Imagine that you have studied hard and practised till your notes are practically falling apart! And when your oral examination starts, your words just don’t come out right. Sound relatable? The pressure when you are face-to-face with an examiner and it feels like all the eyes are on you is real. But with the right strategy and preparation, you can ace your oral examinations as well. It is the one part of the exam where you can share your thoughts and even connect with the examiner.
In this article, we will tell you some practical tips and tricks that can help you ace your exams. From preparation strategies to what to do when your mind goes blank, we have got you covered!
Getting Ready before the Exam
Many students think that oral exams are just for speaking so they skip the preparation. But that is not even half true! Oral exams don’t only test your fluency, they also test your ability to express your ideas clearly and in a structured way. There are some skills you can sharpen with your practice.
- Start by reading long passages out loud every day. This will help you speak smoothly and improve your pronunciation.
- For the conversation section, it will be super useful for you if you are familiar with topics that invigilators pick the most like, school experiences, environmental issues, festivals and culture, environmental issues or healthy living.
- Practice with your friends or family if you can, this will help you feel like you are actually giving an oral examination. You can see what you are forgetting as a result.
- Memorising the answers word for word is not enough to prepare for the oral exam! It is about understanding what you are reading and then training yourself to speak confidently and naturally.
During the Exam
As the exam comes, students get scared and nervous. Examiners are there to find out how well you speak, not to deceive you and fail you. When you first enter the room, greet the examiner and show them that you’re ready.
- Take your time reading the passage when you are asked to. Reading it normally, pausing on a stop, pausing slightly on a comma and clearly pronouncing each word are all acceptable.
- The real challenge is the conversation section. Try to think of the points in a structured manner and present your views clearly. Don’t get lost in thoughts and make sure that you don’t panic. Take a pause, gather your answer and then answer.
- A great way you can structure your thoughts is the P.R.E. method. P- Point, R- Reason, E- Example. Clearly state your position, provide an explanation for your feelings and then back it up with an example.
What to do when your mind goes blank in an oral examination?
Almost all students struggle with this. What if your mind goes blank all of a sudden? Don’t worry! You can prevent panic by saying some filler sentences. These can give you enough time for thinking while the examiner will think that you are still engaged. Just calmly correct yourself if you stumble or mispronounce a word, then continue. The examiners want to know if you can communicate naturally and not if you have the perfect response.
Tips for Oral examinations & Common Mistakes to avoid
- Being too fast or too slow when speaking is one of the most common errors. It can look like you are underconfident to the examiner. So, make sure that your voice is at least hearable in the room.
- Another very common mistake is giving one-word answers. If the examiner asks you a question, you should not reply with a very short answer or just with a word yes or no. For example- If the examiner asks you, “What do you do after going from school to home?” and you just answer “play football,” you are not showing your ability. You must expand your answer and try to hold it like a conversation.
- Some students also sound too rehearsed and examiners can tell when you are just reciting your answer. You will look like you are speaking unnaturally, which will lower your score.
- Don’t forget about making eye contact and body language. Looking down at the table or moving a lot can make you feel unsure. You also don’t need to stare at the examiner but occasional eye contact and sitting straight can make a big difference.
The truth is, most of these mistakes just come from nerves. But if you know what you do when you are nervous, try to avoid doing them. You will come across as more confident during your oral examination.
Conclusion
Oral examinations are not something you have to fear. They can be stressful and overwhelming but the purpose is to test your communication skills. The sole purpose of the test is to determine your ability to articulate your ideas clearly and in an organised way. You will learn about common subjects and practice answering questions if you set aside a specific time each day to read. If you are still unsure that you will do well, you can take PSLE English Tuition and they can help you! Just make sure you appear confident and have good preparation. Oral examinations are only for a few minutes but you will gain communication skills and presentation skills from them.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
1. What if I get nervous and forget what to say?
If you get nervous during the exam and your mind goes blank, you can just say some filler sentences. Just remember that you should be calm and think about the question. Examiners know that a student can get nervous, but they will see how you recover from it after a short pause.
2. How can I practice the conversation section at home?
You can either ask your parents or your friends to act as your invigilator. They can ask you questions about common topics and so you can try giving the answers. Practice giving long answers rather than just one word. Use the Point- Reason- Example method to structure your answer. You can also read newspapers or articles to get fresh ideas and examples that you can use.
3. Should I memorise model answers for oral exams?
It is not a good idea to memorise the answers. When you try to memorise and then speak in front of the examiner, you can sound unnatural. Examiners can tell when you are just reciting. It is better if you practice speaking on a range of topics so that if any topic is asked, you can respond naturally.
