Speaking tips for English proficiency exams

Would you like some speaking tips for English proficiency exams? Many English learners are interested in taking an official English test to assess their English skills, and most exams include a speaking component.

What do English speaking tests include?

English speaking tests have different tasks, and often these include:

• introducing yourself and speaking about general topics,
• speaking alone about a specific topic or picture,
• answering questions about a specific topic or picture,
• having a more detailed conversation or discussion about a particular subject.

What do the examiners assess?

During the speaking test, an examiner will make notes to assess your English speaking skills. They focus on specific areas to decide your English level of proficiency in speaking. Here is an outline of the different areas that they are listening for, and questions to indicate the assessment factors.

Grammar

• Do you use a good range of grammar?
• How accurate is your grammar for the task?

Vocabulary

• Do you use a good range of vocabulary?
• How accurate is your vocabulary for the task?

Pronunciation

• How natural is your pronunciation?
• How accurate is your pronunciation of individuals sounds, word stress, rhythm and intonation?

Fluency

• Do you express yourself clearly and effectively in all situations?
• How well do you keep the communication going in a natural flow?

Coherence

• Do you link information and ideas in a logical sequence from sentence to sentence?
• How well do you link ideas and information?

Speaking tips for English proficiency exams

BEFORE THE EXAM

1. Learn about the different parts of the speaking test beforehand.

If you know what to the speaking exam involves, it will be easier to prepare and perform well on the day.

2. Find examples of the questions and topics used in each stage.

The types of questions and topics are somewhat predictable (e.g. talking about your family, sport, education, etc). If you have researched examples, this can help you to practise in advance. However, you should not try to give scripted responses that you have prepared before the exam – this will not end with in a good speaking exam result!

3. Prepare by practising speaking

Speak with friends or with an English teacher to talk about common English proficiency exam topics and to practise answering questions. An English teacher can give valuable feedback, and you can even record yourself and listen back and set targets.

4. Feeling nervous?

The examiner knows that you might be nervous, and this can even help you to perform better. However, some recommend a nice glass of wine before – but not a whole bottle – to help you relax!

DURING THE EXAM

5. Be natural with the examiner – they are human too!

Try to have a natural experience with the examiner, smile and keep good eye contact. Don’t worry if the examiner records the exam, and they will also make notes. This is natural and they are not simply making notes of your mistakes. Just try to interact naturally. Imagine you’re talking to a friendly and interesting stranger in a pub!

6. Speak clearly with good pronunciation

It is important to speak clearly and with good pronunciation so that the examiner can understand what you are saying. There is a limited time, so try to speak at a natural speed and without repeating yourself. You can also take small pauses to think before you answer. This is natural in any language.

7. Use a variety of English grammar

Try to use different tenses and longer sentences. Are you speaking about the past, the present or the future? Do you use modal verbs, and sentences with multiple clauses? Try to show your knowledge of grammar to the examiner.

8. Use a variety of English vocabulary

Try to use a variety of words to describe something or discuss ideas. Try not to just repeat the same vocabulary that is used by the examiner, and try to make it interesting with adjectives and adverbs. For example, you are talking about holidays. You could say “We drove to France for our holiday.” However, it will be more interesting and give better results if you say “We drove carefully to a beautiful little village in the south of France for our summer holiday last year.

9. Link ideas and information together

Remember to link information together so that it is logical. Sentences often link to previous sentences that you have said, or link to what another person has said. This will show the examiner that your English is smoother and more coherent.

10. Accuracy and fluency

Try to be as accurate as possible, but also try not to think too much! If you keep stopping and hesitating to be accurate, this will be a disadvantage for your fluency. The examiner is measuring your ability to naturally communicate in English, so accuracy is not always the most important.