SPEAKING AND LISTENING How YOU can improve your grades. levels 1-4 Level 1 You talk about things that interest you. You listen to each other and make the right comments at the right time Other people understand what you are talking about. You speak clearly and can add some details. Level 2 You are CONFIDENT when speaking to others especially when you are talking about the things that really interest you. You show that you understand if other people cannot follow and you add more information if you need to. You speak clearly and you use the right words and new words. You usually listen carefully and can ask the right questions. You understand that sometimes you must use different types of speaking which changes the words you use and the TONE of your voice. Level 3 You talk CONFIDENTLY about lots of different things and lots of different ideas. When talking with others you can understand the main points. In discussion, you show understanding of the main points. From your questions it is obvious that you understand what has been said. For different listeners you change your words and how much detail you put in. You show that you understand the idea of STANDARD ENGLISH and when to use it. You can talk and listen with confidence on a lot more different things. You change your talk for the purpose: you think through ideas thoughtfully, describing what happens and explaining your opinions clearly. When talking, you listen carefully, making comments and asking questions that show that you have understood other people's ideas and views. You use features of STANDARD ENGLISH VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR properly. 1
SPEAKING AND LISTENING How YOU can improve your grades. levels 4-7 You can talk and listen with confidence on a lot more different things. You change your talk for the purpose: you think through ideas thoughtfully, describing what happens and explaining your opinions clearly. When talking, you listen carefully, making comments and asking questions that show that you have understood other people's ideas and views. You use features of STANDARD ENGLISH VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR properly. Level 5 You can talk and listen confidently in a wide range of contexts, including some that are more formal. Your talk is more interesting because you are starting to vary how you use your voice (your expression) and the words you use (your vocabulary). In discussion, you pay close attention to what others say, you ask questions which develop the speaker s ideas and make contributions that take account of others' views. You are beginning to use STANDARD ENGLISH in formal situations. Level 6 You adapt your talk to different contexts with increasing confidence. Your talk is even more interesting because you are good at varying your expression and your vocabulary. You take an active part in discussion, showing understanding of ideas and sensitivity to others. You are usually fluent in your use of Standard English in formal situations. Level 7 You always match your talk to the demands of different contexts. You use words precisely and organise your talk to communicate clearly. In discussion, you make significant contributions, evaluating others' ideas and varying how and when you participate. You show confident use of Standard English in situations that require it. 2
READING How YOU can improve your grades. Levels 1-4 Level 1 You can read simple words in simple books. When you are reading out loud you can remember letters and the sounds that they stand for so that you can read words and know what they mean, although sometimes you need some help. You can respond to poems, stories and non-fiction by saying what you like about them. Level 2 You can read and understand simple books. You can say what you think about the main events or ideas in stories, poems and non-fiction. You might not understand everything you read but if you come across a word you can t read or don t understand you have got a few ideas for different ways of working it out! Level 3 You can read and understand different types of stories, poems and non-fiction quite easily. You read on your own, and have lots of ideas for ways of working out what things mean. You can easily understand the main points in what you read and say which texts you prefer. You can also use your knowledge of the alphabet to help you when using a dictionary, an encyclopedia or the library. When you read you understand all of the important ideas, themes, events and characters. You are beginning to read between the lines for more understanding of these things. You can use examples or words from the text when you explain your thoughts and opinions about it. You can easily find and use information or ideas from the texts you are reading. 3
READING - How you can improve your grades Levels 4-7 When you read you understand all of the important ideas, themes, events and characters. You are beginning to read between the lines for more understanding of these things. You can use examples or words from the text when you explain your thoughts and opinions about it. You can easily find and use information or ideas from the texts you are reading. Level 5 You read and understand a wider range of texts. You can very easily choose the most important points in a text and you are good at reading between the lines so that you have a deeper understanding of ideas, themes, events and characters. When talking or writing about a text you identify key features, themes and characters. You are good at choosing sentences, phrases or relevant information to back up your comments about the text. You can easily find, use and organise information from a wide range of texts. Level 6 You read and discuss a range of texts. You identify layers of meaning and comment on their importance and effect. You can give your personal opinions about poems, plays or novels and can discuss language, structure and themes to support your comments. You can easily find, use, organise and summarise information from a wide range of texts. Level 7 You understand how a range of writers convey meaning and information. You express your own personal and critical responses to poems, plays and novels. You are very good at identifying and discussing themes, structure and language in texts you read. You can easily find, use, organise, summarise and bring together a range of information from a variety of sources. 4
WRITING - How YOU can improve your grades. Level 1 You can write your ideas with simple words and phrases. You use full stops in the right way. You can write your letters in the right shapes. levels 1-4 Level 2 You can write stories and write things that are not stories. The words you use are the right ones for the job and you are thinking about the person who must read it Your sentences follow each other in a sensible way and you can use capital letters at the beginning and full-stops at the end. You can spell simple words OR what you have spelled follows the sound of the word. Your handwriting is easy to read and is all the same size. Level 3 Your writing is organised, imaginative and easy to follow. You can use different sorts of writing for different purposes and readers. Sentences follow on from each other is a sensible way. Words are picked because they are interesting and not always the same. You can use the correct GRAMMAR in the sentences. You spell longer words correctly. You use full stops, capital letters and question marks correctly. Your handwriting is joined up and easy to read. Your writing is lively and thoughtful. Ideas are often kept going and developed in interesting ways and organised suitably for the purpose of the reader. Choices of words are often adventurous and the words are used for make an effect. You begin to use more grammatically complicated sentences, making meaning clearer. Spelling, including words with many SYLLABLES, is usually correct. Full stops, capital letters and question marks are used correctly, and you are beginning to use punctuation inside the sentence. Your handwriting style is controlled, joined-up and easy to read. 5
WRITING - How you can improve your writing levels 4 8 Your writing is lively and thoughtful. Ideas are often kept going and developed in interesting ways and organised suitably for the purpose of the reader. Choices of words are often adventurous and the words are used for make an effect. You begin to use more grammatically complicated sentences, extending meaning. Spelling, including words with many syllables, is usually accurate. Full stops, capital letters and question marks are used correctly, and you are beginning to use punctuation inside the sentence. Your handwriting style is controlled, joined-up and easy to read. Level 5 Your writing is varied and interesting, varying the content and style for different readers, using a more formal style when you need to. Choices of words are imaginative and words are used precisely. Simple and complex sentences are organised into paragraphs. Really difficult words are usually spelt correctly. You use commas, apostrophes and inverted commas accurately. Handwriting is joined-up, clear and fluent and, where appropriate, is adapted to a range of tasks. Level 6 Your' writing often catches the attention and keeps the reader's interest, showing some changes of style and register to different forms, including using an impersonal style where appropriate. You can use lots of different sentence structures and different words and phrases to create effects. Spelling is generally accurate, including that of irregular words. Handwriting is neat and legible. A range of punctuation is usually used correctly to clarify meaning, and ideas are organised into paragraphs. Level 7 Your writing is confident and shows suitable choices of style in a range of forms. In story writing, characters and settings are developed and, in non-fiction, ideas are organised and make logical sense. Grammatical features and vocabulary are accurately and effectively used. Spelling is correct, including that of complex irregular words. Work is legible and attractively presented. Paragraphing and correct punctuation are used to make the sequence of events or ideas sensible and clear to the reader. Level 8 Your writing shows the selection of specific features or expressions, such as imagery and figures of speech to convey particular effects and to interest the reader. Story writing shows control of characters, events and settings, and shows variety in structure. Non-fiction writing is coherent and gives clear points of view. The use of vocabulary and grammar enables fine distinctions to be made or emphasis achieved. Writing shows a clear grasp of the use of punctuation and paragraphing. 6