Band 5.0 - 5.5

There are a number of subordinate clauses and some evidence of an ability to manipulate complex verb groups (present perfect & continuous tenses and passive voice). There are, however, no relative clauses at all and this does limit the candidate’s ability to extend sentences. 

Errors are frequent. Articles are used almost randomly and present the full range of common mistakes: omitted article (I’m student); redundant article – for sports: the badminton, for companies: the Tommy, and for countries/continents: the mainland China, the Europe; along with the incorrect choice of definite rather than indefinite article. Verb forms also often lead to error: I like read [reading] the books; I think is play [it is playing] with my buddies. Likewise singular/plural forms: another aspects; higher stage of the societies. 

The candidate is able to respond to all questions and demonstrates a range of vocabulary that includes some less common elements (e.g. self-esteem, commonplace). 

However, there are a number of errors related primarily to (1) word form (e.g. after the graduate [graduation]; renewable energy facilitate [facility]; go to German [Germany]; his professional [professionalism] and (2) inappropriate/incorrect word choice (e.g. differenties [differences]; I dislike track [being trapped] at home; get my passions [perhaps ‘see my style’]; so far so good [so so]. Some of these inappropriacies result in a breakdown in communication. 

There is little attempt at paraphrase. 

Some words are mispronounced and there are a few systematic problem areas such as replacing a soft th with f, and dropping the l in some consonant clusters (e.g. play, employer). Nonetheless, the speaker’s meaning is generally clear. However, the mispronunciation of some words could lead to confusion: e.g. ‘colleague’ mispronounced as college; ‘beer’ mispronounced as bear. 

There is good use of intonation but a tendency to overstress sometimes results in a slightly staccato delivery which, along with the frequent hesitations associated with repetitions and self-correction, impacts the speaker’s ability to produce acceptable chunking.