What you'll see
Get familiar with the task.
This is a long-answer speaking question. You'll read a short text out loud, using correct pronunciation and natural intonation. You get a short preview, then your microphone opens.
Analysts were impressed by the improvement in margins reported across all regions, apart from the United Kingdom, and said that this reflected a clear effort to improve profitability across the business. Although the turnaround is still in its early stages and the valuation looks full, given the challenge of turning around such a large and complex business, this is certainly an impressive start.
3 strategies that work
The mindset before the click.
- 1Strategy 1
Use your 30–40s prep time wisely
Read silently first. Decode tricky words using nearby words and word parts (prefixes, suffixes, endings).
- 2Strategy 2
Read every single word
Don't skip or rush. Use letter-to-sound knowledge to handle unfamiliar words.
- 3Strategy 3
Link words inside phrases
Don't stress small words like 'the', 'of', 'in'. Link consonants to following vowels for native-like rhythm.
Try each strategy
Guided practice you can do alone or with a partner.
1Use your 30–40s prep time wisely
Before the microphone opens, scan the text silently. Use surrounding words (context clues) and word parts (prefixes, suffixes, endings) to figure out anything unfamiliar.
- Context clues = nearby words that hint at meaning. e.g. in 'improvement in margins … profitability across the business', margins ≈ gross profits.
- Word-part clues = recognisable chunks. e.g. improve-MENT, profit-ABLE-ity. Knowing -ment/-able/-ity helps you pronounce them quickly.
- Highlight prefixes (un-, re-, in-), suffixes (-ful, -ness, -est) and endings (-ed, -ing, -es) silently as you scan.
2Read every single word
Skilled readers decode quickly. About 84% of English words follow regular sound-spelling patterns — use that.
- Recognise common sight words on sight: should, ought, another, because, here, there, where, whole, could, enough, though.
- Group letters that share a sound. e.g. /iː/ → ee, ea, e, y (see, sea, me, happy).
- Tricky consonants vary: /f/ → full, effort, half, phone, cough.
- Don't stop and restart — if you stumble, keep going.
3Link words inside phrases
English rhythm comes from stressed and unstressed syllables. Group words into thought groups (short phrases / clauses / transitions) and link them.
- Mark thought groups with a slash: 'Analysts were impressed / by the improvement in margins / reported across all regions, / apart from the United Kingdom, / …'
- Stress content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives). Reduce grammar words (a, the, of, was, in).
- Link a final consonant to the next vowel: 'They lived in Hong Kong' → 'They live-din Hong Kong'.
- Watch for transition phrases like on the other hand, for example, in fact — they form their own thought group.
Read silently for 40 seconds. Then read aloud as naturally and clearly as you can in 40 seconds.
Analysts were impressed by the improvement in margins reported across all regions, apart from the United Kingdom, and said that this reflected a clear effort to improve profitability across the business. Although the turnaround is still in its early stages and the valuation looks full, given the challenge of turning around such a large and complex business, this is certainly an impressive start.
Do it under time
Simulate the real test.
Use the same 40s + 40s timing. Record yourself on your phone or laptop, then compare with the three sample responses below.
Once most animals reach adulthood, they stop growing. In contrast, even plants that are thousands of years old continue to grow new needles, add new wood, and produce cones and new flowers, almost as if parts of their bodies remained "forever young". The secrets of plant growth are regions of tissue that can produce cells that later develop into specialized tissues.
Look at the text below. In 40 seconds, you must read this text aloud as naturally and clearly as possible. You have 40 seconds to read aloud.
Audio Recorder
Recording in 40
Once most animals reach adulthood, they stop growing. In contrast, even plants that are thousands of years old continue to grow new needles, add new wood, and produce cones and new flowers, almost as if parts of their bodies remained "forever young". The secrets of plant growth are regions of tissue that can produce cells that later develop into specialized tissues.
Compare & learn
Listen to sample answers and rank them.
Listen to all three responses. Try ranking them from weakest → strongest before reading the notes below each one.
Speech is staccato and laboured. Rate is uneven, phrasing is irregular. Inappropriate stress and incorrect consonants force the listener to adjust.
One word omitted, one read inaccurately. Phrasing somewhat staccato with two repetitions. Some consonant errors but meaning is clear.
One word omitted. Conversational rate, appropriate phrasing, minor pronunciation errors that don't affect understanding.
Tick each box only when you can do it without looking back. This unlocks your next chapter.