Test Information Guide

Field 26: French
Oral Expression

The following materials contain:

Sample Test Directions for the Oral Expression Assignment

For this portion of the test, you will record a spoken response to an assignment presented in English on-screen. You must respond to the assignment in the target language.

At the conclusion of these directions, the test will automatically advance and the speaking assignment will be presented on the next screen. Listen to the directions carefully and review the assignment. You will have one minute to review the assignment and prepare your response. When your preparation time is over, you will be notified that your preparation time is complete and you should be ready to begin speaking. Watch the screen as the test advances and the recording box is presented. You will have two minutes to record your response. Do NOT begin speaking until the screen advances and you see a Recorded Answer box presented on-screen. A sample of the Recorded Answer box appears below.

A blue box with a progress bar and text: Recorded Answer, Current Status:, and time remaining.

Monitor your recording time by referring to the Recorded Answer box. The time in the Recorded Answer box will count down from 120 seconds (2 minutes) and the status bar will fill as your recording time progresses.

When your recording time is over, the current status on the Recorded Answer box will change to "completed," indicating the conclusion of the speaking assignment. You will automatically be advanced to the next screen. Do not click the Next button unless you have finished recording your response with time remaining and wish to move to the next screen. If you advance to the next screen with recording time remaining, you will not be able to go back.

You will be provided with a list of suggestions to help direct your response. It is not necessary that you address every point in the list, nor are you limited to the points mentioned. However, what you say must be relevant to the situation with which you are presented, and part of your score will be based on the degree to which you elaborate on the topic by addressing either the suggested points or points of your choosing.

Your response will be evaluated based on the following criteria.

You may use the erasable notebooklet provided to make notes; however, you will be scored only on the response that is recorded in the exam. You will have only ONE opportunity to record your response. Be sure that your microphone is in a downward position near your mouth before you begin speaking.

The screen will now advance and the speaking assignment will be presented.

Sample Oral Expression Assignment

(You will see on the screen and hear on the recording:)

Read the instructions below. You will have 1 minute to study these instructions and prepare your response, and then 2 minutes to record your final response. You will be told when the preparation time is over and the recording is about to begin. Begin studying the instructions and preparing your response now.

(You will hear on the recording:)

[1 minute of silence]

"Your preparation time is now over. At the conclusion of these directions, the screen will automatically advance and recording will automatically begin. Begin speaking when you see the Recorded Answer box presented on the next screen. Prepare to begin speaking now."

(You will see on the screen:)

Begin to respond in French now. You may take up to 2 minutes to complete your response.

Imagine you are talking with a French-speaking friend about concerts or performances to attend. Speaking in French, talk about concerts or performances and offer your advice. You may wish to include, but are not limited to, the following:

Description of a Strong Response to the Oral Expression Assignment

A strong response to this assignment would address the topic of concerts and performances fully and offer advice to a friend within the provided context in coherent, appropriate French. Ideas presented should be bolstered by elaboration (specifying details, extended exploration of topics/assertions, relevant reasoning) that deepens them and fleshes out the response. The sequencing of ideas should be logical and transitions between ideas smooth. The oral language should be fluid and clear, with accurate pronunciation and a consistent flow of speech that displays facility with French. Pauses in the response should be appropriate to the delivery of the content and not the result of uncertainty about the language itself or the inability to pronounce words or construct sentences. Ideas should be expressed with phrases and grammatical constructions that are true to the French language and not imported from another language. A variety of relevant vocabulary words, expressions, verb tenses and moods, and syntactical constructions should be employed in order to render the response clear and precise. The response should be free from grammar and usage errors.

Scoring Rubric

Performance Characteristics

The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the oral expression assignment.

Table outlining performance characteristics.
Content Adequacy of the information presented, including the number of ideas, the development of ideas, and the depth and specificity of supporting details.
Coherence Organization and clarity of the ideas communicated.
Grammar Accuracy of grammatical and syntactic constructions (e.g., conjugation of verbs, appropriate use of tenses, subject/pronoun and article/noun agreement).
Vocabulary Command of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions and appropriateness of word choice.
Fluency Ability to maintain a flow of speech, without hesitations or pauses which affect the overall comprehensibility of the response.
Pronunciation Comprehensibility of articulation and the appropriateness of stress.

Scoring Scale

The scoring scale below, which is related to the performance characteristics for the tests, is used by scorers in assigning scores to responses to the oral expression assignment.

Score Scale with description for each score point.
Score Point Score Point Description
4 The "4" response reflects a thorough application and strong command of the performance characteristics for the speaking assignment.
  • The speaker's ideas are well developed and elaborated.
  • The candidate's ideas are logically sequenced, well connected, and consistently clear.
  • The response shows a comprehensive command of syntax and grammar, making only minor errors that do not interfere with the comprehensibility of ideas.
  • The candidate demonstrates extensive command of appropriate vocabulary and idiomatic expressions.
  • The candidate maintains a strong flow of speech, with few, if any, hesitations or pauses.
  • The speaker's pronunciation is easily intelligible, with few, if any, errors.
3 The "3" response reflects an adequate application and satisfactory command of the performance characteristics for the speaking assignment.
  • The speaker's ideas are adequately developed, with some elaboration.
  • The candidate's ideas are adequately organized and are generally clear.
  • The response shows good command of syntax and grammar, though some errors may cause minor interruptions in the comprehensibility of ideas.
  • The candidate demonstrates a good command of generally appropriate vocabulary and idiomatic expressions.
  • The candidate generally maintains a steady flow of speech, with only occasional hesitations and pauses.
  • The speaker's pronunciation is generally intelligible, with only minor errors.
2 The "2" response reflects a partial application and limited command of the performance characteristics for the speaking assignment.
  • The speaker's ideas show limited development and elaboration.
  • The candidate's ideas are only partially organized and are at times unclear.
  • The response shows a limited command of syntax and grammar, with frequent errors that partially impede the comprehensibility of ideas.
  • The candidate demonstrates a limited range of expression, using very simple vocabulary and lacking some key words and phrases.
  • The candidate does not maintain a consistent flow of speech, having frequent hesitations and pauses.
  • The speaker's pronunciation contains several errors and is occasionally difficult to understand.
1 The "1" response reflects an inadequate application and a lack of command of the performance characteristics for the speaking assignment.
  • The speaker's response provides few, if any, comprehensible ideas, with minimal development.
  • The candidate's ideas are not organized and are largely unclear.
  • The response shows little command of basic elements of grammar or syntax, with numerous and frequent errors that make ideas incomprehensible.
  • The candidate demonstrates little knowledge of vocabulary beyond the most common words, and may misuse and misform numerous words and expressions.
  • The candidate fails to maintain any flow of speech, with frequent hesitations and pauses that interrupt comprehensibility.
  • The speaker's pronunciation contains numerous errors and is at times unintelligible.
U The response is unrelated to the assigned topic, inaudible/incomprehensible, not spoken in the required language, not of sufficient length to score, or merely a repetition of the assignment.
B There is no response to the assignment.