SPEAKING - Fluency & Coherence

The Fluency & Coherence criterion assesses how fluently you are able to communicate.

There are three main descriptors within the FLC criterion that the examiner is focusing on:

your ability to speak at length;

the frequency of hesitation, repetition and self-correction in your language;

your use of connective features such as pronouns, conjunctions and spoken discourse markers..

This table shows how these three descriptors change from Band 5 (B5) up to Band 7 (B7):

To score above B6 for Fluency & Coherence you must: show a willingness to speak at length; make use of a range of connective features and spoken discourse markers; make sure hesitation, repetition and self-correction does not affect the coherence of your speech.

Watch this Native Speaker Interview extract which focuses on Fluency & Coherence. The connective features, cohesive devices and discourse markers are highlighted. The native speaker responds to each question at length and does not pause, hesitate or correct herself when speaking.

Now test your own  SPEAKING - Fluency & Coherence