For each skill two assessors evaluate the candidates’ performance. A maximum of 25 points may be given for each skill. Partial scores cannot be awarded for answers that are partially correct.
Exam parts and points:
| Written exam | Points |
| Reading comprehension | 25 points |
| Written communication | 25 points |
| Oral exam | |
| Listening comprehension | 25 points |
| Oral communication | 25 points |
READING COMPREHENSION
The reading comprehension test papers contain 20 items, and each item is worth 1.25 points. When assessing the tasks partial credit cannot be awarded. If the answer contains elements that are not part of the correct answer, the answer is considered incorrect. Answers consisting of parts lifted from the text and containing unnecessary elements are also considered incorrect.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
Written communication tests are assessed on the basis of five Criteria for Assessing Writing.
Candidates may be awarded a maximum of five points for each criterion by each of the two raters. Therefore, a maximum of 100 points may be received for the written communication test. After recording the points awarded by the two raters the computer programme calculates the mean value of the points and this becomes the final score.
CRITERIA FOR ASSESSEING WRITING
| Formal accuracy (morphology and syntax) | 0-5 points |
| Accuracy (test construction and spelling) | 0-5 points |
| Vocabulary (range and activation) | 0-5 points |
| Style (pragmatic and sociolinguistic aspects) | 0-5 points |
| Communicative effectiveness (adequate task completion) | 0-5 points |
LISTENING COMPREHENSION
The listening comprehension test papers contain 20 items, and each item is worth 1.25 points. When assessing the tasks partial credit cannot be awarded. If the answer contains elements that are not part of the correct answer, the answer is considered incorrect.
ORAL COMMUNICATION
Written communication tests are assessed on the basis of five Criteria for Assessing Speaking.
During the oral exam candidates may be awarded a maximum of five points for each criterion. Thus a maximum of 25 points may be achieved.
CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING SPEAKING
| Formal accuracy (morphology, syntax) | 0-5 points |
| Oral accuracy (pronunciation, prosody, fluency) | 0-5 points |
| Vocabulary (range, activation) | 0-5 points |
| Style (pragmatic and sociolinguistic accuracy) | 0-5 points |
| Communicative effectiveness (completing the task according to the given situation) | 0-5 points |
The two examiners assess the performance of the candidates individually. After the exam the examiners reach a consensus with regards to the final score.
