The predictability of Part 1 of the test is a key washback issue in this context.Indeed Cambridge ESOL mention the predictability of this part of the test bothdirectly in their exam reports
‘The questions the examiner asks are predictable onesabout studies or work or free-time activities, etc’ (KET exam report, 2005, 17).
Andindirectly on web pages that are available to help teachers and learnersunderstand the task. The first statement and discussion point
on the web page is,‘The candidates should prepare responses in advance’
is clarified with the followingadvice;FALSE. If a candidate does this, it often means that they don't answer thequestion appropriately. It is also not effective Interactive Communication (see Assessment Criteria)and examiners spot it easily
The fact that this the first discussion point indicates that Cambridgeacknowledge that the predictability of the task is something that lends itself toprepared responses, particularly in anxious adolescent learners. CambridgeESOL advises that examiners
‘easily spot’
prepared responses. Whilst this mayor may not be true how this type of response is penalised by the examiner notclear. In the test if the test-takers response is not a direct answer to the questiona prompt question is usually used by the interlocutor to assist the test-taker.However, if a test-taker responds with the appropriate topic the negative impactof the prepared response is likely to be minor and likely to only affect theinteractive communication score in the analytical scales. This is partly becausethe statements in the analytical scales regarding interactive communication for aminimum adequate performance allow for inappropriate interaction some of thetime. The difficulty of interpreting the analytical scales is an issue that has beendiscussed in section 4.4. However, the predictability of Part 1 of the KETspeaking component has been shown to generate considerable negativewashback on the teaching and learning at Okuma Gakuen.