Linguaskill Business flashcards
Linguaskill Business · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Adaptive test
- A computer-delivered test in which question difficulty changes based on the candidate's previous answers, so performance on early items affects later item difficulty and the final score.
- Read-aloud task
- A Speaking test item in which the candidate reads a short text aloud; it is scored on pronunciation, fluency, and accurate reproduction of the content.
- Repeat-sentence task
- A Speaking item where the candidate listens to and repeats a sentence of increasing length; scoring rewards accurate content words and grammatical structure.
- Image description
- A Speaking task requiring a structured description of a picture in about 45–60 seconds, covering what is shown, where, who is involved, and its significance.
- Topic discussion
- A Speaking monologue of 60–90 seconds in which the candidate states a position, gives two supporting reasons, and concludes briefly.
- Fluency
- The smoothness of speech, judged by pauses, repetition, and self-correction; long silent gaps and frequent filled pauses reduce the Speaking score.
- Task achievement
- A Writing scoring criterion measuring whether the response addresses all parts of the prompt, including required bullet points and the specified word count.
- Coherence and cohesion
- A Writing criterion assessing logical organization and linking, including paragraph structure, referencing words, and connectors such as however and therefore.
- Lexical resource
- A Writing and Speaking criterion measuring vocabulary range, precision, and appropriateness, including collocation and avoidance of repetition.
- Grammatical range and accuracy
- A scoring criterion judging variety of structures (conditionals, passives, relative clauses) and correctness, especially errors that impede communication.
- Business register
- The level of formality appropriate to the recipient; formal emails use titles and 'Yours sincerely', while informal emails may use contractions and first names.
- Word-count penalty
- A reduction in task-achievement marks when a Writing response falls below the required minimum, such as answering a 50-word task in 30 words.
- Skimming
- Reading quickly for the main idea and overall organization of a text, often by focusing on headings, first sentences, and concluding sentences.
- Scanning
- Reading rapidly to locate specific information such as names, dates, figures, or keywords without reading every word in sequence.
- True/False/Not Given
- A Reading task type where 'False' means the text contradicts the statement and 'Not Given' means the text neither confirms nor contradicts it.
- Matching headings
- A Reading task requiring selection of the heading that best expresses a paragraph's main idea rather than a supporting detail.
- Gap-fill item
- A Reading or Listening question with a missing word or phrase; grammar, collocation, and context constrain the correct answer.
- Nominalization
- The use of a noun form instead of a verb, such as 'implementation' for 'implement'; common in formal business reports and reading texts.
- Distractor
- An incorrect option that repeats words from the text or audio but changes meaning through qualifiers such as all, only, or never.
- Signposting language
- Words and phrases such as however, on the other hand, and the main point is that signal contrast or emphasis and often precede the intended answer.
- Note-taking
- Writing short keywords during Listening audio; full sentences should be avoided because they cause missed information.
- Spelling in gap-fill
- The requirement to spell answers correctly in Listening gap-fill items; names and technical terms may be spelled out letter by letter.
- Number correction
- A Listening pattern where a speaker gives a figure and then corrects it with 'actually' or 'sorry, I meant'; the final figure is usually the answer.
- Multiple-choice listening
- A Listening task with three or four options where the speaker may mention several options before rejecting them; the last stated relevant information is usually correct.
- Short-answer question
- A Speaking or Listening item requiring a brief phrase or sentence rather than an extended explanation; answers are typically one clause.
- Email task
- A Writing task requiring a short message of about 50 words or a longer email of 180–220 words that addresses all bullet points in the prompt.
- Report task
- A formal Writing task of 180–220 words with a predictable structure: purpose, findings or details, and recommendation or action.
- Proposal task
- A formal Writing task of 180–220 words that identifies a need, proposes an action, and justifies it with expected benefits.
- Pronunciation
- A Speaking scoring criterion covering individual sounds, word stress, and intonation; clear articulation also improves automated speech-recognition accuracy.
- Intonation
- The rise and fall of voice pitch across an utterance; in Speaking it conveys meaning and contributes to pronunciation scores.
- Collocation
- The habitual co-occurrence of words, such as 'make a decision' rather than 'do a decision'; tested in gap-fill and scored in Writing.
- Passive voice
- A grammatical structure where the object becomes the subject, such as 'the report was submitted'; frequent in formal business writing and reading texts.