Appendix H: Rating scales for Speaking and Writing
The following examples provide descriptions of the performance expected at each score point
band in the task-specific rating scales used for rating the Speaking and Writing components. The
rating scales are described further in Section [Link]. of the manual. Each scale is task-specific. The
3- and 4- point score bands for each scale describe the target-level performance at the proficiency
level targeted by that task.
Speaking Task 1
Areas assessed: task fulfilment/topic relevance, grammatical range & accuracy, vocabulary range
& accuracy, pronunciation, fluency.
5 B1 (or above) Likely to be above A2 level
4 A2.2 Responses to all three questions are on topic and show the following features.
Some simple grammatical structures used correctly but basic mistakes systematically
occur.
Vocabulary is sufficient to respond to the questions, although inappropriate lexical
choices are noticeable.
Mispronunciations are noticeable and frequently place a strain on the listener.
Frequent pausing, false starts and reformulations but meaning is still clear.
3 A2.1 Responses to two questions are on topic and show the following features.
Some simple grammatical structures used correctly but basic mistakes systematically
occur.
Vocabulary is sufficient to respond to the questions, although inappropriate lexical
choices are noticeable.
Mispronunciations are noticeable and frequently place a strain on the listener.
Frequent pausing, false starts and reformulations but meaning is still clear.
2 A1.2 Responses to at least two questions are on topic and show the following features.
Grammatical structure is limited to words and phrases. Errors in basic patterns and
simple grammar structures impede understanding.
Vocabulary is limited to very basic words related to personal information.
Pronunciation is mostly unintelligible except for isolated words.
Frequent pausing, false starts and reformulations impede understanding.
1 A1.1 Response to one question is on topic and shows the following features
Grammatical structure is limited to words and phrases. Errors in basic patterns and
simple grammar structures impede understanding.
Vocabulary is limited to very basic words related to personal information.
Pronunciation is mostly unintelligible except for isolated words.
Frequent pausing, false starts and reformulations impede understanding.
0A0 No meaningful language or all responses are completely off-topic (e.g. memorized
script guessing).
Speaking Tasks 2 and 3
Areas assessed: task fulfilment/topic relevance, grammatical range & accuracy, vocabulary range
& accuracy, pronunciation, fluency and cohesion.
5 B2 (or above) Likely to be above B1 level
4 B1.2 Responses to all three questions are on topic and show the following features
Control of simple grammatical structures. Errors occur when attempting complex
structures.
Sufficient range and control of vocabulary for the task. Errors occur when expressing
complex thoughts.
Pronunciation is intelligible but inappropriate mispronunciations put an occasional
strain on the listener.
Some pausing, false starts and reformulations.
Uses only simple cohesive devices. Links between ideas are not always clearly
indicated.
3 B1.1 Responses to two questions are on topic and show the following features
Control of simple grammatical structures. Errors occur when attempting complex
structures.
Sufficient range and control of vocabulary for the task. Errors occur when expressing
complex thoughts.
Pronunciation is intelligible but inappropriate mispronunciations put an occasional
strain on the listener.
Some pausing, false starts and reformulations.
Uses only simple cohesive devices. Links between ideas are not always clearly
indicated.
2 A2.2 Responses to at least two questions are on topic and show the following features
Uses some simple grammatical structures correctly but systematically makes basic
mistakes.
Vocabulary will be limited to concrete topics and descriptions. Inappropriate lexical
choices for the task are noticeable.
Mispronunciations are noticeable and put a strain on the listener.
Noticeable pausing, false starts and reformulations.
Cohesion between ideas is limited. Reponses tend to be a list of points.
1 A2.1 Response to one question is on topic and shows the following features
Uses some simple grammatical structures correctly but systematically makes basic
mistakes.
Vocabulary will be limited to concrete topics and descriptions. Inappropriate lexical
choices for the task noticeable.
Mispronunciations are noticeable and put a strain on the listener.
Noticeable pausing, false starts and reformulations.
Cohesion between ideas is limited. Responses tend to be a list of points.
0 Performance below A2, or no meaningful language or the responses are completely off
topic(e.g. memorized script, guessing).
Speaking Task 4
Areas assessed: task fulfilment/topic relevance, grammatical range & accuracy, vocabulary range
& accuracy, pronunciation, fluency and cohesion.
6 C2 Likely to be above C1 level
5 C1 Response addresses all three questions and is well-structured.
Uses a range of complex grammar constructions accurately. Some minor errors occur
but do not impede understanding.
Uses a range of vocabulary to discuss the topics required by the task. Some awkward
usage or slightly inappropriate lexical choices.
Pronunciation is clearly intelligible.
Backtracking and reformulations do not fully interrupt the flow of speech.
A range of cohesive devices are used to clearly indicate the links between ideas.
4 B2.2 Responses to all three questions are on topic and show the following features
Some complex grammar constructions used accurately. Errors do not lead to
misunderstanding.
Sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topics required by the task. Inappropriate
lexical choices do not lead to misunderstanding.
Pronunciation is intelligible. Mispronunciations do not put a strain on the listener or
lead to misunderstanding.
Some pausing while searching for vocabulary but this does not put a strain on the
listener.
A limited number of cohesive devices are used to indicate the links between ideas.
3 B2.1 Responses to two questions are on topic and show the following features.
Some complex grammar constructions used accurately. Errors do not lead to
misunderstanding.
Sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topics required by the task. Inappropriate
lexical choices do not lead to misunderstanding.
Pronunciation is intelligible. Mispronunciations do not a strain on the listener or lead
to misunderstanding.
Some pausing while searching for vocabulary but this does not put a strain on the
listener.
A limited number of cohesive devices are used to indicate the links between ideas.
2 B1.2 Responses to at least two questions are on topic and show the following features.
Control of simple grammatical structures. Errors occur when attempting complex
structures.
Limitations in vocabulary make it difficult to deal fully with the task.
Pronunciation is intelligible but occasional mispronunciations put an occasional strain
on the listener.
Noticeable pausing, false starts, reformulations and repetition.
Uses only simple cohesive devices. Links between ideas are not always clearly
indicated.
1 B1.1 Response to one question is on topic and shows the following features
Control of simple grammatical structures. Errors occur when attempting complex
structures.
Limitations in vocabulary make it difficult to deal fully with the task.
Pronunciation is intelligible but occasional mispronunciations put an occasional strain
on the listener.
Noticeable pausing, false starts, reformulations and repetition.
Uses only simple cohesive devices. Links between ideas are not always clearly
indicated.
0 A1/A2 Performance not sufficient for B1, or no meaningful, or the responses are completely off-
topic (memorized or guessing).
Writing Task 2
Areas assessed: task fulfilment/topic relevance, grammatical range & accuracy, punctuation,
vocabulary range & accuracy, cohesion.
5 B1 (or above) Likely to be above A2 level
4 A2.2 On topic.
Uses simple grammatical structures to produce writing at the sentence level. Errors
with basic structures common. Errors do not impede understanding of the response.
Mostly accurate punctuation and spelling.
Vocabulary is sufficient to respond to the question(s).
Some attempts at using simple connectors and cohesive devices to link sentences.
3 A2.1 On topic
Uses simple grammatical structures to produce writing at the sentence level. Errors
with basic structures common. Errors impede understanding in parts of the response.
Punctuation and spelling mistakes are noticeable.
Vocabulary is mostly sufficient to respond to the question(s) but inappropriate lexical
choices are noticeable.
Response is a list of sentences with no use of connectors or cohesive devices to link
sentences.
2 A1.2 Not fully on topic
Grammatical structure is limited to words and phrases. Errors in basic patterns and
simple grammar structures impede understanding.
Little or no use of accurate punctuation. Spelling mistakes common.
Vocabulary is limited to very basic words related to personal information and is not
sufficient to respond to the question(s).
No use of cohesion.
1 A1.1 Response limited to a few words or phrases.
Grammar and vocabulary errors so serious and frequent that meaning is
unintelligible.
0 A0 No meaningful language or all responses are completely off-topic (e.g. memorized script,
guessing).
Writing Task 3
Areas assessed: task fulfilment/topic relevance, punctuation, grammatical range & accuracy,
vocabulary range & accuracy, cohesion.
5 B2 (or above) Likely to be above B1 level
4 B1.2 Responses to all three questions are on topic and show the following features
Control of simple grammatical structures. Errors occur when attempting complex
structures.
Punctuation and spelling mostly accurate. Errors do not impede understanding.
Vocabulary is sufficient to respond to the questions.
Uses simple cohesive devices to organize responses as a linear sequence of sentences.
3 B1.1 Responses to two questions are on topic and show the following features
Control of simple grammatical structures. Errors occur when attempting complex
structures.
Punctuation and spelling mostly accurate. Errors do not impede understanding.
Vocabulary is sufficient to respond to the questions.
Uses simple cohesive devices to organize responses as a linear sequence of sentences.
2 A2.2 Responses to at least two questions are on topic and show the following features
Uses simple grammatical structures to produce writing at the sentence level. Errors
with simple structures common and sometimes impede understanding.
Punctuation and spelling mistakes are noticeable.
Vocabulary is not sufficient to respond to the question(s). Inappropriate lexical
choices are noticeable and sometimes impede understanding.
Responses are lists of sentences and not organized as cohesive texts.
1 a2.1 Response to one question is on topic and shows the following features
Uses simple grammatical structures to produce writing at the sentence level. Errors
with simple structures common and sometimes impede understanding.
Punctuation and spelling mistakes are noticeable.
Vocabulary is not sufficient to respond to the question(s). Inappropriate lexical
choices are noticeable and sometimes impede understanding.
Responses are lists of sentences and not organized as cohesive texts.
0 Performance below A2, or no meaningful language or the responses are completely off-topic
(e.g. memorized script, guessing).
Writing Task 4
Areas assessed: task fulfilment & register, grammatical range & accuracy, vocabulary range &
accuracy, cohesion.
6 C2 Likely to be above C1 level
5 C1 Responses shows the following features
Response on topic and task fulfilled in terms of appropriateness of register. Two clearly
different registers.
Range of complex grammar constructions used accurately. Some minor errors occur but do
not impede understanding.
Range of vocabulary used to discuss the topics required by the task. Some awkward usage or
slightly inappropriate lexical choices.
A range of cohesive devices is used to clearly indicate the links between ideas.
4 B2.2 Response on topic and task fulfilled in terms of appropriateness of register: appropriate register used
consistently in both responses. Response shows the following features
Some complex grammar constructions used accurately. Errors do not lead to
misunderstanding.
Minor errors in punctuation and spelling occur but do not impede understanding.
Sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topics required by the task. Inappropriate lexical
choices do not lead to misunderstanding.
A limited number of cohesive devices are used to indicate the links between ideas.
3 B2.1 Response partially on topic and task partially fulfilled in terms of appropriateness of register:
appropriate register used consistently in one response. Response shows the following features
Some complex grammar constructions used accurately. Errors do not lead to
misunderstanding.
Minor errors in punctuation and spelling occur but do not impede understanding.
Sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topics required by the task. Inappropriate lexical
choices do not lead to misunderstanding.
A limited number of cohesive devices are used to indicate the links between ideas.
2 B1.2 Response partially on topic and task not fulfilled in terms of appropriateness of register: appropriate
register not used consistently in either response. Response shows the following features
Control of simple grammatical structures. Errors occur when attempting complex structures.
Punctuation and spelling is mostly accurate. Errors do not impede understanding.
Limitations in vocabulary make it difficult to deal fully with the task. Errors impede
understanding in parts of the text.
Uses only simple cohesive devices. Links between ideas are not always clearly indicated.
1 B1.1 Response not on topic and task not fulfilled in terms of appropriateness of register. No evidence of
awareness of register. Response shows the following features
Control of simple grammatical structures. Errors occur when attempting complex structures.
Punctuation and spelling is mostly accurate. Errors do not impede understanding.
Limitations in vocabulary make it difficult to deal fully with the task. Errors impede
understanding in most of the text.
Uses only simple cohesive devices. Links between ideas are not always clearly indicated.
0 A1/A2 Performance below B1, or no meaningful language or the responses are completely off-topic (e.g.
memorized script, guessing).