In the newly formatted O-Level Oral exam, the Read Aloud portion will be replaced by the Planned Response component. Students will be given 10 minutes to watch a video clip and plan their response to an accompanying prompt, before delivering a spiel of up to two minutes. Next, students have to watch another video to tackle the Spoken Interaction section. In short, the new format O-Level Oral exams test students’ ability to present a cohesive and coherent responses in two different sections that require very different skills sets. Here are some tips to help you prepare for the new format O-Level oral exam. First, let us understand the main differences between Planned Response and Spoken Interaction.
Tackling the new format O-level oral exam can be an exciting challenge for students. Read on to find out some tips to help students prepare for the upcoming new format O-Level Oral exams. Discover how WR!TERS@WORK helps students to better prepare for secondary school education. Next, learn how WR!TERS@WORK’s secondary English tuition programmes can help students to ace the O-Level Oral exams and score A1 for English.
The 4 BIG Differences: Oral Planned Response VS Spoken Interaction
Today, I want to highlight the BIG difference between the new section, Planned Response, and Spoken Interaction.
The first BIG Difference – The Question
For planned response, students can read the question while watching the video. You get to see the question visually and write it down on paper.
For spoken interaction, students must listen carefully to the examiners who are asking the questions. You can only depend on your auditory ability to identify the key words of the questions.
The Second BIG Difference – Processing the Question
For planned response, students can unpack and process the question on paper. You can identify the key words of the question on paper and organise your answer by writing.
For spoken interaction, students can only unpack the question and process the information in their mind. You can try to visualise the key words and analyse the question using mental visualisation.
The Third BIG Difference – Presenting Your Answers
For planned response, you have 10 minutes to craft and rehearse your planned response before you meet the examiners.
For spoken interaction, you must respond the moment the examiners ask you the questions. You do not have any opportunity to prepare your answers.
The Last BIG Difference – Length of Your Responses
For planned response, students must present a 2-minute speech to answer the question. You can refer to your written notes.
For spoken interaction, the examiners may interrupt you with prompts or additional questions. So, you need to be ready to answer shift your train of thoughts and present accurate answers.
Start practising your visual and auditory skills today and it will help you to do well for oral exams. If you are aiming to score A1 for O-Level English, you must ace the oral exams!
Do You Know the Differences Between Visual and Auditory Skills?
Do you know that in the new format O-Level oral exams you are being tested for your visual and auditory skills? Do you have what it takes to ace this exam? In this blog, I would like to take the opportunity to explain more about the differences between these 2 skills – visual and auditory.
Visual and auditory skills are distinct but complementary forms of sensory perception that play crucial roles in our understanding and interpretation of the world. While visual skills primarily rely on the sense of sight, auditory skills depend on the sense of hearing. Understanding the differences between these two skills can help us appreciate their unique qualities and the various ways they contribute to our experiences.
Visual skills involve processing and interpreting information through visual stimuli such as images, colors, shapes, and spatial relationships. They enable us to perceive the physical characteristics of our surroundings, recognize objects and people, and comprehend visual representations such as graphs, charts, and maps. Visual skills are closely associated with spatial awareness, pattern recognition, and visual memory. They allow us to absorb information quickly, analyze visual data, and form mental images. Hence, this is why the new format O-Level oral exams introduced the
Planned Response section where students are given 10 minutes to watch a video clip and plan their response to an accompanying prompt (which they can read visually on the screen), before delivering a spiel of up to two minutes. In this section, students are being tested for their ability to interpret visual information (which is the video) and unpack the accompanying question visually.
Next, let us explore and understand more about auditory skills.
Auditory skills focus on processing and interpreting information through sound and speech. They enable us to perceive and understand spoken language, discern different pitches and tones, and identify various sounds in our environment. Auditory skills are essential for communication, allowing us to listen, comprehend, and respond effectively to verbal cues. Auditory skills play a vital role in our daily lives, facilitating social interactions, language development, and the interpretation of sound-related information. Hence, students are being tested for their auditory prowess in the Spoken Interaction section – students must engage in a discussion with the examiners on a topic based on a visual stimulus in the form of a video clip. The examiners will be asking questions and students must listen to the questions carefully and answer accordingly. Students need to have the auditory skills to help them capture the nuances and emotional qualities conveyed through sound and speech.
In conclusion, visual and auditory skills represent distinct modes of perception that bring different dimensions to our experiences. While visual skills focus on the interpretation of visual information and spatial relationships, auditory skills excel in capturing the nuances of sound and speech. Both skills are essential for our understanding of the world, and their integration allows for a richer and more comprehensive perception of our surroundings.
Enjoy a Smooth Transition to Tertiary Education
The transition to tertiary institutions after secondary school years can be daunting for some students. Overall, English tuition can help students enjoy a smoother transition to tertiary education by reinforcing their language skills, providing a strong foundation for academic success.
WR!TERS@WORK is now at 8 locations. Find the nearest location that suits your convenience if you are interested in our primary English tuition and secondary English tuition in Singapore! If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may contact WR!TERS@WORK.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Teacher Jemmies has more than 25 years of experience teaching in the private education sector, specializing in English and writing. Armed with her rich experience in teaching, as well as interactive classroom culture, many students thrive under her tutelage. She is a dedicated and nurturing teacher who has successfully helped her secondary students in W@W to achieve marked improvement in grades. Her excellent track record features students from RI (Raffles Institution), HCI (Hwa Chong Institution), and CHS (Catholic High School) who have achieved As in English Language and high scores for essay writing in school examinations.
