8281/01

Paper 1 Speaking October/November 2023
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 100

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 2023 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
components.

This document consists of 5 printed pages.

© UCLES 2023 [Turn over

8281/01 Cambridge International AS Level – Mark Scheme October/November
PUBLISHED 2023

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.

© UCLES 2023 Page 2 of 5

8281/01 Cambridge International AS Level – Mark Scheme October/November
PUBLISHED 2023

COMPONENT 1: Speaking

Section 1: Presentation

The presentation will be marked out of 20: Content/Presentation 10; Pronunciation/Intonation 5;

Language 5.

Candidates who make no reference to the contemporary society or cultural heritage of a country
where the language is spoken will have their mark for content/presentation halved.

Content/Presentation Pronunciation/Intonation Language

Knowledge of facts; ability to
express opinions and raise
issues for discussion.
9/10 Full and well organised 5 Outstanding pronunciation 5 Has a very good feeling
coverage of the topic; and intonation; an for the language; speaks
ideas and opinions occasional slight mistake fluently and accurately;
included as well as or hesitation. Not shows good use of
factual points; lively necessarily a native relevant idiom and uses a
presentation; Examiner’s speaker. wide range of structures
interest sustained. and vocabulary.
7/8 Good exposition and 4 Good pronunciation, 4 Speaks fairly fluently and
sound organisation of the makes a fair attempt at accurately; uses idiom
topic; makes relevant correct intonation and with a reasonable range
factual points though expression; some mistakes of structures and
may be less good in and/or hesitation. vocabulary.
ideas and opinions;
presentation somewhat
stilted though keeps
Examiner’s interest.
5/6 Adequate exposition of 3 A fair degree of accuracy in 3 May speak with hesitation;
the topic; few ideas or pronunciation; quite a adequate range of
opinions; evidence of number of errors; some structures and vocabulary;
preparation but attempt at intonation and no ambiguity of meaning.
presentation pedestrian. expression.
3/4 Material thin; rambling, 2 Intelligible but shows 2 Marked hesitation; limited
repetitious; hardly any marked influence of mother range of structures and
ideas or opinions; in tongue and very many vocabulary; leading to
danger of losing the errors of pronunciation. some ambiguity of
Examiner’s interest. meaning.
0/1/2 Very little factual 0/1 Very poor; many gross 0/1 Very marked hesitation;
information; material errors; frequently severe limitations of
irrelevant; vague, incomprehensible. structures and vocabulary;
arguments incoherent; thought processes
little effort at basically influenced by
presentation. mother tongue.

© UCLES 2023 Page 3 of 5

8281/01 Cambridge International AS Level – Mark Scheme October/November
PUBLISHED 2023

Section 2: Topic Conversation and Section 3: General Conversation

Examiners will mark out of 40 for each part: Comprehension and Responsiveness (10 marks),
Accuracy (10 marks), Feel for the Language (10 marks), Range of Vocabulary and Structures
(total out of 10, divided between Providing Information and Opinions and Seeking Information and
Opinions – see below).

Comprehension & Responsiveness Accuracy Feel for the Language

9–10 Very good 9–10 Very good 9–10 Very good
No problems of comprehension. Consistently accurate. Only occasional Has a very good feeling for the
Responses are natural and minor slips. language and is able to express
spontaneous even to unexpected concepts fluently in appropriate idiom.
questions. Able to present and defend Negligible influence from the mother
a point of view in discussion. tongue.
7–8 Good 7–8 Good 7–8 Good
Few problems of comprehension. Accuracy generally good, with more Has a very good feeling for the
Responds thoughtfully, and copes fairly frequent errors than in the very best language. Shows competent use of
well with unexpected questions. candidates. Shows a sound basic relevant idiom. Avoids significant
Reasonably forthcoming but tends to understanding of grammatical usage. influence from mother tongue.
follow Examiner’s lead.
5–6 Satisfactory 5–6 Satisfactory 5–6 Satisfactory
Understands questions on basic Accuracy indicates a measure of Feeling for the language evident with
situations and concepts, but has competence but with some obvious and some occasional use of relevant idiom.
difficulty with more complicated ideas. significant gaps in grammatical usage. Thought processes and expression are
Some delay in response. Needs influenced by mother tongue.
encouragement to develop topics. OR
Relies heavily on prepared responses.
3–4 Weak 3–4 Weak 3–4 Weak
Has general difficulty in understanding. Generally inaccurate use of the Has scant feeling for the idiom.
Limited response to questions on the language. Generally translates literally from the
majority of topics raised. mother tongue.
0–2 Poor 0–2 Poor 0–2 Poor
Severe problems of comprehension. No grasp of grammatical accuracy. Has no feeling for the target language.
Very marked hesitation. Limited Errors constant and repeated.
responsiveness.
Range of Vocabulary and Structures

Providing Information and Opinions Seeking Information and Opinions*

5 Very good 5 Very good
Extensive range of appropriate vocabulary. More than one question asked with confidence. Spontaneous or prompted,
Able to use a wide range of structures with but arising out of conversation and relevant to topic under discussion.
confidence. High level of accuracy, using a range of question forms.
4 Good 4 Good
Has sufficient range of vocabulary and Asks more than one question confidently. Spontaneous or prompted, but
structures to handle reasonably mature arising out of conversation and relevant to topic under discussion.
subjects. Questions largely accurate, but forms may be limited.
3 Satisfactory 3 Satisfactory
Limited expression of ideas (but not Capable of asking a minimum of one question. Spontaneous or prompted,
ambiguity) caused by limitations in range of but arising out of conversation and relevant to topic under discussion.
vocabulary and some structures. Has difficulty in formulating questions, but questions comprehensible.
2 Weak 2 Weak
Severe limitations of vocabulary and Severe limitations in asking questions – possibly one question only.
structures restrict discussion to a very basic Question(s) will probably not arise naturally or be relevant to the topic under
level. discussion. Question(s) difficult to understand.
0–1 Poor 0–1 Poor
Very restricted vocabulary. Only simple Questions attempted, but incomprehensible. (1)
sentences and no variety of structure. No questions, even when prompted. (0)

© UCLES 2023 Page 4 of 5

8281/01 Cambridge International AS Level – Mark Scheme October/November
PUBLISHED 2023

* In the case of candidates who do not ask any questions by the end of the Topic Conversation,
Examiners must prompt by asking Do you have any questions to ask of me? in the appropriate
language. The same prompt should be used at the end of the General Conversation. Candidates will
not be penalised for being prompted in this way.

© UCLES 2023 Page 5 of 5