Speaking
Scoring
C1 Advanced Exam
In this section:
How the speaking part is marked on the C1 Advanced Exam
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.
Examiners look at five aspects of your writing: Grammar, Vocabulary, Discourse Management, Pronunciation and Interactive Communication.
This section will cover these details.
Scoring
You are graded on:
Grammatical Resource
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary Resource
Discourse Management
Pronunciation
Interactive Communication
Lexical Resource
This mark has to do with the vocabulary you use, and how accurate it is. If you are able to show you can use not only basic vocabulary but topic-specific vocabulary well and accurately, you'll get a better mark here. They will also judge your knowledge of collocations, phrases, and idiomatic expressions here. Note: this does not mean awkwardly forcing idioms into your speech. Instead, it means choosing expressions that are natural and appropriate for the conversation.
Marking Criteria
5 Marks
Uses a wide range of appropriate vocabulary to give and exchange views on familiar and unfamiliar topics.
4 Marks has features of both bands 3 and 5.
3 Marks
Uses a range of appropriate vocabulary to give and exchange views on familiar topics and unfamiliar topics.
2 Marks has features of both bands 1 and 3.
1 Mark
Uses appropriate vocabulary to give and exchange views but only when talking about familiar topics.
0 Marks has a performance below Band 1.
Grammar Resource
This mark has to do with your grammar and how good it is. You need to demonstrate you can use simple phrases accurately, and you can use more complex ones. Note that complex grammar doesn's mean awkwardly shoving complex grammatical forms into your speech. It means using a variety of grammar that is appropriate to the conversation, that helps you communicate your ideas.
Marking Criteria
5 Marks
Maintains control of a wide range of grammatical forms.
4 Marks has features of both bands 3 and 5.
3 Marks
Shows a good degree of control of a range of simple and some complex grammatical forms.
2 Marks has features of both bands 1 and 3.
1 Mark
Shows a good degree of control of simple grammatical forms
Attempts some complex grammatical forms.
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
Is able to produce extended stretches of language with ease and with very little hesitation.
The contributions are meaning relevant, coherent and varied.
Uses a range of linking words, cohesive devices and discourse markers that are appropriate.
4 Marks has features of both bands 3 and 5.
3 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.
2 Marks has features of both bands 1 and 3.
1 Mark
Produces extended stretches of language despite some hesitation.
Contributions are relevant and there is very little repetition.
Uses a range of 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.
Sentence and word stress are used effectively to convey and enhance meaning.
4 Marks has features of both bands 3 and 5.
3 Marks
Is intelligible.
Intonation is appropriate.
Sentence and word stress is accurately placed.
Individual sounds are articulated clearly.
2 Marks has features of both bands 1 and 3.
1 Mark
Is intelligible.
Intonation is generally appropriate.
Sentence and word stress is generally accurately placed.
Individual sounds are generally articulated clearly.
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
Interacts with ease, linking contributions to those of other speakers.
Widens the scope of the interaction and negotiates towards an outcome.
4 Marks has features of both bands 3 and 5.
3 Marks
Initiates and responds appropriately, linking contributions to those of other speakers.
Maintains and develops the interaction and negotiates towards an outcome.
2 Marks has features of both bands 1 and 3.
1 Mark
Initiates and responds appropriately.
Maintains and develops the interaction and negotiates towards an outcome with very little 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 wide range of topics, including unfamiliar and abstract ones, with very little hesitation.
Uses accurate and appropriate linguistic resources to express complex ideas and concepts and produce extended discourse that is coherent and easy to follow.
4 Marks has features of both bands 3 and 5.
3 Marks
Handles communication on a range of familiar and unfamiliar topics, with very little hesitation.
Uses accurate and appropriate linguistic resources to express ideas and produce extended discourse that is generally coherent.
2 Marks has features of both bands 1 and 3.
1 Mark
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.
0 Marks has a performance below Band 1.