Non-coursework speaking tests
3.4 Non-coursework speaking tests
Non-coursework speaking tests are internally administered and assessed by your teachers, then externally moderated by us. We set the format for non-coursework speaking tests and it is the same for all candidates.
Non-coursework speaking tests do not take place over the course of study. Instead they are carried out as an exam within a time period that we set.
The following tests are internally assessed non-coursework speaking tests:
• Cambridge IGCSE foreign language speaking tests – syllabuses 0515, 0519, 0520, 0525, 0530, 0535, 0540, 0543, 0544, 0545, 0546 and 0547
• Cambridge IGCSE first language speaking tests • Cambridge IGCSE second language speaking tests • Cambridge IGCSE Bahasa Indonesia (0538) • Cambridge International AS & A Level language speaking tests • Cambridge Pre-U Mandarin Chinese Short Course speaking test (1341). See section 5.7.7 for guidance on arranging Cambridge Pre-U speaking exams with a visiting examiner.
You must submit marks for all candidates entered for non-coursework speaking tests and the recordings of a sample of candidates. See sections 3.5 and 3.6 for guidance. To download the syllabuses visit
www.cambridgeinternational.org
(d)
Candidates can only sit their speaking test
Important information
once. Tests cannot be repeated during the same exam series.
We send instructions on conducting Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International AS & A Level
3.4.2 Estimated entries
speaking tests at least a month before the test window. Look out for them in the Cambridge Exams
We use your estimated entries to calculate how many Officer eNewsletter.
sets of materials you will need for non-coursework should pass these instructions on to their Associate
Cambridge Associates
speaking tests and other exams that take place before Centres.
the main exam series. If you do not submit estimated entries you may not have the necessary materials to carry out the speaking tests at the speciied time.*
3.4.1 Timetabling
See section 2.2 for more information about estimated (a) The speaking tests take place before the main
entries.
exam period. You must conduct the speaking tests within the period speciied in the timetable
* These regulations do not apply to Cambridge (www.cambridgeinternational.org/timetables).
IGCSE First Language English Speaking & Listening (b) Once a centre starts its speaking tests all candidates
(0500/05 or 0627/03) or Cambridge IGCSE First must be examined within as short a time as possible
Language Spanish Speaking & Listening (0502/05) to help maintain the security of the examination.*
as we do not send conidential materials for these speaking tests. All the materials you need for these
(c) If you make entries for Cambridge IGCSE First tests are in the 2018 syllabus booklets. Language English (0500/05 or 0627/03), the test
must be conducted within the test date window speciied in the timetable. We need to know
3.4.3 Appointing teacher-examiners
when you will conduct the speaking tests for (a) You must select a teacher-examiner to assess non- inspection purposes. To provide this information,
coursework speaking tests. This would normally be please complete the short form we will send in
a teacher from within the relevant department at the Cambridge Exams Officer eNewsletter. Do not
your centre, but could be a suitably qualiied person send your dates by email. You only need to provide
independent of the department/centre. If a this information for these components. You must
teacher-examiner is appointed from within your complete the form by the date speciied in the
centre, it can be a teacher who has taught those newsletter.
particular candidates. Please contact us if you are in any doubt about the suitability of a teacher- examiner.
66 3 Teacher assessment Cambridge Handbook 2018 (UK)
(b) If you are operating through a Cambridge * These regulations do not apply to Cambridge Associate, the Cambridge Associate is responsible for IGCSE First Language English Speaking & Listening ensuring that the arrangements described above are (0500/05 or 0627/03) or Cambridge IGCSE First in place. Language Spanish Speaking & Listening (0502/05)
(c) Cambridge International AS & A Level non- as we do not send conidential materials for these coursework speaking tests require a Nomination of
speaking tests. All the materials you need for these Oral Examiner Form. Please refer to the details given
tests are in the 2018 syllabus booklets.
in the relevant syllabus.
3.4.4 Support for teacher-examiners
3.4.6 Marking
A range of Cambridge IGCSE Speaking Test (a) The teacher-examiner must award marks for Handbooks are available from the School Support Hub
speaking tests in accordance with the criteria (www.cambridgeinternational.org/support). These
speciied in the mark scheme for the component. offer guidance and advice on the preparation for and
Teacher-examiners will ind this in the Teachers’ delivery of the speaking test. They also provide marked
Notes booklet or in the syllabus for the appropriate recordings of candidate work with accompanying
year.
examiner comments. Online Coursework Training (b) You must assess candidates during the face-to-face Programmes provide marking practice and are
test, and not subsequently from any recording made. available at www.cambridgeinternational.org/events.
During the speaking test the teacher-examiner
A presentation offering general guidance on should ill in the marks under the separate headings the administration of speaking tests before,
on the Coursework Assessment Summary Form, during and after the examination is available in
Working Mark Sheet or Oral Examination Summary the ‘Exams oficers’ section of our website at
Form. The teacher-examiner should make sure the www.cambridgeinternational.org/teacherassessment
total marks are transferred to CIE Direct, the A2C
3.4.5 Special instructions for non-coursework
Migration Application or the Internal Assessment Mark Sheet (MS1) depending on how your centre
speaking tests where we provide conidential
is submitting marks. See section 3.5 for detailed
test materials *
instructions.
(a) For Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language
3.4.7 Standardising marking within centres
(0510 and 0511), speaking test cards and Teachers’ Notes booklets must only be opened one working
(a) You should appoint only one teacher-examiner for day before the test.
each syllabus. If you want to use extra teacher- examiners because you have a large number of
For all other Cambridge IGCSE syllabuses, speaking candidates, you must ask us for permission by test cards and Teachers’ Notes booklets can be emailing [email protected] before opened four working days before the test. the start of the speaking test window. Your email
(b) Once they have been opened, the Head of Centre
must include:
should make the conidential Teachers’ Notes
• the syllabus and component number
booklet available to the head of department or appropriate teacher-examiner. Teacher-examiners
• the number of candidates taking the speaking must allow suficient time to familiarise themselves
test at your centre
with the materials and procedures. • the names and job titles of the proposed teacher- examiners
(c) Materials must not be removed from the centre and the information within them must remain
• the breakdown of candidates for each teacher- conidential.
examiner.
(d) You must store the materials securely in accordance (b) Where we give permission for more than one with our regulations until after the speaking test
teacher-examiner to conduct and assess speaking period speciied on the Cambridge International
tests, you must standardise assessments across timetable has passed (even if you have completed
different teacher-examiners. This is to make sure your tests before that date).
your candidates have been assessed against the same standards for a particular syllabus. One teacher-examiner per centre per syllabus must take responsibility for standardising the marking of teacher-examiners from that centre in that syllabus.
Cambridge Handbook 2018 (UK) 3 Teacher assessment 67
Marks for some teacher-examiners may be moved up or down to make sure they are consistent for the
Important information
whole centre. • For Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second (c) The teacher-examiner must make sure a valid rank
Language Speaking (0510/05 and 0511/05), order of marks is produced for candidates across
candidates spend 2–3 minutes preparing for the teacher-examiners in that syllabus from that centre.
assessed part of the test in the exam room itself This means that each centre must produce a list of
with the teacher-examiner. all their candidates in descending order of marks. The
• You do not need to provide a separate quiet candidate with the highest mark should be at the
area for Cambridge IGCSE First Language top of the list. Once you have produced a rank order
English Speaking & Listening (0500/05 or of candidates, these marks should be submitted
0627/03) or Cambridge IGCSE First Language to Cambridge International and recorded on the
Spanish Speaking & Listening (0502/05). We Working Mark Sheet or Coursework Assessment
do not provide conidential materials for these Summary Form in the ‘Internally moderated mark’
tests, therefore candidates do not need any column.
preparation time before they go into the exam
3.4.8 Recording the tests
room.
(a) You need to provide your own: (c) Check that good-quality recording equipment is • equipment to record your speaking tests
available, for example, a digital voice recorder with • USBs, CDs and/or DVDs to submit your samples.
a separate microphone. Before the test, you must check equipment for the quality of the recording in
Please check the samples database the room where the tests are being held. (www.cambridgeinternational.org/samples) for
details of acceptable recording formats. (d) The teacher-examiner is responsible for ensuring that the recording equipment is working correctly.
(b) You must make sure that speaking tests take place in a suitably quiet room. There must
Once a candidate’s test has started the also be a separate quiet area for candidates who
(e)
recording must not be paused. are waiting or preparing for the test. There must
(f)
Only one teacher-examiner is allowed in the
be someone present in the preparation room to
room during the test.
supervise the candidate(s) before they go to their speaking test. If there is more than one candidate
(g) Before sending recordings to Cambridge in the waiting/preparation room at any time, the
International, teacher-examiners must carry out person supervising must make sure that the room is
checks to make sure that all candidates have silent and that there is no communication between
been recorded and that all recordings are audible candidates. The area must not be accessed by other
and complete. If there are any problems with the candidates, including the candidates who have
recordings, contact us immediately for advice by already taken the test. Remove or cover up any
emailing [email protected] with a display material which may be helpful to candidates
detailed account of the issue. in the exam room and in the waiting/preparation
3.4.9 Absent candidates and failure to
room.
complete speaking tests
(a) Candidates who do not take the speaking test and who are not eligible for special consideration will not
be awarded a grade in that syllabus and will receive
a ‘NO RESULT’ outcome. See section 5.5 for more information about special consideration.
(b) Where the speaking test does not contribute to the overall grade for the syllabus, candidates who do not attend are still eligible for an overall grade but will not receive a separate speaking test score or endorsement.
(c) If any candidate is absent at the time you have set aside for the speaking tests and they wish to take the test, you must make a request to allow
68 3 Teacher assessment Cambridge Handbook 2018 (UK) 68 3 Teacher assessment Cambridge Handbook 2018 (UK)
speaking test, you must have a recording of that speciied speaking test period. Email your request
candidate’s test which you can submit if requested. to [email protected]. These arrangements must not delay sending the sample
3.4.10 Unsatisfactory practice
and forms for moderation. This does not apply to (a) We will provide further guidance where individual Cambridge IGCSE First Language English Speaking &
teacher-examiners or centres fail to meet
Listening (0500/05 and 0627/03).
requirements for speaking tests.
Where an absent candidate will be taking the (b) If we believe that a signiicant problem has occurred, speaking test at a later date:
we may ask you to ind another person to conduct
1 Indicate this on the Working Mark Sheet, Oral and assess the speaking tests in future exam series. Examination Summary Form or Coursework
Assessment Summary Form.
2 Record the speaking test on a separate USB stick, CD or DVD, in addition to the speciied sample.
3 Include the mark for the previously absent candidate on the Working Mark Sheet, Oral Examination Summary Form or Coursework Assessment Summary Form.
4 As soon as the rescheduled test has taken place, send the recording and a copy of the Working Mark Sheet, Oral Examination Summary Form or Coursework Assessment Summary Form to:
Cambridge Assessment International Education Cambridge Assessment DC10 Hill Farm Road, Whittlesford Cambridge CB22 4FZ
You must label the packet and the candidate’s test material clearly with your centre name and number, candidate name and number and the syllabus and component code.
5 Submit the total mark for the speaking test on Teacher Assessment – Form 4.
Administrative forms
Form available from www.cambridgeinternational.org/forms
• Supplementary Internal Assessment Mark Sheet (MS1): Teacher Assessment – Form 4
(d) If a candidate fails to take the speaking test, and is not eligible to take the test at a later date as a result of special consideration, the teacher-examiner must mark them as absent (with an ‘A’, not ‘0’) on the pre- printed Internal Assessment Mark Sheet (MS1), CIE Direct or the A2C Migration Application, depending on how the marks are submitted.
(e) On the Working Mark Sheet, Oral Examination Summary Form or Coursework Assessment Summary Form the teacher-examiner must enter the absent candidate’s name and number but leave the mark ield blank.
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