‘Speaking Test Part 1: Exam skills ‘the Speaking Test lasts 14 minutes and you do it in pairs, ‘orsometimes in groups of three. You are assessed by two speak (except to say hello). nthe test, you are given marks for: ‘+ grammar and vocabulary 4 discourse management (your ability © speak ‘mowledgeably and logically about the subject and for the right length of time) ‘+ pronunciation + interactive communication (your ability to share and participate in a conversation with the other candidate and with the interviewer). Part | consists about = where you are from. = your job or your studies, = why you are studying English, etc. ‘+ one general question to each candidate about some aspect of business. part of the test lasts about three minutes, This part of the exam tests your ability to: + talk about yourself ++ express opinions, agree and disagree Suggested exam technique 1 Make sure, before you go into the Speaking Test, that you can: = talkabout yourself = describe what your job o your studies consis of, ‘your duties and responsibilities ~ describe your company’s activities ~ talk about your ambitions /hopes forthe future 0 the interview, speak clearly so you 3 Don’t answer the questions with one or two words ~ answer with one or two sentences ‘When you answer a question, give a reason for your __ answer or an example. advice the interviewer and also, when ‘to the other candidate. "understand a question, ask the 10 repeat it. ‘you've made a mistake, correct ‘people: the interviewer and another examiner who doesn’t ‘one general question, in which the interviewer asks you. Exercises 1 Work in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer these ‘questions, which are similar to the first question you willbe asked. 1 Canyoutell mea 2 What does your job / do your studies involve? 3 What aspects of your job/studlies do you enjoy? 4 Is there anything about your job/studies which you don't ike? 5 How do you see your career developing in the future? 6 Why have you been studying business English? 7 Ifyou were completely free to choose, who would you like to work for? tle bit about you? 2 When you have finished, discuss how you could improve your answers. 3 Work in pais. Take turns to ask your partners these questions which are similar to the second question you willbe asked. — 1 How do you think business has changed in your ‘country inthe last few years? 2. What things should someone study if they are thinking ofa career in business in your country? 3 What do you think will be good professions to work in inthe future? 4 Doyou think there are more or fewer opportunities in ‘business nowadays? Why? / Why not? 5. What are the qualities uf a good business person? sean eel wit Madails ied aaSpeaking Test Part 2: Exam skills In Part 2: ‘© you are given a page with three questions printed on it Each question begins with the area of business which the question is directed at, e.g. finance, marketing, human resources ‘you are asked to choose one of the three questions ‘you have one minute to prepare your answer * you must speak for one minute ta answer the question ‘© your partner must listen and ask you a question when you have finished ‘© the interviewer will also ask you a question atthe end This part of the exam tests your ability to: ‘+ speak for a longer period of time, as you might have to do when giving a presentation or speaking at a business meeting * communicate a series of ideas clearly ‘+ speak about an area of business and demonstrate your knowledge of business issues and business vocabulary yeech and connect your © structure you! You practised similar skills in Unit 6 (page 33) and Unit 24 (age 13). Interview nerves It is natural to feel alittle nervous about this part of the interview. Overcome nerves by telling yoursel ‘+ you have something interesting and important to say ‘© the people in the room want you to do well ‘they would be equally nervous if they had to give talkin your language! Above all, keep speaking. If you dry up, take a breath and start again. How much can I say? Radio reporters, when they are writing their pieces, expect to speak at a speed of three words per second. You should expect to speak rather more slowly, so in. fone minute you will probably manage little more than 120 words. This will give you an idea of how ‘much you should limit your answer; if you had five minutes to prepare, you would have too much to say in the time. 150. Examnskills and Exam practice ‘Suggested exam technique A You have one minute o prepare. Use it to: 1 choose the question you think is easiest ~ Which do you know most about? = Which do you have the best range of v for? 2 think of three main ideas you want to exp three main points you wish to make. Expa by adding reasons and giving examples. If give examples from your personal experi 3. make brief notes while you are thinking 4 note down key business vocabulary you wai B Ifyou can, use your own experience to ans question. you haven't worked in business yet worry: give your ideas just the same. (© When speaking 1 refer to your notes, but look atthe interv your partner introduce your talk by saying what question have chosen 3. sequence your talk by saying first, seco 44 signpost your tlk with phrases like this is for example and as a result ofthis 5. watch the time and try o finish your tak wit concluding sentence atthe end of the minut D_ When listening to your partner: 1 think ofa question you would like to ask abo talk 2. think about what you agree and disagree wit talk. Exercises 1 @ Workin pairs. Study topic 1 below and. three minutes to discuss how you could. ‘Take notes as you talk. b Change partners and give your talk, ¢ When each of you has given your talk, give feedback on what you did well and what: could improve. d_ Do the same for topics 2 and 3, 1 Human resources: How to approach internal recruitment Finance: The importance of making accurate forecasts 3. Management: Managing change in a large o!2. When you are giving a talk, i's important for your audience (the two examiners and the other candidate) to know what you are doing at each ‘moment - making a new point, giving an example, concluding, etc. Complete the talk bolow using the words or phrases. from the box. athidaspect ofthis anyway butalso because: fray andin conclusion for example Ithinkfirst that italso inctudes notjust because the main point 'd like to make is about what Imeanis My talks about procedures for internal recruitment. This isan essential area of human resources, 1 it has implications for the efficiency of the company, 2 of the effect it can have on inter-staft relations. So 3 transparency. 4 that the process must be fair and seen by all staff involved tobe fair. How can this be achieved? 5 there ‘must be a clear procedure for internal recruitment which haas been agreed between management and staff representatives. This procedure must, 6 ; include internal advertising ofall posts and allowing all sultably qualified staff to apply. 7 a regular system of staff appraisal, which is also open and transparent, Staff know how they have been appraised and. know what comments are on their personal files. They also have a right to appeal if they fee! that any aspect oftheir appraisal has been unfair. 8 transparency is the composition of recruitment boards, and | say ‘boards’ because really internal recruitment is too sensitive to be the responsibility of one person. 9 these boards should really be made up of the director or manager of the department which has the vacant post, someone from the Human Resources department, and also, though this for many managers may sound rather controversial, an lected staff representative as well. 10, Td lke to say that {think Human Resources should circulate the reasons for choosing the person they finally choose, as this ‘makes the process as transparent as possible, and makes it clear to staff what criteria were used. (€s chock your answer by stoning to Frances, a Personnel officer with alarge company, giving atalk ata business seminar. 4 Inher talk, Frances did the following things. Read what she said in Exercise 2 again and find the phrases which identify them. She introduced her talk. ‘She made three main points. She gave an example. ‘She explained what she meant using other words. ‘She concluded her talk. ‘She used business vocabulary. To try areal exam task, see below. Speaking Test Part 2: Exam practice ‘Task card 1 ‘A: Customer Service: the importance of getting customer feedback B: Financial Management: how to decide on a ‘budget for training, : Sales: how to monitor the performance of sales staff Task card, ‘A: Recruitment: the importance of recruiting from a variety of sources Purchasing: how to select a suitable supplier C: Advertising: how to identify the best advertising ‘methods for a product bwith Laedtabbcdeasiidobbd faySpeaking Test Part 3: Exam skills Inpart3: + youare given acard witha topic to dacus in pls * you have 30 seconds to read the card. You must discuss the topic for three minutes and try to reach a decision Afterwards, the interviewer will broaden the discussion by asking both of you futher questions abou the same topic. This pr of the exam tests your ability o: «express opinions + agree, disagree, compare and contrast ideas and to reach decision + find out your partner's opinions and react them -in ther words, you ability to colabrate ina work type discussion. ‘You practised similar skills in Unit 13 (page 66). ‘Taking turns to speak In this part of the Speaking Test, it's important not to ‘monopolise the conversation. When you have said something, ask your partner what he/she thinks. Say things like: Do you agree? What do you think? How ‘about you? If your partner is speaking too much, interrupt politely by saying things like: Yes, but... , Possibly... (ifyou disagree) or Yes, and » Yes, and another thing... (if you agree). Suggested exam technique 1. You are given 30 seconds to read the card before you start discussing, Use the time to = study the situation (underline the key words while you are doing this) ~ make sure you know what you must discuss. 2. Start by making a suggestion, and then asking your partner what he/she thinks, 3. When your partner suggests an idea, say if you agree or disagree and give a reason. Give a suggestion of your own. 4 Make sure you decide on both points in the three minutes. f you think you have spent too long on the first point, take control ofthe discussion by saying What about the second point? What do you think about ..? 5. Try todiscuss the topic as if it was a real work situation {in your company. Express your own ideas and opinions. 12 Exam skills and Exam practice Exercises. win 1. Workin groups of three. One student should take role of interviewer. The other two students should practise as candidates for the exam. The interview should: + give the candidates their task (see below) ‘+ listen and assess their performance (see the check at the end of the exercises) ‘+ askthe candidates the questions which follow the task * sive feedbackto the candidates when they have finished, | Task Staff disputes | Recently there has been some bad feeling inside your company caused by disputes between members of sta and management. You have been asked to suggest ways in which staff disputes can be resolved without causing bad feeling. Discuss together and decide: + what aspects of staff disputes give rise to bad feeling + what mechanisms ean be introduced to deal with these disputes Interviewer’s questions to follow the task ‘Why ist important to keep staffhappy? ow can managers enforce staff discipline? ow important is good timekeeping in business? o you think companies should have dress codes? Do you think that aformal or an informal atmospheres ‘more appropriate in an office environment? 2 Continue to work in groups of three, but this time a different student should take the role of interviewer. ‘Task Responding to a competitor One of your main competitors has started selling « similar product to one of yours at lower price. Your ‘manager has asked you to give advice on how to respond to this challenge. | Discuss together and decide: what the dangers are of entering a price war + what other ways there are of responding to the challenge. meno Canty Mobile nner{nterviewer’s questions to follow the task 1 Towhat extent do you think the price ofa product Indicates its quality 2 What can companies do to encourage brand loyalty amongst their customers? 43 How should you decide the price fora product or service? 4. How can a company keep track of what the competition isdoing? § Doyou think companies should be product-led or ‘marketing-led? Why? Finally the third student should take the role of interviewer. Task ‘Managing change ‘The company you work for is planning o introduce new technology systems to make the company more [poductive. This will mean major changes in the way staff work. The managing director has asked you to recommend ways of preparing the staff for these ‘changes. Speaking Test Part 3: Exam practice Discuss together and decide: ‘© how staff should be prepared for change ‘+ what incentives they should be offered to facilitate the changes. Interviewer's questions to follow the task 1 Why are workers sometimes unwilling to accept changes in working practices? 2. What do you imagine the office of the future will be like? 3. What are the advantages for a company of allowing its office staf to work from home? 4 And what ae the disadvantages? 5 Inthe last 20 years, how have new technologies changed the way people in offices work? Totty areal exam task, see below. Improving Public Relations Discuss and decide together: ‘© what good public relations involve, ‘Your company is looking at ways of improving its public relations. You have been asked for your views on this, + why good pubic relations are important toa company) pesca nec anit) Mobile i Dl nied