Speaking & Listening

Speaking and Listening — Pearson EdExcel IGCSE English Language (4EA1)

1. Overview

The Speaking and Listening component of EdExcel IGCSE English Language (4EA1) assesses your ability to communicate effectively in spoken English. You are assessed in three types of activities:

1. Prepared individual presentation or speech
2. Group discussion and collaboration
3. Role-play or responding to questions

Assessment criteria focus on:

• Fluency and confidence — can you speak without excessive hesitation?
• Clarity and organisation — is your spoken response structured and easy to follow?
• Vocabulary and expression — do you use varied, appropriate vocabulary?
• Interaction and listening — in discussions, do you respond constructively to others?

2. The Individual Presentation

You will typically be given a topic in advance and asked to prepare a 3–5 minute talk. This is your chance to demonstrate formal spoken English.

Structure your presentation:

• Introduction: Greet your audience, state your topic and your main point/thesis.
• Main body: Present 2–3 key points. Use signposting language to guide listeners.
• Conclusion: Summarise your argument, give a strong final statement, invite questions.

Signposting language:

• "To begin with…" / "Firstly…"
• "Building on this…" / "Another important point is…"
• "In contrast to this…" / "On the other hand…"
• "To conclude…" / "In summary…"

Delivery techniques:

• Pace: Do not rush. Speak clearly and pause at key moments.
• Volume: Speak loudly enough for everyone to hear — project your voice.
• Eye contact: Look at your audience, not at your notes. Glance at notes briefly.
• Body language: Stand or sit upright. Avoid fidgeting.
• Emphasis: Stress key words to signal importance — "The MOST critical factor is…"

3. Group Discussion Skills

Group discussions test your ability to share ideas, respond to others, and work towards conclusions collaboratively.

Contributing effectively:

• Make your point clearly and concisely — one idea per contribution.
• Support your view with a reason or example.
• Avoid simply agreeing with everything — the discussion should have genuine engagement.

Responding to others:

• Acknowledge other speakers: "That's an interesting point — I'd like to add…"
• Politely disagree: "I see what you mean, but I think…" / "With respect, I would argue…"
• Build on a previous point: "Following on from what [name] said…"

Managing the discussion:

• If the discussion goes off-topic: "Can I bring us back to the main question…"
• If someone hasn't spoken: "What do you think, [name]?"
• If you are the chairperson: summarise at intervals — "So far we've agreed that…"

4. Register and Formal English

In spoken assessments, you should use formal register — the same level of formality you would use in a job interview or school presentation.

Avoid:

• Filler words: "like," "um," "sort of," "you know what I mean"
• Slang: "gonna," "wanna," "dunno," "loads of"
• Incomplete sentences or trailing off: "It's kind of… I don't know, like a thing…"

Use instead:

• "I believe that…" / "In my view…"
• "For example…" / "Evidence suggests that…"
• "I would argue…" / "The reason for this is…"

5. Listening Skills

Effective listening is not passive — it shows engagement and allows you to respond meaningfully.

Active listening techniques:

• Nodding and maintaining eye contact while others speak.
• Taking brief mental notes of key points to respond to.
• Asking follow-up questions: "Could you say more about why you think…?"
• Paraphrasing before disagreeing: "So you're saying that X — I actually think Y because…"

6. Preparing for a Presentation: Worked Example

Topic: *Should mobile phones be banned in schools?*

Plan:

• Introduction: Mobile phones — tool or distraction? State your view.
• Point 1: Distraction from learning — research evidence
• Point 2: Potential benefits if properly managed (learning apps, research)
• Point 3: Solution — controlled use policies rather than outright bans
• Conclusion: Restate position, call for a balanced approach

Opening sentence options:

• "Every year, millions of students sit in class with a world of distraction in their pocket."
• "Banning mobile phones in schools sounds simple — but is it the right solution?"

Practice this presentation out loud at least three times before assessment day.