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CEF B2 Interactive Sample

Sample

Name: Anonymous
Age: undefined
Sex: Male
Nation of origin: Finland | Native language: Finnish | Working language: Finnish
Sample title: MobilePhone5a.wmv
Created: 06-05-08 | Uploaded: 07-05-08 | Data modified: 08-05-08
Register: Informal
Setting: Learning

Task description: Find out about and discuss mobile phone use with your partner

Task details

Overall Spoken Interaction
B2 Can use the language fluently, accurately and effectively on a wide range of general, academic, vocational or leisure topics, marking clearly the relationships between ideas. Can communicate spontaneously with good grammatical control without much sign of having to restrict what he/she wants to say, adopting a level of formality appropriate to the circumstances.

Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction, and sustained relationships with native speakers quite possible without imposing strain on either party. Can highlight the personal significance of events and experiences, account for and sustain views clearly by providing relevant explanations and arguments.

General comments

The speaker was rated B2, with one assessor putting him at C1 level. On this task, he is able to interact fluently and confidently. He does not use very complex sentence patterns, but the task does not require them. Overall, he is at the upper end of the B2 scale, and on a more complex task might be able to perform at C1 level.
Range
B2 Has a sufficient range of language to be able to give clear descriptions, express viewpoints on most general topics, without much conspicuous searching for words, using some complex sentence forms to do so.

General comments

Most assessors rated the speaker at the top of the B2 range, with two rating him C1. The speaker has no difficulty finding language needed for the topic, including appropriate colloquial expressions ("There goes my mp3 player"; "taking photos and stuff"; "it would be kinda handy"). He is able to formulate relatively complex sentences (e.g. conditionals) without noticeable hesitation. Perhaps bordering on C1, but the task does not require academic or professional language use.
Accuracy
C1 Consistently maintains a high degree of grammatical accuracy; errors are rare, difficult to spot and generally corrected when they do occur.

General comments

Most assessors rated the speaker C1 for accuracy. He has good grammatical control with no noticeable errors. In pronunciation, has a perceptible accent which, although it does not hinder communication in this setting, might occasionally require effort from a listener unaccustomed to such features.
Fluency
C1 Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Only a conceptually difficult subject can hinder a natural, smooth flow of language.

General comments

All evaluators but one rated the speaker C1 for fluency. He is able to maintain a smooth natural flow during the interaction There are some minor hesitations, but no noticeable long pauses.
Interaction
B2 Can initiate discourse, take his/her turn when appropriate and end conversation when he/she needs to, though he/she may not always do this elegantly. Can help the discussion along on familiar ground confirming comprehension, inviting others in etc.

General comments

Mostly B2, with some assessors rating him C1. He is perfectly at ease in informal interaction and helps the discussion along by indicating understanding and sometimes providing a more appropriate word (eg "snake game" instead of "worm game"). Some assessors saw evidence of ability to relate his own contributions to those of his partner, others did not. A more complex interaction might provide more evidence of C1 level competences.
Coherence
B2 Can use a limited number of cohesive devices to link his/her utterances into clear coherent discourse, though there may be some "jumpiness" in a long contribution.

General comments

The assessments were almost evenly divided between C1 and B2, with one assessor rating the speaker A2, on the grounds that he only uses the most common connectors ('but', and', because' or 'well'). The task does not in fact require complex cohesive devices, but in a more informal register, the speaker is able to use relatively elaborate linking expressions appropriately (eg "But then on the other hand I'm afraid...")

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