Speaking Criteria
The examiner listens for four things, each worth 25% of your speaking score.
1. Fluency and Coherence
How smoothly and clearly you speak — can you keep talking without long pauses? Do your ideas flow logically?
❌ Low: "Uhh... I... like... music… because... it is… good."
✅ High: "I enjoy listening to music, especially when I'm stressed. It helps me relax and focus."
💡 Tip: Use linking words — because, so, actually, for example — to keep your speech connected.
2. Lexical Resource
How good your vocabulary is — can you use varied, topic-specific words?
❌ Low: "The food was nice. The place was nice. It was a nice day."
✅ High: "The food was delicious, the atmosphere was cozy, and overall it was a fantastic experience."
💡 Tip: Avoid repeating basic words like good or nice. Use more specific vocabulary.
3. Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Can you use different tenses and sentence types? Are your grammar and word order mostly correct?
❌ Low: "She go to school every day. She like study."
✅ High: "She goes to school every day because she enjoys learning new things."
💡 Tip: Try using conditionals and complex structures — "If I had more time, I would..."
4. Pronunciation
Can the examiner understand you without effort? Do you use natural stress, intonation, and rhythm?
❌ Low: "i like going to the park it is fun and quiet." (flat, monotone)
✅ High: "I really enjoy going to the park — it's so peaceful!"
💡 Tip: You don't need a perfect accent — just be clear. Listen to native speakers and copy their rhythm.
How the Band Score is Calculated
Each criterion is scored 0–9. Example: 6.0 + 6.5 + 6.0 + 7.0 = 25.5 ÷ 4 = 6.375 → Band 6.5
Writing Criteria
Writing is assessed on four criteria, each worth 25%. Task 2 carries double the weight of Task 1.
1. Task Achievement / Task Response
How well you answer the question and cover everything needed.
- Do you answer all parts of the question?
- Do you give a clear opinion (if asked)?
- Do you support your ideas with reasons and examples?
❌ Poor: "Children go to school every day. School is important. Homework is too much."
✅ Better: "I believe children should not have homework every day because it can lead to stress and reduce time for physical activities."
2. Coherence and Cohesion
Your writing is clear, well-organised, and easy to follow.
- Are your ideas logical and well-structured?
- Do you use linking words (e.g., however, therefore)?
- Are paragraphs used properly?
❌ Poor: "Many people drive. Traffic is bad. Pollution is a problem."
✅ Better: "Many people drive to work each day, which causes heavy traffic. Consequently, this contributes to air pollution in cities."
3. Lexical Resource
Your vocabulary — variety, accuracy, and appropriateness.
❌ Poor: "The city is good. It has good parks and good schools."
✅ Better: "The city is vibrant, boasting beautiful parks and excellent schools."
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy
How well you use grammar and sentence variety.
❌ Poor: "People is happy. They goes outside. They like the park."
✅ Better: "People are happy when they go outside because they enjoy spending time in the park."
Summary Table
| Criterion | What It Means | To Score Well |
|---|---|---|
| Task Response / Achievement | Answer all parts of the question clearly | Give clear opinions & support ideas with examples |
| Coherence & Cohesion | Organise ideas logically and use linking words | Use paragraphs & connect ideas smoothly |
| Lexical Resource | Use a variety of appropriate vocabulary | Avoid repetition, use precise words |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | Use varied and correct grammar | Mix simple & complex sentences, few errors |
Listening Criteria
Listening is scored mainly on correct answers, but these are the underlying skills being tested.
Key Skills Tested
- Understanding main ideas and specific details
- Following the development of ideas
- Recognising the speaker's opinions and attitudes
- Understanding the meaning of words and phrases in context
Example
You might hear:
"The library will be closed on Friday because of maintenance work."
Question: Why will the library be closed?
✅ Correct: "Because of maintenance work."
Tips for a High Listening Score
- Practise listening to different English accents.
- Listen for keywords and synonyms — answers often paraphrase the question.
- Pay attention to the speaker's tone and emphasis.
- Read the questions before each section begins.
Summary Table
| Skill | What It Means | To Score Well |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding Main Ideas & Details | Grasp key information and specifics | Focus on important points and details |
| Following Ideas | Understand how ideas connect and develop | Listen for signal words and sequence |
| Recognising Opinions & Attitudes | Identify speaker's feelings and viewpoints | Notice tone and emphasis |
| Understanding Vocabulary in Context | Know meaning of words and phrases used | Learn synonyms and phrases in context |
Reading Criteria
Reading is mostly about understanding and finding correct information from the text.
Key Skills Tested
- Reading quickly and effectively for main ideas
- Understanding specific details
- Recognising writers' opinions and purpose
- Matching information or headings to correct text parts
- Understanding vocabulary in context
Example Question
"Many people believe exercise is important for health, but not everyone enjoys it."
Question: Do all people enjoy exercise?
❌ Incorrect: "Yes, everyone enjoys exercise."
✅ Correct: "No, not everyone enjoys exercise."
Tips for a High Reading Score
- Skim the passage first to get the main idea before reading questions.
- Scan for keywords when answering specific questions.
- Practise different question types — True/False/Not Given, matching headings, sentence completion.
- Build your vocabulary to understand more words in context.
Summary Table
| Skill | What It Means | To Score Well |
|---|---|---|
| Reading for Main Ideas | Understand the general meaning quickly | Skim effectively, focus on gist |
| Understanding Specific Details | Find exact information asked for | Scan for keywords and numbers |
| Recognising Opinions & Purpose | Identify writer's attitude and goals | Look for opinion phrases and tone |
| Matching Information or Headings | Connect questions to correct text parts | Understand paragraph summaries |
| Vocabulary in Context | Understand meanings of words in text | Learn synonyms and contextual clues |