European Baccalaureate Other National Language (ONL) flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

L1 written paper structure

Typically an analysis or comprehension task on an unseen text plus a longer production task such as an argumentative essay or commentary, marked separately for content, organisation, and language accuracy.

L1 oral format

A presentation on a text or work studied in class, followed by examiner questions. Assessment covers comprehension, interpretation, fluency, and interaction rather than pronunciation alone.

Register in L1 writing

The level of formality required by the text type. A formal letter, an editorial, and a literary commentary each demand different openings, connectors, and closing formulae.

Quotation accuracy rule

In literary commentary, cited wording must be exact and located by page or chapter when the set text is known. Paraphrased or invented quotations receive no credit.

L1 time allocation

A workable split of writing time is roughly one quarter for planning, one half for drafting, and one quarter for revision of grammar, spelling, and connector variety.

L2 CEFR expectation

Language 2 is examined at a level aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference, generally around B1 to B2 depending on the student's section and course.

L2 guided production

A writing task with a stated audience, purpose, and word count, such as a message, formal letter, article, or short essay. Deviating far from the word count is penalised.

Formality distinction in L2

Correct choice of address forms such as du/Sie, tú/usted, or tu/vous is explicitly rewarded, and errors of register reduce the production mark even when grammar is otherwise sound.

L2 listening procedure

The recording is normally played twice. The first listening captures keywords and numbers; the second fills in detail and confirms answers against the questions.

Connector categories for L2

Contrast, cause, consequence, and concession. Varying connectors across these categories raises the range score more than repeating one correct connector many times.

L2 grammar scope

Commonly examined areas include tense and aspect contrasts, conditional and subjunctive forms, passive voice, reported speech, and pronoun placement, varying by target language.

L2 oral assessment criteria

Communicative effectiveness, range of vocabulary and structures, grammatical accuracy, and pronunciation. Interaction with the examiner is scored, so answers should be developed, not one-word.

Power rule

The derivative of x^n is n·x^(n−1) for any real exponent n. It is the base rule from which polynomial derivatives are built term by term.

Chain rule

The derivative of f(g(x)) is f′(g(x))·g′(x). It is required for composite expressions such as sin(3x), e^(x²), or ln(2x + 1).

Integral of 1/x

The antiderivative of 1/x is ln|x| + C. The absolute value is needed because the logarithm is defined only for positive arguments.

Double-angle identities

sin 2x = 2 sin x cos x and cos 2x = cos²x − sin²x. These are used to simplify integrands and to solve trigonometric equations.

Pythagorean identity

sin²x + cos²x = 1 for every real x. It converts between sine and cosine and underlies most trigonometric simplification in the examination.

Addition rule for probability

P(A∪B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A∩B). The intersection is subtracted because outcomes in both events would otherwise be counted twice.

Conditional probability formula

P(A|B) = P(A∩B)/P(B), defined when P(B) > 0. It gives the probability of A given that B has occurred and underpins independence tests.

Binomial probability

For n independent trials with success probability p, P(X = k) = C(n,k)·p^k·(1−p)^(n−k). It applies when each trial has exactly two outcomes and constant probability.

Sample variance

s² = Σ(xᵢ − x̄)²/(n − 1) is the unbiased estimator of population variance. The population variance instead divides the sum of squares by n.

Method marks in mathematics

Credit is awarded for correct method as well as the final answer. A documented approach with an arithmetic slip usually scores more than an unsupported correct value.

Oral history in L2

A short presentation on a syllabus theme followed by examiner questions. Both historical content and accuracy of expression in the second language are marked.

Evidence in history answers

Claims must be supported by dates, treaties, figures, or source provenance. Unsupported generalisation is the most frequent cause of a low content mark in the oral.

Command words in oral questions

Describe requires features, explain requires causal mechanisms, compare requires explicit criteria, and evaluate requires a justified judgement. The structure of the answer follows the command word.

Source criticism framework

Identify the nature, author, date, and purpose of a document, then state what it reveals and what it omits. This structure transfers to almost any source-based question.

Geography case-study requirement

Geographical arguments need named case studies and quantitative data such as rates or indices, plus correct use of scale and spatial terminology in the second language.

Oral timing rule

A typical oral runs 15 to 20 minutes. A presentation prepared for 5 to 7 minutes leaves adequate time for examiner questions and clarification.

ONL course purpose

An Other National Language course serves students whose national language is not offered as L1 or L2, and is examined with written and oral components similar to those courses.

Philosophy option requirement

Answers must build a reasoned argument on the set question with explicit reference to named authors and positions. A purely personal essay without textual grounding scores poorly.

Economics option requirement

Questions require applying models such as supply and demand, elasticity, market structures, or macroeconomic policy to given data or scenarios, not merely recalling definitions.

Option subject weighting

Optional and complementary subjects generally carry a lower coefficient than L1, L2, and Mathematics in the final average, so a weak option affects the overall score less.