CHAPTER 9 Speaking Paper

PdPR Video

INTRODUCTION
The Speaking Paper is Paper 3 in the latest SPM format. This paper is quite a challenging paper as many students are
not used to speaking English in their daily lives.

How to Prepare

You have to practise speaking English fluently and accurately in order to score well in Paper 3. Paper 3 makes
up 25% of your total score and shares the same weightage as the other English papers.

During the speaking test:

1 Walk into the examination room, smile and greet the two teachers politely.
2 Don’t drag the chair; sit on your chair politely.
3 Don’t be scared. Stay calm and be ready.
4 Listen to the questions asked by the teacher and answer them. (Avoid saying ‘I don’t know’.)
5 For the discussion question, do take part actively in the discussion. Give your opinions.

After the speaking test:

1 Say thank you to the teachers.
2 Stand up and push in the chair gently.
3 Leave the room quietly.
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During the evaluation of the speaking paper, students will be evaluated using these analytical criteria;
grammar, vocabulary and communicative competence.

Tips to speak well:

1 Utilise the time given to you fully.
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2 While speaking, take note of pauses, what syllables and words to stress.
3 Listen carefully to the questions and answer them appropriately.
4 If you did not hear the question clearly, request for the teacher to repeat the question. Don’t be shy.
5 Use formal language and avoid colloquial expressions (‘lah’, ‘ma’, ‘kan’).

Here are some speaking guides which are useful for students. Let’s practise using them. Practice makes perfect, there
is no shortcut.
Here are the guides, so let’s speak!

Asking for personal Asking about an

Reacting to ideas/news Expressing preferences
information experience

What’s your name?
What’s your address?
What’s your date of
birth?
Have you got an email
address?
Did you have a good What is/was ... ? I’d like to...
time in/at... ? Where did it... ? It’s a nice idea but... I’d
How was it? When... ? rather...
What did you do? Why/Why not? I’d prefer to...
What did you enjoy Oh no! I can’t believe it! I don’t mind...
most? That’s amazing/terrible news! Maybe... is a better idea.
I’m really sorry/pleased. That is/sounds more
Congratulations! interesting/fun/than...

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 Opening discussions Giving your opinion Asking if someone agrees Deciding

Shall we start with this...?
Let’s begin/start by
looking at...
First of all,...
To begin with,...
Let’s move on to...
Shall we talk about... now?
I think... is a good idea
because...
Well, I don’t think he/she
should...
But if he/she...,
Do you agree (with me)? OK, so let’s decide...
Would you agree that...? Right, let’s make a
Do you think so, too? decision...
We’ve decided to...

Asking for a favour Responding to feedback

Can I ask you a favour? I’m glad you enjoyed it.

Could you do me a favour? It’s a pity you didn’t enjoy it.
Could/Can you... ? Do we think the best one is... ?
Is it OK if I... ? So, do we agree that... is the best one?
Would you mind doing/cleaning/helping me with... ? So, to sum up...
In the end we think... because...

Making suggestions
What shall we...?
What/How about a...?
Shall we go to... ?

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Making arrangements

What do you want to do?

I agree.
Agreeing

Yes, I totally/quite
Disagreeing
Actually, I don’t really
agree.
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Why don’t we...? Let’s go/do/play... agree
with you. I’m afraid I don’t agree.
Let’s... What time does it start? I think you’re (quite/ I don’t think that’s a very
Maybe we could... What time shall we meet? absolutely) right. good idea because...
Then... will... Where shall we meet?
Do you want a lift?
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I’ll see you outside/near/
at...

Speaking Question 2

Practice 1
When you were sick …
Talk about an experience when you were sick.
You should say:
– what sickness you had
– what you did to become better
– how you felt (one reason why)
– why health is important

Practice 2
A movie you like
CHAPTER 9

Talk about a movie you like.

You should say:
– what movie it is
– what it is about
– why you like this movie
– Is watching movies a good way to spend time wisely? (why/why not?)

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 Speaking Question 3

Practice 1
Some students do not like to stay in boarding schools.
– Give reasons to defend the boarding system of education.
– Decide which is the most important reason students stay in boarding schools.

• Saves time,
trouble and
expense in
• Can travel
• Can have
participate in contact with
out-of-school teachers
activities Benefits
of staying in
boarding
schools

• Homework
• Be independent can be done
easily and on
and self-reliant

S • Promotes
friendship
time
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Extended question:
In what ways does staying in a boarding school help a student to excel in studies?

Practice 2
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Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, schools are closed and online teaching and learning is the current learning method.
Share the benefits of online learning for students.

• Saves time
and cost
• Can enjoy travelling
a variety to school
• Can have
of remote contact with
teaching teachers
from Benefits
teachers of online
learning for
students
• Homework
• Be independent can be done
and promotes • Promotes according to
self-learning lifelong individual’s
learning on speed
Internet use

Extended question:
In what ways does studying online help promote effective learning?

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