LLN Speaking test

Student Number*
Student Full Name*
Date of test*
MM slash DD slash YYYY
[For the test interlocutor: Read the verbal instructions to candidates in a normal voice, do not slow your speech down unnaturally. If the candidate needs repetition they should ask for it. Explain that there are three sections: “Firstly I will ask you about yourself and your family. Next we will discuss work and study plans and goals, then finally we will talk about your plans for living in Sydney and the test will finish.”

Opener: “Thank you for taking this test as part of the enrolment process for City Institute.”

Try to elicit stories rather than single word or sentence length answers (avoid spoon feeding the questions one by one) – what you are looking for is:
1. ability to sustain a narrative for a minute, compare and contrast, describe and explain on easy topics
2. ability to talk/ use a few sentences on an unfamiliar topic
3. ability to wonder or speculate on an abstract topic
4. ability to sustain conversation between you and him/her including asking relevant questions.
Each section has two parts – the first for basic information and the second for more detailed information, treat the first part as a warm up and the second part as a test.

This speaking test may take 5 minutes for very strong candidates or 15 minutes for weaker ones. You may adapt the sections and questions as long as each of the four components have been demonstrated. The last section is supposed to reduce candidate’s stress and allow for the candidate to relax before completing the test.]

There are three parts to this test.

Part A – You and your family, lifestyle

Part B – Work and study plans and goals

Part C – Life in Sydney, conclusion.
PART A
Question 1. Please tell me about yourself, about your family life or your friends. I would like to know where you live/lived and what you do/did on a daily basis. How many brothers and sisters do you have, what do they do? What do your parents do? [If conversation dies, ask about family special occasions or family holidays or a childhood memory.]*

Your Answer
Question 2. Tell me about your friends or family in Sydney, what do you do with them everyday/ on weekends? What is the biggest difference between your home country life and living in Australia? [Elicit a speech sample that demonstrates the candidate’s ability to talk on an easy, familiar topic]*

Your Answer
PART B
Question 1. Please tell me about either your work or your study plans. [You could ask all of the following questions and leave the candidate to fill in with what they can tell you] Why have you chosen this (current) type of work/ study? What did you do (work/ study) before? What kind of career are you thinking about? What is your dream job? How will this work/ study help you achieve that career/ dream job?*

Your Answer
Question 2. [Move into any abstract topic related to the candidate’s career area with recent news or any philosophical or controversial issue – eg, How do you think Donald Trump’s presidency will effect construction work/ energy resources/ international trade in Australia/ your home country? Will there be a positive or negative effect on Australia’s economy if the USA is aggressive towards China? What do you think about Microsoft’s new competitive tablet products (‘Surface’) with Apple’s brand of quality PC? Do you think IT will always improve business? Why or why not? Is marketing only about social media these days? Do you think money makes more money or can you be rich from ideas and art? Have the candidate speculate on the issue as much as they can. If the candidate’s speech breaks down move on to the last section.]*

Your Answer
PART C
Question 1. Ok, so we are now in the final section - how long have you been in Sydney? Where have you been in Sydney? What do you like about Sydney? Where would you like to go in the future? What would you like to achieve in Sydney? [Try to have the candidate ask you about good places to visit by suggestion – “I have lived here for many years…”*

Your Answer

LLN Speaking test

LLN Speaking test

PART A

PART B

PART C