SPEAKING Final Exam Practice

• English
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Agenda

• Times for Saturday!!!!!!! 
• Check your gmail 31st of March from Mr van den Heijden
• Check rules
• Final Tips
• Practice for speaking

Part 1

Talk about yourself

This is a very common task at the beginning of a speaking exam. It is something you can prepare at home and practise. If you know what to say, you will feel more relaxed and confident at the start of the exam.

Do:

Think about the types of topics and questions you may be asked before the exam. School, family, free time, daily routines and future plans are common topics.

Practice answering simple questions about yourself. Work with a friend to practice or record yourself and listen to the recording.

Listen carefully to the questions. If you don’t understand the question, ask your teacher to repeat it.

Give complete answers in full sentences.

Look at the examiner. His/her face may tell you when you’ve said enough and he/she is ready for the next question.

Don’t:

Memorise your answers. It’s good to have ideas ready, but it’s better not to memorise long replies to typical questions.

Just reply with ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Panic if you are asked an unexpected question. Take a few seconds to think before you answer it.

Here are some examples of things you can say about yourself:

My name’s ...

I’m from ... / I live in ...

I was born in ...

I’m ... years old.

I go to ... school.

I like ... because ...

I don’t like ... because ...

In my free time / After school, I ...

My best friends are ... because ...

My favourite (school subject, actor, pop group, sport) is ... because ...

I have ... brothers and sisters.

In the future, I’d like to ... because ...

Do:

Look at your picture carefully and take a few moments to think before you start talking.

Talk for all the time you are given. If you have one minute to do the task, use every second.

Practise the useful language below so you can explain which part of the picture you are talking about.

Don’t:

Panic if you don’t know the words for all the things in the picture. You don’t need to know all the words for everything in the picture if you know what to say when you don't know an exact word.  

Get distracted and start talking about something else. Focus on the photo or picture.

Panic if your mind goes blank. Take a deep breath, look at the picture and start again.

If you are asked to describe a photo or a picture in the exam, here is some language you can use:

2.Here are our top tips for describing a photo or a picture in an exam.

What is in the picture?

In the picture I can see ...

There’s / There are ...

There isn’t a ... / There aren’t any ...

Say what is happening with the present continuous

The man is ...ing

The people are ...ing

It’s raining.

Where in the picture?

At the top/bottom of the picture 

In the middle of the picture ...

On the left/right of the picture ...

next to

in front of

behind

near

on top of

under

If something isn’t clear

It looks like a ...

It might be a ...

He could be ...ing

Here are my top tips for discussions.

Do:

Think about your opinion before the discussion starts.

Say what you really think about the topic and explain why you think that.

Listen to what your partner says and say if you agree or disagree.

Make sure you know the language for agreeing and disagreeing. 

Be polite if you disagree.

Ask your partner what he/she thinks.

Use every second you are given to do the task.

Finish the discussion by summarising what you have spoken about.

Don’t:

Only give your own opinion but also respond to your partner.

Worry if you don't agree with your partner. That's fine!

Talk about things that are not relevant to the topic.

Let the discussion stop. Keep it going! 

Example discussion topics

You will probably be given a topic that has pros and cons, or advantages and disadvantages. Here are some example topics:    

The internet is the best way to do your shopping.

Young people under 15 shouldn’t use mobile phones.

All young people should stay at school until they are 18.

There shouldn’t be any advertising on TV during children’s programmes.

Famous celebrities shouldn’t complain if the paparazzi take photos of them every day.

It is the children’s responsibility to look after their parents when they get old.

Dogs should be banned from cities.

Show

Now you try:

People at home: Break out rooms in pairs> use this LessonUp to have a mock exam with your partner

People in class: Wait for instructions!

Task 1

Your teacher will ask you some questions about yourself. Remember to give full answers.

Part One: Examiners questions

Teacher's notes: 

Task 1: Interview (2 minutes)

First of all I would like to know something about you.

Select one or more questions from the following as appropriate.

1 What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

2 What did you do last weekend?

3 What job do you want to do when you are older? (Why?)

4 How do you have a good time with friends?

5 What’s the best holiday you’ve ever had? (Why?)

6 What is the best/worst present you have ever been given?

Task 2 - Student A

Look at these photos and answer the question your teacher asks you about the photos.

Part 2: The long turn - Examiner

What do the people like about working in these places?

When Student A has finished talking about the photos, Student B answer the question your teacher asks you about the photos.

Candidate B's question

Task 2: Long turn

In this part of the test, I’m going to give each of you two pictures. I’d like you to talk about your pictures on your own for about a minute, and also to answer a question about your partner's pictures.

Student A, it’s your turn first. Here are your pictures. They show people working in different places.

I’d like you to compare the pictures and say what the people are enjoying about working in these places.

All right? (1 minute)

Thank you.

Student B, which of these places would you prefer to work in? Why? (Approximately 30 seconds)

Thank you

Task 2 - Student B

Look at these photos and answer the question your teacher asks you about the photos.

Candidate B's Question

What do you think the people are enjoying about being part of these teams?

When Student B has finished talking about the photos, Student A answer the question your teacher asks you about the photos.

Candidate A's question

Now, Student B, here are your pictures. They show people doing sports activities that require teamwork.

I’d like you to compare the pictures and say what you think the people are enjoying about being part of these teams.

All right? (1 minute)

Thank you.

Student A, which activity would you prefer to do? Why? (Approximately 30 seconds)

Thank you. That is the end of the test.

Task 3

Your teacher will ask you to discuss this topic together.

"I’d like you to talk about something together for about two minutes".

Part three: Colloborative task

Task 3

Here are some things that can affect people’s happiness and health and a question for you to discuss. First you have some time to look at the task. (15 seconds)

Here are some things that can affect people’s happiness and health and a question for you to discuss. 

Now, talk to each other about whether these things can help people to be healthy and happy. (2 minutes)

Task 3

I’d like you to talk about something together for about two minutes.

Here are some things that can affect people’s happiness and health and a question for you to discuss. First you have some time to

look at the task. (15 seconds)

Now, talk to each other about whether these things can help people to be healthy and happy. (2 minutes)

 

Now you have about a minute to decide which two things are most important for people to be happy and healthy. (1 minute)

Task 3

Thank you. Now you have about a minute to decide which two things are most important for people to be happy and healthy. (1 minute)

Thank you.

Task 4

Your teacher will ask you to discuss some questions together about the topic in Task 3.

Part 4 Discussion

Task 4 (4 minutes)

Use the following questions, in order, as appropriate.

1 What’s a good place for people to do sport in your town/city?

2 Why do you think some people don’t like going to the gym?

3 A lot of people prefer watching sport on TV or online to doing sport themselves. Do you think this is a good thing? (Why? / Why not?)

4 Is it healthier to live in the city or in the country? (Why?)

5 Does starting a new hobby or activity always make people feel happy? (Why? / Why not?)

6 Is it possible to be as happy on your own as when you are with other people? (Why? / Why not?)

Thank you. That is the end of the test.

Thank you. 

That is the end of the test.