King Abdulaziz University | English Language Institute

Speaking Assessment 1 Sample

ELI 104 Module1 2012-13

Name: ______________________ Univ.ID: _____________ Section: ______

Topic 1: Talk about your favourite book. Why do you like it?

Key Criteria No Grade Poor Average Good Excellent Student's

Awarded Score
0 mark 1 mark 2 marks 3 marks 4 marks

Serious Generally poor Accurate grammar Accurate grammar Exceptional use of

Grammar and grammatical errors grammar and and vocabulary and vocabulary grammar and
Vocabulary and very limited vocabulary usage usage about half usage most of the vocabulary
vocabulary with a high the time with a time with throughout with
resulting in frequency of few major errors occasional errors minimal or no
incoherence errors but they errors
do not affect
coherence
Content is Content is related Content is relevant Content is relevant Content is
Content unrelated to the to the prompt about half the and cohesive most coherent, relevant
prompt and but it lacks time but the ideas of the time but it and well-organized
completely clarity and are not well- lacks consistent with consistent
irrelevant or relevance most of organized focus with focus on the
incomprehensible the time occasional prompt
digressions
Pronunciation is Pronunciation is Pronunciation is Pronunciation is Pronunciation is
Pronunciation completely poor with a high accurate and clear accurate and clear accurate and clear
incomprehensible frequency of about half of the most of the time throughout with
making it difficult errors and time with a few with occasional correct stress and
to grasp the occasionally major errors errors appropriate
content unintelligible intonation
Almost no fluency Little fluency with Some fluency with Fluent most of the Fluent throughout
Fluency with long and frequent pauses a few complete time with an with an ability to
frequent pauses and a few sentences ability to construct speak at a natural
without a single fragmented delivered without and connect pace and can
complete sentence sentences and pauses but with sentences construct and
mostly single some hesitation comfortably but connect sentences
word utterances that breaks the the pace is uneven spontaneously
flow at times
Fails to answer any Tries to respond Responds to some Responds to all Responds to all
Interactive questions or gives but fails to of the questions questions but questions
Communication incomprehensible answer most of but lacks the responses are not effectively and
( Q & A Session) or totally the questions, necessary always convincing, interacts with the
irrelevant answers interaction with language skills or interacts with the audience with
or unable to the audience is knowledge of the audience but lacks confidence and
interact with the minimal content to sustain confidence and conviction
audience interaction with conviction
the audience
Total Mark (20)

Note: Divide the Total Mark by 2 to get the Final Grade for each student.
Final Grade (10)
( See Note)

Instructor's Name: ______________________________ Instructor's Signature: __________________________Date: _____________

 104 Speaking Assessment Guidelines
Module1 2012-13

104 speaking assessment consists of three parts: preparation for the test, an individual
speaking task, followed by a question and answer session.

• Preparation for the Test (Maximum time allowed: 5 minutes)

The assessor must ensure that each student is allotted 5 minutes to prepare for the test
without any interruption to the proceedings. The first student comes to the front of the class,
and randomly chooses a test sheet that also contains a topic. If the student feels that he would
prefer to have a different topic he may put that sheet back and choose another but he is NOT
allowed to go back to his initial topic if the second one is difficult for him. The student is given
5 minutes to write his name and academic number on the test sheet, reflect on the assigned
topic and jot down the key points before he returns the sheet to the assessors and starts
speaking. Just before he starts, the assessor assigns the next student his topic and he is given 5
minutes to prepare for the task as the previous speaker takes the test. This procedure is
repeated for each student. Please note that the topics must not be handed out to all the
students at the same time to ensure fairness.

• Individual Speaking Task (Maximum time allowed: 3 minutes)

Each student is allotted 3 minutes for the individual speaking task. The student speaks on the
chosen topic in front of the class as well as the assessors. Please note that one mark should be
deducted from the grade assigned for content if the student speaks for less than one minute.
The individual task evaluates the student's ability to produce an extended piece of spoken
discourse that essentially involves describing facts, presenting ideas and expressing opinion on
a familiar topic.

• Question & Answer Session (Maximum time allowed: 2 minutes)

The individual speaking task is followed by a question and answer session for 2 minutes. The
assessors must use the two follow-up questions provided to them for each topic. Furthermore,
students should be encouraged to ask questions related to the topic. This task evaluates the
speaker's ability to interact with an audience and respond to questions using various interactive
strategies and his ability to defend and support his opinion convincingly.

• Assessment and Final Grade

Students are assessed according to the five key criteria: grammar & vocabulary, content,
pronunciation, fluency and interactive communication. The first four criteria are used in both
segments of the speaking assessment. Interactive communication is used as an additional
criterion for the question and answer session. The assessor uses the test sheet to record the
marks for each student.

The assessors individually enter marks for each of the five criteria in the boxes provided and
then divide the mark out of 20 by 2 in order to obtain the total mark. They then add up their
grades (10+10) for each student and calculate the average which is officially recorded as the
final grade out of 10.