12 August 2019
The English O-level oral exam is round the corner. I always tell students that the oral exam is the easiest to score.
For Reading, be mindful of words that appear before vowels and articulate your words. Don’t mumble. Pause whenever there is a comma and full stop. Do NOT rush through your reading! Beware of Commonly Mispronounced Words that you encounter. I would like to share some of these words.
For Spoken Interaction, when you watch a visual stimulus (video), always link it to a theme. The O-level oral is based on a thematic approach. For example, if you see a video of children playing at a playground, the discussion would most likely be about childhood, play, outdoor fun etc. Examiners are NOT there to assess how intelligent your ANSWERS are. Rather, what is important is how relaxed and confident you are. Are you able to hold a conversation relating to the topic? Remember, it’s best to share your personal experiences as it helps to keep the conversation going and it’s uniquely yours! When speaking, be mindful of your tenses (very important!) and try to use different vocabulary for the same meaning. Students will lose marks if they keep repeating the same words.
For those who would like to have more practice and tips on tackling the exam, you may grab a copy of my O-Level English Oral book from The Popular bookstores. The book also includes the official assessment criteria by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB). Good luck!
