STANAG exam requirements
As far as the exam requirements are concerned there is nothing surprising about the fact that your four basic linguistic skills will be tested. There is a fixed sequence of the skills tests. Reading goes as the first one, then listening follows, then writing and eventually speaking. In each part the examinee should show his/her proficiency in English, but how we are marked for our performance depends on the assessment criteria and the assessors’ evaluation. Fortunately, the assessment criteria are not a mistery any longer.
STANAG 6001 – marking system
The assessment criteria introduced to Polish examination boards are very simple and clear. For each part of the exam you can receive 20 points in total. Many people are familiar with that number of points to get, however, not many know that the total number of points you are awarded consists of four components (applicable to so called productive skills only). For each skill there are different components which are subject to evaluation during the exam.
For writing it will be :
1) grammatical range and accuracy – max. 6 points;
2) lexical range and accuracy – max. 6 points;
3) task achievements – max. 6 points;
4) organisation – max. 2 points.
For speaking it will be:
1) grammatical range and accuracy – max. 6 points;
2) vocabulary range and accuracy – max. 6 points;
3) presentation skills – max. 5 points;
4) interactive ability – max. 3 points.
If you fail any of the productive components, you cannot pass the whole skill part of the exam. E.g. you can get 6 points for writing accuracy, 6 points for lexical range, but you failed in task achievement and you got two points for organisation. The total number of points is 14, theoretically it still is the pass mark, but since you didn’t achieve the overarching goal of your task, you are not given the credit for your writing. To make things worse, to pass the components you are required to fit your performance into so called ‘top band‘ or ‘pass band‘. It means that in case of grammatical range and accuracy you have to obtain at least 4 points out of 6 available in the rating scale.
Writing – rating scale:
| Grammatical range and accuracy | Lexical range and accuracy | Task achievement | Organisation | |
| Top band |
wide range of structures, including the use of complex structures; 6 points |
wide range of lexical resources, including complex lexis; complete accuracy and appropriacy 6 points |
all seven elements fulfilled in a satisfactory manner; full use of supporting evidence and convincing arguments 6 points |
as in the pass band
2 points |
| Pass band |
wide range of structures, including the use of complex structures; 4 points |
wide range of lexical resources, including complex lexis; 4 points |
six elements fulfilled in a satisfactory manner; 4 points |
paragraphs/sections well-defined and concise; 2 points |
| Fail band | wide range of structures used, including the use of complex structures; noticeable problems with complex structures; all other structures accurate
2 points |
lexical accuracy generally high; complex lexis either not attempted or, if attempted, showing noticeable inaccuracies and inappropriacies
2 points |
no more than five elements fulfilled in a satisfactory manner; weak or irrelevant supporting evidence and unconvincing arguments used
2 points |
paragraphs/sections present but either poorly defined or not concise; text difficult to follow at times
0 points |
| Bad fail band | wide range of simple to middle level structures; no attempt at complex structures, or if attempted, mostly inaccurate
0 points |
inaccuracies and inappropiacies even in middle-level lexis
0 points |
several elements not attempted or done in an unsatisfactory manner; unsatisfactory use of supporting evidence; unconvincing arguments
0 points |
as in the fail band
0 points |
Speaking – rating scale:
| Grammatical range and accuracy To be assessed throughout the whole exam |
Vocabulary range and accuracy To be assessed throughout the whole exam |
Presentation skills To be assessed in the second task only |
Interactive ability To be assessed in the third task only |
|
| Top band |
all structures including complex structures fully accurate 6 points |
wide range of vocabulary and complex lexis used accurately; no searching for words; no avoidance strategy applied 6 points |
presentation logical and clear; very good organisation: – clearly marked sections – smooth transitions – perfect time management;a native-like fluency with natural hesitations 5 points |
awareness of the partner’s arguments and fully communicative / co-operative response to them; turn taking maintained and noticeable attempts to involve the partner in discussion (the interlocutor’s involvement is not necessary) 3 points |
| Pass band |
all structures including complex structures used but minor slips or few mistakes may occur; 4 points |
wide range of vocabulary though occasional groping 4 points |
presentation logical and clear; good fluency, hesitations to order ideas but not in search for lexis. 4 points |
awareness and understanding of the partner’s arguments 2 points |
| Fail band | no complex structures attempted or attempted unsuccessfully; mistakes in simple structures may occur without selfcorrection 2 points |
range of vocabulary not adequate to cope with the topic; groping for words frequent; avoidance strategy often used leading to simplification of language 2 points |
occasional lack of logic and clarity; organisation disturbed: – not clearly marked sections – rough transitions – impaired time management (e.g. parts over-stretched or missing);fluency not maintained at times due to groping for words. 2 points |
awareness and understanding of the partner’s arguments are limited; unwillingness to ask for clarification is apparent; turn taking mostly maintained though the interlocutor’s assistance is occasionally necessary if one candidate is constantly dominant or the other unwilling to speak 1 point |
| Bad fail band | noticeable mistakes and/or noticeable simplification of the language used
0 points |
noticeable misuse of vocabulary items; communication disturbed 0 points |
lack of logic and clarity; bad organisation: – no divisions into sections – no transitions – poor time management (e.g. presentation not finished);fluency not maintained because of frequent groping for words. 0 points |
ignoring or misunderstanding the partner’s arguments or/and lack of appropriate response; turn taking noticeably disturbed; no attempts to involve the partner in discussion (the interlocutor’s assistance frequently needed 0 points |
Both tables – courtesy of Central Examination Board of the Polish MoD, “Model egzaminu z języka angielskiego”, Łódź, 2007