General Training Writing: How are bandscores awarded for General Training Writing?
Examiners use a set of very detailed assessment criteria for these areas.
This criterion assesses how appropriate, accurate and relevant the response is, in fulfilling the requirements set out in the task.
Task Achievement - Task 1
In Task 1, a minimum of 150 words, the test takers' achievement is assessed according to:
- their success in communicating their request or explanation
- the consistency and appropriateness of the letter's tone
- how fully the bullet points are presented and highlighted.
Task response - Task 2
In the General Training (and Academic) Writing test, Task 2 required the test taker to formulate and develop a position in relation to a given prompt, in the form of a question or statement. Ideas should be supported by evidence, and examples may be drawn from the test takers' own experience. Responses must be at least 250 words in length.
This criterion is concerned with the overall clarity and fluency of the message: how the response organises and links information, ideas and language.
- Coherence refers to the linking of ideas through logical sequencing.
- Cohesion refers to the varied and appropriate use of cohesive devices (for example logical connectors, pronouns and conjunctions) to assist in making the conceptual and referential relationships between and within sentences clear.
This criterion refers to the range of vocabulary the test taker has used and the accuracy and appropriacy of that use in terms of the specific task.