Speaking
How long is the speaking test?
The speaking test is from 11 to 14 minutes long. This will depend on how much you say. The examiner will trying to get you talking as much as possible.
Is it face-to-face?
The speaking test is done with an examiner. It prides itself on not using AI. Traditionally, it was always done face-to-face, but with the pandemic, video call speaking tests (VCS) started being used. In some places you can choose which style you would like.
How many parts are there in the speaking test?
There are three parts in the speaking test as outlined below:
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Part 1: answering questions relating to personal experience across 3 sets of questions.
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Part 2: talking about a given topic for 2 minutes. You will have 1 minute to prepare.
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Part 3: a discussion about the topic from part 2 in a general way. You are not talking about yourself in this part.
Do I get a score for each part?
You are scored across all 3 parts. It is not done by individual parts.
Are any parts more important?
Part 1 is mostly designed as a warm up and to allow lower level test takers show some language ability. If you make a big mistake in part 1 but do well in part 2 and 3, then the examiner will most likely ignore the earlier error. However, part 1 is your first impression on the examiner. You want to start strong.
How will they assess my speaking?
There are 4 areas where your speaking is assessed, and they are equally important.
Fluency and coherence: the ability to speak at length and the connecting of sentences and ideas together.
Lexical resource: your range of vocabulary. Your use of less common and idiomatic phrasing. Your ability to paraphrase.
Grammatical range and accuracy: your range of simple and complex structures. Your accuracy of these structures.
Pronunciation: Your pronunciation of individual words. Your rhythm and stress of sentences. Using intonation appropriately.