Speaking Benchmark Matrix Consisting of 4 Performance Criteria and 5 Performance Categories – Score / 20

Relation of Very Limited Weak Satisfactory Good Excellent

Performance
Performance Criteria
Criteria
to Task 1 2 3 4 5
Clarity
This is about how clear the listener Message confusing Message information Message is accurate and Message is accurate and Message is accurate, and
Primary thinks the message is. Does the because of inaccurate / sometimes wrong or mostly clear. Trainee may mostly clear. Trainee all of it is clear. Trainee
message match the function? How
Criteria unclear information. unclear. Trainee may leave leave out some includes all information. includes all information.
well can the listener understand the
meaning? Does the Trainee focus on Message may be about a out some information. information. Message Message matches Message matches
Central to
task the topic? Is the language at the very different topic. Message may not match mostly matches function. function. Trainee talks function. Trainee talks
purpose. right speed for the listener to Message speed means function. Trainee sometimes Trainee talks only about only about topic. Trainee only about topic. Trainee
understand? Are details of the
message accurate and clear? Has listener cannot talks about a different topic. topic. Message speed may changes speed of aware of best speed for
Concerned
with: any information been left out? understand. Trainee Message speed sometimes not be right but causes no message to help listener listener to fully
unaware of this. causes problems for listener. problems for listener. understand. understand.

Content
Expression Suitable vocabulary.
Suitable vocabulary. Few
Message This is about how well the Trainee Very limited vocabulary Very few grammar
expresses the message. How correct Limited vocabulary makes Vocabulary limited but grammar errors.
and may not be suitable errors. Formality
Purpose is the grammar? Is the vocabulary task difficult for Trainee. suitable for task. Some Formality matches
suitable for situation? How well for task. Frequent matches message
Many grammar errors. grammar errors. Formality message context and
Impact does the vocabulary communicate grammar errors. Formality context and purpose.
the message? How is the listener Formality is not totally is suitable for message purpose. Message is
is not suitable for Message is well
Outcome affected by the message? Does the suitable for message context context and purpose. Some organized. Trainee
message context and organized. Trainee
Trainee use right level of formality? and purpose. ability to organize message. sometimes develops
purpose. clearly develops topic to
topic.
improve message.
Fluency
This is about how suitable the flow Trainee has difficulty with Trainee mostly controls Trainee always controls
of the message is. Is the flow of the There is some flow. Trainee
Secondary No flow. Trainee uses only flow. Trainee starts to speak flow of message. Trainee flow of message. Trainee
message natural? Do pauses break starts to speak but
Criteria up the message? Can the Trainee single words or short but often is unable to keeps talking for keeps talking naturally
occasionally is unable to
keep talking for extended periods phrases. Trainee cannot continue. Message mostly extended periods. Trainee for extended periods
Still without help? Does the Trainee continue. Trainee can
rephrase message to contains pauses. Trainee can rephrase message to without help. Trainee
important, control the production of the rephrase message to repair
although not message?
repair communication. tries to rephrase message to repair communication does not need to repair
communication.
central repair communication. without stopping flow. message.
to task
purpose.
Pronunciation
Concerned This is about the accuracy of the
Trainee's pronunciation
with: Trainee's pronunciation. Do errors Pronunciation errors not Pronunciation errors are causes no problems for
cause problems for the listener? Pronunciation errors very common. Many sentences rare and cause few listener. Trainee uses
How well does the Trainee use Pronunciation errors are
common and cause have no pronunciation problems for listener. intonation and word
Form intonation to enhance common and cause
communication? serious problems for errors. Intonation and word Intonation and word stress effectively to
problems for listener.
Appearance listener. stress errors are not stress errors are very enhance listener's
common. rare. understanding of
message.