Study Guide

World Languages: Chinese—Mandarin
Sample Writing and Speaking Assignments

The following materials contain:

Directions for the Presentional Writing Assignment

This section of the test consists of one constructed-response assignment to which you must respond in the target language. For the assignment, you are to prepare a written response on the assigned topic. You should use your time to plan, write, review, and edit your response to the assignment.

Read the assignment carefully and think about how you will organize your response before you begin to type.

Your final response for the assignment must be written on the Response Sheets provided and scanned using the scanner provided at your workstation.

Instructions for scanning your response sheets are available by clicking the "Scanning Help" button at the top of the screen.

Your score will depend on the extent to which you effectively communicate a whole message, in the target language, to the specified audience for the stated purpose. You will be assessed on your ability to express, organize, and support opinions and ideas, not on the position you take. Your response to the assignment will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Purpose: The extent to which the response fulfills the assignment and is appropriate for the intended audience
  • Organization and Coherence: The extent to which ideas are effectively sequenced and logically connected
  • Development: The extent to which ideas are developed with relevant supporting details
  • Syntax and Grammar: The extent to which the response exhibits a command of syntax and grammar
  • Vocabulary: The extent to which the response demonstrates a command and range of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions
  • Mechanics: The extent to which the response demonstrates accuracy of spelling and punctuation

For the constructed-response assignment, you are to prepare a written response of approximately 450–600 characters in Chinese. Be sure to write about the assigned topic. You may not use any reference materials. Your response must be your original work, written in your own words, and not copied or paraphrased from some other work. Remember to review what you have written to ensure that you address all aspects of the assignment and make any changes you think will improve your response.

Any time spent responding to the assignment, including scanning the response sheets, is part of your testing time. Monitor your time carefully. When your testing time expires, a pop-up message will appear on-screen indicating the conclusion of your test session. Only response sheets that are scanned before you end your test or before time has expired will be scored. Any response sheet that is not scanned before testing ends will NOT be scored.

Sample Presentational Writing Assignment

Competency 0009
In response to a prompt, demonstrate the ability to construct a coherent, well-developed passage in the target language that effectively communicates a message.

Complete the exercise that follows.

For an audience of educators, write an essay of 450–600 characters in Chinese in which you provide your opinion on whether secondary-level students should attend school year-round. In your essay, you must include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • your opinion on the topic; and
  • an explanation of reasons, evidence, or experience that supports your opinion.

Your response must be written in Chinese characters (Simplified or Traditional).

Sample Strong Response to the Writing Assignment

[Simplified]


[Traditional]

Rationale for the Sample Strong Response to the Writing Assignment

Purpose: The response thoroughly fulfills the purpose of the assignment by stating an opinion in response to the prompt (America should implement year-round schooling instead of offering a long summer vacation, in order to develop a competitive younger generation and promote long-term social development). The response elaborates further on the topic using relevant information and stating reasons to justify the opinion.

Organization and Coherence: The ideas are effectively sequenced and logically connected. The opening paragraph states the writer's main points and the following paragraphs elaborate on those ideas. First, year-round schooling offers continuity and timeliness, and there is not any forgotten knowledge ( / ). Second, students would have more time to get along with peers to enhance friendship and the ability to work collaboratively ( / ). And third, it would prevent other countries that have year-round schooling from surpassing America ( / ).

Development: Each paragraph is well developed and provides appropriate supporting detail and examples (e.g., year-round schooling does not mean there is no holiday vacation, American school has the longest summer vacation in the world). The ability to elaborate using relevant information demonstrates strength in many areas of language proficiency (e.g., vocabulary, grammar, mechanics).

Syntax and Grammar: The response consistently demonstrates comprehensive control of syntax and grammar. It demonstrates mastery of a variety of grammatical structures, including the use of appropriate and correctly formed compound sentences, such as progressive relationship sentence ( ... ... / ... ...), conjunctive sentence ( ... ... / ... ...), hypothetical question sentence ( ... ... / ... ...), parallelism sentence ( / ), and fixed expression ( ... / ...).

Vocabulary: The response demonstrates a strong command and broad range of vocabulary ( / , / , / , / ).

Mechanics: The response demonstrates accuracy of spelling with only minor punctuation errors.

Performance Characteristics for the Presentational Writing Assignment

Responses are scored holistically according to the following performance characteristics:

Purpose The extent to which the response fulfills the assignment and is appropriate for the intended audience
Organization and Coherence The extent to which ideas are effectively sequenced and logically connected
Development The extent to which ideas are developed with relevant supporting details
Syntax and Grammar The extent to which the response exhibits a command of syntax and grammar
Vocabulary The extent to which the response demonstrates a command and range of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions
Mechanics The extent to which the response demonstrates accuracy of spelling and punctuation

Scoring Scale for the Presentational Writing Assignment

The four points of the scoring scale correspond to varying degrees of performance.

Score Point Score Point Description
4 The "4" response reflects a thorough understanding of relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response thoroughly fulfills the assignment and is completely appropriate for the intended audience.
  • The ideas are effectively organized and logically connected.
  • The ideas are well developed with specific, relevant details.
  • The response exhibits a comprehensive command of syntax and grammar, containing only minor errors that do not interrupt communication.
  • The response demonstrates a strong command and broad range of vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions.
  • There are few, if any, errors in spelling and punctuation.
3 The "3" response reflects a general understanding of relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response generally fulfills the assignment and is appropriate for the intended audience.
  • The ideas are generally organized and connected.
  • The ideas are generally developed with some specific details.
  • The response exhibits an adequate command of syntax and grammar, although some errors may cause minor interruptions in communication.
  • The response demonstrates a general command and an adequate range of vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions.
  • There are minor errors in spelling and punctuation, but these do not interfere with communication.
2 The "2" response reflects a limited understanding of relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response partially fulfills the assignment and may not be appropriate for the intended audience.
  • The ideas are partially organized; connections between ideas may be lacking.
  • The ideas are partially developed; details may be limited, repetitive, and/or partially irrelevant.
  • The response exhibits limited command of syntax and grammar; errors sometimes interfere with communication.
  • The response demonstrates a limited command and narrow range of vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions.
  • There are errors in spelling and punctuation that partially interfere with communication.
1 The "1" response reflects little understanding of relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response fulfills little of the assignment and is inappropriate for the intended audience.
  • The ideas are unorganized and disjointed.
  • The ideas are not developed; there are few, if any, relevant supporting details.
  • The response exhibits little or no command of syntax and grammar; significant and frequent errors impede communication.
  • The response demonstrates a weak command of vocabulary, with little to no range. Idiomatic expressions, if used, may be inappropriate.
  • Errors in spelling and punctuation are so numerous that they impede communication.
U The response is unrelated to the assignment, is unreadable, is not written in the target language, or does not contain a sufficient amount of original work to score.
B There is no response to the assignment.

Directions for the Presentational Speaking Assignment

For this section of the test you will record a spoken response to the assignment that will be presented on the screen. You will have two minutes to read the assignment presented on the screen and consider your response. You will then have two minutes to record your response by speaking into a microphone. Your response must be in the target language. Once recording has begun, it cannot be stopped, nor can you re-record your response.

What you say must be relevant to the situation presented in the assignment. Your response will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • Purpose: The extent to which the response is appropriate and fulfills the assignment through the use of well-developed ideas
  • Organization and Coherence: The extent to which ideas are effectively sequenced and logically connected
  • Syntax and Grammar: The extent to which the response exhibits a command of syntax and grammar
  • Vocabulary: The extent to which the response demonstrates a command and range of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions
  • Fluency: The extent to which the response demonstrates the ability to maintain a steady rate and appropriate pace of speech without unnecessary hesitations or pauses
  • Pronunciation: The extent to which the response demonstrates intelligibility and accuracy of pronunciation

The speaking assignment and a Recorded Answer box will appear on the next screen. A sample of the Recorded Answer box appears below.

When you are ready, click Next and begin reading the assignment. The Recorded Answer box will count down the time until recording begins. You will have 2 minutes to review the assignment and prepare your response. Be sure not to begin speaking until the status on the Recorded Answer box changes to read the number of seconds remaining.

You will then have 2 minutes to complete your response in the target language. You can monitor your time remaining by referring to the Recorded Answer box. The time will count down from 120 seconds (2 minutes) and the status bar will fill as time progresses.

When your time is up, the current status on the Recorded Answer box will change to "completed" indicating the conclusion of the speaking section of the test. Once the status in the Recorded Answer box changes to "completed," select the Next button to continue with the remainder of the test. Do not click Next until you have finished recording your response.

You will have only ONE opportunity to record your response. Select the Next button when you have finished reading these directions and are ready to begin the presentational speaking section of the test. Be sure you have your headset on and that the microphone is in a downward position near your mouth before proceeding. Once you select the Next button, the timed speaking assignment will begin and you WILL NOT be able to return to these directions.

Sample Presentational Speaking Assignment

Competency 0010
In response to a prompt, demonstrate the ability to deliver coherent, well-developed discourse in the target language that effectively communicates a message.

Read the assignment below. You will have 2 minutes to review the assignment and prepare your response and then up to 2 minutes to respond to the assignment. Begin speaking in Mandarin when the current status on the Recorded Answer box automatically changes to "time remaining." Monitor your preparation and recording time by referring to the Recorded Answer box. Begin reviewing the assignment now.

Imagine that you have been asked to give a presentation in Mandarin to a group of educators about a past experience you have had in which you attended a cultural event such as a concert or art exhibit. Speaking in Mandarin, discuss your experience. In your presentation, you must include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • a narrative of an experience in which you attended a cultural event; and
  • an explanation of how this experience affected you.

Characteristics of a Strong Response to the Speaking Assignment

A strong response to the presentational speaking assignment would develop the topic by elaboration of specific points. The response would be delivered in a consistently clear manner. The speaker would speak fluently, demonstrating control of syntax and grammar. The speaker would show mastery of a broad vocabulary including appropriate idiomatic expressions. The speaker would handle simple and complex linguistic constructions, avoiding errors that interfere with communication. The speaker would exhibit good to excellent pronunciation and use of tones.

Performance Characteristics for the Presentational Speaking Assignment

Responses are scored holistically according to the following performance characteristics:

Purpose The extent to which the response is appropriate and fulfills the assignment through the use of well-developed ideas
Organization and Coherence The extent to which ideas are effectively sequenced and logically connected
Syntax and Grammar The extent to which the response exhibits a command of syntax and grammar
Vocabulary The extent to which the response demonstrates a command and range of vocabulary and idiomatic expressions
Fluency The extent to which the response demonstrates the ability to maintain a steady rate and appropriate pace of speech without unnecessary hesitations or pauses
Pronunciation The extent to which the response demonstrates intelligibility and accuracy of pronunciation

Scoring Scale for the Presentational Speaking Assignment

The four points of the scoring scale correspond to varying degrees of performance.

Score Point Score Point Description
4 The "4" response reflects a thorough understanding of relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response is completely appropriate and thoroughly fulfills the assignment by providing well-developed ideas and supporting details.
  • The ideas are effectively organized and logically connected.
  • The response exhibits comprehensive command of syntax and grammar, containing only minor errors that do not interrupt communication.
  • The response demonstrates a strong command and broad range of vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions.
  • A steady rate and appropriate pace of speech is consistently maintained, with few unnecessary hesitations or pauses.
  • Pronunciation is easily intelligible and accurate, with few, if any, errors.
3 The "3" response reflects a general understanding of relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response is appropriate and generally fulfills the assignment by providing adequately developed ideas with some supporting details.
  • The ideas are generally organized and connected.
  • The response exhibits an adequate command of syntax and grammar, although some errors may cause minor interruptions in communication.
  • The response demonstrates a general command and an adequate range of vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions.
  • A steady rate and appropriate pace of speech is generally maintained, although some unnecessary hesitations or pauses occur.
  • Pronunciation is generally intelligible; minor errors occur but do not interfere with communication.
2 The "2" response reflects a limited understanding of relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response may not be appropriate; it fulfills the assignment in a limited way by providing ideas that are partially developed, repetitive, and/or partially irrelevant.
  • The ideas are partially organized; connections between ideas may be lacking.
  • The response exhibits a limited command of syntax and grammar; errors sometimes interfere with communication.
  • The response demonstrates a limited command and narrow range of vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions.
  • The uneven rate and/or slow pace of speech may be distracting; there are frequent unnecessary hesitations or pauses.
  • Pronunciation contains several errors and is sometimes difficult to understand.
1 The "1" response reflects little understanding of relevant knowledge and skills.
  • The response is inappropriate and fulfills little of the assignment; ideas are not developed, and there are few, if any, relevant supporting details.
  • The ideas presented are unorganized and disjointed.
  • The response exhibits little or no command of syntax and grammar; significant and frequent errors impede communication.
  • The response demonstrates a weak command of vocabulary with little to no range. Idiomatic expressions, if used, may be inappropriate.
  • A rate of speech is not maintained; frequent hesitations and pauses impede communication.
  • Pronunciation is poor; the response includes numerous and conspicuous errors that impede communication.
U The response is unrelated to the assignment, is inaudible/incomprehensible, is not spoken in the target language, or does not contain a sufficient amount of original work to score.
B There is no response to the assignment.