In the landscape of adult and young adult English Language Teaching (ELT), the "Speakout" course (published by Pearson) has established itself as a cornerstone for developing practical communication skills. Authored by Frances Eales and Steve Oakes, the course is renowned for its authentic BBC clips and its focus on “real-world” English. At the heart of its assessment package lies the Speakout Intermediate Quick Check Test—a meticulously designed instrument that challenges, verifies, and reinforces learning.
1. Make vs. Do
Utility: Excellent for "exit tickets" or weekly progress monitoring Strengths Speakout Intermediate Quick Check Test
The Speakout Intermediate Quick Check Test is not a hurdle to fear; it is a stepping stone to celebrate. Each unit, each test, and each corrected mistake moves you closer to genuine communicative competence in English. Grammar: 1
Grammar: 1. has been working | 2. since | 3. have you been doing | 4. had already eaten | 5. don't have to and a few vocabulary targets. |
| Pitfall | Solution | | :--- | :--- | | Letting students "study" for it | The test is for checking, not grading. Announce “Pop Quick Check” with 30 seconds notice to measure true acquisition. | | Using only the raw score | Never write “18/30” on a paper without commentary. Write “Great vocab! See me about conditionals (Q3, Q7).” | | Ignoring the Functional English section | Many teachers skip Part C to save time. Don’t. This is the real-world glue that holds grammar and vocab together. | | Reusing the same test year after year | Students share answer banks. Create a “Version B” by changing names, numbers, and a few vocabulary targets. |