Baccalaureate Interdisciplinary Project
Languages - Exemplar 4
Grade: A (increased from B following External
Verification)
“Languages in international finance”
Language Exemplar 4 (A Grade, increased from B following External
Verification)
Internal Quality Assurance
This candidate attended the same Centre as the candidate of exemplar 3. As
was detailed previously, this Centre is to be commended for the very full and
robust Assessor and Verifier comments throughout. Excellent, detailed and
insightful comments throughout not only help support the candidate, but also help
the Centre reach its judgement, help ensure quality assurance and facilitate the
task of External Verification.
(1) Proposal.
This candidate’s title “Languages in International Finance” explores to what
extent international companies based in Scotland use languages in their pursuit
of clients in continental Europe. His objectives are clearly set out and the project
mirrors his own intended future career intentions, interest and involvement in
modern languages and previous work experience in the finance sector.
His intended links with the recruitment agencies and companies are quite
extensive and reflect an area in which he has both experience and interest.
He has obviously spent a great deal of time reflecting in a mature and honest
fashion on his cognitive and generic skills and areas for development. This is
indeed impressive. According to the Verifier, “his goals are realistic, achievable
and also offer lots of opportunity for creativity.” The proposal fully meets the
criteria for both A and C.
(2) Plan.
The Plan again is clearly thought out and expands on the proposal. The
following areas could be highlighted
 The candidate has timescales which are realistic. These could perhaps
include more detail but they give clear milestones which would include
more information once initial contacts are made. It is recommended
that candidates do try to make their timescales more detailed.
 The candidate has clearly identified resources needed and research
methodologies to be employed
 He is aware of opportunities to work with and learn from others.
 This candidate has sensibly considered possible setbacks and
alternative contingencies and the need to maybe make adjustments to
his plan.
 He has identified a target audience and appropriate format for the
delivery of his presentation and project findings
Again the candidate satisfies all the A and C criteria for his plan.
(3) Presentation of Project Findings/Product.
The candidate gives a step by step description of his presentation findings and to
whom he has delivered the presentation. His Assessor concludes, “The
candidate’s presentation was clear, informative and extremely interesting. It
covered not only his findings and his reflections on his progress and skills
development as a whole. His power point showed a high degree of ICT skills and
his delivery was confident and pitched at the correct level… The candidate has
gained a deeper knowledge of the use of language in international finance. He
was able to prioritise and showed a creative approach to problem solving. He
collaborated well with people”. These detailed assessor comments and the
candidate’s description of his Project Findings demonstrate a highly successful
IP in terms of all Grade A and C criteria. In light of these very positive comments
and comments on other stages of the evidence submitted, it was felt that the
candidate had indeed achieved all the A and C grade criteria for both critical
thinking, analysis and reflection and skilful and creative use of resources
(4) Evaluation of Project
The candidate gives a very frank, mature evaluation of his project in terms of the
following;
 His strength in coming up with contingency plans and recognising
potential problems and setbacks
 His flexibility in dealing with setbacks and overcoming obstacles,
 His ability to work independently and also with others and the
development of his communication skills.
 His taking ownership of his own learning, and being able to work
independently while still seeking advice and feedback
 His confident use of French in a realistic and meaningful context.
 The usefulness of the findings of the project to languages students with
potential interest in the financial sector
Detailed assessor and verifier comments concur that the candidate has
produced a very successful IP in every respect. The Assessor states, “This is
a critical and justified evaluation of your project and you cover all three stages
of planning, implementation and findings/outcomes.” This comment along with
the Verifier’s comment that “you have processed a wide range of information
in a very sophisticated way” indicate that the candidate has also met all the
criteria for an A award in this area.
(5) Self-evaluation.
The candidate shows a very mature, reflective approach concerning his
cognitive and generic skills, also demonstrating a high degree of autonomy. It
was felt that the candidate had indeed achieved all the A criteria and considering
other evidence offered by the candidate, Verifier and Assessor that he did indeed
meet the criterion of an A. Inclusive, well balanced evaluation of the project
against project aims, supported convincingly by well selected evidence.
It was felt by Central Verifiers that the centre was perhaps severe in awarding
this candidate a B, unfavourably comparing him with another candidate
(Exemplar 3 in this pack) who had produced an exemplary IP. Verifiers and the
centre representative at the Quality Forum agreed that this project had met all
the criteria for an A and the candidate was indeed awarded an A.