Assessment criteria

The oral is marked out of 30 on THREE criteria: The Individual Oral (the IA) is marked out of 30, on three criteria: Criterion A — Lingua /12, Criterion B — Messaggio /12, and Criterion C — Interazione e comprensione /6. A rewards your Italian (range, accuracy, pronunciation); B rewards your message about the visual stimulus and in the conversation (how well you describe, interpret and develop your ideas); C rewards your interaction (understanding the examiner and keeping the conversation going). Knowing what each criterion rewards tells you exactly where the marks are.

i criteri di valutazione

the assessment criteria — the three things you're marked on

Criterio A — Lingua (/12)

Criterion A — Language: range and accuracy of your spoken Italian, plus clear pronunciation

Criterio B — Messaggio (/12)

Criterion B — Message: relevance and development of your ideas about the visual stimulus and in the conversation

Criterio C — Interazione e comprensione (/6)

Criterion C — Interactive & receptive: understanding the examiner and sustaining the conversation

il voto complessivo

the total mark — A + B + C add up to /30

descrivere, interpretare e discutere

to describe, interpret and discuss — the three things your message must do

Aim to score on all three, not just A: Strong spoken Italian (A) is not enough on its own. You also need developed ideas (B) and good interaction (C). Plan to describe AND interpret the stimulus, develop every answer, and respond naturally to the examiner — that way you earn marks across all three criteria.

What each criterion rewards: Each criterion rewards something different. Match what you say to what's being marked: show off your Italian for A, develop your ideas for B, and interact well for C. Here's exactly what each one looks for.

Lock in the split: Memorise the split: A Lingua /12 · B Messaggio /12 · C Interazione e comprensione /6 = /30. A and B carry the most marks, so a varied, accurate message with well-developed ideas matters most — but never neglect C, because understanding the examiner and keeping the conversation alive is worth real marks too.

Five moves that hit all three criteria: You don't have to choose between the criteria — the right habits earn marks on all three at once. Run through these five moves and you'll be scoring on A, B and C together: show a range of language, develop your ideas, describe AND interpret, understand and respond, and keep things flowing.

Every habit maps to a criterion: Before the oral, learn which habit feeds which criterion: range → A, developed ideas → B, understanding & flow → C. Then in the room you can think «I've described it (B), now let me interpret it (B) and use a richer structure (A)» — and consciously chase marks on each one.

One exchange, all three criteria: Here's a short model exchange between examiner and student. As you read, notice how each feature earns a specific criterion — understanding the question (C), developing the idea (B), using varied Italian (A) and keeping the conversation going (C). This is a model spoken answer — tap 🔊 to hear the Italian, or Mostra traduzione for the English explanation.

Chase marks on every criterion: Notice that one good answer can score on all three criteria at once: a developed idea (B), said in varied accurate Italian (A), in response to the examiner and with a question back (C). Don't settle for a correct but flat reply — make every answer work for all three.

Good decisions vs costly mistakes: Most marks are lost not from weak Italian but from ignoring a whole criterion — using repetitive language (A), listing without developing (B), or giving one-word answers and not engaging (C). Here's the contrast, criterion by criterion.

Don't sacrifice one criterion for another: A common trap is pouring everything into one criterion — perfect grammar (A) but flat ideas (B), or lots of ideas (B) in repetitive Italian (A). The best candidates balance all three: varied language, developed ideas, and lively interaction throughout.