Speaking rubric and exit tickets
A classroom tool for teachers. It is a simple guide for feedback and is not an official CEFR, IELTS or other exam assessment.
Four-criterion speaking rubric
Use it with the role-play cards or any unit task. Mark each criterion from 1 to 4 and write one comment.
| Criterion | 1 · Beginning | 2 · Developing | 3 · Secure | 4 · Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear message | Hard to follow. Needs a lot of help. | Main idea is clear with some help. | Clear and complete for the situation. | Clear, complete and well organised. |
| Polite, natural phrases | Few polite phrases; may sound abrupt. | Uses “please” and “thanks”; some set phrases. | Uses several natural café phrases. | Uses natural, friendly phrases with ease. |
| Understanding and repair | Does not ask for help when lost. | Asks for repeats with prompting. | Asks politely for repeats or checks meaning. | Checks, repeats and recovers smoothly. |
| Fluency and pronunciation | Many long pauses; hard to understand. | Some pauses; understandable with effort. | Mostly smooth; easy to understand. | Smooth and clear; natural rhythm. |
Total: ___ / 16. Suggested comment: one thing done well, one thing to practise next.
Peer feedback prompts
- One phrase my partner used well was…
- One time my partner asked for help or repeated something was…
- Next time, my partner could try saying…
- Was the message clear? Yes / Mostly / Not yet
End-of-pack speaking check (3 minutes)
Learner and teacher (or two learners) act out this scene. Do not give the words in advance.
You arrive at an Australian café. Order a drink and something to eat, ask one question about the menu, pay, and collect your order. There is one small problem: your drink is not quite right.
- Listen for: a polite order, one question, payment, a repair for the problem.
- Mark with the rubric above.
- Give feedback in two sentences: one strength, one next step.
Exit tickets (cut out)
Give one at the end of each unit. Learners hand it in as they leave. Read them to see which phrases to revise next lesson.
Exit ticket: Unit 1: Your first café orders
Write one polite way to order a coffee.
One new phrase I will use:
My confidence: 😟 😐 🙂 😀 (circle one)
Exit ticket: Unit 2: Paying and collecting
How do you ask to pay by card?
One new phrase I will use:
My confidence: 😟 😐 🙂 😀 (circle one)
Exit ticket: Unit 3: Fast speech and different voices
What can you say when you do not understand?
One new phrase I will use:
My confidence: 😟 😐 🙂 😀 (circle one)
Exit ticket: Unit 4: Problems and dietary needs
How can you ask about ingredients politely?
One new phrase I will use:
My confidence: 😟 😐 🙂 😀 (circle one)
Exit ticket: Unit 5: Café life and culture
Write one friendly phrase you heard in a café.
One new phrase I will use:
My confidence: 😟 😐 🙂 😀 (circle one)
Exit ticket: Unit 6: Working in a café
How do you check an order before you make it?
One new phrase I will use:
My confidence: 😟 😐 🙂 😀 (circle one)
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