eald supporting information for practical examinations 2012_pdf

8/10/2019 EALD Supporting Information for Practical Examinations 2012_pdf

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English as an Additional Language or Dialect: Practical (oral) WACE examination requirements 2012

English as an Additional Language or

DialectStages 2 and 3

WACE Practical (oral)examination requirements for

Western Australian candidates

2012


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English as an Additional Language or Dialect: Practical (oral) examinations requirements 2011

Copyright

School Curriculum and Standards Authority 2012This documentapart from any third party copyright material contained in itmay be freely copied, or communicated on anintranet, for non-commercial purposes by educational institutions, provided that it is not changed in any way and that theSchool Curriculum and Standards Authority is acknowledged as the copyright owner.Copying or communication for any other purpose can be done only within the terms of the Copyright Act or by permission ofthe School Curriculum and Standards Authority.Copying or communication of any third party copyright material contained in this document can be done only within the termsof the Copyright Act or by permission of the copyright owners.Disclaimer

Any resources such as texts, websites and so on that may be referred to in this document are provided as examples ofresources that teachers can use to support their learning programs. Their inclusion does not imply that they are mandatoryor that they are the only resources relevant to the course.2010/11110[v5]


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English as an Additional Language or Dialect: Practical (oral) examinations requirements 2012 1

English as an Additi onal Language or Dialect practical (oral) WACE examinationsThis document provides general advice to teachers, candidates and parents on the Englishas an Additional Language or Dialect practical (oral) WACE examinations for Stage 2 andStage 3.

Students who are in their final year of schooling and are enrolled in a pair of Stage 2 orStage 3 units in the EAL/D course will be required to complete a practical (oral) examination

unless they are exempt from the examination.

The practical (oral) examination for Stage 2 and Stage 3 EAL/D is to be held during the periodfrom Saturday, 20 October 2012 to Sunday, 28 October 2012(Saturdays and Sundaysare included) at metropolitan locations. Candidates must make arrangements to be availableto complete their WACE practical (oral) examination during this time. The School Curriculumand Standards Authority will inform candidates of the date, time and location of theexamination by 18 September 2012. School candidates will be notified through their schools.Private candidates will be notified directly by mail. If country candidates are in a country areawhere a centre is not allocated they will be contacted through their school about examinationarrangements.

For EAL/D, the WACE examinations weightings for Stage 2 and Stage 3 are:

Written examination paper (two and a half hours) 75%

Practical (oral) examination 25%

1. Reporting achievementTeachers are responsible for ensuring the syllabus requirements are met and making surecandidates are adequately prepared for the practical (oral) examination. Teachers mustensure they are using the current accredited syllabus. Any further advice on matters relatedto the syllabus assessment requirements of the Authority will be published in the e-Circular.Teachers should also refer to the WACE examination policy published in Section 7 of theWACE Manual 2012,whichis available in schools and on the Authority website.

Schools are required to submit a grade for each completed unit to the School Curriculum andStandards Authority. For courses that have a practical examination, schools will submit threemarks: a school mark out of 100; a written mark out of 100; and a practical mark out of 100for each Year 12 student (and any other WACE examination candidate). The Authority will: separately standardise the written examination mark and the practical examination mark moderate the written school marks using the written examination marks and moderate

the practical school marks using the practical examination marks combine the standardised moderated written school mark, the standardised written

examination mark, the standardised moderated practical school mark and thestandardised practical examination mark to calculate the combined mark for eachcandidate.

2. Candidates with an injury, illness or disability

Candidates who have a permanent disability that could prevent them demonstrating theirknowledge, understanding or skills in a standard practical examination may apply to beassessed under special examination arrangements. Candidates with a long-term injury orillness which existed prior to the beginning of Term 3 are to apply for special arrangements tobe examined in an alternative format if the injury or illness will affect their participation in thestandard practical examination. Application is made on the form available at all schools andmust be received at the Authority by Friday,3 August 2012. These candidates will not begranted sickness/misadventure approval.


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Additional forms may be obtained on request or from the Authority websitewww.scsa.wa.edu.au.

Candidates who believe their performance in a practical examination may have beenaffected by an unexpected sickness, or unforseen event beyond their control, close to orduring the WACE examinations may apply for sickness/misadventure consideration.Application is made by the candidate by the prescribed date using the form available in

schools or from the Authority website www.scsa.wa.edu.au.

3. Non genuine attemptsCandidates without a practical examination mark could be identified as having not made agenuine attempt in the examination. Further information regarding genuine attempt in anexamination can be found in the WACE Manual 2012page 101.

4. Principles of external assessmentThe marking process preserves the anonymity of the candidate and the candidates school.This requires that candidates are identified only by their randomly allocated School Curriculumand Standards Authority student number.

Markers apply a consistent standard and process to assess the candidates performance.This requires: marking keys for Stage 2 and Stage 3 units attendance at marker training meetings prior to the commencement of marking trial marking of sample interviews to ensure a common understanding of the marking key independent marking of each candidates WACE examination performance by two

markers the reconciliation of the two independent marks for each criterion recording of the examination interview.

5. Criteria for markingPractical (oral) performance is assessed on what the candidate understands and is able todemonstrate. Candidates should not therefore be concerned if they do not understand an

individual question. In such a case, they can ask for the question to be repeated withoutpenalty. If the candidate does not attempt to answer the question and does not make anyother comment in relation to the question within a reasonable amount of time, the marker willmove on to a different question.

Candidates are strongly advised not to use the questions asked during the practical (oral)examination about course issues and texts as a means of dominating the conversation with aprepared response that resembles a monologue. In the interests of the candidate, suchmonologues will be interrupted at an appropriate point.

A numerical scale will be used to assess candidate performance in the practical (oral)examination for Stage 2 and Stage 3 EAL/D. All candidates will be examined against thefollowing criteria:

interaction on familiar topics linguistic resources (accuracy, appropriacy and range of grammar and lexis)

fluency and clarity (pronunciation, intonation, stress)

content (prepared response to visual stimulus and focus questions)

interaction on unseen question

content (course issue/ text discussion related to unit descriptions and content)

content (sociocultural understandings and analysis)

communication strategies.


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An audio recording of each candidates performance in the WACE practical (oral) examinationis made. The audio recordings are used to ensure comparability between markers. Selectedsamples of audio recordings may also be included as exemplars for standards purposes.

Each candidates practical examination will be marked independently by two markers. Onemarker conducts the interview while the second marker sits in the background and makesnotes on the candidates performance.

6. Examination procedureOn the day of the WACE practical (oral) examination, the candidate is required to report to asupervisor at the examination centre at the scheduled reporting time. The scheduled reportingtime is 20 minutes prior to the scheduled examination time.

The WACE practical (oral) examination includes both the preparation time and interview. Thescheduled examination time for candidates is the time at which they begin their preparation.

At the commencement of the scheduled examination time, a supervisor gives the candidate apreparation booklet.

Candidates may refer to a dictionary during the 15 minute preparation time. The dictionarymust be an English language print dictionary. An electronic dictionary or a thesaurus is notpermitted. If candidates wish to refer to a dictionary during the preparation time, they arerequired to provide their own. Candidates may not refer to a dictionary during theexamination interview.

Following the 15 minute preparation time, candidates are guided to their allocated interviewroom.

Mobile phones or any recording devices must be handed in to the supervisor before theexamination and collected at the end.

Candidates who have not reported to a supervisor once their scheduled examination time

has commenced will not be admitted to the WACE practical (oral) examination and theexamination cannot be rescheduled. Please refer to our Year 12 Information Handbook 2012for further information about the provisions for sickness/misadventure.

Candidates must ensure that nothing they carry or wear can identify either them, their school,club or achievements. If this does occur, candidates will be referred to the breach ofexamination rules committee. Uniforms or other items of clothing, equipment orstamped/labelled material that may be identified with a school are not permitted in the WACEexamination.

Candidates must leave the examination area once they have completed their examination,and must not have contact with those waiting to be examined.


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7. Information for Stage 2 and Stage 3 pract ical (oral) examinationThe English as an Additional Language or Dialect WACE examination comprises a writtenexamination worth 75% of the total examination score and a practical (oral) examination worth25% of the total examination score.

WACE Practical (oral) examination requirementsCandidates must bring their candidate advice notification which states their student numberand time of examination for the practical (oral) examination.

Structure of the Stage 2 and Stage 3 WACE practical (oral) examination

Examination Duration

Preparation 15 minutes

Interview

Part A: Introductorydiscussion

Total of 1012 minutes

approximately 2 minutes

Part B: Visual stimulus/focus questions/unseenquestion


Part C: Course issuediscussionbased on both units


During the preparation time the candidate prepares responses to the visual stimulus item (acoloured laminated picture) and focus questions they are given by the supervisor and makes

notes in the preparation booklet provided.

The visual stimulus and focus questions are based on generally accessible topics and issues.

The preparation booklet contains a black and white version of the colour visual stimulus item,the focus questions and space for making notes. The candidate should use the notes theyhave prepared for reference only, or as a memory prompt for the next point. The candidateshould ensure that they do not read from their notes.

Following the 15 minute preparation time, the candidate is taken to the allocated interviewroom. The candidate leaves their coloured visual stimulus item in the preparation room andtakes with them their preparation booklet to use in Part B of the interview. A copy of thecoloured visual stimulus item is provided in the interview room. At the end of the interview and

before leaving the interview room, the candidate must hand in the visual stimulus andpreparation booklet to the marker.

Dictionaries may be used during the preparation time but not during the interview of theWACE practical (oral) examination.


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8. Interview

Part A: Introductory discussion (approximately 2 minutes)After the candidate enters the interview room the marker asks the candidate to state theirSCSA student number. The candidate reads out their number.

The marker begins the interview with a greeting to the candidate and it is expected that thecandidate will respond, for example:

Marker: Hello, I am your interviewer for the EAL/D oral examination today. Can youread me your School Curriculum and Standards Authority student numberplease?

Candidate: Hello, my number is...

Marker: Thank you. How are you?

Candidate: Im well thanks, but a little nervous.

The marker continues the introductory discussion with questions on familiar topics related tothe candidates everyday environment. Some examples follow. This list is neither prescriptive

nor exhaustive.

Marker: Where are you from? Which area are you from?

Marker: How long have you been studying English? How many languages do youspeak? What are they? Explain when you use them.

Marker: What subjects are you studying? What is it you like learning about the most?Why?

Marker: Do you have much free time? What do you do?

The number of questions is not predetermined. The questions are aimed at settling the

candidate and developing a rapport between the interviewing marker and the candidate. Thecandidate should interact with the marker in a conversational manner.

Part B: Visual stimulus, focus questions and unseen question (approximately 34minutes)The candidate uses the visual stimulus and focus questions on which they have made notesto speak for approximately three minutes. During the remaining time of this part of theinterview, the candidate responds to an unseen question related to the visual stimulus andfocus questions. The candidate is required to provide a brief description of the picture/visualstimulus and then to present their ideas related to the focus questions in a sustained utterance.

The marker starts Part B of the interview with these words:

Marker: You have been given a visual stimulus and some focus questions to considerin your preparation time. What stimulus number do you have?

Candidate: My stimulus number is X.Marker: Thank you. Id like you to talk about these now. Start by briefly describing the

picture and then continue with your ideas related to the focus questions.Youshould try to speak for about three minutes.

Candidate: This picture shows...


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If the candidate stops speaking after describing the picture, the marker may prompt candidatecomments on the focus questions in this way:

Marker: Now Id like to hear your ideas related to the focus questions.

The candidate should aim to speak for approximately three minutes. The candidate shouldalso aim to display the flexible use of a range of linguistic structures and vocabulary during

this time.

The candidate is able to choose which of the focus questions they speak about. However,candidates should attempt to address the more conceptually demanding questions.

The candidate should ensure that they do not read from their notes. If the candidate is unableto reach three minutes in a sustained utterance, the marker will assist them to do so by askingfurther questions related to the focus questions.

In the remaining time, the interviewing marker asks the candidate an unseen question relatedto the visual stimulus and focus questions.

Marker: Thank you. Now here is your unseen question...

The candidate should respond to this in a clear and relevant manner.

The candidate may ask for the question to be repeated if necessary and it will be asked asecond time. The interviewing marker will break down the level of difficulty of the question toassist candidate comprehension if necessary.

Samplesof focus questions related to the Stage 2 and 3 units are provided in the English asan Additional Language or Dialect Sample questions for oral communication assessmentdocument. This document can be accessed in the Assessment and Other Support Materialssection of the EAL/D course page on the Authority website. Teachers may choose to refer tothese questions when preparing candidates for the practical (oral) examination.

At the end of Part B of the interview, the marker thanks the candidate, asks the candidate forthe visual stimulus and their preparation booklet, and introduces Part C.

Part C: Course issue discussion (approximately 56 minutes)The candidate is invited to nominate issues/topics related to the focus and content of each ofthe units for discussion. The candidate uses their responses to demonstrate their oral Englishlanguage communication skills and understandings of the focus and content of each of theunits. Candidates outline and analyse specific examples from texts clearly linked to each unitfocus to illustrate their skills and understandings.

In Part C of the interview, the candidate engages in an interactive discussion with the marker.Candidates who launch into a monologue or who recite rote-learned material will be stoppedby the marker, thanked politely and asked another question to redirect the discussion and to

elicit spontaneous speech. Candidates should understand that in doing this the marker isassisting them to maximise their performance.

Questions are generally open-ended and provide the candidate with the opportunity toexpress ideas and opinions and to give precise examples to support these from texts relatedto the unit focus they have studied in their course work. Candidates are advised to preparetheir texts, issues and topics thoroughly to allow them to demonstrate flexibility and precisionin their oral communication skills.


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The marker introduces Part C of the interview in this way:

Marker: We are going to talk about your course work now. This year, you havestudied various issues and topics in class. Please tell me about one issue ortopic that you studied and explain it to me. Why did this issue or topic interestyou so much?

The marker prompts the candidate to discuss what they learned about an issue from a text ortexts they have studied in this way:

Marker: What texts did you read or view that explored this issue/topic?

The marker initiates discussion of a topic from the other unit of the course in this way:

Marker: Thank you. Now lets move on to an issue or topic from the other unit of thecourse you studied.

Candidate: Well, in our other unit on (unit focus), I learned a lot about (issue/ topic). Thiswas really interesting because (reason...)

Marker: What texts did you read or view that explored this issue/topic?

Samplesof questions related to each of the course units are provided in the English as anAdditional Language or Dialect Sample questions for oral communication assessmentdocument. This document can be accessed in the Assessment and Other Support Materialssection of the EAL/D course page on the Authority website. Teachers may choose to refer tothese questions when preparing candidates for the WACE practical (oral) examination.

At the end of the interview the marker concludes with the words:

Marker: Thank you, this is the end of the interview. Please hand your visual stimulusand preparation booklet to your supervisor.


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Office use only .

Candidate advice notif ication

Practical (oral) examination in

English as an Additional Language or Dialect Stage 2

SCSA student number:

Candidate: Rebecca Smith

School name: Fairfield College School code: 1005

Examination details

Course: English as an Additional Language or Dialect Stage 2

Date: Thursday, XX October 2012

Reporting time: 8:40am

Examination time: 9:00am

Venue: ABC

Reporting location: Student servicesRefer to the map on the back of this notification

These examination details are final and no changes can be made.

Candidates must not contact the venue about the examination arrangements. Any queriesmust be directed to the School Curriculum and Standards Authority on 9273 6377.

Candidates must not wear or carry anything that identifies either them, their school, club orachievements. If this does occur, candidates will be referred to the Breach of ExaminationRules committee.

Candidates who have not reported to a supervisor once their scheduled examination timehas commenced will not be admitted to the practical (oral) examination and the examinationcannot be rescheduled.

Candidates are required to sign this advice notification prior to the examination This signedadvice notification is handed to the supervisor when registering at the examination venue forthe practical (oral) examination.

SignatureDate

Emergency contact for country candidates: Jenny Morup: 9273 6377


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2012 Practical Examinations

English as an AdditionalLanguage or Dialect

A map of the venue will be provided.

eald supporting information for practical examinations 2012_pdf

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