Sample speaking items and responses

To familiarize yourself with some speaking items and how responses are scored, see the sample speaking items below.

Sample speaking item #1

A Grade 6 student (11 years old) is due to present their science project today, but, just before class, they admit to you that the work is not done and that they are not ready to present. You tell the student to stay behind at lunch time so you can speak to them. In your discussion with this student, explain why it is important for their work to be completed on time, and outline what next steps they will need to take so they can complete their work

Sample of a poor response

Score (1 point total)

Criterion 1 (0 points). The response is very short and does not explain why work needs to be completed on time or what the next steps will be. None of the task requirements outlined in the sample item were met.

Criterion 2 (1 point). The response fails to properly use the verb “to be,” which is a foundational verb in English. This hampers the intelligibility of the communication. However, pronunciation is clear.

Criterion 3 (0 points). The tone is very angry and unlikely to lead to a positive or productive reaction from the student. It conveys only anger and provides no support.

Sample of a middling response

Score (3 points total)

Criterion 1 (1 point). The response is short, and while it states that work needs to be submitted on time, it does not explain why. Similarly, there is an allusion to next steps, in saying the work needs to be completed for tomorrow, but no concrete steps are offered about how to make that happen.

Criterion 2 (2 points). The third sentence is grammatically incorrect, hampering the intelligibility of the communication (although the meaning is still clear). Pronunciation is generally good, but the pace is so fast that it would reduce the student’s ability to understand the message.

Criterion 3 (0 points). The tone is angry and threatening. This is unlikely to lead to a positive or productive reaction from the student.

Example of a strong response

Score (7 points total)

Criterion 1 (2 points). The response gives a very nice description of why the work needed to be submitted on time. The plan for next steps is supported with one suggestion, but it would be good to suggest an intermediary step, such as asking the student to show evidence of their work so far.

Criterion 2 (3 points). The speech is grammatically correct, and pronunciation is generally good. The teacher speaks with a non-Canadian accent, but it does not impede understanding, and so no marks are deducted. The use of “impedes” is not student-friendly language for this age group.

Criterion 3 (2 points). The tone is reasonable for the situation. The speech comes across as a lecture more than as support or a collaborative effort to find a solution to the problem, but the tone is not threatening or problematic.