Peer–Peer Interaction in a Speaking Test: The Case of the<i>First Certificate in English</i>Examination

Abstract

This discourse-based study turns its attention to paired test-taker discourse in the First Certificate in English speaking test. Its primary aim is to focus on fundamental conversation management concepts, such as overall structural organisation, turn-taking, sequencing, and topic organisation found in the dyadic test-taker interaction in 30 pairs of test takers. The analysis highlights global patterns of interaction, termed “Collaborative,” “Parallel” and “Asymmetric,” and salient features of interaction characteristic to each pattern. A second goal of the study is to investigate a possible relationship between the patterns of peer-peer interaction and test scores for “Interactive Communication.” The results show a close relationship between type of talk and test scores, thus providing validity evidence for the test scores. The study discusses implications for a more accurate understanding of the construct of conversation management underlying the FCE examination, and for the empirically-based construction of assessment criteria for speaking tests.