Paper 4

Assessment
Examiners and marking
The quality assurance of Speaking Examiners (SEs) is managed
by Team Leaders (TLs). TLs ensure all examiners successfully
complete examiner training and regular certification of procedure
and assessment before they examine. TLs are in turn responsible
to a Professional Support Leader (PSL) who is the professional
representative of Cambridge Assessment English for the Speaking
tests in a given country or region.

Annual examiner certification involves attendance at a face-to-

face meeting to focus on and discuss assessment and procedure,
followed by the marking of sample Speaking tests in an online
environment. Examiners must complete standardisation of
assessment for all relevant levels each year and are regularly
monitored during live testing sessions.

Assessment scales
Throughout the test candidates are assessed on their own
individual performance and not in relation to each other. They
are awarded marks by two examiners: the assessor and the
interlocutor. The assessor awards marks by applying performance
descriptors from the analytical assessment scales for the
following criteria:
• Grammar and Vocabulary
• Discourse Management
• Pronunciation
• Interactive Communication

The interlocutor awards a mark for global achievement using the

global achievement scale.

Assessment for B2 First is based on performance across all parts

of the test, and is achieved by applying the relevant descriptors in
the assessment scales. The assessment scales for B2 First (shown
on page 82) are extracted from the overall Speaking scales on
page 83.

Speaking Assessment 81
 B2 First Speaking Examiners use a more detailed version of the following assessment scales, extracted from the overall Speaking scales
on page 83:

B2 Grammar and Vocabulary Discourse Management Pronunciation Interactive Communication

Produces extended
Shows a good degree of control stretches of language with Is intelligible. Initiates and responds
of a range of simple and some very little hesitation. appropriately, linking
Intonation is appropriate.
complex grammatical forms. Contributions are relevant contributions to those of other
5 and there is a clear Sentence and word stress speakers.
Uses a range of appropriate
organisation of ideas. is accurately placed.
vocabulary to give and Maintains and develops the
exchange views on a wide range Uses a range of cohesive Individual sounds are interaction and negotiates
of familiar topics. devices and discourse articulated clearly. towards an outcome.
markers.
4 Performance shares features of Bands 3 and 5.
Is intelligible.
Shows a good degree of control Produces extended
stretches of language Intonation is generally
of simple grammatical forms, Initiates and responds
despite some hesitation. appropriate.
and attempts some complex appropriately.
grammatical forms. Contributions are relevant Sentence and word stress
3 Maintains and develops the
and there is very little is generally accurately
Uses a range of appropriate interaction and negotiates
repetition. placed.
vocabulary to give and towards an outcome with very
exchange views on a range of Uses a range of cohesive Individual sounds are little support.
familiar topics. devices. generally articulated
clearly.
2 Performance shares features of Bands 1 and 3.
Produces responses which
Shows a good degree of control are extended beyond short Initiates and responds
Is mostly intelligible,
of simple grammatical forms. phrases, despite hesitation. appropriately.
and has some control of
1 Uses a range of appropriate Contributions are mostly phonological features at Keeps the interaction going
vocabulary when talking about relevant, despite some both utterance and word with very little prompting and
everyday situations. repetition. levels. support.
Uses basic cohesive devices.
0 Performance below Band 1.

B2 Global achievement

Handles communication on a range of familiar topics, with very little hesitation.

5 Uses accurate and appropriate linguistic resources to express ideas and produce extended
discourse that is generally coherent.

4 Performance shares features of Bands 3 and 5.

Handles communication on familiar topics, despite some hesitation.

3 Organises extended discourse but occasionally produces utterances that lack coherence,
and some inaccuracies and inappropriate usage occur.

2 Performance shares features of Bands 1 and 3.

Handles communication in everyday situations, despite hesitation.
1 Constructs longer utterances but is not able to use complex language except in
well-rehearsed utterances.

0 Performance below Band 1.

82
 Grammatical Resource Lexical Resource Discourse Management Pronunciation Interactive Communication

• Produces extended stretches of language

• Uses a wide range of with flexibility and ease and very little • Interacts with ease by skilfully
• Maintains control appropriate vocabulary hesitation. • Is intelligible. interweaving his/her contributions into the
of a wide range of with flexibility to give • Contributions are relevant, coherent, • Phonological features are used conversation.

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

markers.

• Produces extended stretches of language • Is intelligible.

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

• Produces extended stretches of language • Is intelligible.

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

Grammar and Vocabulary

• Is intelligible.
• Produces extended stretches of language
• Shows a good degree of control of simple grammatical • Intonation is generally appropriate. • Initiates and responds appropriately.
despite some hesitation.
forms, and attempts some complex grammatical forms. • Sentence and word stress is • Maintains and develops the interaction
B2 • Contributions are relevant and there is
• Uses appropriate vocabulary to give and exchange generally accurately placed. and negotiates towards an outcome with
very little repetition.
views, on a range of familiar topics. • Individual sounds are generally very little support.
• Uses a range of cohesive devices.
articulated clearly.
• Produces responses which are extended
• Shows a good degree of control of simple grammatical
beyond short phrases, despite hesitation. • Is mostly intelligible, and has some • Initiates and responds appropriately.
forms.
B1 • Contributions are mostly relevant, but control of phonological features at • Keeps the interaction going with very little
• Uses a range of appropriate vocabulary when talking
there may be some repetition. both utterance and word levels. prompting and support.
about familiar topics.
• Uses basic cohesive devices.

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

• Has considerable difficulty maintaining

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

A1 forms. phonological features and is often

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

83