VDOE Home I SELP Home

SELP Test: Stanford English Language Proficiency Test

Scoring Speaking Training

Harcourt Sample Speaking Items
Scores and Comments

Question Number

Question Type

Score

Comments

1.

Repeat/Read Aloud

0

This response is unintelligible although the student was able to imitate sentence intonation.

2.

Repeat/Read Aloud

2

This response has good fluency and is easy to understand. The pronunciation is accurate and the rate of speech and intonation are natural.

3.

Sentence Completion

1

This response has good structure and is informationally appropriate to the prompt. There is a linguistic error in word choice. The verb “is coming” should have been the two-word verb “coming up” or “rising.”

4.

Sentence Completion

2

This response has good structure and vocabulary. Although the response is somewhat unexpected, it is informationally appropriate to the prompt. The pronunciation, although a little choppy, is intelligible.

5.

Storytelling

1

This response contains errors in grammar (pronoun and verb errors) and vocabulary, “refri.” Although the pronunciation is somewhat intelligible, the choppiness and serious errors distract listeners and cause confusion about meaning. The response is incoherent in places.

6.

Storytelling

4

This response shows a high level of ability and has very few errors. The structures and vocabulary, “studying for a biology exam,” are precise and varied. The speech is well organized, with appropriate transitions.

7.

Social Interaction

2

This response is appropriate for the prompt, repeating the first part before the tag questions after responding affirmatively. The response is free of linguistic errors- pronunciation or grammar.

8.

Social Interaction

1

This response is somewhat appropriate for the prompt. The response contains a grammatical error, “more harder” but is intelligible. For some people, this response might be unexpected.