General tips for Speaking

Before the test

• Try and talk in English as much as possible.

• Go to the Informal Activity meetings organized by the Self Access Centre (SAC) in the ELC. Ask in the SAC for details.

• Remember the more familiar you are with everyday social English the more fluent you will sound.

• Make sure you are familiar with the structure of the test.

• Listen to as much English as you can – watch English TV channels, listen to English radio - RTHK (567AM) & BBC (675 AM), and watch films in the SAC.

• Talk aloud to yourself and tape yourself.

During the test

• Your appearance may have an unconscious effect on the examiner, so dress neatly.

• Arrive early. Sometimes examiners get ahead of their schedule.

• Try to look confident. Don’t fold your arms.

• Keep eye contact with the examiner, especially in parts 1 and 3. Don’t speak to the cassette recorder.

• Don’t worry if the examiner does not look at you in part 2. He or she will be listening and checking the criteria for assessing you.

• Don’t worry about being nervous. Everyone is nervous doing these tests. Don’t say to the examiner ‘I’m nervous’!

• Remember speaking ‘fluently’, does not mean speaking ‘quickly’.

• Don’t be afraid to correct yourself if you make a grammatical mistake.