5.1. Assessment Criteria

Each assessment is based on the following four criteria, with a maximum of 8 points each (32 total):

In the context of MYP Language Acquisition, assessments are quantified through four explicit criteria. Each of these criteria is assigned a maximum of 8 points, culminating in a total possible score of 32. This point system helps in accurately reflecting a student's performance across different skills and tasks. By focusing on these criteria, students can pinpoint their strengths and areas for improvement.

Think of these criteria like a rubric used in a cooking competition. Just like chefs are judged on different aspects of their dish—presentation, taste, creativity, and technique—students are evaluated on their comprehension and communication skills through these set criteria.

• Understanding audio, visual, or audiovisual texts. • Interpreting meaning, purpose, and context. • Responding appropriately to ideas, opinions, and language.

Assessment tasks may include: • Listening comprehension • Responding to videos or oral presentations • Interpreting dialogues, podcasts, etc.

Criterion A focuses on a student's ability to understand spoken and visual materials. This means being able to grasp what is said in audio formats or what is shown in visual formats. Students need to interpret the intent behind various communications and respond to them. Tasks for this criterion might include listening to a podcast and identifying key messages or reacting to videos by discussing their themes.

Imagine you are watching a movie in a foreign language with subtitles. To enjoy and understand the movie, you need to comprehend the dialogues and visuals. This assessment criterion is similar, as it evaluates your understanding of spoken interactions in the target language.

• Reading and understanding written and mixed media texts. • Recognizing vocabulary, tone, purpose, and cultural context.

Assessment tasks may include: • Reading comprehension tasks • Literature analysis (simplified or level-based texts) • Comparing different text types.

Criterion B assesses how well students can read and understand written texts, including mixed media. This involves recognizing important components like vocabulary, tone, and even the cultural background of the text. Tasks under this criterion could be reading passages and analyzing them or comparing different types of written materials.

Consider reading a travel blog about France. You not only read the words (the written text) but also pick up on the author's tone (is it enthusiastic or critical?) and the cultural insights shared (like recommendations on local cuisine). Criterion B evaluates this multi-layered understanding of texts.

• Interaction with stimuli to produce oral or written responses. • Demonstrating grammatical accuracy, vocabulary range, and clarity.

Assessment tasks may include: • Email writing, social media posts, interviews • Writing short stories, journal entries, opinion paragraphs • Oral responses or discussions based on provided prompts.

Criterion C focuses on how effectively students can produce spoken or written responses after interacting with certain materials. This means not only crafting their messages but also ensuring that their use of language—grammar, vocabulary, and clarity—meets the expected standards. Tasks may involve writing emails or engaging in discussions about a topical issue.

Imagine answering questions in a job interview after watching a company’s promotional video. You need to formulate your thoughts based on what you viewed while ensuring your communication is clear and professional. This is similar to what Criterion C evaluates in your language development.

• Producing original spoken or written texts for different audiences. • Demonstrating fluency, coherence, organization, and appropriate conventions.

Assessment tasks may include: • Speeches, presentations • Creative writing, articles, reports • Debates and dialogues.

Criterion D assesses students' abilities to create original pieces of text, both spoken and written, intended for various audiences. Students need to show fluency and coherence in their communication, which requires effective organization and adherence to language conventions. Tasks can include creating a speech or engaging in a debate.

Think about preparing a speech for a school event. You must organize your ideas clearly, speak confidently, and use language that resonates with your audience. This criterion tests how well you can express your thoughts in a structured and appealing way, much like a well-prepared presentation.

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