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PAPER 3 1119/3 SPEAKING

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INTERLOCUTOR AND ASSESSOR

  • INTERLOCUTOR
    • A teacher from your school
    • In charge of asking you questions, timing you and giving you marks in the Interlocutor Mark Sheet (max 6 marks)
  • ASSESSOR
    • A teacher from another school
    • Will only listen to you speak
    • Will give you marks in the Assessor Mark Sheet (max 18 marks)

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FORMAT OF PAPER 3

  1. PART 1: 3-4 minutes
    • PHASE 1: Simple warm-up session (no marks would be awarded for this part)
    • PHASE 2: General questions (ie: daily routine)
  2. PART 2: 3-4 minutes
    • Each candidate talks about a topic on his/her own
    • Each candidate answers a question briefly about his/her partner’s topic
  3. PART 3: 4-5 minutes
    • Both candidates discuss a topic together
    • Both candidates make a decision together
    • Both candidates answer a question briefly related to the topic

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PART 1: GENERAL QUESTIONS (PHASE 1)

EXAMPLE

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PART 1: GENERAL QUESTIONS (PHASE 2)

  • Speak for about a minute each.
  • Answer each question in complete sentences.
  • Try to elaborate your answer to each question with 1-2 complete sentences.
  • Use appropriate connectors

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PART 2

  • Refer to the Handout given (Part 2 Candidate Booklet and Sample Answer)
  • Candidate A will speak first (about 1 minute)
  • All points given must be addressed in complete sentences
  • Elaborate each point with 1-2 sentences in complete sentences
  • Use appropriate connectors
  • After Candidate A is done, Candidate B needs to answer a question briefly about Candidate’s A topic
  • Followed by Candidate’s B’s turn (Step 1-5)

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PART 3

  • There are three tasks in this part
  • Discuss the given topic with each other
    • Each candidate chooses three points (must not overlap)
    • Address the points in complete sentences
    • Elaborate each point in 1-2 complete sentences
    • Each candidate speaks for about 1 minute
  • Make a decision together
    • Choose one point and agree to the question asked (ie: the most important reason/most common problem etc)
  • Answer a question briefly
    • Each candidate gives his/her opinion with justification
    • Elaborate your opinion in 1-2 complete sentences

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THINGS TO TAKE NOTE OF

  • Answer the questions/task directly and in complete sentences (ie: topic sentences)

E.g.: Question: What do you normally do after you wake up?

Answer: Brush teeth. X

You should answer: Normally after I wake up, I will brush my teeth first, and then I have my breakfast.

  • Use appropriate connectors
    • E.g.: Besides, In addition, Furthermore, Moreover, Other than that, Apart from that, Therefore, As a result
  • Do not take too much time to think of what to say
    • If you don’t understand something in Part 3, you may clarify with your partner in order to move a discussion forward. (“What do you think this means?”)
    • If you partner cannot answer you, just move on to the next point.
  • You are not allowed to ask the interlocutor anything, except “Can you repeat the question please?”
  • If you don’t understand a word/question, pretend you do and just answer anyhow as confidently as you can.
  • Do not respond in BM or Chinese or any other language besides English.
  • Do not elaborate too much. If you go over the time limit, the interlocutor will cut you off mid-point.

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THINGS TO TAKE NOTE OF

  • Speak loud enough so that the assessor can hear you clearly.

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USEFUL PHRASES FOR DISCUSSION TASK IN PART 3

  • STATING AN OPINION
    • In my opinion…
    • The way I see it…
    • I (personally) think/believe…
    • As far as I’m concerned…
    • If you ask me, I would say that…
  • ASKING FOR AN OPINION
    • What do you think?
    • Do you agree?
    • Wouldn’t you say?
    • What are your thoughts?

  • EXPRESSING AGREEMENT
    • I agree with you.
    • I couldn’t agree with you more.
    • That’s so true.
    • Right./Exactly./Absolutely./Indeed.
    • That’s for sure.
    • You have a point there.
    • I was just going to say that.
    • I share the same opinion as you.
    • Precisely so.
  • EXPRESSING DISAGREEMENT
    • I don’t think so.
    • I’m afraid I disagree.
    • I beg to differ.
    • That’s not always true.

  • INITIATING A CONVERSATION
    • Do you mind if I start first?
    • First of all…
    • I’ll begin by saying that…
  • CLOSING A CONVERSATION
    • That’s all I have to say about…
    • That’s what I think about…
    • To sum up, we both agree that…
  • RELATING CONTRIBUTIONS TO A PARTNER
    • As you have mentioned…which I agree…
    • You couldn’t have said it better…
    • That’s a valid point you have there.
    • What an interesting idea you have there.

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WHAT YOU WILL BE ASSESSED ON�(ASSESSOR’S ANALYTICAL SCALES) 18 MARKS

  1. GRAMMAR
    • Language accuracy (the less errors, the higher your score)
    • Grammatical structures: simple and complex structures
    • Use of cohesive devices
  2. VOCABULARY
    • Appropriate word choice to convey your intended meaning
  3. COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE
    • Ability to express yourself spontaneously (the less hesitations, the higher your score)
    • Ability to interact appropriately with your partner

No penalty for answering a question wrongly so

don’t be afraid of getting your answer wrong

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WHAT YOU WILL BE ASSESSED ON�(INTERLOCUTOR’S OVERALL SPOKEN PERFORMANCE) 6 MARKS

  1. GRAMMAR
    • Language accuracy (the less errors, the higher your score)
    • Grammatical structures: simple and complex structures
    • Use of cohesive devices
  2. VOCABULARY
    • Appropriate word choice to convey your intended meaning
  3. COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE
    • Ability to express yourself spontaneously (the less hesitations, the higher your score)
    • Ability to interact appropriately with your partner

No penalty for answering a question wrongly so

don’t be afraid of getting your answer wrong

  1. UNDERSTANDING THE QUESTIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS
    • Ability to respond to the question and instructions with ease
    • Hesitations (the less hesitations, the higher your score)
    • Prompting or support (if needed, the score would be lower)
  2. INTERACTION
    • Ability to maintain and develop the interaction
  3. RESPONSES
    • Extended and relevant responses (with elaborations)

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Q&A SESSION