Grade 11
Format
The candidate holds a conversation with the examiner. Total time: 25 minutes
The four major phases of conversation are:
·Presentation of a topic prepared by the candidate followed by discussion of that topic with the examiner(5 minutes).
·Presentation of a text prepared by the candidate followed by discussion of that text with the examiner(7 minutes).
·Reading aloud of a short text by the examiner，followed by questions to check the
candidateˊs understanding of the text (6 minutes).
·General conversation with the examiner(6 minutes).
Candidate performance
The candidate is expected to
·make a short presentation of a prepared topic(2-3minutes)and a slightly longer presentation of one prepared text(3-4minutes)
·answer questions and enter into discussion following the presentations of the topic and text and be prepared to account for statements made and to explain his/her attitudes to the topic and text
·understand the main points，inferences and changes of register in both the spoken text and in the examinerˊs natural speech
·justify points made during his/her own contributions to the conversation
·evaluate and challenge statements and arguments made by the writer of the prepared text and by the examiner at any time during the whole conversation
·maintain the flow of conversation with ease，changing the direction as necessary
New grammatical items
·Full range of conditionals
·Complex adverbial，noun-phrase and sentence structures
―in addition to items listed for Grades 1-10
New subject areas for conversation phase
·The media
·Advertising
·Lifestyles
·The arts
―in addition to items listed for Grades 1-10
Candidates should be able to make use of a range of vocabulary items relating to the above subject areas.
Assessment criteria
Readiness         ·understanding of all the main points，arguments，inferences and changes in register made by the examiner
                      ·responding appropriately with confidence and without hesitation
                      ·taking the initiative and changing direction of conversation where appropriate
                      ·maintaining the flow of the conversation with ease
Pronunciation      ·production of individual sounds so as to be intelligible to the listener，with only occasional sounds that deviate from an internationally intelligible model
                      ·use of appropriate stress and intonation patterns to emphasise meaning and attitude
Usage             ·range of vocabulary and grammar appropriate to the subjects under discussion
                      ·grammatical accuracy that denotes full control over all items specified for Grades 9 and below and only occasional lapses in control of items listed for Grades 10 and 11
Focus             ·entirely appropriate content for all contributions to the conversation
                      ·achievement of communicative purpose in all contributions to the conversation
                      ·adequate organization of content in contributions to the conversation
                      ·evidence of strategies to initiate and control the conversation when desired
Examiner and candidate language
The sample exchanges below show some ways in which examiners and candidates might
express themselves during the conversation. It is stressed that these are only examples.
Examiner                               Candidate
                                            …When the Health Secretary announced that there was a link between BSE and CJD，it led to a crisis in exports. It also led to a crisis of confidence at home Overnight，Britain lost nearly £500，000，000，which was devastating…
                                              Rather than to protect health，it was done to punish Britain for giving misleading information about it.
Do you think this is an acceptable explanation?    Well，Iˊm not a politician…
Thatˊs a play on words.. Can you explain it?      Well，I think it denotes a change of some
                                              kind…
What would you say is the thesis of this article?  Now the ban is lifted，but the warning still exists.
                                               We canˊt say that beef is safe yet…
What is the view of comedy in your country?   Many critics say we are laughing at ourselves
                                            When…
How would you characterise the difference     Maybe British jokes are more sophisticated
between humour in Britain and in your         and humour in our country is more direct.
country?                                 humour in our country is more direct.
 
How powerful would you say the media are      I would say the influence of the television
in your country?                              is quite strong. The state channels try to
influence us politically but they donˊt succeed. And the independent channels take a more objective view…
（Listening comprehension）                  In what you read out just now，there are a number of ideas about laughter，For example，some say laughter has some magic power.. Thereˊs another story about the fairy princess for whom laughter…