Speaking: Presentation and Interaction
What the speaking standard rewards
The Level 3 speaking assessment includes a sustained spoken presentation and spoken interaction in Mandarin. It rewards communication that is fit for purpose and audience: clear pronunciation and tones, connected ideas with reasons and examples, range of structures, and interactive strategies. Accuracy matters, but a memorised script that ignores the listener does not meet the interaction criterion.
Core rules
- Structure: opening, two or three developed points, conclusion. Use 首先, 其次, 另外, 总的来说.
- Build complexity: 虽然...但是, 不但...而且, 因为...所以, 越...越, 把/被, complements (说得清楚, 听懂).
- Tone accuracy: 睡觉/水饺, 问/吻; apply 一 and 不 sandhi; keep neutral tones on 了, 的, 吗.
- Interaction: ask back, clarify (你的意思是...?), give opinions (我觉得/在我看来), agree or disagree politely.
- Prepare flexible evidence, not a rigid script.
Worked example
Prompt: a person who influenced you. Answer: “我爸爸虽然工作很忙，但是每天晚上都会陪我练习中文。他常说，学习语言就像交朋友，需要时间。因为他的鼓励，我才没有放弃。” Reasoning: 虽然...但是 shows concession; 就像交朋友 is figurative range; 因为...才 links cause and result. Follow-up question “你爸爸的中文好吗？” - answer honestly and extend, e.g. “他的中文一般，但是他很支持我，所以我不介意。” This demonstrates interaction rather than reciting.
Traps
Flat tones and English stress. Overusing 然后 and 就是. Ignoring the examiner’s follow-up. Using 您 with a friend. Memorised vocabulary you cannot pronounce. Answering yes/no without development.