Focus on Assessment
How are candidates assessed?
Throughout the test, candidates are assessed on their language skills, not their personality, intelligence or knowledge of the world. They must, however, be willing to develop the conversation, where appropriate, and respond to the tasks set. Prepared speeches are not acceptable.
Candidates are assessed against the three criteria set out in the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum:
Level 1
- listen and respond to spoken language, including information and narratives, and follow explanations and instructions of varying lengths, adapting response to speaker, medium and context
- speak to communicate information, ideas and opinions, adapting speech and content to take account of the listener(s) and medium
- engage in discussion with one or more people in familiar and unfamiliar situations, making clear and relevant contributions that respond to what others say and produce a shared understanding about different topics
In Phase 1, spoken functions may include (among others):
- describing both things and processes
- asking for and giving personal information
- stating (dis)likes and preferences
- expressing fact
- exchanging views and opinions
- expressing agreement/disagreement
- explaining/giving reasons/justifying
- comparing and asking for comparisons
- showing contrast/cause/reason/purpose
- commenting
- asking for and giving definitions
- narrating events in the past
- sequencing information
- asking about past or future events
- expressing future certainty/possibility
- interrupting politely
- asking for/giving confirmation, clarification and repetition
- inviting another person to speak
- asking for/giving advice
- summarising.
In Phase 2, functions may include (in addition to those listed for Phase 1):
- persuading
- suggesting
- prioritising
- deciding/planning
- selecting
- making requests to obtain information
- warning.
Level 2
- listen and respond to spoken language, including extended information and narratives, and follow detailed explanations and multi-step instructions of varying length, adapting response to speaker, medium and context
- speak to communicate straightforward and detailed information, ideas and opinions clearly, adapting speech and content to take account of the listener(s), medium, purpose and situation
- engage in discussion with one or more people in a variety of different situations, making clear and effective contributions that produce outcomes appropriate to purpose and topic
In addition to those at Level 1, spoken functions may include (among others):
- speculating and deducing
- sympathising
- introducing evidence into a discussion
- reassuring
- responding to criticism and criticising constructively.