STYLE Level 1
STYLE Level 1 is aimed at the A1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Here you’ll find information for Level 1 regarding:
Level
The overall descriptors of the A1 level of the CEFR have been used to guide the content and level of the examination. According to these descriptions, users of the language at this level can:
- Follow speech that is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses for him/her to assimilate meaning.
- Understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at a time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required.
- Write simple isolated phrases and sentences.
- Interact in a simple way but communication is totally dependent on repetition at a slower rate of speech, rephrasing and repair.
- Can ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.
Format & Content of STYLE Level 1
| Section | Time | Total marks | No. of Tasks | Tasks | No. of questions (excluding examples) | Format |
| Listening | 20 minutes | 20 | 4 | Task 1 | 5 |
5 short dialogues heard twice with 1 question per dialogue – candidates match the person with the picture |
| Task 2 | 5 |
1 dialogue heard twice – 5 short statements to which candidates choose True or False |
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| Task 3 | 5 |
1 dialogue heard twice – candidates complete 5 gaps in a very simple list |
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| Task 4 | 5 |
5 short dialogues heard twice with 1 question per dialogue and 3 picture answer choices per question |
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| Reading & Use of Language |
25 minutes | 20 | 4 | Task 1 | 5 |
5 short sentences, each describing a picture – candidates choose whether each sentence is True or False |
| Task 2 | 5 |
A story divided into 5 short texts, each with 1 question and 3 answer choices |
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| Task 3 | 5 |
5 short dialogues, each with a gap – candidates choose the best answer from three answer choices |
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| Task 4 | 5 |
5 pictures – with one question per picture, each with 3 possible answers – candidates choose the best answer according to the picture |
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| Writing | 20 minutes | 18 | 2 | Task 1 | 3-4 |
3-4 questions forming part of a dialogue. Candidates use the picture prompts to answer the questions in the dialogue using 1 or 2 sentences |
| Task 2 | 1 |
1 question on the same topic as Task 1, to which candidates write a response |
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| Speaking | 5-7 minutes | 9 | 3 | Task 1 | - |
Answering personal questions |
| Task 2 | - |
Understanding and providing information in an information gap activity between the candidates |
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| Task 3 | - |
Answering questions about the topic |
Scoring
The results of STYLE 1 are given for each of the four sections: Listening, Reading and Use of Language, Writing, and Speaking. Candidates receive a scale score for each section expressed as a number of dolphins between one and five, with one dolphin as the lowest scoring result and five dolphins as the highest scoring result.
There is no pass or fail for the test and no overall score given. Candidates who receive a result of three, four or five dolphins for the four sections on the test are considered to be ready to proceed to the next level.
The Writing Section
The Writing Section is scored out of a total of nine marks for each task. There are three criteria: Task Completion, Organization, and Linguistic Resources.
Each criterion provides between one and three marks: a candidate below the level for a criterion receives a score of 1 for that criterion; a candidate at the level receives a 2; while a candidate above the level receives a 3.
The number of marks from the two tasks is added together to give a total score out of eighteen. Candidates receive between one and five dolphins which shows their scale-score achievement for the Writing Section.
The Speaking Section
The Speaking Section is scored out of a total of nine marks. There are three criteria: Task Completion, Fluency and Interaction, and Linguistic Resources.
Each criterion provides between one and three marks: a candidate below the level for a criterion receives a score of 1 for that criterion; a candidate at the level receives a 2; while a candidate above the level receives a 3.
The number of marks is added together to give a total score out of nine. Candidates receive between one and five dolphins which shows their scale-score achievement for the Speaking Section.