Conduct of the test: The test is
well conducted and there are no recommendations for improvement.
Introduction: The examiner introduces the test with the candidate number and name. She welcomes the candidate to the
test and checks whether he has any electronic devices with him.
Part A: (Explanation of the test) The examiner
reads the script from the Teacher’s/Examiner’s Notes to the candidate.
Part B: (Warm up) Adequate
time is given (2’25”). The examiner uses appropriate warm up questions ‘What
is it like to be the youngest in the family?”, “What do you enjoy doing in your
free time?”
Part C: (Preparation time) Adequate time is given (2’30”).
Part D:(Assessed discussion) Adequate
time is given (7’46”) and all prompts are used. The examiner uses open
questions throughout in order to encourage the candidate to develop the
discussion.
Structure: The
candidate uses simple structures securely with some slips and occasionally
more complex structures, “I never had a
virtual reality but, the future, I would like to have one to play my favourite
video games”.“You will be able to do all your dreams come true.” “If something goes
wrong in virtual reality, you don’t get hurt”.
Mark awarded = 6 out of 10 Vocabulary: The
candidate has a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey simple ideas: online, YouTube, war games, to avoid, to
experience, and, occasionally, more sophisticated phrases: all your dreams come true, at some point. The
candidate could improve his performance by expanding his vocabulary and trying
to avoid repetition by using synonyms for high frequency words. Mark awarded = 6 out of 10 Development and fluency: The
candidate attempts to respond to the questions and prompts and appears to
understand what he is being asked.
However, the examiner needs to use open questions to draw him out as
his responses are rarely supported with examples and tend to be repetitive, “You have to avoid stuff coming to you
and break them and you have to, like, avoid things that come to you”. Pronunciation
and intonation are not always clear, but the candidate can be understood.The candidate should answer in as much detail as possible using
carefully chosen vocabulary, calling on personal anecdotes and general
knowledge. Mark awarded = 6 out of 6
Moderator comments (whole test)
How the examiner performance could improve:
There are no recommendations for
improvement. The examiner uses appropriate questions in the warm up and selects an appropriate speaking assessment card. However, this topic is slightly challenging for the candidate as he has no personal experience of virtual reality. How the candidate performance could improve: The
candidate is ambitious in attempting quite complex structures. He should focus on improving the accuracy of
the structures used. He should also work
on improving the clarity of his pronunciation and extending his answers with
additional ideas. In order to improve his performance, the candidate should extend his answers using a range of connecting words, e.g. ‘when’, ‘because’, ‘although’ and linking devices, ‘on the other hand’, ’however’, ‘to summarise’. The candidate could also improve his performance by practising answering questions about a topic of interest with a friend, focusing on the accuracy of the grammar. If this is recorded the candidate could then listen to it to check where he could improve. The candidate should practise keeping a conversation going by, say, asking a friend to ask him questions on a topic he knows well. He could also listen to English language programmes to improve his pronunciation. Common mistakes and misconceptions: The
concept of virtual reality is challenging for weaker candidates. Virtual
reality often requires clarification in Part C. Candidates are not required to demonstrate any knowledge in any area as candidates are assessed on their speaking skills rather than their subject knowledge. Therefore, they are not expected to provide 'correct' answers but to show they can talk about a range of topics.
Conduct of the test:
The test is well conducted and there are no recommendations for improvement.
Introduction: The examiner introduces the test with the candidate number and name. She welcomes the candidate to the test and checks whether he has any electronic devices with him.
Part A: (Explanation of the test) The examiner reads the script from the Teacher’s/Examiner’s Notes to the candidate.
Part B: (Warm up) Adequate time is given (2’25”). The examiner uses appropriate warm up questions ‘What is it like to be the youngest in the family?”, “What do you enjoy doing in your free time?”
Part C: (Preparation time) Adequate time is given (2’30”).
Part D: (Assessed discussion) Adequate time is given (7’46”) and all prompts are used. The examiner uses open questions throughout in order to encourage the candidate to develop the discussion.
Structure:
The candidate uses simple structures securely with some slips and occasionally more complex structures, “I never had a virtual reality but, the future, I would like to have one to play my favourite video games”. “You will be able to do all your dreams come true.” “If something goes wrong in virtual reality, you don’t get hurt”.
Mark awarded = 6 out of 10
Vocabulary:
The candidate has a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey simple ideas: online, YouTube, war games, to avoid, to experience, and, occasionally, more sophisticated phrases: all your dreams come true, at some point. The candidate could improve his performance by expanding his vocabulary and trying to avoid repetition by using synonyms for high frequency words.
Mark awarded = 6 out of 10
Development and fluency:
The candidate attempts to respond to the questions and prompts and appears to understand what he is being asked. However, the examiner needs to use open questions to draw him out as his responses are rarely supported with examples and tend to be repetitive, “You have to avoid stuff coming to you and break them and you have to, like, avoid things that come to you”. Pronunciation and intonation are not always clear, but the candidate can be understood. The candidate should answer in as much detail as possible using carefully chosen vocabulary, calling on personal anecdotes and general knowledge.
Mark awarded = 6 out of 6