lOMoARcPSD|20815827

1 Vstep Speaking & Writing Rating Scale

Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature (Trường Đại học Khoa học Xã hội và Nhân
văn)

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VSTEP SPEAKING RATING SCALE

GRAMMAR VOCABULARY PRONUNCIATION FLUENCY DISCOURSE
- Range - Range - Individual sounds - Hesitation MANAGEMENT
- Accuracy - Control - Stress - Extended speech - Thematic development
- Intonation - Coherence & Cohesion
- uses FLEXIBLY & - has a GOOD command of - is intelligible with individual - FREQUENTLY produces - coherently & easily develops
ACCURATELY simple BROAD vocabulary including sounds [clearly articulated] extended stretches of language ideas with elaborated details and
structures and A less common words, idiomatic - sentence and word stress with VERY LITTLE examples
WIDE RANGE OF expressions & colloquialisms ACCURATELY placed hesitations - can round off with an
grammatical forms - POSSIBLY searches for other - has APPROPRIATE - maintains an easy, fluent and appropriate CONCLUSION
Band 10 expressions and / or avoidance intonation NATURAL flow with LITTLE - produces clear, smoothly
- HARDLY makes strategies, with FEW - varies intonation & places repetition or error correction flowing, well-structured speech,
mistakes insignificant pauses sentence stress CORRECTLY - uses pauses (if any) to search showing efficient & controlled
- makes ALMOST NO minor to express different meanings for appropriate ideas for use of organizational patterns,
slips, but there are NO and intended functions difficult concepts connectors & cohesive devices
SIGNIFICANT lexical errors
C1-2 - uses FLEXIBLY & - has a GOOD command of - is intelligible with individual - FREQUENTLY produces - GENERALLY coherently
ACCURATELY simple BROAD vocabulary including sounds [clearly articulated] and extended stretches of language develops ideas with elaborated
Level 3 structures and A less common words, idiomatic word stress ACCURATELY with LITTLE hesitations details and examples
[43-50] WIDE RANGE OF expressions & colloquialisms placed - maintains an easy, fluent and - can round off with an
grammatical - POSSIBLY searches for other - has APPROPRIATE NATURAL flow with appropriate CONCLUSION
structures expressions and / or avoidance intonation OCCASIONAL repetition or - produces clear, smoothly
Band 9 strategies, despite SOME pauses error correction flowing, well-structured speech,
- OCCASIONAL none- - OCCASIONALLY makes - places sentence stress showing RATHER efficient &
systematic errors may minor slips, but there are NO FLEXIBLY & CORRECTLY - uses pauses (if any) to search controlled use of organizational
occur SIGNIFICANT lexical errors to express different meanings for appropriate ideas for patterns, connectors & cohesive
difficult topics devices
- uses FLEXIBLY & - uses A WIDE RANGE OF - is intelligible and has - deals with familiar and - RELEVANTLY develops ideas
ACCURATELY simple vocabulary of most topics and acquired a VERY CLEAR & unfamiliar topics with ease, with ease
Band 8 structures and A shows GREAT efforts of NATURAL pronunciation REMARKABLE fluency, and - elaborates ideas with
RANGE OF complex avoiding lexical repetition for - CLEARLY articulates a fairly EVEN tempo appropriate details and examples
structures. unfamiliar topics individual sounds - hesitations may occur for
B2 - None-systematic - ATTEMPTS to use A FEW less - GENERALLY places word grammatical & lexical planning - uses A VARIETY OF linking
errors may occur with common words & idiomatic stress & sentence stress but RARELY noticeable words to CLEARLY mark the
Level 4 INSTANCES of self- expressions - shows GOOD efforts with - produces extended stretches relationships between ideas
[30-42] correction. - has HIGH lexical accuracy intonation (native-like rhythm) of language with RARE
despite OCCASIONAL repetition & self-correction
confusion & incorrect word
choice
- uses FLEXIBLY - uses A WIDE RANGE OF - is intelligible and has - deals with familiar & - RELEVANTLY develops ideas
AND ACCURATELY vocabulary of most topics and acquired a QUITE CLEAR & unfamiliar topics with ease, with RELATIVE ease

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simple structures and shows SOME efforts to avoid NATURAL pronunciation REMARKABLE fluency, and
show a GOOD control lexical repetition for unfamiliar - GENERALLY clearly a fairly EVEN tempo - elaborates ideas with MANY
of complex structures topics articulates individual sounds - hesitations may occur for appropriate details and examples
- GENERALLY places word grammatical & lexical planning
Band 7 - None-systematic - has GENERALLY HIGH stress and shows efforts with but OCCASIONALLY - uses A VARIETY OF linking
errors SOMETIMES lexical accuracy despite SOME sentence stress despite noticeable words to CLEARLY mark the
occur but DO NOT lead confusion & incorrect word RATHER low accuracy - produces extended stretches relationships between ideas
to misunderstanding. choice - shows SOME efforts with of language with
intonation OCCASIONAL repetition &
self-correction
- uses RELATIVELY - uses A RANGE OF vocabulary - is intelligible and has - deals with familiar and - RELEVANTLY develops ideas
ACCURATELY of most topics but acquired a QUITE CLEAR & unfamiliar topics with with RELATIVE ease
frequently-used simple OCCASIONALLY shows efforts NATURAL pronunciation RELATIVE ease
structures and show to avoid lexical repetition for - GENERALLY clearly - elaborates ideas with SOME
SOME control of unfamiliar topics articulates individual sounds - hesitations may occur for appropriate details and examples
Band 6 SOME complex - has RELATIVELY HIGH (e.g. final sounds) grammatical and lexical
structures. lexical accuracy (incorrect word - GENERALLY places word planning BUT not too - uses MORE COMPLEX
choice & wrong word forms are stress but DOES NOT shows noticeable connectors to link his / her
- None-systematic found) efforts with sentence stress - produces extended stretches utterances but fails to CLEARLY
errors occur but DO - shows FEW efforts with of language but shows SOME mark the relationships between
NOT lead to intonation EVIDENCE of error ideas
misunderstanding. correction
- uses RELATIVELY - uses A RANGE OF vocabulary - is MOSTLY intelligible and - keeps speaking - RELEVANTLY responds to Qs
ACCURATELY of most topics and has acquired a QUITE CLEAR comprehensively on familiar and can develop ideas in a
B1 frequently-used simple OCCASIONALLY uses them pronunciation & unfamiliar topics, despite SIMPLE list of points
structures. repetitively SOME hesitations for - Even though SOME attempts of
Level 3 - SOME errors occur - makes OCCASIONAL errors grammatical & lexical idea elaboration are evident, they
[20-29] but he / she can make - has SOME difficulties with with individual sounds planning are either VAGUELY or
Band 5 himself / herself unfamiliar topics and makes REPETITIVELY expressed.
EASILY understood. SOME lexical errors - shows efforts in word stress - produces extended responses
- shows SOME despite FREQUENT but shows CLEAR - FLEXIBLY links ideas with
attempts to use mispronunciations EVIDENCE of error SOME SIMPLE connectors
complex sentences, but correction
makes many errors
- uses RELATIVELY - uses SUFFICIENT vocabulary - is MOSTLY intelligible and - keeps speaking - RELEVANTLY responds to Qs
ACCURATELY of familiar topics and at times has acquired a QUITE CLEAR comprehensively on familiar and can develop ideas in a
frequently-used simple uses them repetitively pronunciation topics SIMPLE list of points
structures. - shows SOME attempts to - shows SOME attempts of idea
- has SOME difficulties with - makes SOME errors with express complex ideas, despite elaboration (details and
Band 4 - SOME errors occur unfamiliar topics and makes individual sounds EVIDENT hesitations for examples)
but he / she can make MANY lexical errors - shows SOME efforts in word grammatical & lexical - links ideas with SOME SIMPLE
himself / herself stress despite FREQUENT planning connectors (like ‘and’, ‘but’,
EASILY understood. mispronunciations - produces extended responses ‘because’) but repetition is still

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using simple structure common.

- uses SOME simple - is MOSTLY intelligible. - expresses his / her ideas with
A2 structures correctly, - uses APPROPRIATE - can articulate SIMPLE words - can construct short words & LIMITED relevance to questions
UN- but still vocabulary and can control a & phrases phrases with NOTICEABLE and cannot develop ideas without
RATED SYSTEMATICALLY NARROW repertoire dealing hesitation relying heavily on the repetition
Band 3 makes basic mistakes with familiar situations - BUT conversational partners of the prompts.
(dif. - however, can need to ask for repetition from - FREQUENT false starts and - links groups of words with
Test MANAGE to make time to time (only in face-to- repetition SIMPLE connectors (like ‘and’,
format) himself / herself face mode) (???!!!) ‘but’, ‘because’)
understood
- shows ONLY - only uses a BASIC vocabulary - Speech is often unintelligible. - can only MANAGE very - HARDLY expresses or develop
LIMITED control of A repertoire of ISOLATED words - can articulate a VERY short, isolated words & his / her ideas.
Band 2 FEW simple & phrases related to particular LIMITED repertoire of learnt phrases - only links words or groups of
grammatical concrete topics words with LIMITED accuracy - MAINLY learnt utterances, words with VERY BASIC
structures with much pausing connectors (like ‘and’ or ‘then’)
& sentence patterns in a
learnt repertoire
Band 1 Performance does not satisfy Band 2 descriptors.
Band 0 Test-taker is not present. (or No rateable language)

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VSTEP WRITING RATING SCALE (TASK 1)

TASK FULFILLMENT ORGANIZATION VOCABULARY GRAMMAR
- Key Points - Coherence - Range - Range
- Idea Development - Cohesion - Appropriacy - Accuracy
- covers ALL the requirements of the tasks - organizes information and ideas - uses a WIDE range of - uses A WIDE range of simple and
effectively logically vocabulary, including SOME complex structures precisely and
- EFFECTIVELY fulfills ALL - uses A VARIETY OF linking words less common lexis precisely flexibly
C1-2 communicative purpose(s), with tone as well as A RANGE OF cohesive and flexibly - errors are VERY RARE, with just
Band 10 consistent and appropriate devices and organizational patterns - shows FULL control of style one or two minor slips
Level 5 - FULLY develops key points with ALL the flexibly and collocation, but there may
[34-40] details RELEVANT - uses paragraphing sufficiently and be OCCASIONAL
appropriately inaccuracies
- errors are VERY RARE, with
just one or two minor slips
- covers ALL the requirements of the tasks - organizes information and ideas - uses a WIDE range of - uses A WIDE range of simple and
effectively coherently vocabulary, including SOME complex structures precisely
- CLEARLY fulfills ALL communicative - uses A VARIETY OF linking words less common lexis precisely - the VAST MAJORITY of the
Band 9 purpose(s), with tone consistent and as well as A RANGE OF cohesive - shows GOOD control of style sentences are error-free
appropriate devices and organizational patterns and collocation, but there may - errors, if present, are non-systematic
- FULLY develops key points with ALL the effectively be SOME inaccuracies and non-impeding
details GENERALLY RELEVANT - uses paragraphing sufficiently and - errors, if present, are non-
appropriately systematic and non-impeding
- covers ALL the requirements of the tasks - organizes information and ideas - uses a GOOD range of - uses A VARIETY OF simple
- presents GENERALLY CLEAR coherently vocabulary, including SOME structures and structures with GOOD
communicative purpose(s), with one or two - uses A RANGE OF linking words and less common lexis control
inconsistencies and inappropriacy in tone cohesive devices appropriately, though appropriately - the MAJORITY of the sentences are
Band 8 - develops key points with MOST of the there may be SOME under / over use - shows SOME control of style error-free
details GENERALLY RELEVANT; one or and collocation - errors, if present, are non-systematic
two of the points could be more fully - errors, if present, are non- and non-impeding
extended systematic and non-impeding
B2 - covers ALL the requirements of the tasks; - organizes information and ideas - uses a SUFFICIENT range of - uses BOTH simple and
the format may be inappropriate in places coherently vocabulary complex structures in a
Level 4 - presents GENERALLY CLEAR - uses A VARIETY OF linking words RELATIVELY effective way
[24-33] communicative purpose(s), with SOME appropriately and A NUMBER OF - attempts less common lexis
Band 7 inconsistencies and inappropriacy in tone cohesive devices within and across with OCCASIONAL - errors occur but they RARELY lead
- adequately presents key points; but one or sentences ACCURATELY, but there inappropriacies to misunderstanding
two details may be inappropriate may be OCCASIONAL
inappropriacies - errors do not impede
communication
- covers ALMOST ALL the requirements of - organizes information and ideas - uses a SUFFICIENT range of - shows GOOD control of simple
the tasks; the format may be inappropriate GENERALLY coherently vocabulary structures and attempts SOME
in places - uses linking words and a LIMITED complex structures
4

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Band 6 - presents GENERALLY clear NUMBER OF cohesive devices within - attempts less common lexis, - errors occur but they RARELY lead
communicative purpose(s), with SOME and across sentences accurately, but but MOST are faulty to misunderstanding
inconsistencies and inappropriacy in tone there are SOME inappropriacies
- adequately presents key points; but A - errors do not impede
FEW details may be inappropriate communication
- covers ALMOST ALL the requirements of - organizes information and ideas - uses an ADEQUATE range of - shows GOOD control of simple
the tasks FAIRLY coherently vocabulary but tends to overuse structures
- presents communicative purpose(s) which - uses linking words and SOME certain lexical terms - attempts complex structures, but
Band 5 are unclear in places; there are SOME familiar cohesive devices within and MOST are faulty
B1 inconsistencies in tone across sentences ACCURATELY, - errors occur and impede - errors occur but NORMALLY they
- inadequately presents key points; there though there may be inaccuracies comprehension at times do not impede comprehension
Level 3 may be a tendency to focus on details
[16-23] - PARTIALLY covers the requirements of - presents information and ideas with - uses BASIC vocabulary with - shows ADEQUATE control of
the tasks SOME organization acceptable control simple structures
- FAIL to clearly presents communicative - uses linking words ACCURATELY - attempts SOME complex structures,
purpose(s); the tone may be inappropriate and attempts A FEW familiar cohesive - errors are NOTICEABLE and but UNSUCCESSFULLY
Band 4 - may confuse key points; SOME parts may devices within and across sentences impede comprehension at times - errors occur FREQUENTLY and
be unclear, irrelevant / repetitive though there are repetitions or impede comprehension at times
inaccuracies
- does not address ANY part of the task - presents information and ideas in a - uses a LIMITED range of - uses SOME simple structures
- presents LIMITED ideas which may be series of simple sentences linked by basic vocabulary correctly
A2 Band 3 LARGELY irrelevant / repetitive ONLY basic, high frequency linking - FREQUENTLY makes basic errors
UN- words (AND / BUT / OR / SO) - errors are FREQUENT and that distort the meaning
RATED distort the meaning
- does not address ANY part of the task - has VERY LITTLE control of - uses a VERY LIMITED range - can only use SOME memorized
(dif. Band 2 organization features of words and phrases structures
Test - errors are DOMINANT and - errors are DOMINANT and distort
format) distort the meaning the meaning
Band 1 - Answer is TOTALLY irrelevant or - has NO organization features - uses only A FEW isolated - CANNOT use sentence form at all
incomprehensible. words
Band 0 - Test-taker does not attend the exam.
- Test-taker does not write any words.
- Test-taker writes only memorized response.

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VSTEP WRITING RATING SCALE (TASK 2)

TASK FULFILLMENT ORGANIZATION VOCABULARY GRAMMAR
- Position - Coherence - Range - Range
- Idea Development - Cohesion - Appropriacy - Accuracy
- covers ALL the requirements of the tasks - organizes information and ideas - uses a WIDE range of - uses A WIDE range of simple and
sufficiently and effectively logically vocabulary, including SOME less complex structures precisely and
- uses A VARIETY OF linking words as common lexis precisely and flexibly
Band 10 - presents a FULLY-DEVELOPED well as A RANGE OF cohesive devices flexibly - errors are VERY RARE, with just
response with relevant, extended and well- and organizational patterns flexibly - shows FULL control of style and one or two minor slips
supported ideas - uses paragraphing sufficiently and collocation, but there may be
appropriately OCCASIONAL inaccuracies
- errors are VERY RARE, with
just one or two minor slips
C1-2 - covers ALL the requirements of the tasks - organizes information and ideas - uses a WIDE range of - uses A WIDE range of simple and
sufficiently coherently vocabulary, including SOME less complex structures precisely
Level 5 - presents a CLEAR position throughout the - uses A VARIETY OF linking words as common lexis precisely - the VAST MAJORITY of the
[34-40] Band 9 response well as A RANGE OF cohesive devices - shows GOOD control of style sentences are error-free
- presents a WELL-DEVELOPED response and organizational patterns effectively and collocation, but there may be - errors, if present, are non-
with relevant, extended and well- - uses paragraphing sufficiently and SOME inaccuracies systematic and non-impeding
supported ideas appropriately - errors, if present, are non-
systematic and non-impeding
- covers ALL the requirements of the tasks - organizes information and ideas - uses a GOOD range of - uses A VARIETY OF simple
- presents a GENERALLY CLEAR coherently vocabulary, including SOME less structures and structures with
position throughout the response - uses A RANGE OF linking words and common lexis appropriately GOOD control
- develops main ideas with MOST of the cohesive devices appropriately, though - shows SOME control of style and - the MAJORITY of the sentences
B2 Band 8 details relevant there may be SOME under / overuse collocation are error-free
- manages paragraphing QUITE WELL - errors, if present, are non- - errors, if present, are non-
Level 4 systematic and non-impeding systematic and non-impeding
[24-33] - covers ALL the requirements of the tasks - organizes information and ideas - uses a SUFFICIENT range of - uses BOTH simple and
- presents a GENERALLY CLEAR coherently vocabulary complex structures in a
position but in some parts the conclusions - uses A VARIETY OF linking words RELATIVELY effective way
Band 7 may be repeated or unclear appropriately and A NUMBER OF - attempts less common lexis with
- presents RELEVANT main ideas, but cohesive devices within and across OCCASIONAL inappropriacies - errors occur but they RARELY
SOME may be NOT FULLY developed or sentences ACCURATELY, but there lead to misunderstanding
unclear may be OCCASIONAL inappropriacies - errors do not impede
- manages paragraphing WELL communication
- covers ALMOST ALL the requirements - organizes information and ideas - uses a SUFFICIENT range of - shows GOOD control of simple
of the tasks GENERALLY coherently vocabulary structures and attempts SOME
- presents a GENERALLY CLEAR - uses A RANGE OF linking words and complex structures
Band 6 position but in some parts the conclusions a LIMITED NUMBER OF cohesive - attempts less common lexis, but - errors occur but they RARELY
may be repeated or unclear devices within and across sentences MOST are faulty lead to misunderstanding
- presents RELEVANT main ideas, but accurately, but there are SOME
6

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SOME may be NOT FULLY developed or inappropriacies - errors do not impede

unclear - manages paragraphing communication
RELATIVELY well
- PARTIALLY covers the requirements of - organizes information and ideas - uses an ADEQUATE range of - shows GOOD control of simple
the tasks FAIRLY coherently vocabulary but tends to overuse structures
- presents a position but it is not ALWAYS - uses linking words and SOME familiar certain lexical terms - attempts complex structures, but
Band 5 clear throughout the response; there may be cohesive devices within and across MOST are faulty
NO conclusions sentences ACCURATELY, though there - errors occur and impede - errors occur but NORMALLY they
- presents SOME main ideas, but they are may be inaccuracies comprehension at times do not impede comprehension
NOT fully developed and there may be - may not write in paragraphs or
B1 SOME irrelevant details paragraphing is NOT adequate
- PARTIALLY covers the requirements of - presents information and ideas with - uses BASIC vocabulary with - shows ADEQUATE control of
Level 3 the tasks SOME organization acceptable control simple structures
[16-23] - presents a position but it is not ALWAYS - uses linking words ACCURATELY - attempts SOME complex
Band 4 clear throughout the response; there may be and attempts A FEW familiar cohesive - errors are NOTICEABLE and structures, but
NO conclusions devices within and across sentences impede comprehension at times UNSUCCESSFULLY
- presents SOME main ideas, but they may though there are repetitions or
be repetitive and are NOT inaccuracies - errors occur FREQUENTLY and
SUFFICIENTLY developed with relevant - may not write in paragraphs or impede comprehension at times
details paragraphing is confusing
- does not adequately address ANY part of - presents information and ideas in a - uses a LIMITED range of basic - uses SOME simple structures
the task series of simple sentences linked by vocabulary correctly
A2 Band 3 - does not present a position ONLY basic, high frequency linking - FREQUENTLY makes basic
- presents LIMITED ideas which are words (AND / BUT / OR / SO) - errors are FREQUENT and errors that distort the meaning
UN- LARGELY undeveloped distort the meaning
RATED - BARELY responds to the task - has VERY LITTLE control of - uses a VERY LIMITED range of - can only use SOME memorized
Band 2 - does not present a position organization features words and phrases structures
(dif. - presents ONE or TWO ideas which are not - errors are DOMINANT and - errors are DOMINANT and
Test developed distort the meaning distort the meaning
format) Band 1 - Answer is TOTALLY irrelevant or - has NO organization features - uses only A FEW isolated words - CANNOT use sentence form at all
incomprehensible.
Band 0 - Test-taker does not attend the exam.
- Test-taker does not write any words.
- Test-taker writes only memorized response.

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