Prepare for your speaking test

Preparing for your speaking test doesn’t need to be complicated. This page will guide you through exactly how the test works, what to expect at each stage, and how to get ready with confidence.

How it will start

Five minutes before the test call a link will appear in a pop-up box on your test home page in the Oxford ELLT portal. Make sure you are on that page.
Click on the link to enter the Zoom call and wait for the examiner to join.

In the unlikely event the link doesn’t appear by the test start time, click on the help speech bubble on the bottom right of the screen

What the test will involve

Stage 1

Introductory chat and security check

5 minutes

Stage 2

Student-led monologue

3-5 minutes

Stage 3

Questions about your writing

5-7 minutes

Stage 4

Visual prompt

5-7 minutes

Stage 1: Introductory chat and security check

5 minutes

The examiner will start with a few casual introductory questions. Don’t worry – these aren’t assessed!
You will be asked to show your passport and complete an identity check.

Stage 2: Student-led monologue

3-5 minutes

The examiner will share some text with you on a topic that you will not have seen before. You will have 45 seconds to review it.
The examiner will then ask you up to three questions (normally ones that are factual, comparative or hypothetical about what you’ve read). You will have 2 to 3 minutes to reply.

Stage 3: Questions about your writing

5-7 minutes

This stage explores what you wrote earlier in the Writing section of the test. This is similar to the kind of discussion a student might have with an academic about one of their essays.
The examiner will likely focus mainly on:
- clarification of the facts and opinions in your essay;
- reflections on the writing process;
- your own relevant experiences.

Stage 4: Visual prompt

5-7 minutes

In this stage you will have a spontaneous discussion about an image.
The examiner will show you an image for 15 seconds.
Then they will ask you questions about it. This section is designed to evaluate your spontaneous use of language and your ability to have an interactive conversation

Preparation tips

DO make sure you have tested out Zoom before

We use Zoom for the speaking test because it is one of the most globally accepted tools for video meetings, and already familiar to many students.

If you have not already tried it, however, do make sure to test it ahead of time. From the Zoom site you can try it out for free, including by using the web browser version or by downloading the application to your laptop.

Make sure you can get your camera and microphone working, and that you know how to share your screen.

DO relax

The examiners really do want you to succeed. They will understand if you are a bit nervous. It’s OK to make a few mistakes.

DON’T just read from prepared materials

One of the most common reasons examiners fail students in the speaking test is if they can tell they are reading from notes or other materials. Please, please do not do this. It is important that you talk spontaneously, just as you would in a face-to-face conversation with a tutor.