Study Guide

Field 180: Chinese (Mandarin) 
Sample Presentational Speaking Assignment

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General Test Directions

This test consists of four sections. Directions for each section appear immediately before the section.

Test Directions for the Presentational Speaking Assignment

[ start bold Note to examinee: end bold  These test directions are provided here to familiarize you with the directions you will see on the actual test. They may refer to features whose functionality is not enabled in this study guide. You will hear and see on the screen:]

For this section of the test, you will record a spoken response in the target language to an assignment presented on-screen.

The presentational speaking assignment will be presented on the next screen, and the screen timer in the upper right corner of the screen will count down the allotted preparation time. You will have two minutes to review the assignment and prepare your response.

When the preparation time is complete, the screen will automatically advance, and you will record your response to the assignment. Do NOT begin speaking until the screen advances and you see the recorder box presented on-screen. After 3 seconds, a tone will indicate when to begin speaking and the recorder box will show "Recording."  start bold You will have two (2) minutes to record your response. end bold  A sample of the recorder box appears below.

recorded answer box

You can monitor your recording time by referring to the timer, which will count up from 00:01 to 02:00. Bars will appear with the sound of your voice while the recording is in progress.

At the conclusion of your response time, the recorder box will change to "Complete" indicating the conclusion of the assignment.

recorded answer box

Once the recorder box shows "Complete," you may select the Next button to continue with the remainder of the test. Do NOT click  start bold Next end bold  until you have finished recording your response.  start bold If you advance to the next screen with recording time remaining, you will not be able to go back. end bold 

You will be provided with a list of topics to help direct your response to the assignment. You must address every topic on the list, but you are not limited in your response to only the points mentioned. However, your response must be relevant to the assignment, and part of your score will be based on the degree to which you elaborate by addressing the required topics and any other points of your choosing.

You may use the erasable notebooklet provided to make notes; however,  start bold you will be scored only on the response that is recorded in the test. end bold 

Your response to the oral expression assignment will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

 start bold CONTENT: end bold   adequacy of the information presented, including the number of ideas, the development of ideas, and the depth and specificity of supporting details

 start bold COHERENCE: end bold   organization and clarity of ideas communicated

 start bold GRAMMAR: end bold   accuracy of grammatical and syntactic constructions (e.g., conjugation of verbs, appropriate use of tenses, subject/pronoun and article/noun agreement)

 start bold VOCABULARY: end bold   command of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions and appropriateness of word choice

 start bold FLUENCY: end bold   ability to maintain a flow of speech, without hesitation or pauses which affect the overall comprehensibility of the response

 start bold PRONUNCIATION: end bold   comprehensibility of articulation and the appropriateness of stress

Be sure to speak about the assigned topic. You may not use any reference materials during the test.

[You will hear and see on the screen:]

You will have only  start bold and uppercase ONE end bold and uppercase  opportunity to record your response. Once the recording has begun, it cannot be stopped, nor can you re-record your response.

Select the  start bold Next end bold  button to begin the assignment.

[You will hear and see on the screen:]

This is the end of the speaking section of the test. Please keep your headset on to continue with the listening section of the test.

Select the  start bold Next end bold  button to continue with the remainder of the test.

Sample Presentational Speaking Assignment

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Presentational Speaking

[ start bold Note to examinee: end bold  During the test, you will hear and see on-screen the directions below (for complete test directions to this assignment, see above):]

 start bold Read the assignment below. You have 2 minutes to review the assignment and prepare your response. Begin speaking in Mandarin at the sound of the tone. You will have 2 minutes to record your response. end bold 

Imagine that you have just met Ms. Li, a teacher from a Mandarin-speaking region who is on a two-week visit to the area where you live. You wish to give her an orientation to the local area to help make her visit as enjoyable as possible. Speaking in Mandarin, leave a message on her voice mail in which you provide her with information about the area that will help make her visit as enjoyable as possible. In your message, you  start bold must end bold  include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

Strong Response Characteristics for the Presentational Speaking Assignment

A strong response to this assignment would thoroughly fulfill the purpose of the assignment and fully address the topic of providing practical information about a place to a visiting teacher to help make her visit enjoyable. The information provided should include details about where to find various essential items and locations, the best means of transportation available, and a description of an interesting local tourist attraction. Ideas presented should be well developed and elaborated, logically sequenced, well connected through appropriate cohesive devices and expressions, and consistently clear.

The response should demonstrate comprehensive command of syntax and grammar, containing only minor errors that do not interfere with the comprehensibility of ideas. The response should use a variety of verb tenses and syntactical constructions. The response should demonstrate extensive command of appropriate vocabulary and idiomatic expressions.

A strong response would be delivered with a strong flow of speech with few, if any, hesitations or pauses. Pauses in the response should be consistent with the message being delivered and not caused by uncertainty about vocabulary or sentence construction. The Chinese (Mandarin) pronunciation would be accurate and easily intelligible with few, if any, errors that do not interfere with communication or distract the listener from the message.

Performance Characteristics for the Presentational Speaking Assignment

The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the presentational speaking assignment.

Characteristics that guide the scoring of responses
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 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 hesitation or pauses which affect the overall comprehensibility of the response
PRONUNCIATION comprehensibility of articulation and the appropriateness of stress

Scoring Scale for the Presentational Speaking Assignment

Scores will be assigned to each response to the presentational speaking assignment according to the following scoring scale.

Score Scale with description for each score point.
Score Point Score Point Description
4  start bold The "4" response reflects a thorough application and strong command of the performance characteristics for the speaking assignment. end bold 
  • The candidate'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, containing 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 candidate's pronunciation is easily intelligible with few, if any, errors.
3  start bold The "3" response reflects a general application and command of the performance characteristics for the speaking assignment. end bold 
  • The candidate's ideas are generally developed, with some elaboration.
  • The candidate's ideas are 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 candidate's pronunciation is generally intelligible with only minor errors.
2  start bold The "2" response reflects a partial application and limited command of the performance characteristics for the speaking assignment.  end bold 
  • The candidate'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, containing 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, with frequent hesitations and pauses.
  • The candidate's pronunciation contains several errors and is occasionally difficult to understand.
1  start bold The "1" response reflects a weak application and little or no command of the performance characteristics for the speaking assignment.  end bold 
  • The candidate'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, containing 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 candidate's pronunciation contains numerous errors and is at times unintelligible.
U  start bold 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. end bold 
B  start bold There is no response to the assignment. end bold