SEW1

Introduction

Candidate profile
A candidate who has successfully passed SEW 1 can:
• understand the main points of clear speech on familiar work-related matters
• enter into conversation and exchange information on familiar work-related subjects, of personal interest or related to everyday life
• demonstrate a sufficient range of language to describe experiences and events and give reasons and explanations for plans.
This profile is based on the level Independent User, Threshold, B1 of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (2001).

Format
The SEW 1 examination consists of the following:
• Telephone task - Guidance
• Introductions
• Discussion of a prepared topic - Guidance
• Discussion of one subject area - Guidance
• End of examination and leave-taking.

Procedure
The examination begins with the Telephone task. The candidate is shown to the telephone room by the supervisor where they are given a written prompt. The candidate has a short time in which to read the prompt and, if they wish, make notes. The candidate then telephones the examiner, who is in another room. It is the responsibility of the candidate to initiate the conversation in order to resolve the issue and bring it to a successful close. This task lasts no more than three minutes.
Once this task is over the candidate goes to the examination room and meets the examiner. The examiner introduces themselves and spends a few moments setting the candidate at ease. The examiner also asks the candidate for their ID and the examination proceeds to the next phase.
The candidate tells the examiner the title of their topic and gives the examiner the notes on their topic. The examiner randomly selects one of the points on this list and asks the candidate to talk about it. The candidate responds with a limited long turn (three or four sentences). The examiner may ask questions about each point. This phase lasts no more than five minutes. During the Topic discussion, the candidate asks the examiner at least one question related to the topic.
The examiner selects one of the listed subject areas and engages the candidate in discussion. During the Discussion, the candidate gives information, makes statements and responds as appropriate. The candidate must ask the examiner at least one question related to the subject area being discussed. This phase lasts no more than four minutes.
The examiner brings the phase and the examination to an end.

Assessment
The examiner assesses the candidate’s performance by selecting one of four levels of performance and awards a letter grade A, B, C or D for Task fulfilment for the Telephone task, Topic discussion and Discussion phases. These levels can be classified as follows:
A — Distinction
B — Merit
C — Pass
D — Fail
The combination of the three letter grades, i.e. the one awarded for the Telephone task, the one awarded for the Topic discussion and the one awarded for the Discussion, provides the overall level of achievement. The examiner gives a provisional indication on the Report form as to whether the candidate has passed or failed. Examiners indicate key areas which are in need of improvement by using the appropriate tick boxes provided on the Report form.

Format
Total examination time: 13 minutes
(including 1 minute for room change after the Telephone task)
The examination consists of three assessed phases:
• Telephone task (up to 3 minutes)
• Discussion of a topic prepared by the candidate (up to 5 minutes)
• Discussion of one subject area selected by the examiner (up to 4 minutes)

Candidate performance
In performing the required tasks, the candidate is expected to demonstrate the following communicative skills and use the language items listed overleaf.

Communicative skills

In the Telephone task
• Initiate the discourse
• Use appropriate register and conventions as required by the task
• Show understanding of the examiner by responding appropriately to verbal prompts
• Seek clarification of the written prompt if necessary
• Bring the task to a satisfactory conclusion
• Take the opportunity provided to use the functions listed below, where appropriate

In the Topic discussion
• Give information about the prepared topic in a series of linked long turns according to the notes given to the examiner
• Show understanding of the examiner by answering questions on the prepared topic, and participate in informal discussion of the topic, during which the examiner might request more information, facts or details
• Respond to requests for clarification and give reasons for making particular statements
• Ask the examiner at least one question about the topic area
• Take the opportunity provided to use the functions listed below, where appropriate

In the Discussion
• Show understanding of the examiner by responding appropriately to questions
• Respond to requests for clarification and give reasons for making particular statements
• Ask the examiner at least one question about the subject area

One subject area for conversation will be selected by the examiner from the list below:
• After-work activities
• Different workplaces
• Jobs and people
• Recent events at work
• Work experience

Functions
• Exchanging greetings and leave-taking in an appropriate register
• Giving personal information
• Describing manner and frequency
• Describing people and objects
• Talking about the future — discussing plans and intentions, and informing and predicting
• Expressing simple comparisons
• Expressing likes, dislikes and preferences
• Talking about past events including events in the indefinite and recent past
• Giving reasons
• Stating the duration of events
• Quantifying

Language production
The candidate is expected to demonstrate the ability to use the items listed below.

Grammar
• Present simple tense and present continuous
• Past simple tense (regular and irregular verbs)
• Present perfect tense including use with for, since, ever, never, just
• Will referring to the future for informing and predicting
• Going to and present continuous referring to the future
• Expressions of preference, e.g. I prefer, I’d rather
• Link words, e.g. and, then, but and because
• Adjectives (comparatives and superlatives)
• Adverbs of manner and frequency, and adverbials of quantity, e.g. a lot (of), not very much, many
• Formation of questions and the use of question words

Lexis
• Vocabulary specific to the topic category
• Vocabulary specific to the subject areas
• Expressions relating to past and future time, e.g. two days ago, in the future

Phonology
• The correct pronunciation of vocabulary specific to the topic category and subject areas
• The combination of weak forms and contractions, e.g. I’ve been to...
• The intonation patterns of basic question forms