The assessor is directly in the candidates’ line of sight (it is the assessor’s responsibility to make sure s/he is sitting to one side).​

SE does not address candidates in the order indicated, where this is explicitly stated on the interlocutor frame.

SE does not prompt weaker/reticent candidates to ensure that tasks are attempted within the given time e.g. when candidates fail to begin the set task after a reasonable pause; when candidates may need the support of the interlocutor (A2 Key).

Delivery is so unnatural, unclear, inappropriately stressed or quiet that candidates have difficulty in understanding e.g. candidates need to ask for clarification because of poor delivery of rubrics; tasks break down due to misunderstandings; candidates have to strain to hear.

SE does not use back-up questions where provided or uses these inappropriately e.g. asks back-up question before attempting original question.

SE, as interlocutor or assessor, is so preoccupied with handling the materials that proper attention cannot be given to the candidates.

SE allows one candidate more opportunity to speak than the other e.g. in Part 1 of any test, candidate A gets a fresh question each time, but SE indicates with body language that candidate B should comment on what A has said, rather than giving a fresh question; in Part 2 (the long turn), SE fails to encourage one candidate to continue to speak, and fails to interrupt the other where necessary.

SE sometimes fails to listen attentively to what candidates are saying e.g. asks a follow-up question that candidates have referred to e.g. in B2 First Part 4, B2 Business Vantage Part 3.

Candidates ask after the test “How did I do?”, and the interlocutor politely and sympathetically explains that they will receive the results in due course.

The interlocutor does not take the opportunity to refer to the scales when appropriate, e.g. when candidates are doing a collaborative task such as B2 First Part 3.

SE fails to complete all elements of the marksheet or completes some parts incorrectly (see also U) e.g. dates, test material numbers or other information is missing; candidate's number and partner's number appear as identical.

SE (as interlocutor or assessor) deviates from, or omits elements of, the Missing Marks Checklist frame leading to errors or omissions in marks recorded.

Interlocutor gives Assessor their global marks before being asked, while the Assessor is still completing the mark sheets.

SE does not create an appropriate environment for a collaborative task to succeed e.g. fails to make/withdraw eye contact appropriately, so confusing candidates as to who they should be speaking to; withdraws too much during the collaborative tasks and is not ready with support if needed.