Montevideo

Beginner-Elementary
Speaking Test
May 2021

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A M E M B E R O F T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L H O U S E W O R L D O R G A N I S AT I O N
 MARKING SCHEME:

The main focus of the assessment is communication. Students should not be penali-
zed for lack of accuracy if this does not hinder understanding. Give a pass mark if
communication is achieved, and increase marks according to complexity and variety
of language used.

• Students will be assessed in the following four areas: vocabulary, pronunciation,

fluency and accuracy, which will be marked as indicated in the chart below.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA: GRADES:

Reception 4 marks 0 - 11 Fail

Range 4 marks 12 - 14 Satisfactory
Pronunciation 4 marks 15 - 16 Good
Fluency 4 marks 17 - 18 Very Good
Ability to interact 4 marks 19 - 20 Excellent
TOTAL 20 MARKS

MARKING SCALE FOR THE ABOVE-MENTIONED AREAS:

1 Shows no command of the area being assessed

2 Shows some command of the area being assessed but needs improvement.
3 Satisfactory-Good
4 Very Good - Excellent

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 Part 1: Interview

Ask the candidates some of the questions which appear in PART 1. Provide the
students with thinking time and / or repeat questions if appropriate.

Part 2: Pictures

Candidates are given a photograph which describe a situation.

Very successful candidates make coherent sentences with some hesitation and
use very simple linking devices e.g. and - but. They can describe what they can see
with simple grammatical forms e.g. present simple or past simple and they use some
adjectives. Average candidates hesitate a lot and are not able to finish some
sentences, but on the whole, they achieve the task successfully and use some
appropriate vocabulary and simple grammatical forms. Weaker candidates cannot
produce much, hesitate a lot and fail to describe the photograph coherently.

Examiner’s script:

Set 1: Your photograph shows people with friends. Describe it.

Set 2: Your photograph also shows people at home. Describe it.

Set 3: Your photograph shows people with family. Describe it.

Part 3: Interaction

Information exchange activity

Students take turns to ask and answer questions.
Provide the learners with support by helping them with the task when they cannot
produce anything (you can point or begin a question for them).
If you’ve got a group of 3, get 2 students to share the cards.

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 Part 1: Interview

At the beginning of the test greet the candidates.

Ask the learners some of the following questions:

• What’s your name?

• How do you spell it?
• How are you today? (BACK UP: Are you fine?)
• What’s your teacher’s name?
• Where do you live?
• What’s your best friend’s name?
• How old is he/she?
• What does he/she do?
• What do you usually do in your free time?
• What time do you usually wake up?
• What time do you go to bed?
• When do you have English classes?
• When do you do your English homework?
• How often do you watch movies?

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A M E M B E R O F T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L H O U S E W O R L D O R G A N I S AT I O N
 Part 2: Pictures

Now answer this question:

• What’s in your own desk?

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 Part 2: Pictures

Now answer this question:

• Describe your classroom

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 Part 2: Pictures

Now answer this question:

• What objects can we find in a children’s classroom?

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 Part 3: Interaction

Set 1
Information

Questions

BOOK SHOP
What/name?
Address?
Big/small?
Closed/ Sundays?
Telephone number?

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 Part 3: Interaction

Set 2
Information

Questions

DENTIST
What / name?
Address?
What time/ open?
Open/ evening?
Car park?

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