Whether you’re taking the SPM or the IELTS exam, there will be an oral speaking component which tests your ability to have beginner level English conversations. Having to do an oral speaking test can be nerve-wracking to some English learners but we’re here to tell you that there’s no reason to be. Check out the tips below that can help you better prepare for it!

Tips to Ace Your Oral Speaking Test

Tip 1: Know the format

The SPM and IELTS oral speaking tests are divided into three parts which will require you to respond to the prompts given. The first part is usually quite simple as it is centred on yourself, your family or your surroundings. For example, you could be asked to share about your hometown, your hobbies or your siblings. These are all things that you’ll know the answer to already.

For part 2 of the oral speaking tests, you’ll be given a specific topic to talk about and some time to think about your answers. The topics given are usually quite familiar to students. For example, you could be asked to talk about your role model or a recent family holiday. You will then talk about the topic for around 1-2 minutes and you will also need to respond to some follow-up questions.

The third part of both oral speaking tests goes a little bit further as it requires you to engage in a back-and-forth conversation. You will discuss a topic either with your fellow candidate or the examiner. This part will often require you to share your thoughts and opinions on certain topics. 

Being familiar with the format enables you to know what to expect so that you can better prepare for it which leads us to our next tip.

Tip 2: Practice, Practice and Practice

Once you know what you need to do during the oral speaking test, start practising! You can easily find sample questions online. You can practice going through the test and recording yourself so that you can listen to it later. For the third part of the test, you can find a friend, family or teacher that can be your study partner so that they can take on the role of the examiner or discuss the topic with you.

After every practice, these are some questions that you can ask yourself or your study partner:

• Am I speaking too fast?

• Am I pausing too much?

• Are my pronunciations clear?

• Do I tend to go off-topic? 

• Am I sharing too much or too little?

Tip 3: Engage in the conversation

During your oral speaking test, avoid responding with one-word answers. If you agree or disagree with something, don’t just stop at yes or no. Most of the time, the questions or prompts given during the oral speaking test are open-ended which means that you will have to elaborate further. You can simply expand on your answers by including your reasons or thoughts. 

Other ways you can show that you are engaged in the conversation are by maintaining good eye contact and using appropriate facial expressions and hand gestures. During the test, feel free to show some emotions too as that’s natural when we’re speaking. For example, if you’re talking about something humorous, you can smile or give a small laugh. Using varied intonation will also make your conversation more engaging.

Tip 4: Know that people are rooting for you

The phrase rooting for you means that people are on your side and want you to do well. In this case, remember that your study partners and the examiner on the day want you to succeed. Keeping this in mind can take away the anxiety that some might feel when speaking English with others. 

Before the test, don’t be afraid to ask for people’s help to practice and for their feedback. Your friends might also be in the same position so you can help each other practice.

During the test, think of the examiner as someone who is there to help you. If you’re not sure about something or if you didn’t catch what they said, simply ask them to repeat it. Even if you stumble on your words, keep going on. 

If you find yourself lost for words or hitting a blank, it’s ok to pause for a bit to gather your thoughts before speaking. Sometimes, examiners will also offer a further prompt or two to help you along. If the examiner cuts you off at the end, it’s simply because the time is up or they have a further prompt. Hopefully, knowing all this will help calm you down during the test. 

Tip 5: Watch a simulation of the speaking test

These days, whenever we need more information, it’s almost second nature to look it up online. So why not do the same to prepare for your oral speaking test? 

We would recommend that you watch a simulation of the speaking test you’re taking. These are videos of candidates taking the speaking test so that you can have a better idea of the flow and listen to sample answers. This is a good way to brush up on your English listening skills too. You can also take a peek at the comment section of the videos as people often offer further tips from their own experiences.

Click here to watch an example of the SPM speaking test and click here to see what an IELTS speaking test looks like. The more familiar you are with the test, the less nervous you’d be and when you’re relaxed, it’s easier to think and express yourself clearly.