VCE Romanian key terms

A spoken exchange between two or more people in which turns are taken naturally; in the oral examination it is the discussion section where the candidate answers questions and develops ideas with the examiner.

The spoken component of the assessment, in which the candidate talks about a topic and answers questions without written preparation notes in front of them, assessed on fluency, range and accuracy.

The ability to speak at a steady pace with few unnatural pauses, linking ideas smoothly so that a listener can follow without effort, even when occasional errors occur.

How clearly and correctly words are spoken, including individual sounds, stress within words and the melody of sentences, which affects how easily a listener understands the speaker.

The emphasis placed on one syllable of a word, or the way a speaker's pronunciation reflects a region or first language; in Romanian, stress can change meaning between otherwise identical words.

The rise and fall of the voice across a phrase, used to signal questions, statements, surprise or emotion; incorrect patterns can make a statement sound like a question.

The range of words and fixed expressions a candidate can use appropriately; in the oral examination examiners judge whether word choice suits the topic and register.

The level of formality in language, from casual speech among friends to formal style in an interview or presentation; choosing the wrong level can sound rude or unnatural.

A conventional phrase used to address or greet someone politely, such as a formal greeting to an adult stranger versus an informal greeting to a friend, chosen according to the relationship.

Expressing the same idea in different words, often to explain something when the exact term is unknown; a useful strategy that keeps speech flowing instead of stopping to search for a word.

A word or phrase that links ideas, such as one signalling addition, contrast or consequence; using them well makes a spoken or written answer coherent rather than a list of separate sentences.

The quality of a text or speech in which sentences are joined logically through linking words, pronouns and consistent references, so the whole answer reads or sounds as one connected piece.

A follow-up question asked after an initial answer to probe deeper, test justification or check understanding; candidates should expect several and answer them fully rather than with a single word.

The theme or issue a candidate is asked to talk about, often drawn from personal experience, school, community or contemporary life; a clear topic focus keeps an answer relevant.

The organisation of a spoken or written answer, typically an opening statement, supporting reasons or examples, and a closing remark; a visible shape helps the listener or reader follow the argument.

A reason offered to support a point of view, usually backed by evidence, an example or personal experience; a strong answer gives more than one and acknowledges other views.

A point that opposes an argument, or the response to an objection; discussing both sides shows a balanced, mature command of a topic and is rewarded in assessment.

A view held by the speaker or writer, usually introduced with phrases such as 'in my opinion'; it must be supported with reasons rather than simply stated.

A specific instance, anecdote or fact used to illustrate a general claim; concrete detail makes an answer more convincing and demonstrates active vocabulary rather than vague generalisation.

The skill of understanding spoken language, tested by listening to a passage and answering questions; it requires catching key details, tone and implied meaning, not translating every word.

A written or spoken passage used as stimulus material, such as an article, letter, advertisement or extract from a story; candidates must identify its purpose, audience and main message.

The central point a passage communicates, which may be stated directly or implied; identifying it correctly is usually the first step in answering comprehension and summary tasks.

A particular fact, name, number or statement contained in a passage, often the target of a comprehension question; answers must be drawn from the text rather than guessed.

The reason a text was produced, for example to inform, persuade, entertain or instruct; recognising purpose helps a candidate judge tone and select the right information.

The attitude conveyed by a text or speaker, such as ironic, serious, critical or enthusiastic; it is often signalled by word choice and punctuation rather than stated outright.

A short restatement of a passage's main points in the candidate's own words, omitting detail and examples; it tests whether meaning has been understood rather than memorised.

A letter written to someone in an official capacity, following fixed conventions such as a formal greeting, a clear statement of purpose, structured paragraphs and a polite closing formula.

A letter to a friend or relative using relaxed vocabulary, contractions and personal detail; it should still be organised logically and address every point in the task.

A piece of writing that defends a position on an issue through an introduction, ordered paragraphs of argument and evidence, and a conclusion that restates the stance.

A group of sentences developing one idea, usually beginning with a topic sentence; clear paragraphing signals structure to a reader and is part of the assessment of written work.

The pattern of endings a verb takes to show person, number, tense and mood; Romanian verbs fall into several groups, and errors here are among the most noticeable in written work.

A verb form locating an action in time, such as present, past or future; narrative and reported speech tasks require accurate switching between tenses to keep chronology clear.

The form of a verb expressing how the speaker regards an action, for example as fact, wish, command or hypothesis; choosing the correct mood is essential in formal writing.

Agreement between words linked in a sentence, such as a verb matching its subject in person and number, or an adjective matching its noun in gender and number.

The grammatical category of nouns, which in Romanian are masculine, feminine or neuter; articles and adjectives must match the noun's gender and number correctly.

A word attached to a noun to mark definiteness or indefiniteness; Romanian shows the definite article as a suffix on the noun, which is a frequent source of error for learners.

The role a noun or pronoun plays in a sentence, such as subject, object or possessor; Romanian marks several cases through endings and article forms, affecting pronoun choice.

A mark placed above or below a letter to change its sound or distinguish words; omitting or misplacing these marks in writing alters pronunciation and can change meaning.

The accepted system for spelling words correctly, including the use of diacritics and the rules for writing compound forms; accurate spelling is part of the written examination criteria.

The use of marks such as full stops, commas, question marks and quotation marks to separate ideas and clarify meaning; careless punctuation obscures structure and lowers marks.