Digital Workbook
IRP
Individual Research Project
,What is the Individual Research Project?
The IRP is one element of the speaking component of the A-level examinations (paper 3)
• You must choose a subject or a key question which interests you and which relates to a
country or countries where the target language is spoken.
• You must select relevant information in the target language from a range of sources,
including the Internet.
• The aim of the IRP is to develop research skills.
• You need to show your ability to initiate and conduct individual research by analysing and
summarising your findings, in order to present and discuss them in the A-level speaking
assessment.
How it is assessed:
• This element of the speaking examination is worth 35 marks (out of 60).
• You must start with a 2 minutes presentation.
• The follow-up discussion will last 9-10 minutes.
, Assessment Criteria for the IRP
Research-based topic presentation: AO4 (5 marks)
Mark Descriptors
5 Thorough knowledge and understanding of the area of study are evident in the presentation.
4 Good knowledge and understanding of the area of study are evident in the presentation.
3 Reasonable knowledge and understanding of the area of study are evident in the
presentation.
2 Limited knowledge and understanding of the area of study are evident in the presentation.
1 Very limited knowledge and understanding of the area of study are evident in the
presentation.
0 Nothing in the presentation is worthy of a mark.
Notes:
Thorough knowledge: A presentation that demonstrates that you have fully understood
and assimilated research-based knowledge through the development, in the time available, of
key findings.
Good knowledge: A presentation that demonstrates that you have mostly understood and
assimilated research-based knowledge through the development, in the time available, of key
findings.
Reasonable knowledge: A presentation that demonstrates that you have understood and
assimilated some research-based knowledge through the development, in the time available,
of key findings.
Limited knowledge: A brief outline of key findings with little development and showing
little understanding and assimilation of research-based knowledge.
Very limited knowledge: The briefest outline of key findings with very little development
and
showing very little understanding and assimilation of research-based knowledge.
, Assessment Criteria for the IRP
Research-based topic discussion: AO1 (10 marks)
Mark Descriptors
9-10 Delivery is fluent throughout. The ideas and opinions expressed are nearly always
developed, independently of prompts. Students engage very well in the discussion and give
an appropriate response to nearly all questions.
7-8 Delivery is mainly fluent. The ideas and opinions expressed are mostly developed,
independently of prompts. Students engage well in the discussion and give an appropriate
response to most questions.
5-6 Delivery is sometimes fluent. The ideas and opinions expressed are sometimes developed,
independently of prompts. Students engage reasonably well in the discussion and give an
appropriate response to some questions.
3-4 Delivery is occasionally fluent. The ideas and opinions expressed are occasionally
developed, independently of prompts. Students engage to a limited extent in the discussion
and give an appropriate response to a few questions.
1-2 Delivery is rarely fluent. The ideas and opinions expressed are rarely developed,
independently of prompts. Students engage to a very limited extent in the discussion and
give an appropriate response to very few questions.
0 Nothing in the performance is worthy of a mark.
Research-based topic discussion: AO3 (10 marks)
Mark Descriptors
9-10 A wide range of vocabulary and complex language and a good knowledge of appropriate
idiom are demonstrated. Highly accurate application of grammar with occasional minor
errors. Pronunciation and intonation are very good.
7-8 A good range of vocabulary and complex language and some knowledge of appropriate
idiom are demonstrated. Mostly accurate application of grammar with some minor errors.
Pronunciation and intonation are good.
5-6 Some variety of vocabulary and complex language is demonstrated. Accurate application of
grammar is uneven. Pronunciation and intonation are fairly good.
3-4 Little variety of vocabulary and structures is demonstrated. Accurate application of
grammar is limited. Pronunciation and intonation are mostly intelligible.
1-2 Very little variety of vocabulary and structures is demonstrated. Accurate application of
grammar is very limited. Pronunciation and intonation are poor.
0 Nothing in the performance is worthy of a mark.
IRP
Individual Research Project
,What is the Individual Research Project?
The IRP is one element of the speaking component of the A-level examinations (paper 3)
• You must choose a subject or a key question which interests you and which relates to a
country or countries where the target language is spoken.
• You must select relevant information in the target language from a range of sources,
including the Internet.
• The aim of the IRP is to develop research skills.
• You need to show your ability to initiate and conduct individual research by analysing and
summarising your findings, in order to present and discuss them in the A-level speaking
assessment.
How it is assessed:
• This element of the speaking examination is worth 35 marks (out of 60).
• You must start with a 2 minutes presentation.
• The follow-up discussion will last 9-10 minutes.
, Assessment Criteria for the IRP
Research-based topic presentation: AO4 (5 marks)
Mark Descriptors
5 Thorough knowledge and understanding of the area of study are evident in the presentation.
4 Good knowledge and understanding of the area of study are evident in the presentation.
3 Reasonable knowledge and understanding of the area of study are evident in the
presentation.
2 Limited knowledge and understanding of the area of study are evident in the presentation.
1 Very limited knowledge and understanding of the area of study are evident in the
presentation.
0 Nothing in the presentation is worthy of a mark.
Notes:
Thorough knowledge: A presentation that demonstrates that you have fully understood
and assimilated research-based knowledge through the development, in the time available, of
key findings.
Good knowledge: A presentation that demonstrates that you have mostly understood and
assimilated research-based knowledge through the development, in the time available, of key
findings.
Reasonable knowledge: A presentation that demonstrates that you have understood and
assimilated some research-based knowledge through the development, in the time available,
of key findings.
Limited knowledge: A brief outline of key findings with little development and showing
little understanding and assimilation of research-based knowledge.
Very limited knowledge: The briefest outline of key findings with very little development
and
showing very little understanding and assimilation of research-based knowledge.
, Assessment Criteria for the IRP
Research-based topic discussion: AO1 (10 marks)
Mark Descriptors
9-10 Delivery is fluent throughout. The ideas and opinions expressed are nearly always
developed, independently of prompts. Students engage very well in the discussion and give
an appropriate response to nearly all questions.
7-8 Delivery is mainly fluent. The ideas and opinions expressed are mostly developed,
independently of prompts. Students engage well in the discussion and give an appropriate
response to most questions.
5-6 Delivery is sometimes fluent. The ideas and opinions expressed are sometimes developed,
independently of prompts. Students engage reasonably well in the discussion and give an
appropriate response to some questions.
3-4 Delivery is occasionally fluent. The ideas and opinions expressed are occasionally
developed, independently of prompts. Students engage to a limited extent in the discussion
and give an appropriate response to a few questions.
1-2 Delivery is rarely fluent. The ideas and opinions expressed are rarely developed,
independently of prompts. Students engage to a very limited extent in the discussion and
give an appropriate response to very few questions.
0 Nothing in the performance is worthy of a mark.
Research-based topic discussion: AO3 (10 marks)
Mark Descriptors
9-10 A wide range of vocabulary and complex language and a good knowledge of appropriate
idiom are demonstrated. Highly accurate application of grammar with occasional minor
errors. Pronunciation and intonation are very good.
7-8 A good range of vocabulary and complex language and some knowledge of appropriate
idiom are demonstrated. Mostly accurate application of grammar with some minor errors.
Pronunciation and intonation are good.
5-6 Some variety of vocabulary and complex language is demonstrated. Accurate application of
grammar is uneven. Pronunciation and intonation are fairly good.
3-4 Little variety of vocabulary and structures is demonstrated. Accurate application of
grammar is limited. Pronunciation and intonation are mostly intelligible.
1-2 Very little variety of vocabulary and structures is demonstrated. Accurate application of
grammar is very limited. Pronunciation and intonation are poor.
0 Nothing in the performance is worthy of a mark.
