ELPA21 - English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century Speaking Domain Skills Questions and Answers

Question 1

An English learner participating in an ELPA21 Speaking task is shown a picture of a science experiment and asked to describe what is happening.
The student responds, "Boy pour water.
Girl write.
It blue." Which of the following speaking skills does this student most clearly need to develop to improve their proficiency level?

Accepted Answer

Using precise, content-specific vocabulary and expanding simple sentences.

Answer

Using single words and gestures to communicate basic needs.

Answer

Recounting a sequence of events with a beginning, middle, and end.

Answer

Repeating memorized phrases on familiar topics.

Question 2

A teacher is preparing a student for an ELPA21 Speaking task that requires them to compare and contrast two pictures. Which of the following instructional activities would be most effective for developing this specific skill?

Accepted Answer

Providing the student with sentence frames like 'In the first picture..., but in the second picture...' and 'Both pictures show...'.

Answer

Asking the student to label objects in each picture.

Answer

Having the student tell a story about one of the pictures.

Answer

Asking the student yes/no questions about the pictures.

Question 3

During a scenario-based speaking task, a student is asked to explain the rules of their favorite game to a friend. According to the ELPA21 performance descriptors, which characteristic would be expected from a student at an Intermediate level of proficiency?

Accepted Answer

Using simple language to interact socially, recounting a sequence of events, and connecting ideas with linking words, though some errors may be present.

Answer

Using single words or short phrases with many errors that impede meaning.

Answer

Delivering a well-structured, detailed presentation with precise academic language and few errors.

Answer

Relying heavily on gestures and pointing to communicate meaning.

Question 4

Which of the following speaking tasks on the ELPA21 is designed to assess a student's ability to construct an oral argument or express an opinion with supporting reasons?

Accepted Answer

A task that presents a situation and asks the student whether they agree or disagree, and to explain why.

Answer

A task that asks the student to retell a short story they just heard.

Answer

A task that asks the student to describe the similarities and differences between two images.

Answer

A task that requires the student to answer simple 'wh-' questions (who, what, where) about a picture.

Question 5

A student at a Beginning proficiency level is assessed on the Speaking domain. The student's response to a prompt asking them to describe their classroom consists of pointing to their desk and saying, "My desk." This response demonstrates which typical characteristic of the Beginning level?

Accepted Answer

Reliance on single words, gestures, and short, memorized phrases to communicate.

Answer

Ability to deliver an oral presentation with descriptive details.

Answer

Use of complex sentences to express a variety of ideas.

Answer

Participation in extended discussions by building on the ideas of others.

Question 6

The primary purpose of the ELPA21 Speaking domain assessment is to measure a student's ability to:

Accepted Answer

Speak comprehensible English in the context of grade-appropriate academic and social activities.

Answer

Pronounce English words with perfect, native-like accuracy.

Answer

Demonstrate a large vocabulary of idiomatic expressions.

Answer

Engage in informal conversations exclusively about familiar, non-academic topics.