Cambridge Speaking Assessment Scales

Quick guide to marking

A mark of 5 means that the learner’s speaking is well above Pre-intermediate level.
A mark of 3 means that the learner’s speaking is average for Pre-intermediate level.
A mark of 1 means that the learner’s speaking is not coherent enough to be properly assessed.

Task achievement Range Organisation Pronunciation Accuracy

Did the learner complete the Did the learner use a wide Did the learner express his/ Did the learner produce Did the learner produce
tasks in each section of the variety of vocabulary and her ideas clearly and connect individual sounds clearly and grammatically correct
test? grammar structures? them together effectively? use appropriate stress and language?
intonation?
All tasks completed A wide variety of both Learner able to connect ideas Clear pronunciation of Very few errors in use of
successfully and without appropriate structures and clearly and effectively, using sounds and use of stress and structures and vocabulary
5 difficulty vocabulary used confidently basic linkers and devices intonation to convey meaning, expected at this level,
appropriate to the level though L1 accent may be perhaps with evident ability to
discernible self-correct
Most tasks completed Some elements of 3 and Some elements of 3 and Some elements of 3 and Some elements of 3 and
4 without difficulty some of 5 some of 5 some of 5 some of 5
Tasks completed with A variety of appropriate Learner usually able to Some difficulty with sounds, Errors in use of structures and
occasional difficulty structures used, with communicate and link ideas stress and intonation, causing vocabulary are frequent, but
3 some inappropriate usage clearly, though with a lack of strain on the listener, though rarely impair communication
or difficulty retrieving overall fluency communication is rarely
appropriate language impaired
Frequent difficulties prevented Some elements of 1 and Some elements of 1 and Some elements of 1 and Some elements of 1 and
2 task completion some of 3 some of 3 some of 3 some of 3

Too little communication to Too little communication to Too little communication to Too little communication to Too little communication to
1 assess assess assess assess assess

Photocopiable © Cambridge University Press 2012

 Cambridge Writing Assessment Scales
Quick guide to marking
A mark of 5 means that the learner’s writing is well above Starter level.
A mark of 3 means that the learner’s writing is average for Starter level.
A mark of 1 means that the learner’s writing is not coherent enough to be properly assessed.

Task achievement Range Organisation Register Accuracy

Did the learner complete the Did the learner use a wide Did the learner express his/ Did the learner use language Did the learner produce
tasks in each section of the variety of vocabulary and her ideas clearly and connect with an appropriate style and grammatically correct
test? grammar structures? them together effectively? level of formality? language?
All tasks completed A wide variety of both correct Learner able to connect ideas The learner is able to use Very few errors in use of
successfully and without structures and appropriate clearly and effectively, using appropriate language when structures and vocabulary
5 difficulty vocabulary used basic linkers and devices writing for different reasons expected at this level
appropriate to the level and at different levels of
formality
Most tasks completed Some elements of 3 and Some elements of 3 and Some elements of 3 and Some elements of 3 and
4 without difficulty some of 5 some of 5 some of 5 some of 5
Tasks completed with A variety of appropriate Learner usually able to Meaning is largely clear, but Errors in use of structures and
occasional difficulty structures used, with some communicate and link ideas the learner is not able to vocabulary are frequent, but
3 inappropriate or repetitive use clearly, though sometimes choose language according rarely impair communication
of language errors make meaning unclear to register
Frequent difficulties prevented Some elements of 1 and Some elements of 1 and Some elements of 1 and Some elements of 1 and
2 task completion some of 3 some of 3 some of 3 some of 3

Too little communication to Too little communication to Too little communication to Too little communication to Too little communication to
1 assess assess assess assess assess

Photocopiable © Cambridge University Press 2012