Sometimes having the option to talk about anything you want can be more difficult that being set a topic. Make sure you choose something that you can talk fluently about and preferably something that you are really interested in. You could talk about your favourite sport, a favourite band, a holiday you have been on recently or event that you have been to. If you want to stand out from your classmates a bit, choose a topic that is a bit more unusual. Think about something that has been in the news recently, do some good research and form your own opinion of it. Try linking it to something you have done in another class; a health issue, a recent topic in Geography or something you have learned about another culture in language classes. You could talk about one of your favourite books, review it and come up with some discussion points about the plot and characters. Do not do this for a book you haven’t read - you will get caught out!
Try to relax for your exam. It’s easier said than done but the more confident you are, your mark is likely to reflect it. Even if you don’t feel confident, try to appear so. Avoid wearing anything on your wrists or fingers that you can fidget with, this will be an irritating distraction for your teacher and they are less likely to listen to everything you have to say. Don’t bring your speech in as one long stream of written work. Write short notes on individual cards that act as prompts. This way you will avoid sounding monotone reading it all off a sheet and any nervous shaking hands will be a lot less obvious. The best way to get ready for a successful exam is practice, practice, practice. Rehearse your speech with as many people as you can until you feel confident about what you are saying.
Try to relax for your exam. It’s easier said than done but the more confident you are, your mark is likely to reflect it. Even if you don’t feel confident, try to appear so. Avoid wearing anything on your wrists or fingers that you can fidget with, this will be an irritating distraction for your teacher and they are less likely to listen to everything you have to say. Don’t bring your speech in as one long stream of written work. Write short notes on individual cards that act as prompts. This way you will avoid sounding monotone reading it all off a sheet and any nervous shaking hands will be a lot less obvious. The best way to get ready for a successful exam is practice, practice, practice. Rehearse your speech with as many people as you can until you feel confident about what you are saying.
