paper 3 english tips

1. PAPER 3 1119/3 SPEAKING

2. 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)

3. 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

4. PART 1: GENERAL QUESTIONS (PHASE 1)

5. 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

6. PART 2
• Refer to the Handout given (Part 2 Candidate Booklet and Sample
Answer)
1. Candidate A will speak first (about 1 minute)
2. All points given must be addressed in complete sentences
3. Elaborate each point with 1-2 sentences in complete sentences
4. Use appropriate connectors
5. 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)

7. PART 3
• There are three tasks in this part
1. 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
2. Make a decision together
• Choose one point and agree to the question asked (ie: the most important
reason/most common problem etc)
3. Answer a question briefly
• Each candidate gives his/her opinion with justification
• Elaborate your opinion in 1-2 complete sentences

8. 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.

9. THINGS TO TAKE NOTE OF
• Speak loud enough so that the assessor can hear you clearly.

10. 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.

11. 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

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

13. Q&A SESSION