Level 2 Speaking Guide

As was written in the Level 2 Writing Guide The Level 2 English exam represents B1 (Intermediate) on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). If you want more details about the relationship between the CEFR and Stanag please look at the article From A0 to Level 4 on this blog.

For most people, this is the level that they finish school with and Level 2 should not be a great challenge for the majority of people. However, if you are new to English and have started as an adult then it will represent an important achievement in your language career.

Level 2 is “functional language” and so means that you can happily function and operate on an everyday basis in an English-speaking environment. This does not mean that you don’t need some help, or a dictionary, but that you can understand a lot and can speak and write in English.

So what exactly is Level 2 Speaking?

Well, if you want to watch a video about it then please click on the video opposite.

If you are happy to read on then basically, Level 2 speaking is about the ability to speak about everyday topics and make yourself understood.

According to the Central Examinations Board for Foreign Languages, the Polish Level 2 exam has three tasks. The exam takes a maximum of 12 minutes. Tasks One and Two are marked together out of ten points and Task Three is marked out of ten points. You must get a combined mark of 14 to pass. That means you could get two 7s but could also get a 6 and an 8 :)

TASK ONE

Warm-up questions [ max. 2 minutes ]

1. What’s your name?

2. Can you spell it? (military or traditional alphabet)

3. What’s your job? and/or Where do you live?

So, what do you need to remember?

As the name suggests, this is a warm-up exercise and an opportunity to introduce yourself and 'break the ice' :)

Try and give as much information as possible, without the need to ask you for every part. But be careful not to sound like a robot. Do not just talk automatically. Tell the examiner your name and where you come from. It would also be a good idea to tell them at the beginning where you work and what your rank or position is. e.g.

My name is Sergeant Jones and I am based in Newcastle at the 14th Signals Regiment. I am a communications specialist. I am married and have a young daughter.

The examiner may then ask you some additional questions about your job, family or where you work.

TASK TWO

Role-play [ max . 4 minutes ]

In the second task, the candidate must complete a role-play with the examiner.

So, what do you need to remember?

The main thing to remember in the roleplay is to relax and listen carefully to the examiner. On the candidate's card is all the information necessary to complete the task but there will also be a surprise question from the examiner which is not on the card. This will usually be towards the end of the role-play. For example,for the above task, the examiner would have the prompt:

• Present – what kind? / collect money / who?

So they would ask: What kind of present shall we get? Who is going to collect the money?

The candidate does not have the answer to this and must improvise.

TASK THREE

Questions [6 – 7 minutes ]

1. Do you like office parties? Why? Why not?

2. When did you last attend a big family party? Tell us about it.

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of employing young people?

In the final part of the exam, the examiner asks three questions. The first question is connected to the role play and is usually a present simple question. The remaining questions then get a bit more difficult. Question number three is designed to be the most difficult and will either be an advantages/disadvantages question or a hypothetical/speculation question.

So, what do you need to remember?

The most important thing is to attempt each question, but also don't get stressed if you can not answer fully one question, that is why there are three :) You can still pass as long as you attempt all three.

*The above exam examples are taken from the Level 2 Exam Specifications published by the Central Examination Board for Foreign Languages.