This document provides tips for preparing and delivering an effective oral presentation. It discusses preparing for the three parts of an oral - reading aloud, picture discussion, and conversation. For reading aloud, it recommends practicing pronunciation, reading with expression, and respecting punctuation. For picture discussion, it suggests using descriptive language and directional phrases to discuss the picture, linking different parts, and relating it to personal experiences. For conversation, it advises making eye contact, using sentence starters, giving examples, and seeking clarification if needed. The overall document aims to help students maximize their performance and score during an oral examination.

1. How to ace your oral
Some tips by:
Mr Abel Kok

2. Oral- What to prepare during the 5
minutes?
 First things first, you should be preparing for all three parts- reading
aloud, picture discussion & conversation (Even though the question is not
given, you can make an intelligible guess; relate to past experiences)
 You should note the words that you will need to pay special emphasis
when you read. Eg. Teach, think, keep, skills, climbed, unbelievable,
formidable.
 Prepare yourself to read the dialogues well with the appropriate
expressions.

3. Oral- Reading
 Your eyes should be reading ahead of what you are
reading. This prepares your mind and calms you down as
you read.
 Read beginning, middle and ending consonant sounds
clearly. Eg. –p, -t, -k, -s, -ed.
 Respect the punctuation marks.
 Read with expression (some words need to be
emphasized.
 Cluster the words together. That is, to read with the
intended meaning of the sentence in mind.
 Bonus- to look up at times
 Dramatise the dialogues given in the passage. Eg. In pain,
in anger, etc.

4. Oral- Reading Let’s apply
Note that you are to respect punctuation marks
like full stop, question mark, exclamation mark.
•Agree
•He’s a good man

5. Oral- Reading Let’s apply
Watch your pronunciation for words like these:
Keep, teach, kick, thank you, jotted, snakes, moon,
school, movement
Watch your pronunciation for these commonly
mispronounced words:
•Comparable, Wednesday, communication

6. Oral- Reading Let’s apply
Sam shouted, “Ouch! Why are you pinching
me?” Peter replied, “This is to test if this is all a
dream.” Both boys left the room with the bag of
money hastily. They were deciding if they should
keep the money to themselves or surrender it to
the police.
Did you read with expressions?
Did you pronounce the words correctly?

7. Oral- Reading Let’s apply
Susan cowered in the dark corner crying bitterly,
“Why must it always be me?” Thomas, the
notorious school bully, always picked on her and
liked to pull her hair for no particular reason.
She decided to report the matter to the teacher
once and for all.
Did you try to dramatise the dialogue to get
bonus marks?

8. Picture discussion
 Beginning sentence: This picture depicts a scene at the
park.
 Use directional phrases, do not point. Eg. In the
background, in the foreground, in the middle of the
picture, At the top right corner of the picture, At the
bottom left corner of the picture. Beside the lady, Next
to the boy, …
 Present tenses/ present perfect tenses to be used.
 Choice of words (Language marks) Flaunt what you
have. Avoid using simple words like angry, happy, sad.
Instead use similes like as happy as a lark or as mad as
a hornet,etc.
 Give your personal interpretation. ‘In my opinion’.
(Content marks)

9. Picture discussion
 Link the different parts
 Give details and examples
 Relate to your own experiences
 Make a prediction if possible. Eg. Day of the week,
time of the day. Peak or off-peak hours.
 Ask the examiner to rephrase the question if
necessary. Avoid a deafening silence or awkward
moments.
 Please the examiners. Do NOT offend them.
 Do not end off with statements like, ‘In conclusion….’.
Better to say ‘to sum up’
 Have a good closure to sum up what you feel about
the picture.
 Bonus- to look up at times

10. Picture discussion
 Know these useful sentence starters:
I think…. Eg. I think it was a joyous occasion. I
think something terrible has happened.
I think it is wrong/ right of the…. Eg. I think it is
wrong of the boy/girl to have thrown the
litter on the floor. I think it is right of the
prefect to have confronted the bully.
In my opinion,…. Eg. In my opinion, the boy
should not have kicked the kitten into the
drain because this is animal abuse.

11. Picture discussion
 Know these useful sentence starters:
• Based on the facial expression,…. Eg. Based on the facial
expression of the man, it must have been painful.
• I hope history will not repeat itself…. Eg. I hope history will not
repeat itself as this will reflect badly on the upbringing of the boy
and his parents will be shamed.
• If I were to be there, I will definitely give the person a piece of my
mind.
• This is an embarrassment to the child’s parents and teachers. I
hope he/she will learn from his/her mistakes.
• I think no one would like to be in his/her shoes at this point of
time.
• I think this will not happen again as the saying goes, ‘Once bitten,
twice shy’.
• I think the teacher should not despair because every cloud has a
silver lining.
• I hope the teacher can forgive the child and let bygones be
bygones as I believe he has already learned his lesson and will
most probably turn over a new leaf.

12. Conversation
 Eye contact Tip: look at the person’s forehead
 Sentence starters needed. Eg. This reminds me of an incident
when I was in a similar situation. This reminds me of a
newspaper article which I have read before. (for more egs
refer to next slide)
 Giving examples
 Talk about your feelings, thoughts,
 Avoid ‘all sorts’ ‘and others’
 Always seek clarification when in doubt. Eg. Could you repeat
the question? Could you please rephrase the question?
 Bonus- if the chance arises, beg to differ or ask a related
question.

13. Conversation
 3 steps to be taken:
 Give an intelligible response to the
question.
 Elaborate your stance by giving
reasons, examples.
 Choose a related example and give
a detailed account of it.
 Talk about something else related
to what have been shared so far.

14. Conversation
 Sentence starters needed.
2.This reminds me of an incident
when I was in a similar situation.
3.This reminds me of a newspaper
article which I have read before.
4.If I remember correctly, …
5.I like / dislike to … because