ESB Entry Level Award in Graded Examinations in Speech (Entry 1) (EAL-A1)

ENGLISH-SPEAKING-BOARD-INTERNATIONAL-LTD

vocational

This unit focuses on developing essential speaking and listening skills for EAL learners at Entry 1 level. Candidates prepare and deliver a short talk, recite a memorised poem, and read aloud a passage, all while demonstrating clarity and audience awareness. The assessment simulates real-world communication in a supportive group environment, emphasizing active listening and appropriate responses.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Award credit for structuring the 1-minute talk with a clear introduction, main point(s), and simple conclusion, even if vocabulary is basic.
Award credit for reciting the poem entirely from memory, with minimal hesitation, and an effort to convey its meaning through tone.
Award credit for reading aloud with appropriate volume and pace, and for attempting to engage the audience by looking up occasionally.
Award credit for listening quietly to others and then asking at least one simple but relevant question, such as 'Where did you go?' or 'Do you like it?'

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Award credit for structuring the 1-minute talk with a clear introduction, main point(s), and simple conclusion, even if vocabulary is basic.
Award credit for reciting the poem entirely from memory, with minimal hesitation, and an effort to convey its meaning through tone.
Award credit for reading aloud with appropriate volume and pace, and for attempting to engage the audience by looking up occasionally.
Award credit for listening quietly to others and then asking at least one simple but relevant question, such as 'Where did you go?' or 'Do you like it?'

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Practice the 1-minute talk multiple times using a stopwatch; aim for 50-60 seconds of actual speaking to leave room for natural pauses.
💡Select a very short, rhythmical poem that is easy to memorise (e.g., a nursery rhyme or a simple haiku) and rehearse it with actions.
💡Before the exam, read aloud the chosen passage at least 5 times, focusing on places to pause and emphasise, and record yourself to check clarity.
💡Prepare a stock question in advance, such as 'How did you feel?' or 'What happened next?', and listen for an opportunity to use it appropriately.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Learners often mumble or drop their voice at the end of sentences, making it hard for the assessor to gauge full competence.
When reciting a poem, candidates may forget lines and pause for too long, then lose confidence entirely rather than recovering.
During the read-aloud, students might focus so much on decoding that they sound robotic and ignore punctuation.
In the Q&A, learners sometimes reply with minimal 'yes'/'no' answers instead of extending the response, missing the opportunity to demonstrate speaking range.

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

1. Plan and present a talk of one minute’s duration2. Speak in front of a small group and an assessor3. Recite a short poem (not a self-composition) from memory4. Read aloud a chosen passage from a favourite book/article5. Speak clearly enough for the listeners to hear6. Answer questions 7.Listen quietly to the presentation of others8.Ask a simple question

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic

ESB Entry Level Award in Graded Examinations in Speech (Entry 1) (EAL-A1)

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Key Terminology

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in ENGLISH-SPEAKING-BOARD-INTERNATIONAL-LTD vocational ESOL & Literacy

Graded Examinations in Speech - EAL

Graded Examinations in Speech - EAL

Graded Examinations in Speech -EAL

Group speaking