Speaking exams can be stressful! What if you don't understand the examiner? What if you don't know the exact word you need? Don't panic! This section has loads of tips and advice on how to survive your next speaking exam.
Exam speaking
Exam speaking
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- Listening to as much English as possible will help to improve your speaking. Listening to songs, podcasts, films, TV series or video clips will help you to feel more confident about speaking.
- Speak as much English in class as possible. If you speak English regularly in class, you will find it easier to speak in an exam.
- Slow down! It’s not a race. Before you speak, think carefully about what to say and speak a little slower than normal.
- Use language you know is correct. Use words and expressions you have used before.
- If you don’t know a word, think of another way to say it. For example, if you know the word ‘expensive’, but can’t remember the word ‘cheap’, you could say:
It’s not expensive.
It’s a good price.
It’s not a lot of money. - Listen to yourself while you speak and if you hear a mistake, correct it. Native speakers make mistakes and correct them all the time.
- Look at the examiner’s or other student’s face and eyes when you speak. Do they understand you? If not, say it again with different words.
- If you don’t understand the question or the activity, ask the examiner. Say: ‘Could you repeat that, please?’
- Always say something. Don’t just say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Explain your answer with a reason. Say ‘Yes, I agree because....’
- If you can choose the question or topic, choose one you know something about. It’s easier to talk about something you know.
- Speak clearly so that the examiner can hear you. If you find this difficult, practise with a friend at home. Stand at opposite ends of a room and speak to each other in English. Or speak to each other in English on your computers.
- What can you prepare before the exam? Ask your teacher. For example, questions about personal information. Prepare what to say at home and practise with a friend, in front of a mirror or record yourself on your phone or computer.
- In some exams, there are two examiners. One who talks to you and one who listens. Say hello and goodbye to both examiners, but during the exam, focus on the examiner who talks to you.
- This is your opportunity to show the examiner what you know. Use your best language and pronunciation.
- Remember that everyone feels nervous in exams. So, take some deep breaths before the exam and try to relax.
- Finally, remember that the examiners are normal human beings, not aliens!
Comments
I don't like speaking exams much. I am always very nervous and speak too fast. :(
oh yes! me too i find difficult to speak English like native speakers :( because english is not a language which i practise every day !!
yup! i too if any one can help me plzz do it i bwcome nervous while talking...:(
The examiner eyes are very scary!!
Teachers always say to me "raise your voice ,please"..when i speak English
Hello Blue Sea, Yes I think many teachers say this to their students! It is really important to raise your voice a little when doing a speaking exam. If the teacher can't hear you, the teacher can't give you a really high score! Try it next time...
Simon (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
Thank you for your advice ..i appreciate that and i will do it
I love speaking exams!!! but I put very nervous too!!!
;)
hello , thank you for your advices that's interesting ...
Hi Everybody! Remember, you can ask us any questions you might have about exams or tell us what exams you are worried about. And we will try to give you some good advice so that you are relaxed and confident on the day of your exams.
Simon (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
how r u
Hi Simon...
It is more easy for me to write my ideas when my teacher ask me a question... And I think it is more easy for me to write the verbs in the correct form than to speak them...
What can I do to answer the questions of my teacher in the correct form???
I really need some advices how to be more correct on speaking english
My problem with speakings is that I feel I don't know many words and because of that I get stuck...
Hi Georgia8,
Have a look at this section. It explains what to do when you don't know the exact word you need in a speaking exam. I hope it helps.
Best wishes, Jo (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
Hi Jo
I really like this website,but I'd like to know something...
Is that possible to get notifications when someone replies my coment???
Because I make a question for example and I don't know if someone has answered that question??
PLEASE HELP ME....
Hi ilda,
We are improving the way comments work on the site and soon it will be much better. We don't have plans to have notifications at the moment but we will think about it.
Thanks a lot for your suggestion. Best wishes, Jo (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
My problem with speaking english is that, with the teacher, i can't talk english that well. But when talking with my friends or people that i know, i can express myself very well.
Hi 1Dgirl,
That's interesting. Do you feel more nervous talking to your teacher than to your friends? Maybe you should do some deep breathing and relaxing before an exam, or try to imagine that the teacher is a member of your family or a family friend! Do you think that might help?
Best wishes, Jo (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
Yep, Maybe because i'm nervous. I'll try that, thanks for your help.
Quite simple. I liked it !
when i pass a peaking test i look like someone who is going to die loool , i always think about the grammar roles and say emmmmmmmm
I don't dike exam speaking. I more like when I'm writing on list...
i dont like speaking too as i am not good at it ..... when i start to talk i forget the whole words i used to know !
I'm so nervous, I say a lot of stupid thing :( But when I'm calm I can speak highly enough
My pronunciation is not that good . . .
I want to speal English fast and interesting,but i have the troubles with listening and speaking.
I speak english so good but when I speak with my teacher, he is from the United States and I'm from Spain, he is speaks so fast but this is not the problem, I don't know how to say many words and I feel so nervous and so scared. I'm trying to learn more words but I don't know how. In the English Class we are doing a work of the States of the United States and he ask to me some questions and I don't know how to answer it.
Hi Katniss Mockingjay,
It sounds to me like you're doing really well with your English. You'll learn lots of new words by spending time on LearnEnglish Teens. Reading and listening to English will help you learn words in context and if you need to learn simple words connected to a topic have a look at our Vocabulary exercises. I'm pretty sure they'll be very easy for you though. Have you watched any of the videos in Video Zone? Find a video you're interested in and use the transcript if you need to.
Best wishes, Jo (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
It's most hard in FCE test :'(
I like speaking exams very much))))I don`t know why))))
I have very much LEnglish podcasts in my phone))))I have `History`,`big city small world`,elementary podcasts)It`s real helpful)))Podcasts make my speaking better))))
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