Developing Speaking Skills

Developing Pronunciation

Assessment Criteria for the Speaking Components

What are the assessment criteria for this part of the test?

Starters

There are three aspects that are assessed:

• Reception - listening and interaction
• Production - language (words and phrases)
• Production - pronunciation

Each criterion carries a maximum mark of 3.

Movers

There are three aspects that are assessed:

• Reception - listening and interaction
• Production - appropriacy, promptness and extent of response
• Production - pronunciation

Each criterion carries a maximum mark of 3.

Flyers

There are four aspects that are assessed:

• Reception  - listening and interaction
• Production - appropriacy, promptness and extent of response
• Production - grammar and vocabulary
• Production - pronunciation

Each criterion carries a maximum mark of 3.

How do the criteria change for each test?

Starters is aimed at young children, who will usually have very little experience of speaking English as well as very little experience of test situations. Therefore, a major aim of the Speaking test at this level is for them to show their comprehension of what the examiner says. This may be through actions (pointing to something in the picture, for instance) or by producing a short phrase or a one-word answer to questions such as 'What is your teacher's name?' or 'How old are you?'.

At this level it is not necessary for candidates to say more than a few words or to be totally accurate in order to achieve a higher score.

Movers is aimed at children who have some experience of speaking English and probably also have some experience of test situations. Movers builds on the foundations laid at Starters level by asking the children to give more extended responses (e.g. describing a picture) as well as showing their comprehension of what the examiner says. Candidates may be asked questions such as 'Where do you go after school?' or 'Tell me about your favourite sport.'

At this level, candidates are expected to answer with greater expansion than at Starters level, and to answer reasonably promptly, although they are not penalised for taking their time to think in tasks such as Tell the Story or Find the Odd-one-out.

Flyers is aimed at children who have considerable experience of speaking English and also can be assumed to be reasonably familiar with test situations. A major aim of the Speaking test at this level is for the children to understand and attempt to produce more fully extended utterances, using a range of language. Candidates may be asked questions such as 'What do you do after dinner?' or 'Tell me about your last holiday.'

Flyers builds on the competence shown at Movers level by introducing Grammar and Vocabulary as a separate assessment criterion. It should be emphasised that, while candidates are given credit for accuracy, communicative competence is considered an important skill and children who produce slightly inaccurate but clear language can still gain high marks for this criterion.