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IGCSE Mandarin

Hi, I’m in year 9 and taking this exam this year as my school is forcing us to.
I’m kind of scared because I want to get a 9 but I’m pretty sure that’s going to be close to impossible for me as it took a 230/240 last year to get a 9.
For anyone who did it, how hard is it to get a 9 and should i be concerned about vocabulary or oral? I’m just concerned as the speaking thing is definitely stressing me out, how hard is the speaking? how many points do you get docked for average vocabulary or slow speaking?
Original post by wilsonchan
Hi, I’m in year 9 and taking this exam this year as my school is forcing us to.
I’m kind of scared because I want to get a 9 but I’m pretty sure that’s going to be close to impossible for me as it took a 230/240 last year to get a 9.
For anyone who did it, how hard is it to get a 9 and should i be concerned about vocabulary or oral? I’m just concerned as the speaking thing is definitely stressing me out, how hard is the speaking? how many points do you get docked for average vocabulary or slow speaking?

Hey!
I have friends who are preparing for this GCSE, and they find it relatively easy. Most of them are Chinese—both from the mainland and Hong Kong. So, some have Mandarin as their first language, which makes it, fortunately, easy for them. From what I can tell, most of the papers and exams are basic Mandarin—nothing too extreme or complex.
If you're worried about the level of difficulty - it's basically Y3 level in China, HK, Taiwan, etc... which is for 4-5-year-olds, so it isn't that bad.

I've just had a look at some past papers, and they're not that bad at all (Chinese is my 3rd language, but I absolutely suck at it 😅). Moreover, speaking shouldn't be a problem as you will not get marked down for slow speaking; however there is a time limit or a preferred pace to speak at. If you spend too long thinking, they may move on to the next question.

The tip I would give is that you should revise loads of vocab; it is definitely useful as the papers contain questions which require you to know the vocab to get/understand the question right - take it from anything in daily life (food, health, nature, etc...)

Reply 2

Original post by jelllyfiiish
Hey!
I have friends who are preparing for this GCSE, and they find it relatively easy. Most of them are Chinese—both from the mainland and Hong Kong. So, some have Mandarin as their first language, which makes it, fortunately, easy for them. From what I can tell, most of the papers and exams are basic Mandarin—nothing too extreme or complex.
If you're worried about the level of difficulty - it's basically Y3 level in China, HK, Taiwan, etc... which is for 4-5-year-olds, so it isn't that bad.
I've just had a look at some past papers, and they're not that bad at all (Chinese is my 3rd language, but I absolutely suck at it 😅). Moreover, speaking shouldn't be a problem as you will not get marked down for slow speaking; however there is a time limit or a preferred pace to speak at. If you spend too long thinking, they may move on to the next question.
The tip I would give is that you should revise loads of vocab; it is definitely useful as the papers contain questions which require you to know the vocab to get/understand the question right - take it from anything in daily life (food, health, nature, etc...)

FYI people in HK speak Cantonese not Mandarin 😄 so Mandarin is like a second language for us too
Original post by Sumikko
FYI people in HK speak Cantonese not Mandarin 😄 so Mandarin is like a second language for us too

I know, I’m from HK :smile:

Reply 4

Original post by jelllyfiiish
I know, I’m from HK :smile:

😅same, that's why it is not easy for us !!

Reply 5

IGCSE tends to be harder as they perceive the language examined as your first or second language, so its definitely harder than GCSE, reflected by the grade boundaries. That's why in my school no one else does it apart from the ones that have previously studied it.

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