Speaking Level Evaluation Guide
WIDA Speaking Evaluation
Standardized Oral Language Proficiency Diagnostic
Level 3: Developing
Framework Alignment: WIDA ELD
Analyzed Speaker Response Word Count: 23 • Utterances: 4
“I see a bird's nest. It is sitting on a tree branch. I see mud inside and grass. It has many colors.”
Assigned Rating
Level 3 (Developing)
Strong transition from Level 2 (Emerging)
Syntactic Pattern
Simple Clauses
Repetitive declarative stems
Lexical Range
Topic-Specific
Concrete physical descriptors
Dimensional Evidence & Rubric Criteria
1. Discourse Dimension (Linguistic Complexity)
Level 2.8 - 3.0
Criteria: Quantity, variety, and coherence of oral text across multiple statements.
Evidence: Produces four consecutive simple sentences forming a cohesive description. However, discourse relies heavily on repetitive formulaic frames ("I see...", "It is...", "It has...") with minimal transitional linking beyond coordinating "and".
2. Sentence Dimension (Language Forms & Conventions)
Level 3.0
Criteria: Grammatical structures, clause diversity, and syntactic mechanics.
Evidence: Demonstrates consistent grammatical control over expanded noun phrases and prepositional phrases ("on a tree branch", "inside"). Uses present continuous correctly ("is sitting") and possessive noun ("bird's nest"). Lacks complex subordinate clauses (e.g., relative pronouns or causal markers).
3. Word/Phrase Dimension (Vocabulary Usage)
Level 3.0
Criteria: Specificity, precision, and contextual domain terminology.
Evidence: Accurately uses content-specific tier 2/3 nouns ("bird's nest", "tree branch", "mud", "grass") instead of vague pronouns. Does not yet integrate advanced descriptive adjectives or technical terms (e.g., twigs, interwoven, camouflage, structure).
Instructional Scaffolds to Reach Level 4 (Expanding)
1. Sentence Combining
Model combining short clauses using conjunctions & participles: “Resting on a high branch, the bird's nest is woven from mud and dried grass.”
2. Academic Vocabulary
Prompt substitution of generic phrases ("many colors") with precise attributes: “The nest displays earth-toned hues that help it blend into its habitat.”
