B1 Preliminary for Schools Speaking Examiners use a more detailed version of the following assessment scales, extracted from

the overall
Speaking scales on page 63.

Interactive
B1 Grammar and Vocabulary Discourse Management Pronunciation
Communication

Shows a good degree of control Produces extended stretches Is intelligible.

Initiates and
of simple grammatical forms, of language despite Intonation is responds appropriately.
and attempts some complex some hesitation. generally appropriate.
grammatical forms. Maintains and develops
5 Contributions are relevant Sentence and word stress is the interaction and
Uses a range of appropriate despite some repetition. generally accurately placed. negotiates towards
vocabulary to give and
Uses a range of an outcome with very
exchange views on Individual sounds are
cohesive devices. little support.
familiar topics. generally articulated clearly.
4 Performance shares features of Bands 3 and 5.
Produces responses which are
Shows a good degree of control extended beyond short phrases, Initiates and
Is mostly intelligible,
of simple grammatical forms. despite hesitation. responds appropriately.
and has some control of
3 Uses a range of appropriate Contributions are mostly phonological features at Keeps the interaction
vocabulary when talking about relevant, but there may be both utterance and word going with very little
familiar topics. some repetition. levels. prompting and support.
Uses basic cohesive devices.
2 Performance shares features of Bands 1 and 3.
Shows sufficient control of Produces responses which are Maintains simple
simple grammatical forms. characterised by short phrases Is mostly intelligible, exchanges, despite some
1 and frequent hesitation. despite limited control of difficulty.
Uses a limited range of
appropriate vocabulary to talk Repeats information or phonological features. Requires prompting
about familiar topics. digresses from the topic. and support.
0 Performance below Band 1.

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 Grammatical
CEFR level Lexical Resource Discourse Management Pronunciation Interactive Communication
Resource
• Produces extended stretches of language
• Uses a wide range of with flexibility and ease and very • Interacts with ease by skilfully
• Maintains control
appropriate vocabulary little hesitation. • Is intelligible. interweaving his/her contributions into
of a wide range of
with flexibility to give • Contributions are relevant, coherent, • Phonological features are the conversation.
grammatical forms

Speaking Assessment
and exchange views varied and detailed. used effectively to convey and • Widens the scope of the interaction and
and uses them
on unfamiliar and • Makes full and effective use of a wide enhance meaning. develops it fully and effectively towards
with flexibility.
abstract topics. range of cohesive devices and a negotiated outcome.
Overall Speaking scales

discourse markers.

• Produces extended stretches of language • Is intelligible.

• Uses a wide range of • Interacts with ease, linking
with ease and with very little hesitation. • Intonation is appropriate.
• Maintains control appropriate vocabulary contributions to those of other
• Contributions are relevant, coherent • Sentence and word stress is
C2 of a wide range of to give and exchange speakers.
and varied. accurately placed.
grammatical forms. views on unfamiliar • Widens the scope of the interaction and
• Uses a wide range of cohesive devices • Individual sounds are
and abstract topics. negotiates towards an outcome.
and discourse markers. articulated clearly.

• Shows a good • Uses a range of • Produces extended stretches of language • Is intelligible.

degree of control appropriate vocabulary • Initiates and responds appropriately,
with very little hesitation. • Intonation is appropriate.
C1 of a range of simple to give and exchange linking contributions to those of
• Contributions are relevant and there is a • Sentence and word stress is
and some complex views on familiar and other speakers.
clear organisation of ideas. accurately placed.
grammatical forms. unfamiliar topics. • Maintains and develops the interaction
• Uses a range of cohesive devices and • Individual sounds are
and negotiates towards an outcome.
Grammar and vocabulary discourse markers. articulated clearly.

• Is intelligible.
• Shows a good degree of control of simple • Produces extended stretches of language • Intonation is generally
• Initiates and responds appropriately.
grammatical forms, and attempts some complex despite some hesitation. appropriate.
• Maintains and develops the interaction
B2 grammatical forms. • Contributions are relevant and there is • Sentence and word stress is
and negotiates towards an outcome
• Uses appropriate vocabulary to give and exchange very little repetition. generally accurately placed.
with very little support.
views, on a range of familiar topics. • Uses a range of cohesive devices. • Individual sounds are generally
articulated clearly.

• Produces responses which are extended

• Shows a good degree of control of simple • Is mostly intelligible, and has
beyond short phrases, despite hesitation. • Initiates and responds appropriately.
grammatical forms. some control of phonological
B1 • Contributions are mostly relevant, but • Keeps the interaction going with very
• Uses a range of appropriate vocabulary when talking features at both utterance and
there may be some repetition. little prompting and support.
about familiar topics. word levels.
• Uses basic cohesive devices.

• Shows sufficient control of simple grammatical

• Is mostly intelligible, despite • Maintains simple exchanges, despite
forms.
A2 limited control of phonological some difficulty.
• Uses appropriate vocabulary to talk about
features. • Requires prompting and support.
everyday situations.

• Has considerable difficulty maintaining

• Shows only limited control of a few • Has very limited control of
simple exchanges.
Paper 4

A1 grammatical forms. phonological features and is often

• Requires additional prompting
• Uses a vocabulary of isolated words and phrases. unintelligible.
and support.

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