Speaking assessment criteria for B1 (CEF)
45. BAG Villigst 16. -18. Mai 2007 AG 2
Mark
Fluency and coherence
Lexical resource / range
Grammatical range
and accuracy
Pronunciation
(sound stress intonation)
Interaction (listen and
respond)
Task
achievement
speaks fluently with only rare
repetition or self-correction;
any hesitation is content-related
rather than to find words or
grammar
Speaks coherently and develops
topics fully and appropriately
Fairly complex use
structures, largely
accurate. Though minor
grammatical inaccuracies
may still occur.
Consistently correct
pronunciation and clear
articulation. Good feeling for
intonation.
Contributions are well
related to those of other
speakers. Very active in
development of conversation
and very flexible.
Task dealt with
fully.
speaks at length without
noticeable effort or loss of
coherence.
May demonstrate languagerelated hesitation at times, or
some repetition and/or selfcorrection.
Topics not fully developed.
is willing to speak at length,
though may lose coherence at
times due to occasional
repetition, self-correction
or hesitation. Topics not fully
developed.
10
Ability to express with some
flexibility and appropriacy, giving
effective descriptions and expressing
viewpoints on a variety of topics.
9
Use of rather complex forms and
sentence structures
8
Noticeably limited range but relatively
little searching for words and
expressions.
7
Ability to express more detailed
viewpoints on most familiar topics
Occasional use of fairly
complex structures with
some inaccuracies but the
majority do not impede
communication of the
broad meaning or prevent
understanding of detail.
Mostly correct and clear
pronunciation. Hardly any
errors.
Communication therefore
not hindered.
Contributions are adequately
related to those of other
speakers. Sufficiently active
in development of
conversation and quite
flexible.
Task dealt with
almost fully.
6
Growing ability to communicate with
some flexibility.
5
Some evidence of awareness of
appropriacy.
Predominant use of
simple structures.
Grammatical errors occur
but it is clear what the
candidate is trying to
express.
By and large intelligible
articulation. Phonological
errors which occasionally
obstruct communication and
understanding.
Task mainly dealt
with.
Use of some simple
structures and expressions
but makes frequent
systematic errors.
Frequently unintelligible
articulation. Frequent
phonological errors.
Contributions are sometimes
not related to those of other
speakers. Reasonably active
in development of
conversation and flexible
enough to keep conversation
going.
Contributions are often
unrelated to those of other
speakers. Generally passive
in development of
conversation and not
flexible.
Contributions are mainly
unrelated to those of other
speakers. Shows hardly any
initiative in development of
conversation and very
limited flexibility
Task dealt with
inappropriately
usually maintains flow of
speech but uses repetition, selfcorrection and/or slow speech
to keep going
Produces simple speech
fluently, but more complex
communication causes fluency
problems.
4
Noticeably limited range but enough
to get by, with sufficient vocabulary
for familiar topics.
3
Has enough range to combine basic
sentence patterns with memorised
phrases
cannot respond without
noticeable/long pauses and may
speak slowly, with frequent
repetition and self-correction.
Links basic sentences but with
some breakdowns in coherence.
2
No correct use of even
Uses predominantly simple structures
simple structures.
and vocabulary, mostly correctly.
1
Correct use of familiar vocabulary and
structures apart from few minor
mistakes
No communication possible
Insufficient accuracy. Too
many errors. Mainly
unintelligible errors.
Task partly dealt
with.
