Speaking
What this section tests
The Speaking exam is a short conversation with an examiner, usually around five to seven minutes. It has a conversation part (personal information, school, family, hobbies, holidays, future plans) and often a discussion based on a photo or a topic you have prepared. You are assessed on communication, range and accuracy, pronunciation and intonation, and fluency. Examiners reward students who keep talking and repair their own mistakes.
Concepts to master
Prepare question-and-answer banks for predictable topics: ¿Cómo te llamas? ¿Cuántos hermanos tienes? ¿Qué haces los fines de semana? ¿Qué asignaturas estudias? ¿Qué hiciste el verano pasado? ¿Qué planes tienes para el futuro? Learn opinion phrases (creo que, en mi opinión, me parece que, prefiero... porque...) because they extend answers. Learn time markers for past and future. Practise pronunciation of vowels (five pure vowels, no glides), the rr, ñ, and correct word stress with accents.
Traps to watch
- One-word answers: always add a reason or detail.
- Freezing on an unknown word: use a paraphrase ("es una cosa que usas para...").
- Answering a different question because you only caught one word - ask "¿Puede repetir, por favor?".
- English pronunciation of Spanish vowels, especially o and e.
- Silence: fill pauses with "pues...", "bueno...", "déjame pensar".
Worked example
Question: ¿Qué hiciste el fin de semana? Weak answer: "Fui al cine." Strong answer: "El sábado fui al cine con mis amigos porque hacía mal tiempo. Vimos una película española y después comimos en un restaurante. Me gustó mucho." Rule of thumb: answer + reason + extra detail + opinion.
Rule of thumb
Treat every answer as a chance to show off a connector, a past or future tense, and an opinion.