Test Information Guide
Field 29: Chinese (Mandarin)
Oral Expression
The following materials contain:
- Sample test directions for the oral expression assignment
- A description of the oral expression assignment
- The performance characteristics and scoring scale
Sample Test Directions for the Oral Expression Assignment
For this section of the test, you will speak in response to an assignment presented on-screen.
At the conclusion of these directions, the test will automatically advance and the speaking assignment will be presented on the next screen. Listen to the directions carefully and review the assignment. You will have one minute to read the assignment and consider your response. When your preparation time is over, you will be notified that your preparation time is complete and you should be ready to begin speaking. Watch the screen as the test advances and a Recorded Answer box is presented. You will have two minutes to record your response. Do NOT begin speaking until the screen advances and you see the Recorded Answer box presented on-screen. A sample of the Recorded Answer box appears below.
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Monitor your recording time by referring to the Recorded Answer box. The time in the Recorded Answer box will count down from 120 seconds (2 minutes) and the status bar will fill as your recording time progresses.
When your recording time is over, the current status on the Recorded Answer box will change to "Completed," indicating the conclusion of the oral expression assignment. You will automatically be advanced to the next screen. Do not click the Next button unless you have finished recording your response with time remaining and wish to move to the next screen. If you advance to the next screen with recording time remaining, you will not be able to go back.
You will be provided with a list of suggestions to help direct your response. It is not necessary that you address every point in the list, nor are you limited to the points mentioned. However, what you say must be relevant to the situation with which you are presented, and part of your score will be based on the degree to which you elaborate on the topic by addressing either the suggested points or points of your choosing.
You may use the erasable notebooklet provided to make notes; however, you will be scored only on the response that is recorded in the test.
Your response will be evaluated based on the following criteria.
- CONTENT: the adequacy of the information presented, including the number of ideas, the development of ideas, and the depth and specificity of supporting details
- COHERENCE: the organization and clarity of the ideas communicated
- GRAMMAR: the accuracy of grammatical and syntactic constructions (e.g., conjugation of verbs, appropriate use of tenses, subject/pronoun and article/noun agreement)
- VOCABULARY: the command of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions and appropriateness of word choice
- FLUENCY: the ability to maintain a flow of speech, without hesitations or pauses that affect the overall comprehensibility of the response
- PRONUNCIATION: the comprehensibility of articulation and the appropriateness of stress
You will have only ONE opportunity to record your response. Once the recording has begun, it cannot be stopped, nor can you re-record your response. Be sure that your microphone is in a downward position near your mouth before you begin speaking.
The screen will now advance and the speaking assignment will be presented.
Description of the Oral Expression Open-Response Item
In this section of the test, the candidate is required to provide a spoken response to a prompt, which is presented in written form. Each assignment describes a situation requiring oral communication with a specified audience in the target language (e.g., a response to a hypothetical problem encountered within the context of common life situations, a narration of a past experience, or a discussion of the advantages and/or disadvantages of a proposed idea). Candidates are given one minute to formulate their response and two minutes to speak. The candidate is expected to demonstrate the ability to communicate in an appropriate register that displays cultural knowledge and sensitivity, produce an articulate and smooth flow of speech, and use an appropriate range of vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and simple and complex language structures.
Sample questions are provided in the Chinese (Mandarin) sample items .
Scoring Rubric
Performance Characteristics
The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the oral expression assignment.
Content | Adequacy of the information presented, including the number of ideas, the development of ideas, and the depth and specificity of supporting details. |
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Coherence | Organization and clarity of the 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 hesitations or pauses which affect the overall comprehensibility of the response. |
Pronunciation | Comprehensibility of articulation and the appropriateness of stress. |
Scoring Scale
The scoring scale below, which is related to the performance characteristics for the tests, is used by scorers in assigning scores to responses to the oral expression assignment.
Score Point | Score Point Description |
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4 |
The "4" response reflects a thorough application and strong command of the performance characteristics for the
speaking assignment.
|
3 | The "3" response reflects an adequate application and satisfactory command of the performance characteristics for the
speaking assignment.
|
2 | The "2" response reflects a partial application and limited command of the performance characteristics for the speaking
assignment.
|
1 | The "1" response reflects an inadequate application and a lack of command of the performance characteristics for the
speaking assignment.
|
U | 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. |
B | There is no response to the assignment. |