Cambridge Advanced Speaking Paper: Concepts

FORMAT
The standard format is 2 candidates and 2 examiners. Timing: 15'
When there is an odd number of candidates, there are 3 candidates and 2 examiners. Timing: 23'
Timing is standardised for all tests to ensure they are fair and reliable. To this end, examiners use
a watch to keep track of the time.

PARTS
There are four parts in the speaking paper, each with a different interaction pattern:
parts 1 and 2: interlocutor (reads task from the interlocutor frame) candidates take
turns to answer questions (part 1), compare and contrast photographs (part 2), answer a
question after their partner has finished comparing the photos (part 2).
parts 3 and 4: interlocutor (reads task from the interlocutor frame) candidates talk
together.

EXAMINER ROLES
One examiner acts as interlocutor and the other acts as an assessor who fills in mark sheets. At
the end of the test the interlocutor assesses the candidates' overall performance by giving a
global achievement grade.

MARK SHEETS
Candidates are given their individual mark sheets before entering the exam room. They then
hand them to the interlocutor who passes them onto the assessor. At the end of the speaking test,
examiners retain the mark sheets because they will be sent to Cambridge English Language
Assessment.

MARKING
Examiners do not share marks with the candidates. Cambridge English will later release a
statement of result and a certificate indicating a candidate's performance in the speaking paper.
Speaking performance is assessed by professional examiners who use detailed assessment scales
which contain descriptors. The examiners make use of two scales: the analytical scale and the
global achievement scale. The assessor uses the analytical scale to award marks for five
individual criteria:
grammatical resource: covers the range of grammatical forms a candidate uses (e.g.
simple, complex) as well as how well a candidate can control them.
lexical resource: covers the vocabulary range a candidate employs.
discourse management: looks into how developed a candidate's stretches of language
are. Hesitation, relevance, coherence and variety are taken into account as well. The flow
and structure of the candidates' discourse is analysed through the use of discourse
markers (e.g. well, right, anyway, you know, like, okay).
pronunciation: refers to how intelligible a candidate's pronunciation is as well as how he
/ she makes use of intonation and stress.
interactive communication: assesses how a candidate initiates, maintains and develops
the interaction as well as how his / her contributions are connected to those of the
interlocutor. Candidates who provide considerable scope for widening the discussion and
negotiate to reach a conclusion are given credit.

The interlocutor uses the global achievement scale to mark candidates' overall performance
across all four parts of the speaking paper.

While the official assessment scales are confidential, Cambridge English Language Assessment
has published a public version, too, which is available at
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/images/168620-assessing-speaking-performance-at-level-
c1.pdf. Teachers should use these scales to determine whether their students are well prepared
for the speaking paper of Cambridge Advanced.