Speaking
Speaking checks fluency, pronunciation, interactive competence, range, and accuracy. Formats may include a short monologue, picture description, role-play, or opinion question. Examiners reward communication and coherent development, not a perfect accent.
Core rules
- Use a simple frame: answer, reason, example, link back.
- Buy thinking time naturally: “That’s an interesting question - I’d say...”
- Paraphrase when a word is missing: “a kind of tool that...” instead of silence.
- Use discourse markers to show structure: “first”, “on the other hand”, “to sum up”.
- In role-play, respond to the examiner’s line and ask a follow-up question.
- Self-correct only important errors; constant repair destroys fluency.
Worked example
Prompt: “Do you think school students should learn a second foreign language?” Weak answer: “Yes, it is good.” Reasoning: this gives no reason and no development. A stronger B1/B2 answer: “Yes, I do, mainly because it opens job opportunities. For example, someone who speaks English and Chinese can work in trade. Of course, it takes time, so schools should start gradually.” This states a position, gives a reason, an example, and a qualification.
Traps
- One-word answers that force the examiner to prompt.
- A memorised speech that ignores the actual question.
- Long pauses while searching for a perfect word.
- Reading a prepared text aloud.