How do I prepare for a speaking examination? Many people will tell you to speak as much English as possible before the exam, and they are right! However, there are some things you can do yourself to prepare for a speaking exam. Here are some self-study tips to guide you.
Know the exam layout
It's very important that you know the exam layout before you go into the exam. Being familiar with the exam means you will not be surprised by the type of questions or tasks you will be asked to do. Speaking exams are usually arranged into parts. Each part has a specific task, for example in part 3 of the Cambridge PET exam you are asked to speak about a photograph for 1 minutes. Likewise in part 2 of the IELTS exam you are asked to speak about a topic for 1 to 2 minutes with 1 minute preparation and note-taking before. Therefore it is important to know the speaking exam structure, so you will know what to expect.
Watch example videos online
There are many example videos of speaking exams available online for you to watch. These can be found on the official Cambridge and IELTS websites and also on video websites such as Youtube. The more videos you watch, the more topics you will see covered. This will give you an idea of the type of questions that can come up in the different parts of the exam.
Prepare and Practice Speaking Sheet
It's a good idea to take some time to prepare a topic sheet or a Prepare and Practice Speaking Sheet (PPSS). A PPSS is a brainstorming sheet on which you write ideas and vocabulary about a topic. So how does it work? It's very easy; pick a topic, brainstorm ideas on the sheet of things you could say about the topic, check your dictionary for any words that you would like to use and add them to the sheet. Once you have completed your sheet, practice speaking about the topic using the sheet to guide you and help you remember your ideas and new vocabulary.
It's very important that you DO NOT write full sentences on your PPSS. The PPSS must be in your style of note-taking like mind-maps (above) or linear notes (below). The PPSS is only an aid to help you remember key points and vocabulary. If you write your PPSS in sentences, there is a good possibility that you will read your sentences or paragraph, rather than speaking your ideas.
Also it is very important that you DO NOT memorise a paragraph to answer questions in a speaking exam. Key ideas and words allow you to talk more naturally about the topic and give you the flexibility to change your ideas according to the questions you are being asked.
Remember, if an examiner thinks you have memorised an answer, they will stop you and ask you a different question on a different topic.
It's a good idea to write up as many PPSS's as you can on different topics. Then use the sheets to practise - take a sheet out of your collection, and practise speaking out loud about the topic using the sheet to help you remember what to say and how to say it. You can practise with a friend or by yourself. Sometimes practising in front of a mirror is a good way to help you maintain eye-contact, rather than focusing on the notes all the time. You can also record yourself on your phone or recorder, and then listen back to your pronunciation and delivery.
Another good idea is to set a timer on your phone. In some exams you are asked to speak for 1 or 2 minutes. Set the timer and check if you can talk for a certain length of time about the topic. This is great to help you with your fluency also.
Topics for Speaking Exams
Each speaking exam is different, so do some research on the types of topics that can come up in the exam. Here is a list of the more popular topics that can come up in most exams.
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