Grade 7

B2.1 CEFR

Examination format

Total examination time: 15 minutes

The examination consists of three assessed phases:

Candidate-led discussion of a topic prepared by the candidate (up to 5 minutes)

Interactive task (up to 4 minutes)

Conversation on two subject areas selected by the examiner (up to 5 minutes).

Candidate performance

In addition to the items listed for the previous grades, the candidate is expected to demonstrate the

following communicative skills and meet the language requirements listed below during the examination.

Communicative skills

In the Topic phase

Show understanding by responding appropriately to the examiner

Communicate a variety of facts, ideas and opinions, and account for these, about a chosen

topic linked across a series of extended turns

Engage the examiner in discussion of the topic

Be prepared to ask and answer questions about the content of the topic

Handle interruptions or requests for clarification throughout the discussion of the topic

In the Interactive phase

Take control over the interaction

Maintain the discourse by asking for information and making comments

Help the discussion along by inviting comment from the examiner

Take and give up turns when appropriate to do so

Where appropriate to the individual task, make use of the language functions listed opposite

In the Conversation phase

Show understanding by responding appropriately to the examiner

Share the responsibility for the maintenance of the interaction with the examiner

In case of a breakdown in communication, show awareness and take basic steps to remedy it

Grade 7

Language requirements

Language functions

Giving advice and highlighting advantages and disadvantages

Making suggestions

Describing past habits

Expressing possibility and uncertainty

Eliciting further information and expansion of ideas and opinions

Expressing agreement and disagreement

Grammar

Second conditional

Simple passive

Used to

Relative clauses

Modals and phrases used to give advice and make suggestions, e.g. should/ought to, could,

you’d better

Modals and phrases used to express possibility and uncertainty, e.g. may, might, I’m not sure

Discourse connectors, e.g. because of, due to

Lexis

Vocabulary specific to the topic area

Vocabulary specific to the subject areas

Appropriate words and expressions to indicate interest and show awareness of the speaker,

e.g. Really? Oh dear! Did you?

Simple fillers to give time for thought, e.g. well... um...

Phrases and expressions relating to the language functions listed above

Phonology

The correct pronunciation of vocabulary specific to the topic and subject areas

Rising intonation to indicate interest and surprise as appropriate

Falling intonation to indicate the end of a turn

Intonation and features of connected speech beyond sentence level

Subject areas for the Conversation phase

Two subject areas will be selected by the examiner from the list below.

Education

National customs

Village and city life

National and local produce and products

Early memories

Pollution and recycling

Please note Grade 7 candidates should not select their topic from the list of subject areas above

see guidance notes on page 31).

Grade 7 communicative skills and language requirements have been mapped to B2.1 in the CEFR.