ACCESS Speaking Proficiency 2

Question 1

On the ACCESS Speaking test, when a student is asked to 'describe a picture,' what language function is primarily being assessed?

Accepted Answer

Oral description using present tense and vocabulary

Answer

Picture description tasks assess a student's ability to use oral language, present tense verbs, and content vocabulary to communicate what they observe.

Question 2

A student at ACCESS Speaking Level 2 would most likely respond to a question using:

Accepted Answer

Simple sentences with basic vocabulary

Answer

Level 2 (Emerging) speakers produce simple sentences with high-frequency vocabulary but have not yet developed extended discourse.

Question 3

Which ACCESS Speaking task requires a student to compare and contrast two objects or situations?

Accepted Answer

Compare/contrast prompt

Answer

Compare/contrast prompts specifically ask students to identify similarities and differences, requiring higher-order language functions.

Question 4

What does 'discourse competence' refer to in the context of ACCESS Speaking scores?

Accepted Answer

The ability to organize ideas into coherent, connected speech

Answer

Discourse competence measures how well a student connects ideas logically and maintains topic coherence across multiple utterances.

Question 5

In ACCESS Speaking, a student who uses mostly memorized chunks of language with little flexibility is demonstrating which proficiency level?

Accepted Answer

Level 1 – Entering

Answer

Level 1 (Entering) speakers rely heavily on memorized phrases and formulaic language with minimal productive flexibility.

(ACCESS) Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English Language Learners Practice Test

(ACCESS) Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English Language Learners Practice Test

ACCESS Speaking Proficiency 2