Speaking Test Description

The format, expectations, and stages of the ECPE Speaking Test

Format of the ECPE Speaking Test Overall Expectations

The ECPE Speaking Test has been designed to elicit
Type of Task
spoken language representative of Level C2 on the
Candidates participate in a decision-making task.
Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
A test taker works with one other test taker in the
It is expected that test takers sitting for the ECPE are
paired format or with two other test takers in the
proficient users of the language and should be able to
three-way format.
complete a speaking activity without support (help with
• Each test taker is given descriptions of two
language) from an examiner. Therefore, throughout the
different options.
majority of the test, test takers collaborate with each other
• Candidates collaborate to decide on, to to complete the speaking activity.
present, and to defend a single option.

Duration Evaluation
The entire speaking test lasts approximately 25 to Each test taker is evaluated independently by two
35 minutes in the paired format and approximately examiners and separately from the other test taker’s
35 to 45 minutes in the three-way format. ability. Candidates are expected to contribute equally
to the speaking activity. Candidates are evaluated at
Number of Stages every stage of the test. The stages of the speaking test
The speaking test has five stages, each lasting are designed so that each test taker is provided ample
approximately five minutes. The examiner gives test opportunity to speak individually and to engage in
takers instructions of what to do during each stage discussions with others.
of the test.
The ECPE Speaking Rating Scale is available on the
Number of Examiners CaMLA website. It guides raters to attend to a test taker’s
There are two examiners present during the entire test. performance in the following areas:
• Examiner 1 conducts Stages 1 through 4 • Discourse and Interaction (Development and
Listening Comprehension)
• Examiner 2 conducts during Stages 4 and 5
• Linguistic Resources (Range and Accuracy of
Throughout the majority of the test, the participation of Vocabulary and Grammar)
the examiners is minimal. During Stage 1 and Stage 5, • Delivery and Intelligibility
the examiners will be participants in the speaking activity.
However, examiner involvement during Stages 2 through 4
does not extend beyond giving directions and answering
questions pertaining to test directions.
Stages of the ECPE Speaking Test
Stage 1 Stage 3
Introduction Consensus Reaching
3 to 5 minutes 5 to 7 minutes
The goal of Stage 1 is for Examiner 1 and the test takers The goal of Stage 3 is for the two test takers to come to
to introduce themselves and for test takers to become an agreement on one single option.
comfortable interacting with each other.
Test takers compare and contrast the options they have
Test takers are expected to actively participate in the individually chosen and discuss the advantages and
conversation by providing expanded responses and also disadvantages of each option. Test takers are still not
by asking each other and Examiner 1 questions. allowed to look at each other’s piece of paper.

Stage 2 Stage 4
Explaining and Recommending Presenting and Convincing
5 to 7 minutes 5 to 7 minutes
The goal of Stage 2 is for test takers to learn what all the The goal of Stage 4 is for the test takers to present and
options are, to make a recommendation to their partner, convince Examiner 2 that the option they have chosen is
and to choose one of their own options as the best. the best one.

For this stage, each test taker is given an information Test takers formally present the option they have chosen
sheet with descriptions of two options (for a total of four to Examiner 2, who is in a position of power (for example,
different options in the paired format). Test takers are Examiner 2 may be the principal of a school that needs
allowed to keep the information sheet during the test to hire a new teacher). Test takers are given time to
and can take notes on their information sheet. However, collaborate and plan the short presentation. At this point,
during this stage, test takers are not permitted to see their they may look at each other’s paper, if they wish. Each test
partner’s information sheet. taker presents different reasons for deciding on a particular
option and explains why those reasons are important.
Test takers are given time to read through the information.
They then take turns explaining the descriptions of their
two options to each other. They must listen carefully to Stage 5
each other during the explanations because afterwards Justifying and Defending
test takers will make a recommendation to their partner of 5 to 7 minutes
the best option from the two options presented by their The goal of Stage 5 is for each test taker to address
partner. Test takers may take notes while their partner is questions and challenges presented by Examiner 2.
explaining.
Based on the presentations made during Stage 4,
At the end of this stage, each test taker decides which of Examiner 2 questions the test takers about the decision
the two options on their information sheet is the best. they have made and about the reasons for that decision.

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