Speakout 2 Edition Is To Enable: End of Course Tests Build On The

Overview of testing materials
The main purpose of the tests in

Speakout 2nd Edition is to enable
teachers to identify learners’ strengths The Achievement tests contain similar
and weaknesses, and assess whether task types to those found in the
remedial teaching is necessary. It is Cambridge English main suite exams
also envisaged that the tests will give (Key, Preliminary, First and
learners a sense of progress and Advanced) and so can be used as an
achievement that will motivate them to initial introduction to these exams. The
continue learning. Speakout 2nd Edition three- to four-page Mid-course and
provides both teachers and learners End of course tests build on the
with a comprehensive range of Achievement tests and are more
evaluation and testing materials. extensive. They are designed to check
the language and skills covered in each
half of the Students’ Book. They also
contain task types from the Cambridge
Types of Test English main suite exams.
There is a one-page Unit test for each Test Administration

unit of the Starter Students’ Book.
These tests contain six to eight
exercises which focus on the specific
grammar, vocabulary and functional The time allocation given for each test
language covered in that unit. The tests is approximate and will depend on the
are deliberately short, and are designed strengths and weaknesses of each
to give both teachers and students class. The suggested timings are:
immediate feedback on their
understanding and assimilation of the
key language in each unit.  Unit Tests: 30 minutes
 Achievement Tests: 90-120

minutes
The three-page Achievement tests are
placed at regular intervals, after every  Mid and End of Course Tests:
two units of the Students’ Book. The 90-120 minutes
Achievement tests are more extensive
than the Unit tests and are designed to
check both language and skills The Listening sections of the
development in the previous two or Achievement and Mid-/End of course
three units of the book. In addition to tests should be administered first. Play
grammar, vocabulary and functional each recording twice. Students are then
language, the Achievement tests free to complete the rest of the test at
include reading, listening and writing their own pace.
sections.
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Marking and Grading
Most tasks test specific points.

Students have to give the correct
answer to get full marks. However,
flexibility is built in so that credit can
be given to answers that are not wholly
correct. For example, if a student
makes a spelling mistake in a grammar
question, half marks could be given at
your discretion. The important thing is
to be consistent with the awarding of
marks for all students.

The following scale of grading is  accuracy and range of
suggested: structures and vocabulary,
including spelling:
5 marks
Very good A 90% +
 task achievement (relevant
Good pass B 80-89% information) and text
Borderline organisation (linking of ideas at
C 70-79% sentence and paragraph level):
pass
5 marks
Less than
Fail F
70%
The Unit tests are designed to check

that students have understood and
retained the language input from the
unit. They should help you identify
students who are struggling, but you
will find that most students who have
completed all of the course material
achieve a good pass on the test.
Writing tasks
There are two writing tasks in each of

the Achievement tests and Mid-/End of
course tests. The first task is designed
to test the writing sub-skills taught in
the Students’ Book, such as linking
words. The second task allows students
to express themselves more freely in a
piece of extended writing.
The following assessment criteria are

suggested when grading the final
writing task:

Speaking tasks It is, of course, also possible to carry
out one-to-one assessment of the
No specific oral tests for assessing students’ speaking skills if time allows.
students’ speaking skills are included
in the Speakout 2nd Edition tests.
However, this can be done in the
classroom in two ways: via ongoing
assessment during freer speaking
activities and/or formal assessment at
regular intervals. Formal assessment
can be carried out with students in
groups of three. They can be given
collaborative tasks, such as those
provided in the Speakout sections of
the Students’ Book. Teachers can
monitor each group separately and
award marks out of 10 according to the
following criteria:
 accuracy/range of language,
including pronunciation:
3 marks
 fluency: speed and level of

hesitation, use of linking
devices:
3 marks
 interaction: turn taking,

initiating, responding and
maintaining the conversation:
2 marks
 task achievement: conveying

the message, coherence, the use
of relevant language and
completion of the task:
2 marks

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Overview of testing materials

The main purpose of the tests in

There is a one-page Unit test for each Test Administration

 Achievement Tests: 90-120

Marking and Grading

Most tasks test specific points.

PHOTOCOPIABLE © Pearson Education Limited 2016

The Unit tests are designed to check

There are two writing tasks in each of

The following assessment criteria are

PHOTOCOPIABLE © Pearson Education Limited 2016

 fluency: speed and level of

 interaction: turn taking,

 task achievement: conveying

PHOTOCOPIABLE © Pearson Education Limited 2016

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