Talk to the examiner – you’ll feel more involved in the conversation.

Listen carefully to the questions you’re asked so that your answers are relevant.

Answer the questions you’re asked with some detail so that your answers are long enough.

Practise speaking for 2 minutes for the long turn in Part 2.

Use the preparation time in Part 2 to think about what is written on the card.

Use the instructions and prompts on the card in Part 2 to help you to organise your long turn.

Practise ways of delaying answers to give yourself time to think in Part 3.

Explain your opinions and give examples to support them.

Don't learn answers by heart.

Don't give very short answers except when the examiner interrupts you at the end of the 2 minutes in Part 2. At this point the examiner needs to move on to Part 3 of the test and only expects a short answer to his/her questions.

Don't talk about something different from what’s on the card in Part 2.

Don’t worry if the examiner stops you in Part 2. It means you have spoken enough, and s/he has to keep to the timing of the test.

Don’t worry if you can’t think of a word, try to paraphrase and get round it.

Don’t write on the task card.

Don’t worry if you realise you’ve made a mistake. It’s OK to correct yourself. If you can't correct yourself, forget it and carry on.

Don’t ask the examiner if what you say is correct.