Skills for Life Speaking & Listening Entry 1-3 – Phase 1b
Task Description
How long does Phase 1b last?
This Phase lasts 5 minutes at Entry 1, 6 minutes at Entry 2, and 7 minutes at Entry 3.
What is the purpose of Phase 1b?
Entry 1
Candidates demonstrate their ability to ask each other simple questions on a familiar topic. Only the questions are assessed.
Entry 2 and Entry 3
Candidates demonstrate their ability to talk for a minute on a personal topic and to ask and answer related questions. At Entry 2, factual and personal information and experience is expected, with wishes and opinions expected in addition at Entry 3.
What skills are being assessed?
Candidates are assessed according to the Listen and Respond and Speak to Communicate strands of the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum, and the Engage in Discussion Strand at Entry 3. A breakdown of the assessment criteria can be found in Focus on Assessment
What do the candidates have to do?
Entry 1
Candidates are each given a topic by the interlocutor and are expected to ask their partner questions about it. They are given 1½ minutes to prepare for this and can write down their questions if they want to. They are then given up to two minutes to ask their questions.
Entry 2
Candidates are each asked to talk for one minute on a topic outlined by the interlocutor. They are given a minute to think about what they want to say and can make notes if they want to. After each talk, the listening candidate is expected to ask two questions about what their partner has said. Candidates are not given time to formulate questions, and must instead think of the questions they want to ask during their partner’s long-turn.
Entry 3
Candidates are each asked to talk for 1½ minutes in response to a scenario described by the interlocutor. They are given a minute to think about what they want to say and they can make notes if they want to. After each talk, the listening candidate is expected to ask three questions about what their partner has said. As at Entry 2, candidates are not given time to formulate questions and must think of the questions they want to ask during their partner’s long-turn.
Understanding the Task
To understand better how candidates need to approach this task, it may help you to look at and analyse some tasks.
Look at the sample Phase 1b tasks from Skills for Life Speaking & Listening Entry 1, 2 and 3 sample papers, and think about what candidates have to do.
Things to consider
Now look at these questions about the nature of the task and consider your answers.
- Is this phase related to Phase 1a?
- How can candidates best use the preparation time for this task?
- At Entry 2 and Entry 3, are candidates given time after their partner’s talk to prepare questions and to make notes?
- At Entry 2 and Entry 3, can the listening candidate ask their partner a question during their partner’s talk?
- How many questions do candidates have to ask?
- Will the interlocutor ask any questions?