Speaking Test Assessment Criteria 2014-15

Ability to
explain
academic
concepts and
argue for a
stance

A+, A, AYou can always clearly

explain academic
concepts.

B+, B, BYou can almost always clearly

explain academic concepts.

C+, C, CYou are usually able to explain

academic concepts but
sometimes not clearly.

D+, D
There is only some evidence of an
ability to explain academic concepts
and these are usually unclear.

F
What you say is
almost always
unclear.

You are always able to

argue for a critical
stance.

You are usually able to argue

for a critical stance.

While you can usually argue for a

stance, it is not very detailed and
is usually simplistic rather than
critical.

There is only some evidence of an

ability to argue for a stance and when
you do, it is almost always simplistic
rather than critical.

You are almost

always unable to
express a stance.

You show an excellent

ability to critically
respond to / question
other students stance.

You show a good ability to

critically respond to / question
other students stance.

You show a limited ability to

critically respond to / question
other students stance.

You show a limited ability to critically

respond to / question other students
stance and when you do attempt to,
the meaning is unclear.

30% of grade

You never
critically respond
to other students
stance.

You are mostly silent throughout the

discussion.
Ability to
interact with
others

20% of grade

You never dominate the

discussion.

You never dominate the

discussion.

You dominate the discussion in

one or two places.

You often dominate the discussion.

You never read from

your notes when
expressing your stance.

You never read from your

notes when expressing your
stance.

You sometimes read from your

notes when expressing your
stance.

You often read from your notes when

expressing your stance.

Your contributions to the

discussion are always
naturally linked to what
has been said before.

Your contributions to the

discussion are almost always
naturally linked to what has
been said before.

Your contributions to the

discussion are usually naturally
linked to what has been said
before.

Your contributions to the discussion are

only sometimes naturally linked to
what has been said before.

You always use active

listening skills (nodding,
eye contact etc.) when
appropriate.

You almost always use active

listening skills (nodding, eye
contact etc.) when
appropriate.

You usually use active listening

skills (nodding, eye contact etc.)
when appropriate.

You only sometimes use active

listening skills (nodding, eye contact
etc.) when appropriate.

Your interaction
skills are too
limited to be able
to successfully
take an active role
in the tutorial
discussion.

Ability to
communicate
comprehensibly
and fluently
30% of grade

Ability to use
academic
sources to
support a
position

You are always

comprehensible.

You are nearly always

comprehensible.

You are generally

comprehensible.

You are only sometimes comprehensible.

Mistakes with grammar

/ vocabulary are
infrequent and never
interfere with
understanding.

Mistakes with grammar /

vocabulary are infrequent
and rarely interfere with
understanding.

Mistakes with grammar /

vocabulary occur throughout
but rarely interfere with
understanding.

Mistakes with grammar / vocabulary occur

throughout and interfere with
understanding in multiple places.

You are always fluent.

You are usually fluent.

You are generally fluent.

You are only sometimes fluent.

All references are

appropriate.

All references are

appropriate.

One reference is not

appropriate.

Two references are not appropriate.

You are always able to You are almost always able

concisely express the
to concisely express the
validity of your sources. validity of your sources.

You can usually express the

validity of your sources but it
may not be concise.

You rarely express the validity of your

sources and when you do it is not concise.

You show an excellent

ability to use ideas /
data from your sources
to support your stance.

You show a limited ability to use

ideas / data from your sources
to support your stance.

You rarely show an ability to use ideas /

data from your sources to support your
stance.

20% of grade
You show a good ability to
use ideas / data from your
sources to support your
stance.

Your spoken
language causes
repeated and
sustained strain on
the listener.

All references are

inappropriate / you
have no notesheet
/ you never use
ideas from your
sources to support
your stance.
You never express
the validity of your
sources
You have
plagiarized your
notesheet from
another student.