210434-converting-practice-test-scores-to-cambridge-english-scale-scores

Cambridge English Scale.

For Cambridge English: First, First for Schools, Advanced and Proficiency, candidates receive an individual score for each of the four skills – reading, writing, listening, speaking – and Use of English. In the live exams, each of the skills and Use of English are equally weighted, and a candidate’s overall score is calculated by adding all of the individual scores together and dividing by five (and then rounding to the nearest whole number).

For Cambridge English: Preliminary, Preliminary for Schools, and Cambridge English: Business Certificates (Preliminary, Vantage and Higher), candidates receive an individual score for the four skills – reading, writing, listening and speaking. In the live exams, each skill is equally weighted, and a candidate’s overall score is calculated by adding all of the individual scores together and dividing by four (and then rounding to the nearest whole number).

For Cambridge English: Key and Key for Schools , candidates receive an individual score for each paper in the exam – Reading and

Writing, Listening and Speaking. In the live exams, the Reading and Writing paper tests two skills so the score is doubled. A candidate’s overall score is calculated by adding all of the individual scores together and dividing by four (and then rounding to the nearest whole number).

A candidate’s grade and CEFR level are based on their performance

minimum score in each paper.

The following tables can be used as guidance to help you convert practice test scores to Cambridge English Scale scores.

Please note that these only apply when using official Cambridge English practice tests.

The conversion tables are intended to help you provide an

indication of your students’ readiness to take the relevant exam. The scores you provide may not always reflect the results the students may achieve in a Cambridge English live exam. They should not be used to try to predict precise scores in the live exam, but can be a useful diagnostic tool, indicating areas of relative strength and weakness.

The scores needed on any given test to achieve the scores on the Cambridge English Scale shown in the tables below will vary due to a number of factors, so scores close to CEFR boundaries need to be reviewed carefully. We recommend that this is approximately three Cambridge English Scale score points above and below the score needed to achieve the level, e.g. 157–163 for Level B2. Students who achieve only slightly higher than the Cambridge English Scale score for a given level on a practice test may not achieve that level in the live exam, and we recommend that they continue working to improve so that they reach the desired level.

Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)Cambridge

English:Key Cambridge English:Pro?ciency

Cambridge English Scale

I n d e p e n d e n t u s e r

P r o ?c i e n t u s e r

B a s i c u s e r

Cambridge English:First Cambridge English:Preliminary Cambridge English:Advanced Cambridge English:Business Cambridge English:Business Cambridge English:Business The Cambridge English Scale explained

A guide to converting practice test scores to Cambridge English Scale scores

Reading and Writing

The Reading and Writing paper consists of 9 parts. Correct answers in Parts 1–8 are worth 1 mark each and Part 9 is worth 5 marks. There are 60 possible marks in the Reading and Writing paper.

Listening

Correct answers in the Listening paper are worth 1 mark each. There are 25 possible marks in the Listening paper.

Speaking

Candidates take the test in pairs, but are assessed on their individual performance by trained examiners certificated to examine at the level. Candidate speaking performances are

assessed using scales which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference. The assessor gives 0–5 marks for each of the following criteria: Grammar and Vocabulary; Pronunciation; and Interactive Communication. Marks for each of these criteria are doubled. The interlocutor gives a mark of 0–5 for Global

Achievement. This mark is then multiplied by three. Examiners may award half marks. Marks for all criteria are then combined, meaning there are 45 marks available in the Speaking test.

Reading

The Reading section consists of Parts 1–5 of the Reading and

Writing paper. Correct answers in Parts 1–5 are worth 1 mark each. There are 35 possible marks in the Reading section.

Writing

The Writing section consists of Parts 6–8 of the Reading and Writing paper. Candidates’ answers in the Writing paper are marked by trained examiners who are certificated to mark at the level. Correct answers in Part 6 are worth 1 mark each. Part 7 is marked using a short answer mark scheme and the total number of possible marks is 5. Part 8 is marked using assessment scales which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference. 0–5 marks are given for each of the following criteria: Content; Communicative Achievement; Organisation; and Language. Whole marks only are awarded; there are no half marks given. Marks for each of the criteria are combined to give 20 possible marks for this part, weighted to 15. There are 25 possible marks for writing.

Listening

Correct answers in the Listening paper are worth 1 mark each. There are 25 possible marks in the Listening paper.

Speaking

Candidates take the test in pairs, but are assessed on their individual performance by trained examiners certificated to examine at the level. Candidate speaking performances are

assessed using scales which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference. The assessor gives 0–5 marks for each of the following criteria: Grammar and Vocabulary; Discourse

Management; Pronunciation; and Interactive Communication. The interlocutor gives a mark of 0–5 for Global Achievement and this mark is doubled. Examiners may award half marks. Marks for all criteria are then combined, meaning there are 30 marks available in the Speaking test.

Reading

The Reading section consists of Parts 1, 5, 6 and 7 of the Reading and Use of English paper. Correct answers in Parts 1 and 7 are worth 1 mark each. Correct answers in Parts 5 and 6 are worth 2 marks each. There are 42 possible marks in the Reading section.

Use of English

The Use of English section consists of Parts 2, 3 and 4 of the

Reading and Use of English paper. Correct answers in Parts 2 and 3 are worth 1 mark each. In Part 4, answers which are partly correct receive 1 mark and answers which are completely correct receive 2 marks. There are 28 possible marks in the Use of English section.

Writing

Candidates’ answers in the Writing paper are marked by trained examiners who are certificated to mark at the level. Answers are marked using assessment scales which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference. 0–5 marks are given for each of the following criteria: Content; Communicative Achievement; Organisation; and Language. Whole marks only are awarded; there are no half marks given. Marks for each of the criteria are combined to give 20 possible marks for each question. There are 40 possible marks for the whole paper.

Listening

Correct answers in the Listening paper are worth 1 mark each. There are 30 possible marks in the Listening paper.

Speaking

Candidates take the test in pairs, but are assessed on their individual performance by trained examiners certificated to examine at the level. Candidate speaking performances are assessed using scales which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference. The assessor gives 0–5 marks for each of the following criteria: Grammar and Vocabulary; Discourse Management; Pronunciation; and Interactive Communication. Marks for each of these criteria are doubled. The interlocutor gives a mark of 0–5 for Global

Achievement. This mark is then multiplied by four. Examiners may award half marks. Marks for all criteria are then combined, meaning there are 60 marks available in the Speaking test.

Reading

The Reading section consists of Parts 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the Reading and Use of English paper. Correct answers in Parts 1 and 8 are worth 1 mark each. Correct answers in Parts 5, 6 and 7 are worth 2 marks each. There are 50 possible marks in the Reading section.

Use of English

The Use of English section consists of Parts 2, 3 and 4 of the

Reading and Use of English paper. Correct answers in Parts 2 and 3 are worth 1 mark each. In Part 4, answers which are partly correct receive 1 mark and answers which are completely correct receive 2 marks. There are 28 possible marks in the Use of English section.

Writing

Candidates’ answers in the Writing paper are marked by trained examiners who are certificated to mark at the level. Answers are marked using assessment scales which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference. 0–5 marks are given for each of the following criteria: Content; Communicative Achievement; Organisation; and Language. Whole marks only are awarded; there are no half marks given. Marks for each of the criteria are combined to give 20 possible marks for each question. There are 40 possible marks for the whole paper.

Listening

Correct answers in the Listening paper are worth 1 mark each. There are 30 possible marks in the Listening paper.

Speaking

Candidates take the test in pairs, but are assessed on their individual performance by trained examiners certificated to examine at the level. Candidate speaking performances are assessed using scales which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference. The assessor gives 0–5 marks for each of the following criteria: Grammatical Resource; Lexical Resource; Discourse Management; Pronunciation; and Interactive Communication. Marks for each of these criteria are doubled. The interlocutor gives a mark of 0–5 for Global Achievement. This mark is then multiplied by five. Examiners may award half marks. Marks for all criteria are then combined, meaning there are 75 marks available in the Speaking test.

Reading

The Reading section consists of Parts 1, 5, 6 and 7 of the Reading and Use of English paper. Correct answers in Parts 1 and 7 are worth 1 mark each. Correct answers in Parts 5 and 6 are worth 2 marks each. There are 44 possible marks in the Reading section.

Use of English

The Use of English section consists of Parts 2, 3 and 4 of the

Reading and Use of English paper. Correct answers in Parts 2 and 3 are worth 1 mark each. In Part 4, answers which are partly correct receive 1 mark and answers which are completely correct receive 2 marks. There are 28 possible marks in the Use of English section.

Writing

Candidates’ answers in the Writing paper are marked by trained examiners who are certificated to mark at the level. Answers are marked using assessment scales which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference. 0–5 marks are given for each of the following criteria: Content; Communicative Achievement; Organisation; and Language. Whole marks only are awarded; there are no half marks given. Marks for each of the criteria are combined to give 20 possible marks for each question. There are 40 possible marks for the whole paper.

Listening

Correct answers in the Listening paper are worth 1 mark each. There are 30 possible marks in the Listening paper.

Speaking

Candidates take the test in pairs, but are assessed on their individual performance by trained examiners certificated to examine at the level. Candidate speaking performances are assessed using scales which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference. The assessor gives 0–5 marks for each of the following criteria: Grammatical Resource; Lexical Resource; Discourse Management; Pronunciation; and Interactive Communication. Marks for each of these criteria are doubled. The interlocutor gives a mark of 0–5 for Global Achievement. This mark is then multiplied by five. Examiners may award half marks. Marks for all criteria are then combined, meaning there are 75 marks available in the Speaking test.

Reading

The Reading section consists of Parts 1–7 of the Reading and

Writing paper. Correct answers in Parts 1–7 are worth 1 mark each. There are 45 possible marks in the Reading section.

Writing

The Writing section consists of Parts 8–9 of the Reading and Writing paper. Candidates’ answers in the Writing paper are marked by trained examiners who are certificated to mark at the level using assessment scales which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference. Part 1 is worth 10 marks and Part 2 is worth 20 marks. There are 30 possible marks in the Writing section.

Listening

Correct answers in the Listening paper are worth 1 mark each. There are 30 possible marks in the Listening paper.

Speaking

Candidates take the test in pairs, but are assessed on their

individual performance by trained examiners who are certificated to examine at the level. Candidate speaking performances are assessed using scales which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference. The assessor gives a mark of 0?5 for each of the following criteria: Grammar and Vocabulary; Discourse Management; Pronunciation; and Interactive Communication. The interlocutor gives a mark of 0?5 for Global Achievement. This mark is then doubled. Examiners may award half marks. Marks for all criteria are then combined, meaning there are 30 marks available in the Speaking test.

Cambridge English: Business Preliminary

Reading

The Reading paper consists of 5 parts. Correct answers in Parts 1?5 are worth 1 mark each. There are 45 possible marks in the Reading paper.

Writing

The Writing paper consists of 2 parts. Candidates’ answers in the Writing paper are marked by trained examiners who are certificated to mark at the level using assessment scales which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference. Part 1 is worth 10 marks and Part 2 is worth 20 marks. There are 30 possible marks in the Writing section.

Listening

Correct answers in the Listening paper are worth 1 mark each. There are 30 possible marks in the Listening paper.

Speaking

Candidates take the test in pairs, but are assessed on their

individual performance by trained examiners who are certificated to examine at the level. Candidate speaking performances are assessed using scales which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference. The assessor gives a mark of 0?5 for each of the following criteria: Grammar and Vocabulary; Discourse Management; Pronunciation; and Interactive Communication. The interlocutor gives a mark of 0?5 for Global Achievement and this mark is doubled. Examiners may award half marks. Marks for all criteria are then combined, meaning there are 30 marks available in the Speaking test.

Cambridge English: Business Vantage

Reading

The Reading paper consists of 6 parts. Correct answers in Parts 1?6 are worth 1 mark each. There are 52 possible marks in the Reading paper.

Writing

The Writing paper consists of 2 parts. Candidates’ answers in the Writing paper are marked by trained examiners who are certificated to mark at the level using assessment scales which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference. Part 1 is worth 10 marks and Part 2 is worth 20 marks. There are 30 possible marks in the Writing section.

Listening

Correct answers in the Listening paper are worth 1 mark each. There are 30 possible marks in the Listening paper.

Speaking

Candidates take the test in pairs, but are assessed on their

individual performance by trained examiners who are certificated to examine at the level. Candidate speaking performances are assessed using scales which are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference. The assessor gives a mark of 0?5 for each of the following criteria: Grammatical Resource; Lexical

Resource; Discourse Management; Pronunciation; and Interactive Communication and these marks are doubled. The interlocutor gives a mark of 0?5 for Global Achievement and this mark is multiplied by 5. Examiners may award half marks. Marks for all criteria are then combined, meaning there are 75 marks available in the Speaking test.

Cambridge English: Business Higher