BEST
Sample Assessment Report
Business English
Speaking Test
A side-by-side comparison of two candidates assessed for the same Human Resource Manager role at NovaStream Technologies.
Role
Human Resource Manager
Company
NovaStream Technologies
Industry
SaaS / Cloud Computing
Assessment date
March 2026
What's inside
- 01Job PositionThe role being assessed and what it requires.
- 02Assessment QuestionsSample questions across the three test sections.
- 03Candidate ResultsDetailed scoring for each candidate.
- 04Comparison SummaryHow the two candidates compare and how to read the scores.
Prepared by The Language Key · BEST
BESTSample Assessment ReportJob Position
Role
Human Resource Manager
Company
NovaStream Technologies
Industry
SaaS / Cloud Computing
Assessment date
March 2026
Job Description
NovaStream is seeking a strategic and hands-on Human Resource Manager to lead our people operations during a period of rapid international expansion. This role reports to the Head of People and will be responsible for building a high-performance culture while ensuring operational excellence across our regional offices.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Partnership
- Act as a trusted advisor to department heads on organizational design, workforce planning, and employee relations.
- Policy Development
- insert policies or compliancies or methods here.
- Performance Management
- Oversee the annual performance review cycle, including OKR setting, feedback loops, and high-potential identification.
- Culture & Engagement
- Design and execute initiatives to improve employee retention and satisfaction, utilizing data from quarterly engagement surveys.
- Compensation & Benefits
- Manage the annual salary bench-marking process and oversee the administration of health and wellness programs.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
8+ years of HR experience, with at least 3 years in a management or lead capacity within the tech industry.
Proven track record of handling complex employee relations cases and driving organizational change.
Strong understanding of employment law and HR best practices.
Excellent interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills.
Professional HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR) is highly desirable.
Fluent English & Cantonese communication skills; Mandarin is a plus.
BESTSample Assessment ReportAssessment Questions
Candidates complete three sections totalling roughly twenty minutes. Responses are audio-recorded and scored against five criteria plus a global achievement score. Sample questions for each section appear below and on the following page.
Section 1 — General Warm Up
Interview-style questions · All topics: 180s
44 question types available — 12 selected per assessment. Examples below:
Giving Presentations
- Have you ever had to give a presentation to a group of people?
- Do you feel nervous or confident when you have to speak in public?
- What tools do you use to help you give a presentation?
- Why is it important to be able to explain information clearly to others?
Technology at Work
- How does technology make your job easier?
- Is it easy or difficult for you to learn new computer programs?
- Is using AI a good thing for work and explain why you think this?
- Do you think AI will replace human workers in the next 10 years?
Meetings
- How often do you attend meetings?
- Do you prefer meetings to be held in person or online?
- Do you find it easy to share your ideas when you are in a group?
- What do you think makes a meeting successful?
BESTSample Assessment ReportAssessment Questions (continued)
Section 2 — Short Presentation
Presentation: 60s · Follow-up: 20s
Managing Employee Performance
Talk about a method you use to manage employee performance. You should say:
- What the method is
- Why this method helps the employee improve
- How you deliver feedback to the employee
Follow-up
Why is it important to provide clear feedback to employees?
Section 3 — Roleplay
Roleplay: 120s · Follow-up: 20s · Discussion: 90s
Candidate Role
Human Resource Manager
AI Role
Regional Manager
AI Full Name
Elena Ross
Scenario
You are the Human Resource Manager. You are meeting with the Regional Manager to discuss the staffing needs for the new regional office.
Find Out
- The number of new roles needed
- The required start date for the team
- The main skill gaps in the current team
Follow-up
Do you think the hiring timeline described is realistic for finding the right talent?
Discussion
What is the most important factor when hiring new staff? — Skills | Experience | Personality
BESTSample Assessment ReportCandidate Results
Both candidates were assessed against the same role and scored on five criteria plus an overall global achievement score. Detailed results for each candidate appear below; the comparison follows on the next page.
Huang Zhiqiang
Human Resource Manager
Chen Weiming
Human Resource Manager
Huang Zhiqiang
Global achievement: 2+ · Assessed March 2026
Range of Language Resources
3
Although range of language used is limited, it is adequate for the satisfactory completion of the tasks.
Accuracy
2
Some basic inaccuracies which may sometimes impede communication.
Discourse Management
2
Shows the ability to organise extended utterances that lack coherence; pauses and hesitations frequently disrupt the flow of language.
Pronunciation
2
Pronunciation is generally intelligible, but L1 features may put a strain on the listener; isolated words may cause difficulty.
Interactive Communication
3
May need a degree of interlocutor support in some situations; participates reasonably actively although may not initiate dialogue appropriately; makes use of compensation strategies.
Global Achievement
2+
Chen Weiming
Global achievement: 4+ · Assessed March 2026
Range of Language Resources
5
Wide range of language wholly appropriate to all the tasks.
Accuracy
5
Inaccuracies and inappropriacies are rare.
Discourse Management
4
Produces discourse that is generally coherent; maintains a flow of language with only natural hesitation resulting from considerations of content or style.
Pronunciation
4
Pronunciation is easily understood; although L1 influence may be evident, it does not affect the clarity of the message.
Interactive Communication
4
Is unlikely to need interlocutor support; is generally able to initiate and develop dialogue.
Global Achievement
4+
BESTSample Assessment ReportComparison Summary
The global achievement score summarises each candidate's overall communicative ability in a professional business context. Below is a comparative overview of what each score level means in practice.
Huang Zhiqiang
2+Can use the telephone for routine messages and can deal with clients on routine matters and engage in limited conversation.
Can follow instructions, possibly more complex but may require clarification.
Limited participation in meetings and discussions.
Chen Weiming
4+Can handle complex work tasks with accuracy and effectively exchange information to fulfill those tasks.
Can present and respond to different lines of reasoning in meetings, deliver prepared presentations, and hold a conversation socially.
Can contribute effectively to meetings within own area of work and use the telephone for most purposes.
Score Equivalence Table
IELTS equivalents are approximate. BEST emphasises job-specific communication and business outcomes rather than general proficiency, so direct comparison is a rough mapping only.
| CEF | ALTE | BEST | IELTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| C2 | Very Advanced | 5+ | 9.0 |
| 5= | 9.0 | ||
| 5- | 8.5 | ||
| C1 | Advanced | 4+ | 8.0 |
| 4= | 7.5 | ||
| 4- | 7.0 | ||
| B2 | Upper-Intermediate | 3+ | 6.5 |
| 3= | 6.0 | ||
| 3- | 5.5 | ||
| B1 | Lower-Intermediate | 2+ | 5.0 |
| 2= | 4.5 | ||
| 2- | 4.0 | ||
| A2 | Elementary | 1+ | — |
| 1= | — | ||
| 1- | — | ||
| A1 | Beginner | 0 | — |