Campaign 1
Speaking and writing standards
Introduction
This document contains writing and speaking standards for the mid and end of course tests. We suggest that
a student who is progressing satisfactorily will have reached these standards.
The teacher may wish to give a pass/fail grade for speaking and writing  a pass grade means that the student
has met the standard. Alternatively, the teacher may give a percentage score on the following scale.
Falls significantly below the standard. between 0 and 25%
Falls below the standard. between 25% and 50%
Meets the standard. 50%
Exceeds the standard. between 50 and 75%
Significantly exceeds the standard. between 75% and 100%
This standard assumes that the passing score is 50%.
Campaign 1 Speaking and Writing Standards 1
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Campaign 1
Mid-course speaking standard
At this level, the student is able to ...
1 introduce and identify himself/herself.
2 spell his/her name accurately, using both the standard and phonetic alphabet.
3 exchange greetings and use other rehearsed courtesy expressions.
4 give basic information about his/her family, interests and pastimes.
5 give limited information about his/her job, including daily routines and tasks.
6 offer a simple description of people, places and things in very familiar scenarios.
To at least the following standards:
The speaker often uses only one tense. Almost every sentence is characterised by
Grammar errors in basic grammatical structures, especially in the choice of tense and in
word order.
The speaker has a limited vocabulary to talk about common, familiar topics.
Vocabulary His/her range of vocabulary is often very narrow and he/she often chooses the
wrong word.
Common words are generally pronounced in a way that is comprehensible to
Pronunciation someone used to speaking with non-native speakers. Stress and intonation is poor
and heavily influenced by the student s first language.
Is fluent only in memorised, rehearsed expressions. Speaks with great difficulty.
He/she speaks slowly and hesitantly  constantly groping for words and with
Delivery
constant repetition and repair. The interlocutor strains to understand even simple
statements from the student.
Campaign 1 Speaking and Writing Standards 2
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Campaign 1
End of course speaking standard
At this level, the student is able to ...
1 start and maintain a conversation about common work and personal topics.
2 answer predictable, common questions about common work and personal topics.
3 give simple directions for vehicles and for travelling on foot.
4 give straightforward instructions on simple, routine tasks.
5 request information from his/her interlocutor.
6 ask for clarification when he/she doesn t understand.
To at least the following standards:
Speaks with some grammatical accuracy and uses common forms of verb tenses,
Grammar although he/she makes frequent errors in verb tenses, plurals, articles, linking
words, passive constructions and word order.
The speaker has the vocabulary to talk about common work and personal topics.
Vocabulary However, his/her ability to give precise information and instructions is limited.
He/she often has to change topic in order to continue the conversation.
Pronunciation is understandable to someone used to speaking with non-native
Pronunciation speakers. However, pronunciation of individual words and aspects of stress and
intonation interfere with communication and often cause misunderstanding.
Is fluent only in short sentences. He/she speaks hesitantly and often has to repeat
Delivery in order to be understood. His/her interlocutor often has to strain to understand.
Shows a limited awareness of the social conventions of conversation.
Campaign 1 Speaking and Writing Standards 3
This page has been downloaded from www.campaignmilitaryenglish.com.
It is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages.
Copyright © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2006.
Campaign 1
Mid-course writing standard
At this level, the student is able to ...
1 write lists, short notes and phone messages.
2 fill out forms, including reports and returns.
To at least the following standards:
The writer often uses only one tense. Almost every sentence is characterised by
Grammar errors in basic grammatical structures, especially in the choice of tense and in
word order.
The writer has a limited vocabulary to write about common, familiar topics.
Vocabulary His/her range of vocabulary is often very narrow and he/she often chooses the
wrong word.
Mechanics Frequent errors in spelling and punctuation.
The writing tends to be a loose collection of sentences or sentence fragments.
Coherence Sentences are comprehensible to readers who are used to non-native speaker
attempts at writing.
Campaign 1 Speaking and Writing Standards 4
This page has been downloaded from www.campaignmilitaryenglish.com.
It is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages.
Copyright © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2006.
Campaign 1
End of course writing standard
At this level, the student is able to ...
1 write simple summaries of biographical data or work experience.
2 write straightforward directions.
3 write straightforward instructions on routine topics.
4 write simple letters.
To at least the following standards:
Writes with some grammatical accuracy and uses common forms of verb tenses,
Grammar although he/she makes frequent errors in verb tenses, plurals, articles, linking
words, passive constructions and word order.
Has the vocabulary to write about common work and personal topics. However,
his/her ability to give precise information and instructions is limited and meaning
Vocabulary
is often distorted by the wrong choice of word. He/she often uses circumlocution
to deal with these limitations.
Spells common words correctly although errors in spelling and punctuation may
Mechanics
distort meaning.
Typically organises his/her writing by topic or by sequence of events, although
the relationship between ideas may not always be clear. Writes in complete,
Coherence
although simple sentences. Combines and links sentences and paragraphs. His/her
writing is generally appropriate to the occasion.
Campaign 1 Speaking and Writing Standards 5
This page has been downloaded from www.campaignmilitaryenglish.com.
It is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages.
Copyright © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2006.