GCSE CHINESE (SPOKEN MANDARIN/SPOKEN CANTONESE) (9–1): Actual May 2025 PAST PAPER 3: Reading and Understanding (Higher Tier). All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [Edexcel 1CN0/3H]

GCSE CHINESE (SPOKEN MANDARIN/SPOKEN CANTONESE) (9–1): Actual May
2025 PAST PAPER 3: Reading and Understanding (Higher Tier). All Assessment Questions
& Mark Scheme [Edexcel 1CN0/3H]

Exam Resource Summary

The GCSE Chinese (Spoken Mandarin/Spoken Cantonese) (9–1) May 2025 Paper 3:
Reading and Understanding (Higher Tier) (Edexcel 1CN0/3H) – All Assessment Questions
& Mark Scheme document combines the official examination paper with its full mark scheme,
serving as a valuable and comprehensive revision aid. This paper assesses students’ ability to
understand and interpret written Chinese across a range of authentic and complex texts,
including articles, narratives, and opinion pieces on personal, social, and global themes. It tests
comprehension, inference, and interpretation skills, requiring students to engage critically with
vocabulary, grammar, and context. The merged format places each question alongside its
marking criteria, offering clear insight into examiner expectations, mark allocation, and effective
reading strategies. This resource is essential for focused revision, self-assessment, and enhancing
advanced reading proficiency, making it a key tool for preparation for the May 2026 Edexcel
GCSE Chinese (Spoken Mandarin/Spoken Cantonese) (9–1) Paper 3: Reading and
Understanding (Higher Tier) examination.



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,Use of Chinese Characters
All questions and texts are printed twice, once in English and traditional/full characters




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and once in English and simplified characters. Questions and texts in English and
traditional/full characters begin on page 3. Questions and texts in English and simplified
characters begin on page 21. You may work from whichever version you wish. Please
indicate which set of questions and texts you intend to work from by putting a cross in
one box below.


TRADITIONAL/FULL 繁體字

SIMPLIFIED 简体字




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繁體字
TRADITIONAL/FULL CHARACTER VERSION

(Simplified Character Version begins on page 21)
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, TRADITIONAL/FULL CHARACTERS
SECTION A




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Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
Some questions must be answered with a cross in a box . If you change your mind about an
answer, put a line through the box and then mark your new answer with a cross .

An international festival
1 Read this blog about an international festival.




去年九月，我去了北京有名的國際音樂節。跟以
前一樣，參加演出的音樂家有中國的、德國的和
法國的。跟以前不一樣的是，音樂家們還在市中
心的大公園給大家演出，讓更多的人看到了他們




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的表演。


Answer the following questions in English. You do not need to write in full sentences.

(a) What type of international festival is described in the blog?
(1)
. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . .. . .. .. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . .......................


(b) Give one country, other than China, that the performers came from.
(1)
. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . .. . .. .. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . ......................


(c) What was new about last year’s event? Give one detail.
(1)
. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . .. . .. .. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . ......................
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(Total for Question 1 = 3 marks)




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