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The G-TELP Speaking Test is a measure of oral English proficiency.

Overview

The G-TELP Speaking Test assesses oral English proficiency through well-defined tasks. The tasks reflect different expectations for applying knowledge of grammar and vocabulary and demonstrating pronunciation and fluency. The types and complexity of the tasks increase in difficulty as the examinee proceeds through the levels.


Test Type Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview
Duration 40 minutes
Availability of Score Report Around 30 questions divided among 11 parts
Level Levels 1 to 11
Descriptor Content, Grammar, Fluency, Vocabulary, Pronunciation
Duration of Score Validity Two (2) years


Tasks

The examinee is expected to demonstrate comprehensible oral proficiency while progressing through each task. The task content consists of the following everyday situations:


Task
Task 1 Giving Personal Information Answer simple questions about self and family, responding in words, phrases, or simple sentences.
Task 2 Describing a Familiar Setting/Objects Name and describe a familiar setting and the objects within that setting.
Task 3 Describing Habitual Activities Name and describe personal activities
Task 4 Narrating a Story from Pictures Relate a simple narrative illustrated in a series of pictures.
Task 5 Expressing and Supporting an Opinion Present a personal opinion and express personal preferences, and to substantiate these opinions or preferences with at least two simple supporting arguments.
Task 6 Giving Autobiographical Detail about a Place or Event Describe a place or event in adequate detail.
Task 7 Responding to Requests for Information about Places of Interest Supply appropriate and well-formed questions and responses in a dialogue centering on requests for information.
Task 8 Discussing Advantages/Disadvantages of Two Related Objects Compare and contrast the objects by giving at least two advantages and/or disadvantages of each.
Task 9 Giving Directions from a Map Give directions to a location clearly and thoroughly, so as to enable a listener to understand what route should be taken to reach a destination.
Task 10 Presenting a Solution to a Specific Problem Clearly state and express a position on a topic and to present convincing arguments supporting that position.
Task 11 Presenting a Solution to a Complex Hypothetical Problem Explain, with relevant and convincing detail, how to solve the problem(s) associated with a hypothetical situation.


Levels of the G-TELP Speaking Test



- Level 1: Authentic

Level 1 speakers are able to communicate with ease in all situations, whether familiar or unfamiliar. They use extensive vocabulary, appropriate idiomatic expressions, and accurate sentence structure and patterns. Their pronunciation is clear and shows no trace of native accent.



- Level 2: High-Advanced

Level 2 speakers are able to communicate their ideas effectively in nearly all situations using a wide vocabulary. Their speech is marked by the use of detail to create appropriate and informative responses. Grammar and sentence structure are usually well-controlled, with only rare errors that don’t interfere with meaning. There is a trace of regional accent, but that does not interfere with understanding.



- Level 3: Advanced

Level 3 speakers are usually able to communicate their ideas effectively in nearly all situations. They often display appropriate word choice, and can usually paraphrase when lacking vocabulary in unusual or unexpected circumstances. Their speech is usually clear and understandable, although there is a marked regional accent. There are also occasional pauses or fillers but they seldom interfere with meaning.



- Level 4: High-Intermediate

Level 4 speakers are generally able to communicate their ideas in most situations. Grammar and sentence structure are generally well-controlled, with occasional errors which sometimes interfere with meaning. They speak with a marked regional accent that only sometimes interferes with understanding and occasionally exhibit unnecessary pauses or fillers.



- Level 5: Intermediate

Level 5 speakers are generally able to communicate their ideas in common situations, but may occasionally have trouble when dealing with unfamiliar or uncommon events. Grammar and sentence structure are relatively well-controlled. There is an obvious regional accent, which sometimes interferes with understanding, and there are also unnecessary pauses and fillers, which can interfere with meaning.



- Level 6: Low-Intermediate

Level 6 speakers are generally able to communicate their ideas in common situations, but are sometimes unable to effectively respond when dealing with unfamiliar or uncommon situations. Grammar and sentence structure are generally not well-controlled. Word choice is also generally inappropriate, and regional accent is heavy, which occasionally interferes with understanding. They may occasionally have difficulty paraphrasing sentences to convey the meaning.



- Level 7: High-Basic

Level 7 speakers generally have a difficult time communicating their ideas in common situations, are find it difficult to effectively respond when dealing with unfamiliar situations. Their responses are often delayed, and are usually inadequate. Grammar, sentence structure, and word choice are commonly inappropriate.



- Level 8: Basic

Level 8 speakers usually have a difficult time communicating their ideas in common situations, and are frequently unable to effectively respond when dealing with unfamiliar situations. Frequent grammatical errors are committed, which almost always interferes with understanding.



- Level 9: Low-Basic

Level 9 writers frequently have a difficult time communicating their ideas in common situations, and are almost always unable to effectively respond when dealing with unfamiliar or uncommon situations.



- Level 10: Beginner-Basic

Level 10 speakers almost always have a difficult time communicating their ideas, even in familiar situations. Responses are always delayed, and are almost always inappropriate. Speech is maybe nearly impossible to understand because of the regional accent, grammatical errors, inappropriate word choice, etc.



- Level 11: No mastery

Level 11 speakers may exhibit a vocabulary of a handful of memorized words and isolated phrases only. They are unable to communicate in a meaningful way.





Score Report

Each examinee receives a Score Report that includes several scores: the Mastery Level; Level Scores for each of the three levels (Two, Three, Four); percentage profiles indicating performance on each task; and evaluations of performance on the Skill Areas (Content, Grammar, Vocabulary, Pronunciation, Fluency) across all 11 tasks.



score

Mastery

The Mastery Score indicates the examinee’s level of overall proficiency in the speaking the English language. Mastery is demonstrated when an examinee obtains an average rating of 75% or greater at a particular level of proficiency.



Skill Area Score

The Skill Areas are defined as the following:

Grammar: The speaker’s control of basic sentence structure

Vocabulary: The speaker’s available vocabulary to perform certain speaking tasks

Pronunciation: The speaker’s degree of accuracy in control over the sound system

Fluency: The speaker’s flow of speech and degree of spontaneity as well as comfort in the performance of tasks

Content: The topics/contexts about which the speaker can communicate