Assigning speaking tasks on This is School

Our Speaking feature allows you to choose between using a prompt from our library or creating your own.

To assign a Speaking task using a prompt from our library:

On the next page, select the question/prompt you want your students to answer. Simply find the topic you’re after on the left-hand side of the page and click on the relevant tag. You’ll then see a list of questions to choose from - click on the one you'd like your students to answer.

On the next page, you can choose up to 3 example-answer videos for your students to watch for inspiration before they record their own response.

Once you’re ready, click on the yellow Assign button.

This is optional - you can proceed without selecting any example videos if you prefer.

In the pop-up window, select the class you’d like to assign the task to, the maximum length of each student response, and the due date. Use the Notes box to add any helpful instructions for your students.

Click Next.

You will now be prompted to select a set of Grading Criteria to mark your students' response against! You can select from our list of ever-expanding exam board specific criteria, or opt for our 'General' grading set which is appropriate for all curricula and consists of the following criteria:

Communication and content: to what extent does the response provide an informative, comprehensible answer to the question? Is the response an appropriate length?

Range of language: to what extent does the response include varied vocab and structures?

Accuracy: to what extent are grammar and constructions used correctly in the response?

Pronunciation: to what extent does the response include accurate pronunciation and natural intonation?

Use the up and down arrows in the 'Max Score' box to alter the number of points your students can achieve in each category. You also have the option to toggle on or off any grading criteria using the 'Remove' button if you wish to!

When you have selected the relevant grading set and made any desired changes, click Assign exercise.

This assignment will now appear in your students' Assignments tab!

To assign a Speaking task using your own prompt:

Click on the New Question tag, type in your question, and click Save.

Click on the My Questions tag, and select your newly-added question from the list that appears below.

On the page that follows, click Assign.

In the pop-up window, select the class you’d like to assign the task to, the maximum length of each student response, and the due date. Use the notes box to add any helpful instructions for your students.

Click Next.

Use the up and down arrows in the 'Max Score' box to alter the number of points your students can achieve for each category. You also have the option to toggle on or off any grading criteria using the 'Remove' button if you wish to!

When you have selected the relevant grading set and made any desired changes, click Assign exercise.

This assignment will now appear in your students' Assignments tab!

Find out how to grade Speaking tasks here.