Exam Skills: 5 tips to help you with speaking exams

Speaking exams can fill some students with dread. But don't feel stressed; we have some top tips to help you. Watch this video to see our five top tips to help you with your speaking exam - then visit our website and test your understanding in our quiz.

[Images: Getty Images]

Transcript
Rob
Speaking exams can fill some students with dread. But don't feel stressed; we have some top tips to help you. Firstly, you need to be prepared so make sure you practise speaking as much as possible a long time before the exam day. Check how to pronounce words, learn some phrases and find out what the examiner is looking for. When the real exam arrives, examiner, Mark Shea, has some good words of advice…

Mark Shea, Examiner
You need to remember that the examiner is not your enemy. It’s the examiner’s responsibility, in an oral exam, to provide opportunities for the examinees to display their language proficiency, how good they are at speaking. So the examiner will help you.

Rob
So our second top tip to help you with your speaking exam is to remind you that the examiner is there to help you! They know you're nervous. But it's also good to give yourself the best possible chance as well. Don't speak too fast – slow down – take a deep breath and speak clearly. And don't forget to listen to the questions and if you're unclear, ask the examiner for clarification.

But to do this effectively, and to show the examiner how good your speaking skills are, make sure that you comfortably and accurately use clarification phrases such as “can repeat/rephrase that please?” or “I didn’t quite catch that, could you repeat or say that a different way please?”

Sometimes speaking exams are done in pairs or groups – but don't let that worry you – be friendly to the other candidate and maybe even help them with their speaking. Language expert, Karen Adams can explain why…

Karen Adams, Language expert
This is because it’s important to interact and show the examiner that you can’t just speak, but you can actually converse with someone else. Part of your marks will be devoted to the interaction between you and your partner, so remember to react to what your partner says and to ask questions if it’s appropriate.

Rob
So remember in speaking exams, the emphasis is often on co-operation rather than competition. If you're confident and friendly you'll do well. Good luck!

[aliakhraisha]

“Practice a long time before the exam day” my exam is tomorrow 👁👄👁

[morgan]

And here I am about to do mine in 30 minutes, online.

[freddieh]

2019 speaking anyone else here day before the exam LOL

[jedgeorge]

summary:
> practice speaking long time before the test
> the examiner is not your enemy but she / he will try to offer you opportunities to prove your language proficiency, is there to help you and they know you are nervous
>don't speak too fast, take a breath and speak clearly.
>ask for clarifications if you didn't understand smth (do it the right way)
>be friendly with the other candidate; part of your marks will be given to the interactions
> be confident and friendly and you will do well
Lots of success to everyone!

[giulialongoni]

I took an English exam roughly two hours ago and I've seen the notification just now. Oh well, nevermind XD

[sharleneng]

I'm having my oral exam in 2 hours time😭😭

[heinhtet]

Who is coming here near the oral test?

[davidkhadka]

Wednesday is my IELTS speaking exam..Wish me best

[friendlywiki]

One day i spoke to my dog in English language but i think he didn't Understand 😀😀❤️ but thank you for this useful video now i gonna do some exercise

[BASIM]

Thanks for this advices now I know my tips for improving my speaking skills

[essezen]

I have a speaking exam in 10 minutes and I have never procrastinated in my whole life. yup.

[HuePham-yzbb]

Thanks BBC. I'm going to take the Toeic exam in this Sep. I'm a bit nervous and stressed now although I know that will be one of the wall to High scores.

[nathanvm]

Oral examination for Spanish tomorrow, watching these videos does really feel like a last resort, or cry for help.

[nairicafazeliashrafi]

I-i dont even know what the national oral exam is going to be about. We have it in 2 weeks! our teacher is going to suprise us on what we are going to talk about 😩 but thanks for the tips

[marcossilva-saberfazer]

It is my biggest fear; to make fail during conversation in english

[Kevinwisdom]

My IELTS exam is coming very soooon! Beijing nervous.

[tocaquinn]

Even today is 2021 🙋 help me well today is my oral I'm not nervous at all

[Jess__]

Mine is tomorrow and my examiner is my teacher so it's a little less scary 😅

[mustafa_hassan]

I worked on my speaking I improved my speaking, but my listining is not good enough to understand everything.
This is the most important to me that I wanna improve my listening but I realy don't know how.

[wonderlandcosplay]

Tomorrow I will have my english oral exam 😅