Cambridge IGCSEIGCSE LanguagePaper 2 Section B

Composition mark scheme

Cambridge IGCSE Language Paper 2 Section B is marked out of 40, in two parts: 16 for content and structure and 24 for style and accuracy. Understanding the split is the fastest way to stop losing marks on the wrong things.

Content and structure

40% of the composition mark

16 marks. Is your composition well-shaped? Does it develop an idea? Does it engage the reader from opening to closing?

Key questions examiners ask:

Does the piece have a clear shape - beginning, middle, end?
Are paragraphs sequenced with purpose?
Is there originality in the ideas or the angle?
Does the ending feel earned, not tacked on?

Style and accuracy

60% of the composition mark

24 marks. This is the bigger pillar. It rewards vocabulary range, sentence variety, technical accuracy, and a confident register.

Key questions examiners ask:

Is the vocabulary precise and sometimes ambitious?
Are sentence structures varied and controlled?
Are spelling, punctuation and grammar secure?
Is the register (formal, informal, narrative) consistent?

Content and structure - band descriptors

Highly skilful

14-16 marks

Highly effective and consistently well-sequenced structure.
Content is imaginative, developed and engages the reader throughout.
Ideas are consistently original, coherent and compelling.
Shape is deliberate: strong opening, controlled development, echoed ending.

Skilful

11-13 marks

Effective structure with clear development.
Content is engaging and well-chosen.
Ideas are coherent and often original.
Shape is evident even if less deliberate than Band 6.

Competent

8-10 marks

Structure is organised with a clear sequence.
Content is relevant and generally engaging.
Ideas are usually coherent, occasionally insightful.
Opening and closing are present but not notably linked.

Straightforward

5-7 marks

Structure is simple but evident.
Content is relevant, mostly predictable.
Ideas are clear but not developed.
Paragraphing is used but without deliberate shape.

Limited

3-4 marks

Structure is weak or inconsistent.
Content is thin or partially relevant.
Ideas are listed rather than developed.

Basic

1-2 marks

Very little structure or development.
Content is minimal or largely irrelevant.

Style and accuracy - band descriptors

Highly skilful

22-24 marks

A wide range of ambitious vocabulary used precisely for effect.
A wide range of sentence structures used deliberately.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar are consistently accurate.
Register and style are consistently appropriate and confident.

Skilful

18-21 marks

A range of ambitious vocabulary used effectively.
Sentence structures are varied and usually effective.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate with very occasional errors.
Style is confident.

Competent

14-17 marks

Vocabulary is mostly clear and sometimes ambitious.
Sentence structures show some variety.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar are generally accurate; errors rarely impede meaning.

Straightforward

10-13 marks

Vocabulary is mostly simple but usually correct.
Some attempt at sentence variety.
Errors are frequent but meaning remains clear.

Limited

6-9 marks

Vocabulary is simple and often imprecise.
Sentence structures are repetitive.
Errors are frequent and sometimes impede meaning.

Basic

1-5 marks

Vocabulary is very limited.
Sentence structures are very repetitive.
Errors impede meaning throughout.

How to push up a band

From Band 4 to Band 5 (content)

Make the opening and closing echo. Cut any paragraph that does not move the shape forward. Add one unexpected detail per paragraph.

From Band 4 to Band 5 (style)

Replace five vague words with precise ones. Break one long sentence into two or three. Add one short sentence per paragraph.

From Band 5 to Band 6 (content)

Build and sustain an extended metaphor across the whole piece. Invert the opening image in the closing line.

From Band 5 to Band 6 (style)

Use one rhetorical device per piece - tricolon, anaphora or asyndeton - and hold register steady from first line to last.

Band descriptors are paraphrased for clarity and are not the official Cambridge mark scheme wording. Always refer to the current Cambridge IGCSE Language specification and published mark schemes for authoritative criteria.

Back to composition

Cambridge IGCSEIGCSE LanguagePaper 2 Section B

Composition mark scheme

Content and structure

40% of the composition mark

16 marks. Is your composition well-shaped? Does it develop an idea? Does it engage the reader from opening to closing?

Key questions examiners ask:

Does the piece have a clear shape - beginning, middle, end?
Are paragraphs sequenced with purpose?
Is there originality in the ideas or the angle?
Does the ending feel earned, not tacked on?

Style and accuracy

60% of the composition mark

24 marks. This is the bigger pillar. It rewards vocabulary range, sentence variety, technical accuracy, and a confident register.

Key questions examiners ask:

Is the vocabulary precise and sometimes ambitious?
Are sentence structures varied and controlled?
Are spelling, punctuation and grammar secure?
Is the register (formal, informal, narrative) consistent?

Content and structure - band descriptors

Highly skilful

14-16 marks

Highly effective and consistently well-sequenced structure.
Content is imaginative, developed and engages the reader throughout.
Ideas are consistently original, coherent and compelling.
Shape is deliberate: strong opening, controlled development, echoed ending.

Skilful

11-13 marks

Effective structure with clear development.
Content is engaging and well-chosen.
Ideas are coherent and often original.
Shape is evident even if less deliberate than Band 6.

Competent

8-10 marks

Structure is organised with a clear sequence.
Content is relevant and generally engaging.
Ideas are usually coherent, occasionally insightful.
Opening and closing are present but not notably linked.

Straightforward

5-7 marks

Structure is simple but evident.
Content is relevant, mostly predictable.
Ideas are clear but not developed.
Paragraphing is used but without deliberate shape.

Limited

3-4 marks

Structure is weak or inconsistent.
Content is thin or partially relevant.
Ideas are listed rather than developed.

Basic

1-2 marks

Very little structure or development.
Content is minimal or largely irrelevant.

Style and accuracy - band descriptors

Highly skilful

22-24 marks

A wide range of ambitious vocabulary used precisely for effect.
A wide range of sentence structures used deliberately.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar are consistently accurate.
Register and style are consistently appropriate and confident.

Skilful

18-21 marks

A range of ambitious vocabulary used effectively.
Sentence structures are varied and usually effective.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate with very occasional errors.
Style is confident.

Competent

14-17 marks

Vocabulary is mostly clear and sometimes ambitious.
Sentence structures show some variety.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar are generally accurate; errors rarely impede meaning.

Straightforward

10-13 marks

Vocabulary is mostly simple but usually correct.
Some attempt at sentence variety.
Errors are frequent but meaning remains clear.

Limited

6-9 marks

Vocabulary is simple and often imprecise.
Sentence structures are repetitive.
Errors are frequent and sometimes impede meaning.

Basic

1-5 marks

Vocabulary is very limited.
Sentence structures are very repetitive.
Errors impede meaning throughout.

How to push up a band

From Band 4 to Band 5 (content)

Make the opening and closing echo. Cut any paragraph that does not move the shape forward. Add one unexpected detail per paragraph.

From Band 4 to Band 5 (style)

Replace five vague words with precise ones. Break one long sentence into two or three. Add one short sentence per paragraph.

From Band 5 to Band 6 (content)

Build and sustain an extended metaphor across the whole piece. Invert the opening image in the closing line.

From Band 5 to Band 6 (style)

Use one rhetorical device per piece - tricolon, anaphora or asyndeton - and hold register steady from first line to last.

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Composition mark scheme

Content and structure - band descriptors

Style and accuracy - band descriptors

How to push up a band

Composition mark scheme

Content and structure - band descriptors

Style and accuracy - band descriptors

How to push up a band