Criteria checklist Assessment
Sentences are sequenced logically Yes
Signposts are used Yes - such as, also, actually, after that
Signpost phrases are used Yes - I really like..., I prefer to go...
Conjunctions are used Yes - because, and, as
Answer refers directly to the question Yes - In my spare time I really like to go...
Reference words are used Yes - it, there
Checklist
Fluency
● Do you speak at a relaxed, natural rate?
● How is the smoothness and continuity of your speech?
● Do you speak easily without too many pauses?
● Do you use other words to express the same or similar meaning when you cannot think
of the word in English?
● Do you use fillers when you can't think of a word or expression?
Coherence
● Are your sentences in a logical order?
● Have you used signposts to organise your answer?
● Have you used conjunctions to link your ideas?
● Have you linked your ideas to the question?
● Do you refer directly to the main idea of the question at the beginning of your answer?
● Do you continue to refer to the main idea of the question using reference words
throughout your answer?
Criteria for assessing vocabulary Yes
Range
Does the candidate generally avoid
repetition by using a range of vocabulary?
Accuracy
Does the candidate generally use words in
their correct context?
Appropriateness
Does the candidate generally avoid informal
expressions?
Grammar checklist Yes No
Grammatical range
Simple, compound and
complex sentences
* Did she use a range of
sentence structures?
* Did she use a variety of
conjunctions?
Grammatical accuracy
Verb tense
* Did she use the correct
tense?
Modal verbs
* Did she use modal verbs
appropriately?
Articles
* Did she use correct articles?
Comparatives and
superlatives
* Did she use comparatives
and superlatives correctly?
Conditionals
* Did she use conditionals
correctly?
* Can you find any other
grammar problems?
1 Fluency and coherence
Fluency is determined by:
● your rate of speech
● the smoothness and continuity of your speech.
Your aim is to: Yes No
speak at a relaxed,
natural pace
speak quickly to impress
the examiner
pause frequently to
prepare the next part of
your answer
Coherence is determined by:
● sequencing your sentences logically
● using signposts (first, next, on the other hand, similarly etc.) to mark each stage of your
discussion, narration or argument
● using cohesive devices (and, or, but, so, because) within and between sentences.
Your aim is to: Yes No
repeat the same words
or phrases to show you
know them
use words correctly to
make your meaning
clear
2 Lexical resource
Lexical resource refers to your use of vocabulary.
This is determined by:
● the variety of words you use
● how accurate and appropriate your vocabulary is
● your ability to paraphrase, that is, to find another way of saying what you mean when
you do not know the word in English
Your aim is to: Yes No
repeat the same words
or phrases to show you
know them
use words correctly to
make your meaning
clear
ignore the style of
vocabulary appropriate
for an interview
use words of similar
meaning, if you cannot
think of a specific word
in English
3 Grammatical range and accuracy
Grammatical range is determined by:
● the length and complexity of your sentences
● how appropriately you use complex sentences
● the variety of sentence structures you use.
Your aim is to: Yes No
try to use only simple
sentence structures
Grammatical accuracy is determined by:
how many grammatical errors you make
how much your errors interfere with communicating your ideas.
Your aim is to: Yes No
be as accurate as
possible
4 Pronunciation
This is the ability to produce speech (sounds) that can be understood.
This is determined by:
● how easy it is for the examiner to understand what you are saying
● how much of your speech is not understood
● how much your own language influences your speech.
Your aim is to: Yes No
speak with clear English
intonation and
pronunciation.
