Skills for Life Speaking & Listening Levels 1 and 2 – Phase 1a
Task Description
How long does Phase 1a last?
Phase 1a lasts three minutes overall, with approximately two minutes for the actual discussion, at both Level 1 and Level 2.
What is the purpose of Phase 1a?
- To put candidates at ease and to enable them to show their ability to use interactional language.
- To get them to engage in discussion on a topic which provides a thematic lead-in to the formal presentations in Phase 1b.
What skills are being assessed?
Candidates are assessed according to the Listen and Respond and Engage
in Discussion strands of the Adult
ESOL Core Curriculum. A breakdown of the assessment criteria can
be found in Focus on Assessment.
What do candidates have to do?
Candidates ask each other questions on a topic provided by the examiner in order to share their opinions and ideas. The interlocutor will not take an active part in the interaction but may prompt the candidates if necessary. It is important in this part of the test that candidates actually ask their partner for information as well as giving information.
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 1a tasks from Skills for Life Speaking & Listening Level 1 and 2 sample papers, and think about what candidates have to do.
Sample speaking and listening Tasks
Sample speaking and listening Tasks
Things to consider
Now look at these questions about the nature of the task and consider your answers.
- Are candidates given time to prepare some questions to ask their partner and to make notes?
- Should candidates say as much as possible about the subject before letting their partner speak?
- What is the interlocutor’s role in this Phase?