Speaking
Scoring
B2 First Exam
In this section:
How the speaking part is marked on the B2 First Exam
The B2 First speaking paper is a conversation between you, another candidate and an examiner.*
While you will do this part of the exam with a partner, only your individual performance will be graded. Your partner's performance will have no affect on you.
There will also be a fourth examiner in the room as well observing the conversation.
Examiners look at four aspects of your writing: Grammar and Vocabulary, Discourse Management, Pronunciation and Interactive Communication.
*Sometimes there are 3 candidates in the final group of the day.
Scoring
You are graded on:
Grammar and Vocabulary
Discourse Management
Pronunciation
Interactive Communication
Grammar and Vocabulary
This mark is all about how well you use English. They want to see that you can express basic ideas accurately, and you can attempt to use some higher-level, topic-specific vocabulary or phrases. They want to see that you can communicate clearly and effectively communicate using English using appropriate words and grammar.
Marking Criteria
5 Marks
Shows a good degree of control of a range of simple and some complex grammatical forms.
Uses a range of appropriate vocabulary to give and exchange views on a wide range of familiar topics.
4 Marks has features of both bands 3 and 5.
3 Marks
Shows a good degree of control of simple grammatical forms, and attempts some complex grammatical forms.
Uses a range of appropriate vocabulary to give and exchange views on a range of familiar topics.
2 Marks has features of both bands 1 and 3.
1 Mark
Shows a good degree of control of simple grammatical forms.
Uses a range of appropriate vocabulary when talking about everyday situations.
0 Marks has a performance below Band 1.
Discourse Management
This mark has to do with how coherent your speaking is and how well you communicate your ideas. Those who are able to produce longer stretches of language that are easy to follow and make sense do better here. This mark also judges how relevant your ideas are to the task, and how you develop them. They want to see that you can communicate clearly, using relevant examples and reasons, and communicate everything in a logical order.
Marking Criteria
5 Marks
Produces extended stretches of language with very little hesitation.
Contributions are relevant and there is a clear organisation of ideas.
Uses a range of cohesive devices and discourse markers.
4 Marks has features of both bands 3 and 5.
3 Marks
Produces extended stretches of language despite some hesitation.
Contributions are relevant and there is very little repetition. Uses a range of cohesive devices.
2 Marks has features of both bands 1 and 3.
1 Mark
Produces responses which are extended beyond short phrases, despite hesitation.
Contributions are mostly relevant, despite some repetition.
Uses basic cohesive devices.
0 Marks has a performance below Band 1.
Pronunciation
This mark has to do how well you are understood. Note: this does NOT mean how well you can imitate a native speaker! Your accent is fine.
Instead, they want to see you can pronounce the words accurately despite your accent. A C1-level speaker should be able to communicate with a native English speaker who has no experience with learners in the real world and be easily understood.
They also evaluate details such as intonation, tone, sentence stress and word stress here.
Marking Criteria
5 Marks
Is intelligible.
Intonation is appropriate.
Sentence and word stress is accurately placed.
Individual sounds are articulated clearly.
4 Marks has features of both bands 3 and 5.
3 Marks
Is intelligible.
Intonation is generally appropriate.
Sentence and word stress is generally accurately placed.
Individual sounds are generally articulated clearly.
2 Marks has features of both bands 1 and 3.
1 Mark
Is mostly intelligible, and has some control of phonological features at both utterance and word levels.
0 Marks has a performance below Band 1.
Interactive Communication
The speaking part of the exam is a discussion, so they will be evaluating how well you can take part in one. They want to see that you can initiate and respond to questions in an appropriate way. They also want to see that you are able to ask questions, negotiate, and exchange ideas with others as well as keep the conversation going.
Marking Criteria
5 Marks
Initiates and responds appropriately, linking contributions to those of other speakers.
Maintains and develops the interaction and negotiates towards an outcome.
4 Marks has features of both bands 3 and 5.
3 Marks
Initiates and responds appropriately.
Maintains and develops the interaction and negotiates towards an outcome with very little support.
2 Marks has features of both bands 1 and 3.
1 Mark
Initiates and responds appropriately.
Keeps the interaction going with very little prompting and support.
0 Marks has a performance below Band 1.
Marking from the Interlocutor
During this part of the exam, there will be 4 people in the room: you, your partner, the examiner who you're speaking with (the interlocutor), and a second examiner who will be marking you according to the criteria above.
The interlocutor will also evaluate you at the end of the session, according to the criteria below.
Marking Criteria
5 Marks
Handles communication on a range of familiar topics, with very little hesitation. Uses accurate and appropriate linguistic resources to express ideas and produce extended discourse that is generally coherent.
4 Marks has features of both bands 3 and 5.
3 Marks
Handles communication on familiar topics, despite some hesitation.
Organises extended discourse but occasionally produces utterances that lack coherence, and some inaccuracies and inappropriate usage occur.
2 Marks has features of both bands 1 and 3.
1 Mark
Handles communication in everyday situations, despite hesitation.
Constructs longer utterances but is not able to use complex language except in well-rehearsed utterances.
0 Marks has a performance below Band 1.