Speaking (Paper 4): Interaction, Delivery and the One-Minute Response
Paper 4 (Speaking) is worth 10% and is assessed live in groups of four. You get 10 minutes' preparation, then Part A, an 8-minute group interaction, then Part B, a one-minute individual response to a question from the examiner. It tests interaction rather than performance: a candidate who builds on others usually beats one who delivers a polished monologue.
What the group interaction rewards
- Communication strategies: initiating, inviting, turn-taking, clarifying, negotiating and disagreeing politely.
- Pronunciation and delivery: intelligibility, word stress, intonation and a pace others can follow.
- Ideas and organisation: relevant points developed with reasons or examples and logically sequenced.
Moves that earn marks
- Open the discussion: 'Shall we start with the practical problems, then the principle?'
- Invite: 'Wei, you mentioned cost - how serious is that?'
- Build: 'That is a fair point, and it also means...'
- Disagree with reasons: 'I see it differently, because...'
- Summarise near the end: 'So we agree on two points and differ on one.'
The individual response
One minute is roughly 100 to 130 words. Structure it as a direct answer, a reason, a concrete example and a one-sentence close. Do not simply repeat your group contribution.
Worked example
Topic: your school is considering banning smartphones on campus. A weak opening states a position and stops. A stronger opening: 'Can we separate lessons from break time first? That might decide whether a ban is even necessary.' Reasoning: this frames the discussion, invites others and buys thinking time, so it earns communication-strategy credit before you argue anything. Later, answering 'phones are needed for research' with 'True for lessons - so maybe the rule is off during teaching, allowed at lunch, not a total ban' shows negotiation rather than repetition.
Traps that cost marks
- A memorised speech that ignores the other three candidates.
- Silence: no contribution leaves the examiner no evidence to reward.
- Dominating so others cannot speak.
- One-word answers in Part B, or an answer that runs past the minute and is cut off.
- Reading from notes, or unclear stress that makes meaning hard to follow.