Know the three sections and their time limits. The speaking exam is 11 to 14 minutes in total. 1
It shouldn't be less than 11 minutes, and can't exceed 14 minutes - by more than five seconds. 2
If you're cut off by the examiner, it's because you're being guided to the next section of the exam, 3
or the exam has reached the 14-minute point. 4
The examiner isn't trying to be rude, but has strict regulations to follow and must ensure that these 5
rules are being followed. 6
Each of the three sections must be a fixed amount of time. 7
So, there are three sections to the speaking exam. 8
Let's look at them now in greater detail. 9
Section one - introductory questions. For the introductory section, 10
Part 1, the examiner will ask basic questions designed to put you at ease. 11
Since these questions don't involve too much thought before providing a response, you'll be asked simple 12
questions such as where you live, work, or what subjects you study in school. 13
You'll also be asked general questions about interests, travel or entertainment. 14
This section is five minutes 15
in total. 16
There will be three sets or frames of questions that the examiner will choose for this section. 17
The first set of questions will usually ask about school, where you work or where you live. 18
The following two sets of questions will be fairly simple sets of questions that you should be able 19
to answer easily. 20
Let's move on to Section 2, 21
The Long Turn. In Part 2, usually referred to as "The Long Turn," 22
you must speak on your own on a provided topic for one to two minutes. Examiners will say, "remember, 23
you have one to two minutes for this." 24
"Don't worry 25
if I stop you - I'll tell you when the time's up." 26
"Can you begin speaking now, please?" 27
What this really means, is "speak for two minutes!" 28
Some test-takers don't realize that they have one minute to prepare before trying to speak - for up to 29
two minutes. 30
Although the examiner really wants the test-taker to succeed, he or she may only be able to just sit 31
and watch 32
the timer, as "dead 33
air" is being recorded for two minutes! 34
If the test-taker "dries up" or stops talking during the long turn, the examiner should ask the candidate 35
to provide more information about the topic...after five seconds of silence. 36
Remember, this section is four minutes in total. 37
And finally, we have Section 3, 38
the Dialogue. Part 3 is a dialogue that builds on the long term topic, 39
and the test-taker will be required to respond to both scripted and unscripted questions by the speaking 40
examiner. 41
"Scripted" just means that the questions have been planned and typed out on a test booklet. 42
Keep in mind that the questions will become increasingly more difficult - in this dialogue between the 43
two of you. 44
The examiner will ask you more complex questions that are related to people in general. 45
Remember that this section is five minutes in total. As mentioned, your examiner must time the entire 46
exam. 47
It can't exceed fourteen minutes - by more than five seconds. 48
Yes, that's how exact the speaking test is! 49
What this means is that the examiner can't exceed five minutes for Part 1, four minutes for Part 50
2, and five minutes for Part 3. 51
The examiner will navigate you through the exam and may need to cut you off in order to stay within 52
this time frame. 53
Pay attention to the examiner, who will frequently be looking at the timer to see how much time is remaining 54
for that particular section of the test. 55
So once again, Speaking Hack 1 is "know the three sections and their time limits."