ORAL CRITERIA

0 0.5 0.75 1 1.5 2

• Responds appropriately to
• Understands some words instructions, questions and visual

Some features of band 3 and some features of band 1 in approximately equal measure.

Some features of band 5 and some features of band 3 in approximately equal measure.
• Responds appropriately to most
and attempts to interact but has prompts and very little support is
instructions, questions and visual
significant difficulty. required.
prompts with some support.
• Requires a lot of support. • Is able to ask for support if required.
• Tries to ask for support in English,
Listening • Might be reluctant to • Able to interpret non-verbal
albeit in a limited way.
Comprehension & engage in English and seek help in communication as required e.g to
• Probably shows ability to interpret
Interaction Spanish extend response, or to correct a
Performance does not satisfy the Band 1 descriptor
non-verbal communication as
• Some successful misunderstanding.
required.
communication but with frequent • Almost always responds promptly
• Some moments of confusion due
hesitation, repetition or unfinished although there may be hesitation and
to hesitation or repetition.
utterances some pausing mid-utterance.

• Is mostly inteligible.
• Very limited control of • Is mostly inteligible.
• Has some control of sounds, and
phonological features (individual • Is able to effectively control
frequently uses stress and
sounds, stress and intonation). pronunciation of sounds, and uses
Pronunciation intonation correctly for words,
• Is often difficult to uses stress and intonation correctly
phrases and longer utterances.
understand. for words, phrases and longer
• Some errors might confuse the
utterances.
listener
• Uses the vocabulary required to • Uses the vocabulary required to
• Uses the vocabulary required to deal
attempt some test tasks. deal with most test tasks.
with all test tasks. Some evidence of
• Attempts to structure utterances • Produces some simple structures
range.
but makes some basic mistakes but makes some basic mistakes
Production: • Uses simple structures correctly.
which may obscure meaning. which may obscure meaning.
Grammar & Mistakes are rare and meaning is
• Generally responds at word level • Generally responds with phrases
Vocabulary generally clear.
but may also produce phrases. or single clauses but may also
• Able to produce longer utterances
Longer utterances are very rare. produce some longer utterances.
five clauses or more when required).
• Can join words with simple • Can join ideas with a few simple
• Can join ideas with some simple
linkers (e.g. and). linkers (e.g. and).
linkers (e.g. and, but, then).

LEVEL 1- 3
 ORAL CRITERIA
0 0.5 0.75 1 1.5 2
• Responds appropriately to
• Understands some prompts • Responds appropriately to most
instructions, questions and visual

Some features of band 3 and some features of band 1 in approximately equal measure.

Some features of band 5 and some features of band 3 in approximately equal measure.
and attempts to interact but has instructions, questions and visual
prompts and very little support is
significant difficulty. prompts with some support.
required.
• Requires a lot of support. • Is able to ask for support if
• Is able to ask for support if required.
• Tries to ask for support in required.
Interaction • Able to use and interpret non-verbal
English, albeit in a limited way. • Shows some ability to use and
communication effectively.
• Some successful interpret non-verbal
• Almost always responds promptly
Performance does not satisfy the Band 1 descriptor
communication but with frequent communication as required.
although there may be hesitation and
hesitation, repetition or unfinished • Some moments of confusion due
some pausing mid-utterance.
utterances to hesitation or repetition.
• Some limited control of • Is mostly intelligible.
phonological features (individual • Has control of sounds, and • Is intelligible.
sounds, stress and intonation). frequently uses stress and • Is able to effectively control
• Is sometimes difficult to intonation correctly for words, pronunciation of sounds, and uses
Pronunciation
understand. phrases and longer utterances. uses stress and intonation correctly
• Some errors might confuse • Errors may occur but will be rare for words, phrases and longer
the listener and probably associated with more utterances.
complex language.
• Uses the vocabulary required to
• Uses the vocabulary required to • Uses a range of vocabulary
deal with most test tasks. Some
attempt some test tasks. to deal with all test tasks effectively.
evidence of range.
• Attempts to structure utterances • Uses a range of structures and
• Uses simple structures correctly.
but makes some basic mistakes features of spoken grammar.
Production: There may be some basic mistakes
which may obscure meaning. correctly. Mistakes are rare and
Grammar & or a lack of range.
• Generally responds with phrases meaning is generally clear.
Vocabulary • Generally responds with short,
or single clauses. Longer • Able to produce longer utterances
concise utterances but may also
utterances are very rare. (five clauses or more when required).
produce some longer ones.
• Can join words with simple • Can join ideas with some simple
• Can join ideas with a few simple
linkers (e.g. and). conjunctions (e.g. and, but, then
linkers (e.g. and).
when).

LEVEL 4-8
 WRITING CRITERIA
0 0.5 0.75 1 1.5 2
Errors frequently impede Errors may impede The overall purpose of the text is clear. The
understanding. understanding but the writer achieves the communicative aims.

Some features of band 3 and some features of band 1 in

Some features of band 5 and some features of band 3 in

Communicative purpose Overall, the overall message is clear. Errors don´t impede understanding
communicative aims are The communicative aims
not achieved. are partially achieved.

approximately equal measure.

Very limited or poor text Generally good Use of complete clauses throughout the

approximately equal measure.

organization, which causes organization of text text.
the reader difficulties. - mostly complete clauses Ideas are organized logically.
Text organization
No attempt
-mostly logical Some use of simple connectors to form
organization of compound sentences to avoid repetitious
information. structures.

Poor spelling and Acceptable spelling and Correct use of capitalization, spelling (with
Mechanics punctuation throughout. punctuation. phonetic accuracy for less common words)
and punctuation.

Level of grammatical and Acceptable level of Appropriate range of simple

lexical accuracy is grammatical and lexical grammatical and lexical items (may contain
Language choices
significantly below the accuracy basic systematic errors, e.g. tenses,
acceptable level. collocations)