1. Speaking and Listening
minutes
Individual Task and Discussion
20%

2. Individual Task
You will talk for about 3–4 minutes on a single topic or theme which you have selected prior to the test.
The talk should be continuous.
A talk, a speech, or a monologue
You must use Standard English – practise!

3. You need to show that you are able to prepare and organise material, are aware of audience, and you can select and employ a range of language devices.
The Individual Task should be lively and interesting; it should be a topic in which you have a personal interest and which lends itself to discussion

4. Conspiracy theories
Beauty and cosmetic surgery
Social media – positive and negative
The supernatural
Football
A trip
Killer whales and aquariums (Sea World)
Immortality
Evita
Documentary style report

5. What can I bring in?
You may bring a ‘cue card’ (about postcard size) into the examination room, to remind you of the main points you wish to make.
You may also bring in a limited quantity of illustrative material, which may include maps, diagrams, statistics, pictures and short articles.
You may not bring in a script

6. The Individual Task tests the following speaking objectives (10 marks)
S1 understand, order and present facts, ideas and opinions
S2 articulate experience and express what is thought, felt and imagined
S3 communicate clearly and fluently
S4 use language and register appropriate to audience and context.

7. Discussion
The Individual Task leads into a conversation with your teacher about your chosen topic.
Questions should be open-ended eg ‘Why…?’ ‘Tell me more about…’
This should last 6-7 minutes

8. During the Individual Task, your teacher will make notes in order to help them ask appropriate questions.
You must be prepared to supply additional factual material where appropriate and to express and defend your point of view.
When choosing your topic make sure that it is going to be easy to discuss – can you think of a possible 6 questions that your teacher might ask?
If not choose a different topic!

9. The Discussion tests the following speaking and listening objectives (20 marks):
S1 understand, order and present facts, ideas and opinions
S2 articulate experience and express what is thought, felt and imagined
S3 communicate clearly and fluently
S4 use language and register appropriate to audience and context
S5 listen to and respond appropriately to the contributions of others.

10. Listening
You will be given a mark out of 10 for your ability to listen to and respond to questions
You need to show that you know when to respond, that your response is accurate and that it adds to the conversation.
Make sure that you respond in detail to all of the examiner’s questions.

11. Now watch!