STYLE Level 3
STYLE Level 3 is aimed at the A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Here you will find information for Level 3 regarding:
Level
The overall descriptors of the A2 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 understand phrases and expressions related to areas of most immediate priority (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography) provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated.
- Can understand short, simple texts containing the highest frequency vocabulary, including a proportion of shared international vocabulary items.
- Can write short, simple formulaic notes relating to matters in areas of immediate need. Can write a series of simple phrases and sentences linked with simple connectors like “and", “but” and “because”.
- Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters to do with work and free time. Can handle very short social exchanges but is rarely able to understand enough to keep conversation going of his/her own accord.
Format & Content of STYLE Level 3
| Section | Time | Total marks | No. of Tasks | Tasks | No. of questions | Format (excluding examples) |
| Listening | 25 minutes | 25 | 4 | Task 1 | 5 |
5 short dialogues heard twice with 1 question per dialogue – candidates choose which picture the dialogue is about |
| Task 2 | 5 |
1 dialogue heard twice – 5 short statements to which candidates choose True or False |
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| Task 3 | 5 |
5 dialogues heard twice – candidates use the information they hear to choose the correct answer choice from three short written options |
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| Task 4 | 10 |
10 short dialogues heard twice with 1 question per dialogue and 3 picture answer choices per question |
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| Reading & Use of Language |
35 minutes | 30 | 6 | Task 1 | 5 |
1 short text with 5 multiple-choice questions, each with 4 answer choices |
| Task 2 | 5 |
3 short texts with 5 multiple-choice questions, each with 3 answer choices |
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| Task 3 | 5 |
5 short sentences, each with a gap and 4 answer choices |
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| Task 4 | 5 |
5 short sentences, each with a gap and 4 answer choices |
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Task 5 |
5 | 1 dialogue with 5 gaps – candidates choose the correct option from three answer choices | ||||
| Task 6 | 5 | 1 text with 5 gaps – candidates choose the correct option from three answer choices | ||||
| Writing | 25 minutes | 18 | 2 | Task 1 | 1 |
Providing personal information |
| Task 2 | 1 |
Writing a short text |
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| Speaking | 7-9 minutes | 9 | 4 | Task 1 | - |
Answering personal questions |
| Task 2 | - |
Understanding and providing information in an information gap activity |
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| Task 3 | - |
Guided discussion in order to reach an agreement |
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| Task 4 | - | Follow-up questions asking about preferences |
Scoring
The results of STYLE 3 are given for each of the four papers: Listening, Reading and Use of Language, Writing, and Speaking. Candidates receive a scale score for each paper 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.
Candidates who receive a result of three, four or five dolphins for each of the sections on the test are considered to have a satisfactory, good or excellent result respectively.
The Writing Section
The Writing Section is scored out of a total of nine marks for each of the two tasks. 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 is added together to give a total score out of nine for each task. Candidates receive a score of between one and five 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 a score of between one and five which shows their scale-score achievement for the Speaking Section.