Back to Learning Center
Speaking Mastery Guide
The Speaking test is an interactive interview. You will be assessed on fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Total time: 11-14 minutes.
Assessment Criteria
- Fluency & Coherence: Can you speak at a normal speed without too much hesitation? Do you connect ideas?
- Lexical Resource: Do you use idiomatic language and less common words?
- Grammatical Range: Do you use a mix of simple and complex sentences accurately?
- Pronunciation: Is your speech clear? Do you use intonation to express meaning?
Part 1: Introduction & Interview (4-5 mins)
Format: General questions about yourself (Home, Work, Hobbies, Hometown).
Strategy:
- Expand your answers: Never give one-word answers. Always add a "because" or an example.
- Example: Examiner: "Do you like sports?"
Bad: "Yes."
Good: "Yes, absolutely. I'm a big football fan and I try to play every weekend with my friends."
Part 2: Long Turn (3-4 mins)
Format: You get a topic card. You have 1 minute to prepare and must speak for 2 minutes.
Strategy:
- Use the preparation time: Write down keywords, not full sentences. Focus on high-level vocabulary you want to use.
- Cover all bullet points: The card usually has 3-4 prompts (What, Who, When, Why). Make sure to address all of them.
- Keep talking: Don't stop until the examiner interrupts you. If you run out of things to say, give an opinion or a story.
Part 3: Discussion (4-5 mins)
Format: Abstract questions related to the topic in Part 2. This is a discussion about society, not yourself.
Strategy:
- Generalize: Avoid talking about "I". Talk about "people", "society", "most citizens".
- Structure your argument: "On the one hand..., but on the other hand...".
- Buy time: If the question is hard, say: "That's an interesting question. I've never thought about that before, but I suppose..."