Oxford ELLT flashcards
Oxford ELLT · 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.
- Listening audio plays
- Each recording is heard once only; there is no replay, so answers must be captured during the single play.
- Word limit enforcement
- Completion instructions such as 'NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS' are applied literally; exceeding the limit makes the answer incorrect even if the meaning is right.
- Spelling in Listening
- Answers are marked for correct spelling and grammar; a phonetically plausible but misspelled word scores zero.
- Correction distractors
- Speakers often state one value then revise it; the final corrected value, not the first mention, is the answer.
- Signposting language
- Phrases like 'firstly', 'moving on' and 'to sum up' mark transitions between question groups and warn that the next answer is coming.
- Map labelling orientation
- Directions are given relative to the map's fixed layout, not the speaker's movement, so track prepositions such as 'opposite' and 'adjacent'.
- Numbers teen versus ty
- Pairs like 13/30 and 14/40 are distinguished by stress and the '-teen' versus '-ty' ending, a frequent Listening trap.
- Answer order in Listening
- Within a section, answers arrive in question order; a missed item means moving to the next question rather than waiting.
- Reading no transfer time
- Reading is one timed block with no separate transfer period, so answers must be recorded as you work.
- False versus Not Given
- False means the passage contradicts the statement; Not Given means the passage is silent, even if the statement seems plausible.
- Matching headings purpose
- Headings describe a paragraph's main idea; a heading matching only one detail is a distractor.
- Sequential question order
- Most Reading question types follow passage order, but matching-headings and matching-features items are not sequential.
- Exact copying requirement
- Completion answers must be copied from the passage without changing word forms, unless the instructions explicitly allow it.
- Yes No Not Given
- These items test the writer's views rather than facts, unlike True/False/Not Given, which tests factual claims.
- Reading time split
- A practical allocation is about 20 minutes per passage, reserving the final minutes for checking spelling and unanswered items.
- Scanning versus skimming
- Skimming gives gist and structure; scanning locates names, dates and terms, after which the answer zone is read closely.
- Writing task word minimums
- Task 1 requires at least 150 words and Task 2 at least 250; under-length responses lose Task Achievement marks.
- Writing four criteria
- Task Achievement/Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy each contribute equally to the Writing band.
- Task 2 weighting
- Task 2 contributes roughly twice the weight of Task 1 to the overall Writing score, so time should be protected for it.
- Task 1 overview
- An overview states the main trends without numbers; omitting it limits Task Achievement regardless of how much data is reported.
- Task 1 no opinion
- Academic Task 1 reports only the data shown; causes, reasons and evaluations are opinions and lower Task Achievement.
- Task 2 sustained position
- The writer's position must be stated and maintained throughout the essay, not just in the introduction and conclusion.
- Copied text not counted
- Words copied from the prompt do not count toward the minimum word total and are discounted by examiners.
- Mechanical linker penalty
- Coherence and Cohesion penalizes overused memorized linkers such as 'Moreover' at every sentence start.
- Speaking three parts
- Part 1 covers familiar topics, Part 2 is a two-minute long turn after one minute of preparation, and Part 3 is linked abstract discussion.
- Speaking four criteria
- Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation are weighted equally in the Speaking band.
- Long turn duration
- Part 2 requires sustained speech for two minutes; the examiner stops the turn at that point, and finishing early signals underdevelopment.
- Accent versus pronunciation
- Pronunciation is rated on intelligibility and feature use such as stress and intonation, not on having a native-like accent.
- Part 3 extended answers
- Abstract Part 3 questions require answers with reasons, comparisons or speculation; one-line responses cap the score.
- Fluency repair allowance
- Self-correction and fillers are acceptable fluency devices; long silent pauses and repeated restarts lower the band.
- Speaking test length
- The full Speaking test lasts roughly 11 to 14 minutes, with Part 2's two minutes being the only fixed-length turn.
- Paraphrase in Speaking
- Repeating the examiner's question back in paraphrased form buys thinking time and demonstrates lexical range.