Spoken language: presentation and speaking and listening

By the end you’ll be able to

Plan and deliver a formal presentation or speech on a chosen topic to an audience, organising ideas logically

Listen to questions and feedback and respond appropriately, developing ideas in reply

Use spoken Standard English with appropriate register, clarity and audibility

For Cambridge Component 4, give a 3–4-minute individual talk and sustain a 7–8-minute conversation that develops its ideas

What the exam asks

Across boards, the task is not “chatting well”: it is planned, clear, formal spoken communication plus the ability to listen and respond.

Board/type	What you do	What assessors are listening for
AQA / England boards spoken language endorsement	Give a prepared presentation or speech, then answer questions	Clear organisation, appropriate Standard English, audibility, engagement, ability to develop ideas in response
CCEA Unit 2	Complete assessed speaking and listening tasks	Clear expression, organisation, listening, relevant response, suitable register
Cambridge Component 4	Give a 3–4 minute individual talk, then sustain a 7–8 minute conversation	A focused talk, confident spoken language, thoughtful development, flexible discussion skills

A good topic is not just broad; it has a controlling idea.

Weak topic	Better angle
Social media	Social media companies should verify users’ ages more strictly
Exercise	Daily exercise improves concentration in school
School uniform	Uniform should stay, but rules should be modernised

Your audience needs to understand your point quickly. If your title can be turned into a sentence beginning , you probably have a usable focus.

Less effective	More effective
“Kids nowadays are, like, addicted.”	“Many young people now rely on their phones constantly.”
“It’s bad and stuff.”	“Its effects are damaging because it reduces attention and sleep.”
“You know what I mean?”	“In other words, the problem is not the technology itself but how it is used.”