How much importance is given to spelling and punctuation in Paper 2?

Examiners do not look at spelling and punctuation when awarding marks, and spelling/punctuation does not appear in the descriptions in the banded mark scheme.

If the examiner is unable to understand a response because the spelling or punctuation makes the meaning unclear, this may have an impact on the candidates’ marks.

Examiners are instructed to mark positively in line with Cambridge International guidelines. This means examiners award marks based on the evidence presented; they do not deduct marks for what has not been included.