C1 Advanced Exam Marking Criteria

If you’re taking an exam, it’s important to understand what the examiners are looking for and how they grade you.

Reading and Use of English:

1. Reading:

   • Content: Understanding of the main ideas, details, opinions, attitudes, and purposes of a text.
   • Text Structure: Recognition of text organization, coherence, and linking between ideas.

2. Use of English:

   • Grammar and Vocabulary: Appropriate and accurate use of grammar structures and a varied, precise vocabulary.
   • Syntax and Cohesion: Mastery of sentence structure, coherence, and cohesive devices.

Writing:

1. Content:

   • Task Achievement: Addressing the specific requirements of the task, presenting relevant ideas, and developing arguments coherently.
   • Content and Relevance: Demonstrating a clear understanding of the topic and providing well-supported arguments.

2. Language:

   • Grammar and Vocabulary: Displaying a high level of grammatical accuracy and a rich, varied vocabulary.
   • Range of Structures: Demonstrating the ability to use a variety of sentence structures and language forms.

3. Organization:

   • Text Structure: Organizing ideas logically with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
   • Cohesion: Using cohesive devices to link ideas and maintain coherence throughout the text.

Listening:

1. Understanding:

   • Main Ideas: Grasping the main ideas and supporting details in a variety of spoken texts.
   • Attitude and Opinion: Identifying attitudes, opinions, and emotions conveyed in the recordings.

2. Language:

   • Grammar and Vocabulary: Recognizing and understanding a range of grammatical structures and vocabulary.
   • Pronunciation: Demonstrating an ability to understand different accents and pronunciations.

Speaking:

1. Interaction:

   • Engagement: Demonstrating active participation in discussions and interactions.
   • Initiation: Initiating and responding to communication effectively.

2. Language:

   • Grammar and Vocabulary: Using a range of grammatical structures and vocabulary accurately.
   • Fluency: Speaking with a natural flow, without undue hesitation.

3. Pronunciation:

   • Intelligibility: Communicating ideas clearly, with effective pronunciation and stress patterns.

General Considerations:

• Range and Accuracy: Demonstrating a breadth of vocabulary and grammatical structures while maintaining accuracy.
• Register and Style: Adapting language use to different contexts and demonstrating an awareness of appropriate register and style.