HQ Society
Chinese in Context · Practice Resource
Set 1 · Processing & Responding · Composing · Oral
Aligned to the NSW HSC Chinese in Context syllabus. All texts are original to HQ Society: AI generated, then checked by practising NSW language teachers. Built for practice before the HSC, not for use as a school assessment task.
Practice resourceNot an examination paper100 marks
100marks
3sections
Written + Oraltwo papers
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Section I

Processing and Responding to Texts

50 marksQuestions 1–6aural & written texts

Questions 1–3 are based on aural texts (each recording is played twice in the exam) and Questions 4–6 on written texts. Each question tells you whether to answer in English or in Chinese. Try the question first, then open the transcript / model to check.

Familiarisation — listen first to get used to the voices
0:00 / 0:00
Male妈，明天要早起考试，你几点叫我？
Female六点，早起的鸟儿有虫吃。
Male可是我不爱吃虫，那我还是睡到八点吧。
Female啊？

Question 1

4 marks

奶奶为什么担心年轻一代会慢慢失去文化认同？字数要求大约50个英文字。Why is Grandma worried that the younger generation is gradually losing their cultural identity? Write approximately 50 words in ENGLISH.

0:00 / 0:00
Male奶奶，今年的春节我们就这样简单地吃个饭就过了吗？没有去外公家拜年，也没看春节晚会，连饺子都没包……
Female小杰啊，这就是我担心的事。你们这一代在澳洲长大，把我们的传统都丢得差不多了。我小时候，春节是一年中最热闹的日子，全家老小聚在一起，包饺子、贴春联、放鞭炮，那种喜庆的味道，是我一辈子都忘不了的。
Male可是奶奶，澳洲跟中国不一样啊。学校还要上课，大家工作也很忙，没办法像在中国那样过年。
Female我明白。可是节日的精神不只是热闹，更是一种文化认同。如果连最重要的春节都不重视，过几年，我们就真的成了“没有根的浮萍”了。
Male奶奶您别担心。我答应您，明年春节我们一家人一起包饺子，请您讲讲老家的故事，好吗？
✓ What scores marks
  • Answer in ENGLISH — the text is in Chinese, your response is in English.
  • State your point, then support it with a SPECIFIC detail from the text — paraphrased, not copied out in Chinese.
  • Cover every part of the question; give roughly one developed point per two marks.
✗ What loses marks
  • Translating the text line-by-line instead of analysing or answering the question.
  • A conclusion with no evidence from the text; answering in Chinese; missing part of the question.
How to structure your answerPoint / answer → a specific detail from the text to back it → make sure every part of the question is covered. Answer in English.
For this question
Top band: For 4/4, name the SPECIFIC losses the conversation gives (the meal-only celebration, no 拜年 visits, no Gala, no dumpling-making), then state what Grandma is actually worried about — that festival customs carry cultural identity, so losing them means the young generation slowly losing 文化认同 (her “没有根的浮萍” image). Thorough = the concrete losses AND why they matter to her.
Common slip: Vague answers that only say 'they don't celebrate properly' or 'young people are too busy' without the actual customs from the conversation read as 'some understanding' (2 marks). And answer with GRANDMA's reasoning — not the grandson's busy-schedule excuse, which is his counter-argument, not her worry.
Model answer
your pointevidence from the textwhat it shows
Grandma is worried because this year's Spring Festival was reduced to a simple family meal, with no New Year visits, no Spring Festival Gala and no dumpling-making. Growing up in Australia, the young generation has abandoned most traditions. For her, festival customs carry cultural identity — without them, the family risks becoming culturally rootless.

Question 2

6 marks

你是学校图书馆的学生志愿者。根据广播的内容，为“二手书漂流”计划写一份海报，欢迎同学们参加。字数要求大约130个汉字。You are a student volunteer at the school library. Based on the radio broadcast, write a poster for the ‘Book Drift’ second-hand book-sharing program, welcoming fellow students to take part. Write approximately 130 characters in CHINESE.

0:00 / 0:00
Female亲爱的同学们，大家好！我是校园广播站的小林。今天我要向大家介绍一个我们学校刚刚启动的环保项目，二手书漂流计划。这个计划的目的，是让闲置的书本重新流动起来，既减少资源浪费，也让更多同学受益。计划将于下星期一正式开始。参与方式很简单：把你看过的、不再需要的书带到图书馆门口的漂流书架上，并选择你感兴趣的书带回家阅读。漂流书架分为小说、科普、漫画和学习参考四个区域，方便大家寻找。我们鼓励大家在每本书的第一页写下一句话，分享你的读后感或推荐理由。这样，一本书就不只是知识的载体，更成为同学之间精神交流的桥梁。另外，凡是捐出五本书的同学，还可以获得一张精美的书签和“环保小达人”证书。学期末，图书馆还会举办读书分享会，邀请大家聊聊漂流中遇到的好书。让我们携手成为环保的实践者，让书本的生命因为我们而延续！
approx. 130 characters characters, in Chinese
0 chars
✓ What scores marks
  • Write in the EXACT text type the prompt names (flyer / email / letter to the editor / speech) with its conventions — salutation, body, sign-off.
  • Synthesise the source text(s): draw the relevant ideas across from the stimulus into your own response for the new context, purpose and audience.
  • Hit the character target and use a range of language features / connectives (首先、其次、最后、不仅…而且).
✗ What loses marks
  • Copying chunks of the stimulus instead of re-purposing the ideas for the new task.
  • Wrong text type or missing its conventions; ignoring context / purpose / audience; well under the character count.
How to structure your answerCorrect text type with its conventions (salutation → body → sign-off) → re-purpose the source ideas for the new audience/purpose → hit the character target.
For this question
Top band: A poster scores 6/6 when it works for its PURPOSE and AUDIENCE — a punchy headline, a direct 你/同学们 address, the concrete programme details from the broadcast (bring a book, take a book, write a line inside the first page, the five-book 环保小达人 reward, next Monday's launch) and a warm call to action. Paraphrase the broadcast in your own words — markers reward paraphrase over copied wording.
Common slip: Writing a plain prose summary of the broadcast instead of a POSTER — no headline, no second-person hook, no call to action — loses the context/purpose/audience marks even if the Chinese is accurate. Also watch length (~130 characters): padding with repeated slogans wastes space the markers want spent on the actual programme details.
Model answer
Grey labels show the structure · highlighted = key idioms / connectives / set phrases
Headline / hook让闲置的好书重新出发！
Pose the need + where你的书柜里，是否还躺着几本读完的好书？“漂流书架”就设在图书馆门口：
How to take part + reward送来你的旧书，挑走一本心仪的书，还可以为下一位读者留下一句推荐。捐出五本，即可获得“环保小达人”证书和精美书签！
Details & urgency活动下周一正式启动，数量有限，先到先得。
Closing call to action让每一本好书都不被遗忘。期待你的参与！
Translation

Give idle books a fresh start! Are finished favourites still sitting on your shelf? The 'drift shelf' stands right by the library door: bring your old books, pick out one that catches your eye, and leave a line of recommendation for the next reader. Donate five and receive an 'Eco Star' certificate with a lovely bookmark! The program launches next Monday — places are limited, first come first served. Let no good book be forgotten — we look forward to your part!

Question 3

8 marks

你是兰兰。你的朋友大山为了买一双名牌球鞋，和父母发生了矛盾。根据播客和博客的内容，给他写一封电子邮件，谈谈你的看法和建议。字数要求大约150个汉字。You are Lanlan. Your friend Dashan has fallen out with his parents over buying a pair of brand-name sneakers. Based on the content of the podcast and blog, write him an email sharing your thoughts and suggestions. Write approximately 150 characters in CHINESE.

0:00 / 0:00
Text 3B – Blog post
不参加“比赛”的我

去年，我也曾为了一双球鞋省下三个月的零花钱。鞋到手的那天我特别开心，可这份开心不到一个星期就没了，因为更新的款式又出来了。那一刻我突然明白：这场“比赛”永远没有终点。

现在，我把零花钱花在吉他课上。上个月的学校音乐会上，我弹了一首自己写的歌。台下的掌声让我明白：让我发光的，不是鞋，是热爱。

Male亲爱的听众朋友们，大家好！今天我们来聊聊一个很多中学生都熟悉的现象：攀比。新学期一开学，有人穿上了限量版球鞋，有人换了最新款的手机，还有人把生日派对办得一场比一场大。一项校园调查显示，近一半的中学生承认，自己曾因为“别人有，我没有”而烦恼。为什么会这样呢？心理专家认为，青少年正处在寻找自我的阶段，容易把“拥有什么”当成“我是谁”；再加上广告无处不在，同学之间一比较，就更难保持平常心了。不过，专家也提醒大家：真正让人羡慕的，从来不是你脚上的鞋，而是你身上的自信。把心思放在自己的兴趣和成长上，你会发现，最好的“名牌”，其实是更好的自己。
approx. 150 characters characters, in Chinese
0 chars
✓ What scores marks
  • Write in the EXACT text type the prompt names (flyer / email / letter to the editor / speech) with its conventions — salutation, body, sign-off.
  • Synthesise the source text(s): draw the relevant ideas across from the stimulus into your own response for the new context, purpose and audience.
  • Hit the character target and use a range of language features / connectives (首先、其次、最后、不仅…而且).
✗ What loses marks
  • Copying chunks of the stimulus instead of re-purposing the ideas for the new task.
  • Wrong text type or missing its conventions; ignoring context / purpose / audience; well under the character count.
How to structure your answerCorrect text type with its conventions (salutation → body → sign-off) → re-purpose the source ideas for the new audience/purpose → hit the character target.
For this question
Top band: This is the integration question (8 marks): the email must WEAVE both texts per idea, not summarise them one after the other. Pair the podcast's general evidence (the near-half survey, the expert on identity-seeking and ads, confidence as the real 名牌) with the blog's concrete story (three months' pocket money, joy gone within a week, guitar lessons and applause) inside the same argument. And keep it a FRIEND's email to 大山 mid-conflict — warm register, advice suited to him (his drumming), a personal close.
Common slip: Sequential treatment — all the podcast, then all the blog — caps you at 'some ability to synthesise' no matter how good the Chinese is; one-source answers sit in the 2–3 band. The other slip is lecture register: you are 兰兰 comforting a friend who just fought with his parents, so no essay topic sentences bolted onto a personal note.
Model answer
Grey labels show the structure · highlighted = key idioms / connectives / set phrases
Salutation大山：
Open with empathy + the podcast's survey听说你为了球鞋的事和父母闹了矛盾，我想和你谈谈。播客里说，将近一半的同学都曾为“别人有、我没有”苦恼过，你并不是一个人。
Weave in the blogger's story那位博主的经历也提醒了我：她用三个月的零花钱买来心仪的球鞋，快乐却十分短暂，因为更新的款式很快出现；同别人比较，永远没有尽头。
Advice drawing on both texts我很赞成专家的看法：与其比较穿着，不如经营热爱。你的鼓打得那么好，不如把心思放回音乐上。
Close as a friend周末见面细谈，好吗？
Sign-off兰兰
Answers could include
  • # The cost of comparing
  • The podcast's survey finding that nearly half of students have been troubled by 'others have it, I don't' — made personal by the blogger's three months of pocket money spent on sneakers whose joy faded within a week.
  • The expert's explanation that identity-seeking teenagers mistake having for being, while advertising and classmates' comparisons make a calm mindset harder; the blog dramatises this the moment a newer model appears — the race has no finish line.
  • Strained relationships when spending is driven by comparison, as in Dashan’s conflict with his parents.
  • # The way out
  • The podcast’s reminder that what people admire is confidence, not shoes — interests and growth are the real 名牌.
  • The blogger’s redirection of pocket money into guitar lessons, and the applause that ended her race; concrete encouragement suited to Dashan (invest in his drumming).
Text 4 – Newspaper article
夹缝中的我们：华裔年轻人的身份认同

近年来，越来越多的华裔年轻人开始反思自己的身份认同。他们在中文里被称为“香蕉人”：黄皮肤、白心，似乎处于两种文化的夹缝之中。有人认为，这是一种割裂，是失去文化根基的表现；也有人认为，双文化背景恰恰是华裔年轻人的独特优势，让他们既能传承中华文化，又能拥抱澳洲的多元价值观。

事实上，文化认同从来不是非此即彼的选择，而是一种主动建构的过程。真正的“澳大利亚身份”，应是多元、包容、动态的，它接纳每一份独特的文化贡献，让每一个移民家庭都能找到属于自己的位置。

Question 4

10 marks

读了报纸上的这篇文章后，写一封信给报社编辑，就文中的两种看法谈谈你的立场。字数要求大约160个汉字。After reading this newspaper article, write a letter to the editor stating where you stand on the two views presented in the article. Write approximately 160 characters in CHINESE.

approx. 160 characters characters, in Chinese
0 chars
✓ What scores marks
  • Write in the EXACT text type the prompt names (flyer / email / letter to the editor / speech) with its conventions — salutation, body, sign-off.
  • Synthesise the source text(s): draw the relevant ideas across from the stimulus into your own response for the new context, purpose and audience.
  • Hit the character target and use a range of language features / connectives (首先、其次、最后、不仅…而且).
✗ What loses marks
  • Copying chunks of the stimulus instead of re-purposing the ideas for the new task.
  • Wrong text type or missing its conventions; ignoring context / purpose / audience; well under the character count.
How to structure your answerCorrect text type with its conventions (salutation → body → sign-off) → re-purpose the source ideas for the new audience/purpose → hit the character target.
For this question
Top band: The stem asks where YOU stand on the article's two views (割裂 vs 优势) — so take a clear position early, then defend it personally and critically: concrete lived detail (敬茶让座 at home, the debating team at school) beats abstract slogans, and engaging the article's own line (身份是主动建构的，不是非此即彼) shows critical reading. Keep the full letter-to-editor frame: 尊敬的编辑 … 此致敬礼 … 读者署名.
Common slip: Retelling the article as if it were a comprehension question — no personal stance — fails the 'respond personally and critically' descriptor. Missing letter conventions costs the context/audience marks. And commit to one side (a brief concession then refutation is fine); don't fence-sit between 割裂 and 财富 for 160 characters.
Model answer
Grey labels show the structure · highlighted = key idioms / connectives / set phrases
Salutation尊敬的编辑：
Open + clear stance on the two views读了贵报关于华裔年轻人身份认同的文章，我深有感触。有人称我们为“香蕉人”，说我们两边都不属于；我并不认同。
Substantiate with lived detail在我看来，双文化背景是一笔财富：在家中，我是懂得敬茶让座的孙女；在学校，我是辩论场上敢于表达的队员。两种文化没有使我割裂，反而给了我多一个角度。
Engage the article critically我们为何必须取舍其一？身份不是他人贴上的标签，而是自己走出来的道路。
Appeal to close恳请社会给予华裔青年更多的理解与空间。
Sign-off此致 敬礼！ 读者 小文
Answers could include
  • Acknowledge the metaphor of “夹缝” (the gap) as a description of the Chinese-Australian experience.
  • Present a personal view — bicultural identity can be a strength rather than a weakness.
  • Reference Chinese cultural heritage as a source of identity.
  • Reference Australian multicultural values (多元包容) as the foundation of a shared society.
  • Reject either-or thinking; embrace identity as actively constructed.
  • Conclude with a call to action — Chinese-Australian youth as cultural contributors and innovators.
  • Format of a letter to the editor: 尊敬的编辑 + 此致敬礼 + 读者署名.
Text 5 – Script of an interview
小张晓丽，你毕业后没有当西医，而是开了一家中医诊所。当初为什么做这个选择？
晓丽我从小跟着爷爷认药材，对中医情有独钟。可是父母苦口婆心地劝我：“这条路太难走了！”那时的我，像一艘在两种文化之间漂流的小船，不知该驶向哪边。
小张诊所刚开业的时候，顺利吗？
晓丽万事开头难。刚开业时，诊所门可罗雀，本地患者对中医半信半疑；如今，预约要排到两个星期以后。记得有一位七十多岁的澳洲老先生，背痛多年，试过各种办法都没用。我用针灸为他治疗了三个月，他现在每周都来，还带来了全家人！
小张你对未来有什么计划？
晓丽难道中医就走不出唐人街吗？我要把诊所开进主流社区，用英文开设健康讲座，介绍针灸、推拿、食疗这些传统疗法，让更多澳洲人认识中医的价值。

Question 5

10 marks

晓丽如何展示她建立中医事业的决心和努力？从文中内容和语言技巧方面来回答。字数要求大约160个英文字。How does Xiaoli demonstrate her determination and effort in building her career in traditional Chinese medicine? In your answer, refer to both the content and language features used in the text. Write approximately 160 words in ENGLISH.

✓ What scores marks
  • Refer to BOTH the content AND the language features (idioms, simile, rhetorical question, listing) — name the device, quote the phrase, then say what it achieves.
  • Build an argument that answers the 'how' of the question, not just a recount; answer in English.
  • Tie each language feature back to the point it makes about the question's focus.
✗ What loses marks
  • Naming a technique without explaining its effect (两张皮), or retelling the plot with no analysis.
  • Ignoring the language-features half of the question and only covering content.
How to structure your answerFor each idea: content point + the language feature that carries it (name → quote → effect) → link back to the question. Answer in English.
For this question
Top band: The stem says refer to BOTH content and language features, and the construct is her 决心和努力 (determination and effort) — so every device you name must be tied back to that. A perceptive answer pairs story evidence (herbs with grandfather, the empty-clinic-to-waiting-list turnaround, the patient case) with the devices that dramatise it (万事开头难, the drifting-boat simile, 门可罗雀/半信半疑, the Chinatown rhetorical question, the 针灸/推拿/食疗 listing), each with a one-line effect. Write in English, ~160 words.
Common slip: Analysing only CONTENT — paraphrasing what 晓丽 did with no language features — caps you well below the top band; the reverse (device-spotting with no link to her determination) is the 两张皮 trap. Also note the construct is 决心和努力: recycled 'bicultural identity' analysis that ignores the question focus loses relevance marks.
Model answer
Synthesised — one point per line, in your own words.
  • Content — a lifelong commitment: the childhood anecdote of identifying herbs with her grandfather (reinforced by 情有独钟) shows the career grew from authentic attachment, sustained against her parents' 苦口婆心 opposition.
  • Content — measurable effort rewarded: the contrast from 门可罗雀 (an empty clinic, patients 半信半疑) to today's two-week waiting list is concrete proof her persistence worked; the elderly patient's back-pain case substantiates her clinical skill and earned trust.
  • Language — proverb 万事开头难 frames the startup hardship as expected and endured, casting her as a realist who persevered.
  • Language — simile 像一艘在两种文化之间漂流的小船 concedes early doubt, which makes her later resolve more convincing.
  • Language — rhetorical question 难道中医就走不出唐人街吗？ signals her ambition to take the profession into the mainstream.
  • Language — listing 针灸、推拿、食疗 displays the concrete services behind her plan, turning ambition into a programme.
  • Method: name the feature, quote it, then give its EFFECT tied to 决心和努力 — the identify → quote → explain chain is what the 9–10 band rewards.
Answers could include
  • ~ The following language features are used to show Xiaoli’s determination and effort in building her career in traditional Chinese medicine:
  • Personal anecdote — identifying herbs with her grandfather shows the career grew from a lifelong, authentic attachment, not a circumstantial choice.
  • Simile — “like a boat drifting between two cultures” concedes early uncertainty, making her later resolve more convincing.
  • Contrast — from an empty clinic to a two-week waiting list provides measurable evidence that her effort paid off.
  • Personal anecdote (patient case) — three months of acupuncture relieving an elderly Australian patient's chronic back pain substantiates her clinical skill and earned trust.
Text 6A – Principal's notice

亲爱的同学们：为了丰富大家的午间生活，学校将在图书馆旁设立“传统游戏角”，提供中国象棋、五子棋、七巧板和九连环等传统益智游戏。这些游戏动手又动脑，流传了几百年，是中华智慧的结晶。下个月，学校还将举办首届班级象棋友谊赛。欢迎大家课间来体验，感受传统游戏的魅力！

Text 6B – Group chat messages
安妮学校要开“传统游戏角”了，你们看到通知了吗？我连象棋的规则都不懂，会不会很无聊啊？
志强一点也不无聊！我小时候跟妈妈学下五子棋，一玩就是一下午。上星期我第一次玩七巧板，七块小板子居然能拼出上百种图形，太神奇了！
美华对啊，这些游戏不用充电，随时随地都能玩。几百年前的孩子在玩，我们今天还在玩，这就是老祖宗留下的智慧！我已经报名象棋友谊赛了，你们一起来吗？
安妮听你们这么一说，我都想去试试了！那开放仪式上见！

Question 6

12 marks

你是安妮。根据校长的通知和同学们的聊天记录，写一篇你将在“传统游戏角”开放仪式上发表的演讲稿，谈谈传统游戏带给年轻人的乐趣与智慧。字数要求大约180个汉字。You are Annie. Based on the principal’s notice and the group chat, write a speech to be delivered at the opening of the Traditional Games Corner, discussing the fun and wisdom traditional games offer young people. Write approximately 180 characters in CHINESE.

approx. 180 characters characters, in Chinese
0 chars
✓ What scores marks
  • Write in the EXACT text type the prompt names (flyer / email / letter to the editor / speech) with its conventions — salutation, body, sign-off.
  • Synthesise the source text(s): draw the relevant ideas across from the stimulus into your own response for the new context, purpose and audience.
  • Hit the character target and use a range of language features / connectives (首先、其次、最后、不仅…而且).
✗ What loses marks
  • Copying chunks of the stimulus instead of re-purposing the ideas for the new task.
  • Wrong text type or missing its conventions; ignoring context / purpose / audience; well under the character count.
How to structure your answerCorrect text type with its conventions (salutation → body → sign-off) → re-purpose the source ideas for the new audience/purpose → hit the character target.
For this question
Top band: A reflective opening-ceremony speech that must synthesise BOTH texts: the notice's facts (象棋/五子棋/七巧板/九连环, centuries of history, the coming chess friendly) and the chat's voices (志强's childhood 五子棋 with his mum, the hundred shapes of 七巧板, 美华's point that the games need no charging and carry 老祖宗留下的智慧). The persona 安妮's own sceptic-to-convert arc from the chat is the natural reflective thread. Whole-school assembly register: 尊敬的老师们、同学们 (no 亲爱的), a 综上所述 synthesis, and 谢谢大家！ to close.
Common slip: A generic 'traditional games are fun' essay that never references the notice or the chat caps at the middle band — the task rewards reflecting ON the two texts. Second slip: wrong register for an opening ceremony (casual opening, missing 谢谢大家), or forgetting you are 安妮 — the sceptic whose mind was changed — which is the arc that makes the reflection genuine.
Model answer
Grey labels show the structure · highlighted = key idioms / connectives / set phrases
Salutation & opening (assembly register)尊敬的老师们、同学们：大家好！今天，我们学校的“传统游戏角”正式开放了。
The persona's own arc — sceptic first坦白说，初读通知时，我还担心这些古老的游戏会显得乏味。
Converted by the chat's evidence然而，同学们的分享改变了我的想法：小小的七巧板蕴藏着上百种变化，一盘棋足以化解整个下午的烦恼。
What the games offer (notice + chat woven)这些无需用电的游戏流传了数百年，凝聚着祖辈的巧思，让我们动脑又动手。
综上所述 synthesis综上所述，传统游戏带给我们的不仅是乐趣，更是一份跨越时间的智慧。
Call to action + close开放仪式结束后，我将报名参加象棋友谊赛，也诚挚邀请大家一同体验。谢谢大家！
Answers could include
  • Engage the notice: the games on offer (中国象棋、五子棋、七巧板、九连环), centuries of history, 中华智慧的结晶, the coming chess friendly.
  • Synthesise the chat: 志强's childhood五子棋 with his mum and the hundred shapes of 七巧板; 美华's point that the games need no charging and connect today's players with children of centuries past (老祖宗留下的智慧).
  • Use the persona's own arc from the chat — sceptic (不懂规则、怕无聊) to convert — as the speech's reflective thread.
  • A personal definition of what the games offer young people: fun + wisdom + hands-and-mind engagement + time with classmates and family.
  • Speech conventions for an opening ceremony: 尊敬的老师们、同学们 greeting, reference to BOTH texts, 综上所述 before the close, 谢谢大家！
— End of Section I —
Section II

Composing Texts in Chinese

30 marksQuestions 7–8write in Chinese

Write extended responses in Chinese. Answer both questions — each has its own writing space and character target.

Question 7

10 marks

最近，你发现家人和朋友的工作方式和以前很不一样。写一篇日记，记录你的发现和感想。字数要求100–125个汉字。Recently you have noticed that your family and friends work very differently from before. Write a diary entry recording what you have noticed and how you feel about it. Write approximately 100–125 characters in CHINESE.

approx. 100–125 characters, in Chinese
0 chars
✓ What scores marks
  • Open with the diary heading — date · day of the week · weather (e.g. “5月19日 星期一 晴”).
  • Write in a personal reflective voice; present a RANGE of ideas (the journey, growth, insight), coherently sequenced.
  • Reach the character target; a diary has no salutation and no signature.
✗ What loses marks
  • Forgetting the date / day / weather heading, or adding a salutation or signature.
  • One idea padded out instead of a developed reflection; well under length.
How to structure your answerDate · day · weather heading → a coherently sequenced personal reflection → no salutation / signature. Hit the character target.
For this question
Top band: The stem asks you to record 你的发现和感想 about how family and friends work differently now — so anchor the diary in a CONCRETE observed scene (妈妈在家开会, the vanished train commute, 弹性工作) rather than abstract talk about 'society'. Open with the diary header (date + 星期 + weather), let the discovery lead to a personal 感想, and close with a balanced judgement (各有利弊) in your own voice.
Common slip: Missing the diary-format opening line (date / weekday / weather) signals weak text-type control — markers expect it. The other slip is writing an essay about technology with no personal observation: the top band wants what YOU noticed at home this week, not a report; and no sign-off — diaries don't get signatures.
Model answer
Grey labels show the structure · highlighted = key idioms / connectives / set phrases
Diary header5月19日 星期一 晴
The discovery — concrete scene at home今天妈妈又在家上班。十年前，她每天要坐一个小时的火车去城里；现在打开电脑就能开会。爸爸说，他们公司一半的同事都选择弹性工作。
What it changes for the family工作方式变了，家里的生活也变了：我们一起吃晚饭的时间多了。不过，妈妈常常工作到很晚，好像永远下不了班。
Reflection + balanced close科技让工作更自由，也让人更难休息，真是各有利弊啊！

Question 8

20 marks

一家中文青年杂志正在讨论“出国留学是年轻人开阔眼界的最好方式”这个话题。给杂志投稿，写一篇议论文表达你的观点。字数要求200–250个汉字。A Chinese-language youth magazine is running a discussion on the topic ‘Studying overseas is the best way for young people to broaden their horizons’. Write an argumentative essay for the magazine expressing your point of view. Write approximately 200–250 characters in CHINESE.

approx. 200–250 characters, in Chinese
0 chars
✓ What scores marks
  • Commit to ONE clear position and defend it — thesis, then three distinct arguments each with concrete evidence, then a synthesising conclusion (综上所述).
  • Use canonical connectors (首先 / 其次 / 最后) and substantiate each argument; a brief concession-then-refutation inside your stance is fine.
  • Write authentically for the competition audience; reach the character target with controlled, varied language.
✗ What loses marks
  • Fence-sitting (一方面…另一方面… with no stance), personal anecdotes about friends/family, or overused names (马云 / 乔布斯 / 比尔盖茨).
  • Asserting opinions with no evidence; a thin or missing conclusion; weak structure.
How to structure your answerThesis (one position) → 首先 / 其次 / 最后, each argument + concrete evidence → 综上所述 conclusion. Hit the character target.
For this question
Top band: A 20-mark 议论文 wants a committed stance and THREE distinct, substantiated arguments on 首先/其次/最后, closed with an insight rather than a repeat. The model opens with a one-line concession (网络时代不出国也能看世界) then commits — brief concede-and-refute reads as strength, not fence-sitting. EITHER stance is fully markable: the counter-case (heavy cost on families; the internet and Australia's own multicultural society open horizons at home; loneliness for the young) earns the same marks if argued with equally concrete evidence.
Common slip: Fence-sitting with no landed position drops you out of the top band — commit. Avoid the banned evidence classes: personal anecdotes as proof (我的朋友/我叔叔…) and stale celebrity names (马云/乔布斯/比尔盖茨) read as 论据陈旧. And keep to 200–250 characters — a fourth argument crowds out the substantiation markers actually reward.
Model answer
Grey labels show the structure · highlighted = key idioms / connectives / set phrases
Opening — concede then commit有人说，网络时代不出国也能看世界。但我认为，出国留学仍然是年轻人开阔眼界的最好方式。
首先 immersion beats screens首先，留学让人真正走进另一种文化。屏幕上的世界再精彩，也代替不了亲身的体验：一堂中文课、一顿家常饭，都能改变我们看问题的角度。
其次 independence grows people其次，留学锻炼独立生活的能力。离开父母，自己安排时间、管理生活，年轻人会在一次次挑战中快速成长。
最后 friendships across cultures最后，留学让我们结识来自世界各地的朋友，建立跨文化的友谊，也学会从不同的角度理解世界。
俗语 + closing insight俗话说：“读万卷书，不如行万里路。”走出家门，亲眼去看世界，眼界才能真正打开。
— End of Section II —
Oral

Oral Examination

20 marks2 questionsspeak in Chinese

In the oral exam you respond to a prompt by speaking in Chinese. Here you can practise speaking — there is no written answer field. Read each prompt, plan a stance and a few supported points, then say your response aloud and check the Marker’s view for what a strong monologue covers.

Oral Question 1

10 marks

澳大利亚常被称为“幸运的国家”。说说对今天的年轻人来说，澳大利亚是不是一个幸运的国家。Australia is often called 'the lucky country'. Discuss whether Australia is a lucky country for today's young people.

🎤 Practise speaking — respond aloud in Chinese.
✓ What scores marks
  • Take a clear personal stance on the prompt and develop it with reasons and your own experience / observation.
  • Structure the monologue: open with your position, give 2–3 supported points, then a reflective close.
  • Speak in fluent Chinese with a range of vocabulary and connectives; aim for the full speaking time.
✗ What loses marks
  • A list of disconnected sentences with no through-line, or drying up well short of time.
  • Staying abstract with no concrete personal example; thin vocabulary / repetitive structures.
How to structure your answerOpen with your stance → 2–3 developed points with a personal example → reflective close. Speak for the full time in fluent Chinese.
For this question
Top band: “幸运的国家” wants a REASONED VERDICT, not a tourism ad — lucky, not automatically lucky, or lucky-but-the-luck-must-be-worked-for all score, provided you substantiate for ~3.5 minutes. Build two or three developed points from evidence young people actually live: education access, safety, the outdoor lifestyle and part-time work on the 'lucky' side; housing costs, exam pressure, cost of living and climate anxiety on the other. The intercultural angle (family migration expectations vs reality) is one strong optional thread, plus a 成语 lift (如 得天独厚) and a structured spine: 立场 → 论点+例子 → 结论.
Common slip: Re-running Section I Question 4's identity debate — this oral is about MATERIAL and social conditions, not 身份认同, so an abstract multiculturalism speech misses the construct. The other slip is a one-sided list with no verdict: without weighing the counter-evidence young people feel (housing, exam pressure), the monologue stays a brochure and caps the substantiation criterion.
Answers could include
  • A reasoned verdict: lucky / not automatically lucky / lucky, but the luck must be worked for.
  • Evidence of 'lucky': access to education, safety, environment and outdoor lifestyle, part-time work opportunities.
  • Counter-evidence young people actually feel: housing costs, exam pressure, cost of living, climate anxiety.
  • Intercultural angle: family migration expectations vs reality; comparison with peers' lives in other countries (one possible angle, not required).
  • Focus on material and social conditions rather than abstract identity debate — responses should not re-run Section I Question 4 content.
  • Structured monologue: opening stance — developed arguments with examples — conclusion (~3.5 minutes).

Oral Question 2

10 marks

有人认为，来自同龄人的压力只会给年轻人带来负面影响。请表达你对这个看法的意见。Some people believe that peer pressure brings young people nothing but negative effects. Express your opinion on this view.

🎤 Practise speaking — respond aloud in Chinese.
✓ What scores marks
  • Take a clear personal stance on the prompt and develop it with reasons and your own experience / observation.
  • Structure the monologue: open with your position, give 2–3 supported points, then a reflective close.
  • Speak in fluent Chinese with a range of vocabulary and connectives; aim for the full speaking time.
✗ What loses marks
  • A list of disconnected sentences with no through-line, or drying up well short of time.
  • Staying abstract with no concrete personal example; thin vocabulary / repetitive structures.
How to structure your answerOpen with your stance → 2–3 developed points with a personal example → reflective close. Speak for the full time in fluent Chinese.
For this question
Top band: Take a clear position on the claim that peer pressure brings ONLY negative effects — agree, disagree, or partially agree, then substantiate throughout. Concede the real negatives (pressure to conform in fashion/phones/parties, stress) but the rich vein is the positive case: study groups that pull you along, sport training, 良性竞争, the sense of belonging. Use NON-digital, lived examples (subject choices, fashion, sport, study habits) and an intercultural note — peer dynamics in Chinese family settings vs Australian school culture — with a 首先/其次/最后 spine for the full ~3.5 minutes.
Common slip: Re-running Question 3's brand-comparison scenario (球鞋攀比) as your example set — markers are steered to expect fresh, non-digital examples here, so recycled Section I material earns no new credit. And don't argue both sides without landing: the word 只会 in the claim invites you to refute 'only', which is the cleanest structure — but you must still commit to a view.
Answers could include
  • A clear position, substantiated throughout (agree, disagree, or partially agree).
  • Conceded negative effects: pressure to conform (fashion, phones, parties), risky behaviour, stress and anxiety.
  • Non-digital examples encouraged (subject choices, fashion, sport, study habits) — responses should not re-run Section I material, including Question 3’s brand-comparison scenario.
  • Intercultural understanding: peer dynamics in Chinese family/community settings compared with Australian school culture.
  • Structured monologue: opening position — two to three developed points with examples — conclusion (~3.5 minutes).
— End of oral —
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