Advanced Level Certificate in English (ALCE)

Speaking
SPEAKING Section
SECTION Scoring
SCORING RUBRICS: Descriptors of Salient
Rubrics: DESCRIPTORS Features
OF SALIENT FEATURES

Range of Language Accuracy Fluency Interaction

ALCE PRACTICE TESTS.indd 9

Complexity of: Accuracy of: Length of utterances Contribution
● grammar ● grammar
FOCUS ● syntax ● syntax
Hesitations Understanding
● vocabulary ● vocabulary Flow of speech

5 Consistently shows great flexibility in Consistently maintains a high degree of Consistently expresses him/herself effectively Consistently contributes to the development of
formulating ideas by using a wide range of grammatical and syntactical accuracy, even in on complex topics at length. complex topics easily and effectively.

© 2011 Hellenic American University

HIGH PASS linguistic forms effectively. complex structures.
Hesitations are rare. Only a conceptually Consistently understands the interlocutor.
Consistently uses a broad range of syntactical Consistently chooses vocabulary appropriate for challenging topic can hinder a natural, smooth
Highly Effective
structures appropriately, and displays a wide the topic and style. flow of language.
Speaker
lexical range.

Office of Language Assessment and Test Development

Minor errors may occur.

4 Mostly uses a variety of grammatical and Mostly maintains a fairly high degree of Mostly expresses him/herself with ease using Mostly contributes to the development of
syntactical structures, and mostly displays grammatical and syntactical accuracy. both short and longer utterances spontaneously. complex topics effectively.
PASS sufficient lexical range to accomplish the tasks
Mostly chooses vocabulary appropriate for the Some hesitations may occasionally occur, Mostly understands the interlocutor, though
effectively.
topic and style. particularly when the topic is conceptually may seek very occasional clarification.
Effective
challenging.
Speaker Errors may occasionally occur in more complex
structures, but do not impede communication.

3 Often uses some variety of grammatical and Often maintains a satisfactory degree of Often expresses him/herself with ease using Often contributes to the development of
syntactical structures, and often displays grammatical and syntactical accuracy. both short and longer utterances spontaneously. complex topics satisfactorily.
LOW PASS sufficient lexical range to accomplish the tasks
Often chooses vocabulary appropriate for the topic Some hesitations may occur. Conceptually Mostly understands the interlocutor, though
satisfactorily.
and style. challenging topics may sometimes hinder a may seek occasional clarification.
Satisfactory
natural, smooth flow of language.
Speaker Errors may sometimes occur in more complex
structures, but do not impede communication.

2 Often uses a limited variety of complex Errors may occur in both simple and complex Often produces both short and longer Often contributes to the development of
grammatical and syntactical forms, and often structures, which may sometimes impede utterances on familiar topics, but encounters familiar topics, but has difficulty developing
NARROW FAIL displays a lack of lexical range in attempting to communication. difficulty when dealing with complex topics. complex topics.
accomplish the tasks.
Some vocabulary may be inappropriate for the Hesitations are frequent enough to disrupt the Can often follow speech on familiar topics,
Limited
topic and style. flow of speech noticeably. but has difficulty following the interlocutor on
Speaker
complex topics.

1 Mostly uses a very limited variety of Errors may occur in both simple and Produces short and occasionally longer Contributes to the development of familiar
grammatical and syntactical forms, and mostly complex structures, which frequently impede utterances on familiar topics, but mostly topics, but has great difficulty developing
FAIL displays a lack of lexical range in attempting to communication. encounters difficulty when dealing with complex complex topics.
accomplish the tasks. topics.
Vocabulary may frequently be inappropriate for the Can follow speech on familiar topics, but has
Highly Limited
topic and style. Hesitations are frequent enough to disrupt the great difficulty following the interlocutor on
Speaker
flow of speech very noticeably. complex topics.

© Hellenic American University & Hellenic American Union

2/14/1
Speaking Section - Scoring Rubrics