OFFICIAL (CLOSED) / NON-SENSITIVE

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SINGAPORE

NA in collaboration with
CAMBRIDGE ASSESSMENT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
General Certificate of Education Normal (Academic) Level

ENGLISH LANGUAGE (SYLLABUS A) 1190/02

Paper 2 Comprehension For examination from 2023
SPECIMEN MARKING GUIDE FOR TEACHERS

This Marking Guide is classified Official (Closed) / Non-Sensitive. It is for school’s

internal use only and is not meant for external circulation.

MAXIMUM MARK: 50

This document consists of 6 printed pages.

© UCLES & MOE 2021 [Turn over

 OFFICIAL (CLOSED) / NON-SENSITIVE
1190/02 GCE NA-Level – Marking Guide For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023

Section A: Text 1 and Text 2

Question Answer Marks Guidance

1 Collectors are compared to superheroes 1

Question Answer Marks Guidance

2 Collecting things meets a universal human need. 1 Do not accept if more
than one box is ticked.

Question Answer Marks Guidance

3 Text 1 – informal, persuasive, personal 1
Text 2 – neutral, academic, formal

Question Answer Marks Guidance

4(a) Text 1 1
4(b) Neither 1

Section B: Text 3

Question Answer Marks Guidance

5 He heard a (woman’s) voice / he heard someone 1
calling out /screaming (two names) (over and
over)

Question Answer Marks Guidance

6 4
The actions the writer Matching words or
observed at the lake phrases from the
given extract
breaking giving way
melting thawing
beginning taking hold
walking tiptoeing

Question Answer Marks Guidance

7 The dogs were finding it difficult to get out of the 1
water. / They were trying hard/were determined to
get out / They knew they were in danger.

© UCLES & MOE 2021 Page 2 of 6

 OFFICIAL (CLOSED) / NON-SENSITIVE
1190/02 GCE NA-Level – Marking Guide For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023

Question Answer Marks Guidance

8 (i) He feared that the dogs would drown/the 3
dogs were weak/tired.
(ii) He didn’t think the emergency services would
arrive in time (to rescue the dogs).
(iii) He knew he could cope with cold water. / He
had the experience to deal with the situation.

Question Answer Marks Guidance

9 (experience of) cold-water exposure 1
10 (i) breathe deeply /breathe in a controlled way / 2 Accept the answers in
control his breathing any order.
(ii) press a point on the wrist (that sends out an
electrical signal)

Question Answer Marks Guidance

11 2
Based on the the dog …
following word /
phrase in italics,
‘… Kira understood knew what to do
intuitively and reached without being
the stricken dog before instructed / naturally
I did.’ (lines 22–23) knew what to do
‘She shepherded it guided the dog / led /
back to shore ...’ (line directed the dog
23)

Question Answer Marks Guidance

12 3 Award one mark
Quotes How each quote
for each correct
supports the view that
quotation provided with
the rescue attempt was
appropriate explanation.
too dangerous
Both quotation and
‘… the dogs’ owner She tried to stop him explanation are needed.
tried to dissuade going into the water
me from going in.’ because he could drown Errors in spelling or
/ die from the cold grammar will not affect
the marks awarded for
‘... the shock of Entering the cold water
this question as long as
water that cold can could be harmful.
the quotations can be
be hazardous, ...’
identified.
‘... I steeled myself The writer knew he was
to begin the second facing a challenging task.
rescue.’

© UCLES & MOE 2021 Page 3 of 6

 OFFICIAL (CLOSED) / NON-SENSITIVE
1190/02 GCE NA-Level – Marking Guide For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023

Question Answer Marks Guidance

13 • ‘that’s when one of my grandfather’s 2
techniques came into play.’
• ‘All my movements were designed to avoid
wasting energy

Question Answer Marks Guidance

14 He didn’t understand its purpose. / He didn’t think 1
it was useful.

Section C: Text 4

Question Answer Marks Guidance

15 5
Paragraph 1 B (given)
Paragraph 2 E
Paragraph 3 D
Paragraph 4 F
Paragraph 5 C
Paragraph 6 G

Option A not used

Question Answer Marks Guidance

16 (i) habitat destruction 2 Accept any answers
which reflect these ideas
(ii) introduction of other hostile species from the text.

Question Answer Marks Guidance

17 Success of de-extinction projects according to: 2 Accept any answers
which reflect these ideas
(i) Scientists – only a high percentage of from the text.
identical genetic information in the de-extinct
animal
(ii) The public – if an animal looks and behaves
similarly

Question Answer Marks Guidance

18 De-extinction is still not possible / it’s not reality / it 1 Accept any answers
hasn’t been successful yet. which reflect these ideas
from the text.

© UCLES & MOE 2021 Page 4 of 6

 OFFICIAL (CLOSED) / NON-SENSITIVE
1190/02 GCE NA-Level – Marking Guide For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023

QUESTION 19 (summary): 15 marks (8 + 7)

AWARD A MAXIMUM OF 8 FOR CONTENT POINTS.

AWARD A MAXIMUM OF 7 MARKS FOR STYLE.

Question Answer Marks Guidance

19 Answers should include the following points 8 1 mark for each correct point,
from the text: up to 8 marks.

Arguments for: The question indicates the total

1 we have an environmental debt to pay number of points candidates
/ we owe it to them to try to bring them should provide and they would
back. be awarded a mark for each
2 restoring ecosystems argument offered, regardless
3 slow climate change of how many ‘for’ and ‘against’
4 would draw visitors to zoos and nature arguments are given in the
reserves. summary.
5 insights into evolution scientist would
gain Candidates are not expected to
6 technical developments in genetic rephrase technical terms such
engineering could help patients as ‘evolution’.
suffering from genetic diseases.

Arguments against:
7 can bring harm to those animals
8 the impact for living species if those
brought back to life carried viruses and
bacteria that had died with them
9 financial investments required to fund
10 changing priorities for scientists who
could usefully pursue more worthy
projects in human medicine
11 people becoming too relaxed in their
attitudes towards environmental
protection.

© UCLES & MOE 2021 Page 5 of 6

 OFFICIAL (CLOSED) / NON-SENSITIVE
1190/02 GCE NA-Level – Marking Guide For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023

QUESTION 19 (summary): STYLE ASSESSMENT (7 marks)

Summary Style Descriptors

7 • Sustained and successful use of own words and structures
• Consistently well organised ideas which convey the meaning of the text clearly and
precisely
5–6 • Frequent and usually appropriate use of own words and structures
• Mostly well organised ideas which convey the meaning of the text clearly
3–4 • Some use of own words and structures
• Some attempts at organising ideas to convey the meaning of the text
1–2 • Occasional attempts at use of own words and/or structures
• Attempts at conveying the meaning of the text
0 • No creditable response.

© UCLES & MOE 2021 Page 6 of 6