ASSESSMENT SCALES

WRITING

PART 1
Writing Part 1
Communicative
Scale Content Organisation Language
Achievement

Uses basic vocabulary

Produces a text that appropriately. Uses
All content is relevant Uses simple connectors
communicates simple grammatical
to the task. and a limited number of
straightforward ideas forms with a good
5 cohesive devices
using the conventions of degree of control.
Target reader is fully appropriately.
While errors are
the communicative task
informed. noticeable, meaning can
reasonably well.
still be determined.

4 Performance shares features of Bands 3 and 5

Minor irrelevances Uses basic vocabulary

and/or omissions may reasonably. Uses
be present. Produces a text that Text is connected using
3 communicates simple basic, high frequency simple grammatical
forms with some degree
Target reader is on the ideas in simple ways. connectors. of control. Errors may
whole informed. impede meaning at
times.

2 Performance shares features of Bands 1 and 3

Irrelevances and/or Produces isolated short Production unlikely to Produces basic

misinterpretation of units about simple and be connected, though vocabulary of isolated
task may be present. concrete matters, not punctuation and simple
1 always communicating words and phrases.
connectors (i.e. and)
Produces few simple
Target reader is successfully. may be used on
occasion. grammatical forms with
minimally informed.
only limited control.

Content is totally
irrelevant.
0 Performance below Band 1
Target reader is not
informed.
PART 2

Writing Part 2
Communicative
Scale Content Organisation Language
Achievement

Uses the conventions
All content is of the communicative
relevant to the task. task to hold the target
reader’s attention and
5 coherent, using a
communicate
Target reader is fully
informed. straightforward ideas.
Uses a range of
everyday vocabulary
with occasional
Text is generally well inappropriate use of
organised and less common lexis.
Uses a range of
simple and some
variety of cohesive complex grammatical
devices. forms with a good
degree of control.
Errors do not impede
communication.

4 Performance shares features of Bands 3 and 5

Uses basic
vocabulary
Minor irrelevances Produces a text that appropriately. Uses
Uses simple
and/or omissions communicates simple grammatical
connectors and a
may be present. straightforward ideas forms with a good
limited number of
3 using the conventions degree of control.
cohesive devices
of the communicative
Target reader is on appropriately. While errors are
task reasonably well.
the whole informed. noticeable, meaning
can still be
determined.

2 Performance shares features of Bands 1 and 3

Uses basic
Irrelevances and/or vocabulary
misinterpretation of reasonably. Uses
Text is connected
task may be Produces a text that simple grammatical
present. using basic, high
1 communicates simple forms with some
frequency degree of control.
ideas in simple ways.
Target reader is connectors. Errors may impede
minimally informed. meaning at times.

Content is totally
irrelevant.
0 Performance below Band 1
Target reader is not
informed.
PART 3
Writing Part 3
Communicative
Scale Content Organisation Language
Achievement

Uses a range of
vocabulary, including
Uses the conventions
of the communicative less common lexis,
appropriately.
All content is task effectively to hold Text is well-organised
relevant to the task. the target reader’s and coherent, using a Uses a range of
5 attention and variety of cohesive simple and complex
Target reader is fully grammatical forms
communicate with devises with
informed. with control and
ease, fulfilling all generally good effect
flexibility.
communicative
Occasional errors
purposes
and slips may be
present.

4 Performance shares features of Bands 3 and 5

Uses a range of
everyday vocabulary
Uses the conventions with occasional
Minor irrelevances inappropriate use of
of the communicative Text is generally well
and/or omissions less common lexis.
task to hold the target organised and
may be present. Uses a range of
3 reader’s attention and coherent, using a
communicate simple and some
Target reader is on variety of cohesive complex grammatical
straightforward ideas.
the whole informed. devices. forms with a good
degree of control.
Errors do not impede
communication.

2 Performance shares features of Bands 1 and 3

Uses basic
vocabulary
Irrelevances and/or Produces a text that
Uses simple appropriately. Uses
misinterpretation of communicates
connectors and a simple grammatical
task may be straightforward ideas
limited number of forms with a good
1 present. using the conventions
cohesive devices degree of control.
of the communicative While errors are
appropriately.
Target reader is task reasonably well.
noticeable, meaning
minimally informed. can still be
determined.

Content is totally
irrelevant.
0 Performance below Band 1
Target reader is not
informed.