How Examiners Assess Speaking Candidates

Features of Performance

The test-taker’s overall Speaking score reflects their average performance across all three parts of the test.

To achieve a particular band score, a test-taker must demonstrate all the positive features described in the Descriptors for that band.

For example, to achieve Band 7 in Fluency and Coherence, a speaker must:

• Speak at length with minimal effort.
• Maintain coherence with occasional hesitations and repetition.
• Demonstrate a range of connectives and discourse markers.

If the speaker lacks a sufficient range of connectives, they cannot achieve Band 7, even if they meet the other requirements.

Examiners must:

• Clearly distinguish between the different band levels.
• Identify both positive and negative features of the performance.
• Ensure fair and accurate scoring.

The Descriptors often use the word “may” to indicate potential negative features that might or might not be present. If these negative features are present, the examiner should consider the description for the next lower band to determine the most appropriate score.

Examiners must assess each of the four criteria (Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, Pronunciation) individually, rather than focusing on an overall general impression of the speaker’s performance.