SPEAKING TESTS- HOW DO I DETERMINE WHO IS AN 'A' AND WHO IS A 'D'???

A lot of parents wonder how they can help their children in speaking tasks for assessment. I say just be a good listener. Listen to your children's speaking tasks and get them to listen to native speakers to imitate pronunciation and intonation. We have native speaker voices on this website as well as mine. It is this exposure that will help them become more proficient and intonation, pitch and fluency.
Reciting a speech by rote (by heart) is not worthy of an 'A' mark (even if it is said perfectly). There is deeper learning involved in the speaking tasks and that's what I'm looking for - those who can actually comprehend what they've said and what their speaking partner or teacher has said. Comprehension is a key component in the art of conversation because if we can't comprehend then we are not effectively participating in a dialogue or conversation.
At the other end of the spectrum, students who don't study their material, speak in their native language (generally English) and 'um' and 'ahh' their way through speeches without making a concerted effort are not going to receive favourable results. Particularly when they begin the task with 'I didn't study for this' or 'I've had too much on at home and with sport to even think about this'. This is said to me from time to time and is not favourably received. I don't care what academic ability a child has as long as they make a concerted effort and this should apply to everything they do.
Negatives aside, I have been very impressed with the majority of students I with whom I have interacted over the course of this assessment period and 'thank you' to all the parents who tirelessly encourage their children with their studies. The results will pay off, Mr Mackenzie-Smith