European Baccalaureate Language 3 cheat sheet
European Baccalaureate Language 3 · Keep the key ideas within reach.
Written examinations
The Language 3 written examination is a single paper of 2 hours 30 minutes carrying 50% of the final Language 3 mark in the European Baccalaureate.
The paper is divided into two parts: a reading comprehension section (Part A) and a written production section (Part B); candidates answer in the target language throughout.
Part A typically contains two or three authentic or adapted texts followed by comprehension questions in the target language; answers must be paraphrased, not copied verbatim from the text.
Part B requires the production of one or more texts (letter, article, essay, narrative, argumentative piece) of a prescribed length, usually 150-200 words for the shorter task and 250-300 words for the longer one.
Assessment criteria for Part B are content and task fulfilment, organisation and coherence, range of vocabulary and structures, and grammatical accuracy; each criterion is banded and contributes to the total.
The use of a bilingual dictionary is generally permitted in the written examination; monolingual dictionaries may be allowed depending on the school's arrangements, but electronic devices are not.
Candidates must respect the word limit; a significant overshoot or undershoot can lead to marks being deducted, and the number of words is usually stated at the end of the production.
Register and text type must match the task: a formal letter requires formulaic openings and closings, whereas a personal narrative allows a more informal register.
Oral examinations
The Language 3 oral examination is an internal assessment conducted by the subject teacher, normally lasting 20 minutes per candidate, and contributes 25% of the final mark.
The oral is divided into two parts: a prepared or semi-prepared presentation based on a text or topic, and an interactive discussion with the examiner.
The candidate typically has a short preparation period (around 15 minutes) before the examination to study a short text or document and prepare a structured response.
Assessment criteria for the oral are comprehension and interaction, fluency and pronunciation, range and accuracy of language, and content and organisation of the presentation.
The examiner must ask follow-up questions to probe comprehension and to allow the candidate to demonstrate interactive skills; a monologue without interaction does not fulfil the task.
Pronunciation is assessed for intelligibility and consistency rather than for native-like accent; systematic errors that impede communication are penalised.
Candidates are expected to use appropriate discourse markers and to structure their presentation with an introduction, development, and conclusion.
The oral mark is recorded on the official European Baccalaureate oral examination form and must be justified with reference to the published assessment criteria.
Preliminary mark (formative and summative assessment during s7)
The preliminary mark (note préliminaire) accounts for 25% of the final Language 3 mark and is based on continuous assessment during the s7 year.
The preliminary mark is determined by the subject teacher and covers both formative and summative assessment evidence collected throughout s7.
Components typically include class tests, written assignments, oral presentations, homework, and participation; the weighting of each component is set by the teacher and communicated to students at the start of the year.
The preliminary mark must be based on a minimum number of assessed tasks, usually at least two written and one oral assessment per semester, to ensure reliability.
The mark is expressed on a scale of 0 to 100, consistent with the European Baccalaureate marking scale, and is submitted to the school's examination board before the written examination.
The preliminary mark and the examination marks are combined according to the official weighting: preliminary 25%, written 50%, oral 25%.
Teachers must keep records of all assessment evidence and make the criteria transparent to students; the preliminary mark can be subject to moderation by the school's internal moderation procedures.
A candidate who has not been assessed sufficiently during s7 may be given a substitute assessment or the preliminary mark may be based on the evidence available, in accordance with school policy.
Written examinations
Reading comprehension questions in Part A may require identifying the main idea, locating specific information, inferring meaning from context, and recognising the author's tone or purpose.
Candidates should allocate roughly 60-70 minutes to Part A and 70-80 minutes to Part B, leaving time for planning and checking.
The written paper is marked out of 100 and then converted to the 50% weighting; the conversion is done by the school's examination board according to official tables.
Quotations from the text should be used sparingly and only to support an answer, not as a substitute for the candidate's own explanation.
In the argumentative task, candidates must present a clear thesis, develop arguments with examples, and address counter-arguments where appropriate.
Connectors and cohesive devices (however, moreover, therefore, on the other hand) are explicitly rewarded under the organisation criterion.
Spelling and punctuation errors are counted under grammatical accuracy; repeated errors of the same type may be penalised once rather than each time.
The written examination is held during the May session and is marked externally or by a visiting examiner according to the school's arrangements.
Oral examinations
The oral examination is conducted in the target language only; use of the mother tongue or another language is not permitted and may result in a penalty.
Candidates should prepare a short introduction that situates the document (source, type, topic) before moving to analysis and personal reaction.
The interactive discussion may extend beyond the document to related topics covered during the s7 course, testing the candidate's ability to sustain a conversation.
Examiners use a standardised grid with descriptors for each criterion; the total is out of 100 and is then weighted at 25%.
Fluency is assessed by the ability to maintain speech without excessive hesitation; pauses for thought are acceptable if not disruptive.
Candidates are expected to ask for clarification or reformulate if they do not understand a question, rather than remaining silent.
The oral examination is usually scheduled before the written examinations in the May session, and the mark is recorded immediately after the examination.
Recording of the oral examination may be required by the school for quality assurance and moderation purposes.
Preliminary mark (formative and summative assessment during s7)
Formative assessment provides feedback that informs learning and is not necessarily counted towards the preliminary mark; summative assessment provides the graded evidence that is counted.
The preliminary mark should reflect achievement across the full range of skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening, as well as language accuracy.
Teachers must inform students of the assessment plan and criteria at the beginning of s7, and any changes must be communicated in advance.
The preliminary mark is submitted to the school's examination board and may be subject to internal moderation to ensure consistency across classes.
A candidate whose preliminary mark is below the pass threshold may still sit the examinations; the final mark is the weighted combination of all components.
The preliminary mark is not subject to appeal in the same way as examination marks, but students may request a review through the school's internal procedures.
Documentation of assessment evidence (tests, assignments, oral records) must be retained by the teacher for at least one year for moderation and appeal purposes.
The preliminary mark is expressed as a whole number on the 0-100 scale; decimals are rounded according to the school's rounding policy.
Written examinations
The reading texts in Part A are usually 400-600 words in total and may include literary, journalistic, or informative sources.
Candidates should read the questions before reading the text in detail to identify the information required.
Answers to comprehension questions should be written in complete sentences in the target language, unless the question specifies otherwise.
The production task in Part B may offer a choice between two topics; candidates should select the one for which they have the strongest vocabulary and ideas.
A plan of 5-10 minutes before writing improves coherence and reduces the risk of digression.
The final 5-10 minutes should be reserved for checking agreement, tense consistency, spelling, and word count.
Handwriting must be legible; illegible answers may not be marked.
The use of correction fluid is generally permitted, but candidates should avoid excessive corrections that obscure the text.
Oral examinations
The preparation period is usually supervised and candidates may take notes, but notes should not be read verbatim during the presentation.
The presentation should last approximately 5-8 minutes, followed by 10-12 minutes of interaction.
Candidates should demonstrate a range of vocabulary and structures, including complex sentences and appropriate tenses.
Pronunciation of individual sounds, word stress, and intonation all contribute to the fluency and pronunciation criterion.
The examiner may intervene to redirect a candidate who drifts off topic or who dominates the interaction.
Candidates should show awareness of register and adapt their language to the formality of the examination context.
A candidate who fails to engage with the document or who gives a memorised speech unrelated to the task will be penalised under content and interaction.
The oral mark is combined with the written and preliminary marks to produce the final Language 3 mark.
Preliminary mark (formative and summative assessment during s7)
The preliminary mark is based on assessment tasks that are aligned with the Language 3 syllabus objectives and the final examination criteria.
Teachers should use a variety of assessment methods, including written tests, oral presentations, projects, and classroom observation.
Peer assessment and self-assessment may be used formatively but should not replace teacher assessment for the preliminary mark.
The preliminary mark must be submitted before the start of the written examination session, usually by the end of April.
Late submission of the preliminary mark by the teacher does not affect the candidate's entitlement to be assessed.
The preliminary mark is recorded on the official European Baccalaureate mark sheet and is subject to verification by the school's examination board.
Candidates should keep their own record of marks received during s7 to check the accuracy of the preliminary mark.
The preliminary mark contributes 25% of the final mark, so a strong performance during s7 can significantly improve the final grade.
Written examinations
The written examination paper is set by the European Baccalaureate examination board and is common across schools for the same language.
The paper is marked anonymously where possible; candidates must not write their name on the answer script, only their candidate number.
The use of mobile phones or smart devices is strictly prohibited and may result in disqualification.
Candidates should bring black or blue pens, pencils, and an eraser; dictionaries must be brought by the candidate if permitted.
The reading comprehension section may include true/false questions with justification, matching exercises, or short-answer questions.
The production section may require a formal letter, an article, a review, or an argumentative essay, depending on the paper.
Candidates should avoid lifting whole sentences from the source text in the production task; this is penalised under content and language criteria.
The word count should be stated at the end of the production; the examiner checks it against the prescribed range.
Oral examinations
The oral examination document may be a short literary extract, a newspaper article, a cartoon, or a statistical graph.
Candidates should identify the type of document, its source, its intended audience, and its main message in the introduction.
The analysis should cover content, structure, and language features where relevant to the document type.
The personal reaction should be justified with reasons and examples, not merely asserted.
Candidates should use a range of discourse markers to structure the presentation and the interaction.
The examiner's questions may test the candidate's ability to hypothesise, compare, or express opinion.
Candidates should maintain eye contact and appropriate body language; these contribute to the interaction criterion.
The oral examination is marked holistically against the criteria grid, not by a simple count of errors.
Preliminary mark (formative and summative assessment during s7)
The preliminary mark should be based on at least four to six assessed tasks spread across the year to ensure reliability.
Teachers should use the same criteria grid for the preliminary mark as for the final examinations to ensure alignment.
Feedback on formative tasks should be timely and specific, enabling students to improve before summative assessments.
Students should be given the opportunity to resit or improve a summative assessment only if the school's policy allows it.
The preliminary mark is not a prediction of the examination mark; it reflects actual achievement during s7.
Teachers should moderate samples of assessed work with colleagues to ensure consistency of standards.
The preliminary mark is reported to students before submission, and students may query errors of fact or calculation.
The final Language 3 mark is the weighted sum of the preliminary mark (25%), written examination (50%), and oral examination (25%), rounded to the nearest whole number.
Written examinations
The written examination is marked out of 100, with Part A and Part B each contributing a defined proportion, typically 40% and 60% respectively.
Comprehension answers must be in the candidate's own words; copying from the text may receive no credit.
The production task is assessed on a banded scale, with descriptors for each criterion at each band.
Candidates should use a range of sentence structures, including subordinate clauses, to demonstrate linguistic range.
Accuracy is assessed in context; minor errors that do not impede communication are treated less severely than errors that do.
The register must be consistent throughout the production; mixing formal and informal language is penalised.
Candidates should proofread for common errors such as subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and article use.
The written examination is held in May and results are published in July.
Oral examinations
The oral examination is conducted by the subject teacher, who may be accompanied by a second examiner for moderation.
The candidate's preparation notes may be taken into the examination room but should not be read aloud.
The presentation should demonstrate the candidate's ability to select and organise relevant information from the document.
The interaction should demonstrate the candidate's ability to respond spontaneously and to develop ideas.
Candidates should be prepared to justify their opinions and to engage with the examiner's counter-arguments.
The use of appropriate intonation and stress patterns is assessed under fluency and pronunciation.
Candidates should avoid memorised phrases that do not fit the context; examiners penalise formulaic language used inappropriately.
The oral examination mark is final once recorded, subject only to the school's moderation procedures.
Preliminary mark (formative and summative assessment during s7)
The preliminary mark is based on evidence from the s7 year only; results from s6 or earlier years are not counted.
Teachers should ensure that assessment tasks cover all four skills, even though the final examination tests only reading, writing, and speaking.
Listening comprehension may be assessed formatively during s7 and may contribute to the preliminary mark if the teacher includes it.
The preliminary mark should be fair and transparent; students should know how each task contributes to the overall mark.
Teachers should keep a mark book recording all assessments, dates, and weightings.
The preliminary mark is submitted to the school's examination board and is subject to verification against the recorded evidence.
A candidate who is absent for an assessment task should be given the opportunity to complete it, in accordance with school policy.
The preliminary mark is combined with the examination marks using the official formula; no separate scaling is applied.
Written examinations
The written paper may include a listening comprehension component in some language sections, but this is not standard for Language 3.
Candidates should use the reading time to annotate the text and identify key vocabulary.
Answers should be numbered clearly and correspond to the question numbers.
Candidates should write in the target language throughout, including in any planning notes that are handed in.
The production task should have a clear structure: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
Each body paragraph should develop one main idea with supporting evidence or examples.
The conclusion should summarise the argument and, where appropriate, offer a personal perspective.
Candidates should avoid slang and colloquialisms in formal writing tasks.
Oral examinations
The oral examination may include a short reading aloud of a passage to assess pronunciation.
Candidates should practise speaking for extended periods to build stamina and fluency.
The examiner may ask the candidate to summarise the document in one or two sentences.
Candidates should be able to explain the meaning of key vocabulary from the document.
The interaction may include questions about the candidate's personal experience related to the topic.
Candidates should use appropriate fillers and hesitation markers in the target language rather than switching to another language.
The oral examination is assessed on a scale of 0-100 and then weighted at 25%.
Candidates should arrive early and familiarise themselves with the examination room and materials.
Preliminary mark (formative and summative assessment during s7)
The preliminary mark should reflect consistent performance, not a single high or low result.
Teachers should use a range of task types to allow students to demonstrate different skills.
Summative assessments should be preceded by formative feedback so that students know how to improve.
The preliminary mark should be discussed with students individually where possible.
Teachers should ensure that assessment tasks are accessible to all students, including those with special educational needs.
The preliminary mark is not affected by attendance, but persistent absence may limit the evidence available.
The preliminary mark is recorded on the official mark sheet and signed by the teacher.
The final Language 3 mark is reported on the European Baccalaureate certificate.
Written examinations
Candidates should use a variety of linking words to connect ideas within and between paragraphs.
The reading comprehension section may include questions on the meaning of words in context.
Candidates should identify the author's purpose and tone in the reading texts.
The production task should address all parts of the question; omitting a required element loses marks.
Candidates should use examples and details to support their arguments.
The written examination is timed; candidates should monitor their pace and leave time for checking.
Candidates should write legibly and use paragraphs clearly.
The written examination is marked by trained examiners using the official criteria.
Oral examinations
The oral examination is an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their ability to communicate in the target language.
Candidates should prepare a range of vocabulary related to the topics studied during s7.
The examiner may ask the candidate to compare the document with another text studied in class.
Candidates should be able to express agreement and disagreement politely and with justification.
The oral examination may include a role-play scenario in some schools.
Candidates should use appropriate gestures and facial expressions to support communication.
The oral examination is recorded and may be reviewed for moderation.
The oral examination mark is combined with the other components to produce the final mark.
Preliminary mark (formative and summative assessment during s7)
The preliminary mark is based on the teacher's professional judgement supported by recorded evidence.
Teachers should ensure that the assessment criteria are shared with students at the start of the year.
The preliminary mark should be moderated within the school to ensure consistency across classes.
The preliminary mark is submitted to the examination board before the written examinations.
The preliminary mark contributes 25% of the final mark.
Teachers should keep records of all assessments for at least one year.
The preliminary mark should reflect achievement across all four skills.
The final mark is the weighted sum of the preliminary, written, and oral marks.
Written examinations
The written examination is a formal assessment and candidates must follow the examination regulations.
Candidates should bring the permitted materials and nothing else.
The reading comprehension section tests understanding of the text as a whole and of specific details.
The production section tests the ability to write coherently and accurately in the target language.
Candidates should use a range of vocabulary and structures to demonstrate linguistic range.
Accuracy is important but communication is the primary goal.
Candidates should plan, draft, and revise their production.
The written examination is marked out of 100 and weighted at 50%.
Oral examinations
The oral examination tests the candidate's ability to speak and interact in the target language.
Candidates should prepare a structured presentation on the document.
The interaction tests the candidate's ability to respond spontaneously.
Candidates should use appropriate register and vocabulary.
The oral examination is marked out of 100 and weighted at 25%.
Candidates should practise speaking regularly to build confidence.
The examiner uses a criteria grid to ensure fairness.
The oral examination is conducted in the target language only.
Preliminary mark (formative and summative assessment during s7)
The preliminary mark is based on continuous assessment during s7.
It covers both formative and summative assessment.
It contributes 25% of the final mark.
It is determined by the subject teacher.
It is based on a range of assessment tasks.
It is submitted to the examination board before the written examinations.
It is subject to internal moderation.
It is recorded on the official mark sheet.
Written examinations
The written examination is held in May.
It lasts 2 hours 30 minutes.
It is marked out of 100.
It is weighted at 50%.
It has two parts: reading comprehension and written production.
Candidates answer in the target language.
Dictionaries may be permitted.
Electronic devices are prohibited.
Oral examinations
The oral examination is conducted by the subject teacher.
It lasts about 20 minutes.
It has two parts: presentation and interaction.
It is marked out of 100.
It is weighted at 25%.
It is conducted in the target language.
It is recorded for moderation.
It is scheduled before the written examinations.
Preliminary mark (formative and summative assessment during s7)
The preliminary mark is based on s7 assessment.
It includes written and oral tasks.
It is expressed on a 0-100 scale.
It is submitted by the end of April.
It is subject to moderation.
It is recorded on the official mark sheet.
It contributes 25% of the final mark.
It reflects achievement across all skills.
Written examinations
Candidates should read the questions carefully before answering.
Answers should be in complete sentences unless otherwise specified.
Candidates should use their own words in comprehension answers.
The production task should be planned before writing.
Candidates should check their work for errors.
The word count should be respected.
The register should match the task.
The handwriting should be legible.
Oral examinations
Candidates should prepare a clear introduction.
The presentation should be structured.
The interaction should be spontaneous.
Candidates should use a range of vocabulary.
Pronunciation should be intelligible.
Candidates should use discourse markers.
Candidates should maintain eye contact.
The oral examination is marked holistically.
Preliminary mark (formative and summative assessment during s7)
The preliminary mark is based on at least four to six tasks.
It covers all four skills.
It is aligned with the final examination criteria.
It is communicated to students in advance.
It is moderated within the school.
It is recorded and retained for one year.
It is submitted before the written examinations.
It is combined with the examination marks.
Written examinations
The written examination is set by the European Baccalaureate examination board.
It is common across schools for the same language.
It is marked anonymously where possible.
Candidates must not write their name on the answer script.
Mobile phones are prohibited.
Candidates should bring pens and pencils.
Dictionaries must be brought by the candidate if permitted.
The examination is timed.
Oral examinations
The oral examination document may be literary or journalistic.
Candidates should identify the source and audience.
The analysis should cover content and structure.
The personal reaction should be justified.
Candidates should use discourse markers.
The examiner may test hypothesising and comparing.
Candidates should maintain appropriate body language.
The oral examination is marked against a criteria grid.