Year 3 Answers and mark schemes: Spring test 2: Part A
Spring test 2: Part A – The Balloon Man
Content
Mark
domain
Part A: The Balloon Man
Extra information
1 He is out no matter what the time of year. 
2b
1
2 Award 1 mark for reference to (a bunch of) flowers.
2g
1
Do not accept direct repetition of the poem: a
big bouquet.
3 Award 1 mark for any two of the following words:
• tug
• bounce
• bump
• sway
2b
1
NB – if children write more than one of these
words on the same answer line, award the mark.
4 Award 1 mark for answers that refer to the balloon man having
been blown away by the wind/lifted into the air by the balloons,
e.g.:
• His balloons had lifted him in the air.
• The wind had blown him into the sky.
2b
1
5 (to the ) crowd
2a
1
Do not award the mark if the whole line is circled.
6 Award 1 mark for answers that recognise the balloon man was
using his other hand to hold the bunch of balloons, e.g.:
• He had the balloons in one hand.
• So he didn’t let go of his balloons.
2d
1
Do not award marks for vague answers,
e.g. Because he only had one hand.
7 Award 1 mark for answers that refer to the balloon man coming
back down to the ground, e.g.:
• So he could come back down.
• So he wouldn’t be in the sky anymore.
2d
1
Do not award marks for vague answers, or
answers that refer to the balloons but not to
coming back down, e.g. So there weren’t as many
balloons.
8 slowly and gradually 
2d
1
2b
2
9
True
It tells a story about the balloon man.

It shows how the balloon man feels.
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Award 2 marks for all three correct; award 1 mark
for two correct.


(given)
It explains how to make a balloon man.
It describes what the balloons are like.
False

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Year 3 Answers and mark schemes: Spring test 2: Part B
Spring test 2: Part B – Mairi’s Mermaid
Part B: Mairi’s Mermaid
Content
Mark
domain
1 learn to swim 
2 Award 1 mark for references to:
• Avoiding being pinched again (e.g. Something pinched her toe.)
• Not wanting a crab to touch her (e.g. In case there was a crab in
the water.)
3 Award 1 mark for references to the mermaid having been caught
by a crab.
4 glaring (up at her)
2b
1
2d
1
2b
1
2a
1
5 Award 1 mark for any two of the following:
• She had arms/hands.
• She could talk/she had a mouth that spoke.
• She had a head like Mairi’s.
6 She was afraid of getting hurt on the rocks. 
2b
1
2d
1
7 that Mairi is going deeper into the water 
2g
1
8 She swam almost by accident when a wave lifted her up. 
2d
1
9 Award 2 marks for answers that refer to Mairi’s feelings and explain
why/give reasons based on events in the text, e.g.:
• She felt happy because she could swim and she’d been trying all
holiday.
• She was excited because she’d finally learned to swim. (The
word ‘finally’ here is key, as it shows awareness that she had
been trying to swim for a long time.)
• She felt pleased because she’d helped the mermaid.
2d
2
Extra information
Do not award marks for: Just to be sure.
Do not accept simply: She had a head.
Do not award marks for answers that just give a
simple feeling, e.g. She was happy/pleased.
Award 1 mark for answers that refer to an event in the text but do
not give a feeling, or answers that give a simple feeling with very
basic explanation, e.g.:
• She had learned how to swim./She was swimming.
• She was happy she could swim.
52
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