ECPE speaking Scoring Rubric (Condensed Version)

Discourse and Interaction Linguistic Resources (Range and Accuracy) Delivery And
(Development, Functional Range, and Listening Vocabulary Grammar Intelligibility
Comprehension)

A Production of Independent, Spontaneous Speech Uses broad range of vocabulary Uses a wide variety of basic Fluent and articulate
Summarizes concisely and accurately; little to no reliance on Collocations, colloquial and complex grammatical delivery
written material language, idiomatic structures accurately and Often uses rate of
Provides coherent explanations without prompting on all topics expressions used accurately effectively speech and/or prosodic
Presents decisions persuasively and appropriately for varying and appropriately Uses a range of grammatical features to add meaning,
contexts structures that are aid listener, and/or
LEVEL EXPERT

Contribution to Extended Interaction pragmatically appropriate to shift style/register

Consistently contributes appropriately to development of appropriately
interaction; very aware of listener
Recommendations are appropriate and supported with
explanations
Justifies position, regularly paraphrasing and elaborating to
explain and/or clarify
Communication breakdowns are rare
Slips of the tongue may occur, often self-corrected; (fossilized)
Listening Comprehension
errors may be present throughout discourse but do not impede
Understands linguistic, sociolinguistic, and pragmatic
interaction
information in order to engage in extended, spontaneous
interaction

B Production of Independent, Spontaneous Speech Usually uses a broad range of Usually uses a variety Frequently fluent and
Summarizes concisely and accurately; some reliance on written vocabulary of basic and complex articulate; may require
material Collocations, colloquial grammatical structures minimal listener effort
Provides coherent explanations, usually without prompting, on language, and idiomatic accurately and usually Usually uses rate of
all concrete and most abstract topics expressions are often used effectively speech and/or prosodic
LEVEL CONSISTENT

Usually presents decisions persuasively, and usually and are usually accurate and Usually uses grammatical features to add meaning,
appropriately for context appropriate structures that are to aid listener, and/or
Contribution to Extended Interaction Occasionally uses secondary pragmatically appropriate to shift style/register
Usually contributes appropriately to the development of the meaning of words appropriately
interaction; very aware of listener Fluency may slightly
Provides recommendations that are almost always supported decline with challenging
with explanations and are appropriate to the context speech events but this
Justifies position, frequently paraphrasing and elaborating to rarely affects the flow of
explain and/or clarify statements discourse
Communication breakdowns usually do not occur Errors in vocabulary and/or grammar do not cause
Listening Comprehension miscommunication or interrupt the flow of discourse
Almost always understands linguistic, sociolinguistic, and Accuracy in vocabulary and/or grammar may decline with more
pragmatic information in order to engage in extended, challenging speech events
spontaneous interaction

C Production of Independent, Spontaneous Speech Often uses moderate range Often uses a variety of basic Often fluent, usually
Adequately summarizes; may rely on written material of vocabulary accurately and and complex grammatical articulate; may require
periodically appropriately structures accurately and some listener effort
Elaborates, often without prompting, and provides coherent Occasionally uses idiomatic effectively Pace usually consistent;
explanations on almost all concrete and many abstract topics expressions and colloquial Often uses a variety of may occasionally be
Often presents decisions clearly, appropriately; may occasionally language grammatical structures relatively slow
show some limitations in ability to extend discourse and to Occasionally uses incorrect that are pragmatically Occasionally uses rate of
provide convincing explanations collocations that may lead to appropriate speech, and/or prosodic
LEVEL EFFECTIVE

Contribution to Extended Interaction vagueness features to add meaning,

Often contributes appropriately to the development of aid listener, and/or
Range of vocabulary and grammatical structures extends beyond
interaction; aware of listener; may occasionally rely on to shift style/register
what has been provided orally and/or in writing
interlocutors for continuation of discussion appropriately
Gaps and/or errors in vocabulary and/or grammar, sometimes
Recommendations may require minor prompting for An increase in rate of
self-corrected, frequently do not hinder communication, but may
supporting explanations; may occasionally be awkwardness to delivery may occasionally
rarely cause interruptions in communication flow
appropriateness of word choices/phrasing lead to a decrease in
Accuracy in vocabulary and/or grammar often declines with an
Justifies position adequately; usually able to paraphrase; clarity of speech or
increase in rate of speech and/or with more challenging speech
clarity of meaning may occasionally be lacking when providing comprehensibility
events
supporting details Fluency may decline
Communication breakdowns may occur during challenging with more challenging
speech events; usually repaired speech events but this
Listening Comprehension does not stop the flow of
Usually understands linguistic and sociolinguistic information discourse
and often understands the pragmatic information in order to
engage in extended, spontaneous interaction
 Discourse and Interaction Linguistic Resources (Range and Accuracy) Delivery And
(Development, Functional Range, and Listening Intelligibility
Comprehension) Vocabulary Grammar

D Production of Independent, Spontaneous Speech Limited range of vocabulary Frequent use of basic Listener effort frequently
Usually summarizes by repeating language already provided Frequently uses vague and/or structures (i.e., lack of required
Occasionally able, when prompted, to elaborate and provide inaccurate vocabulary complex sentences) that Delivery is often slow and
explanations on most concrete topics; explanations frequently often contain errors halting
lack coherence and organization Pausing and phrasing are
LEVEL DEPENDENT

Usually presents decisions by repeating language already often incorrect, negatively

produced affecting intelligibility
Contribution to Extended Interaction Production may be word
Frequently relies on other participants to initiate, develop, by word, resulting in a
maintain discourse; rarely offers feedback or commentary lack of sentence rhythm
Usually able to recommend; occasionally able, when prompted, and flat intonation
to provide supporting explanations L1 influence may disrupt
Attempts to justify a position are usually unclear and repetitive intelligibility
Communication breakdowns may occur during any speech
event and often are not repaired Vocabulary and grammar structures used are typically repetitions of
Listening Comprehension what has been provided orally or in writing
Limitations in comprehension may often result in interruptions Gaps and/or errors in vocabulary and grammar may disrupt effective
in exchange and in communication breakdowns communication

E Production of Independent, Spontaneous Speech Very limited vocabulary Uses only basic structures that Slow and halting delivery
Unable to summarize; merely reads information provided Regularly searches for words regularly contain errors Production is often word
Occasionally able, when prompted, to elaborate on concrete Frequently uses vague by word, resulting in a
and familiar topics; explanations usually lack organization expressions lack of sentence rhythm
Usually able to present basic position on concrete topic; very and flat intonation
little elaboration; usually repeats language already produced Errors in rhythm, stress,
Contribution to Extended Interaction and intonation disrupt
Frequently unable to contribute to the development of discourse intelligibility, often
LEVEL LIMITED

on topics that have been provided; considerable reliance on causing considerable

interlocutors listener effort
Usually able to state a recommendation or opinion but unable to L1 influence may disrupt
provide supporting explanation intelligibility
Rarely able to justify and defend; attempts are almost always
unclear and repetitive
Regular gaps and/or errors in vocabulary, grammar, and/or delivery
Almost always unable to repair communication breakdowns
Gaps and/or errors frequently prevent communication
Listening Comprehension
Extreme limitations in comprehension result in an inability to
engage in extended discourse