Module 10 —Writing & Speaking Rehearsal

Exam trainers often say that the single most useful thing a candidate can do in the final week before a speaking and writing exam is a full, timed rehearsal of the whole format, not just isolated practice questions. Practising one task at a time teaches specific skills, but it doesn't prepare candidates for the mental experience of moving quickly from one task to another under real time pressure.

In a full rehearsal, candidates write both required texts back-to-back within the true time limit, then immediately switch to a spoken interview and a paired discussion, exactly as they would on the actual day. This reveals problems that don't appear in single-task practice: for example, a candidate might write an excellent email but then run out of time for the story, or feel too tired to speak fluently after a demanding writing session.

Just as important as the rehearsal itself is the feedback that follows. Trainers recommend candidates note down two or three specific things to improve, rather than vague comments like 'try harder'. A specific note such as 'check verb tenses before finishing' or 'give reasons in Part 4, not just opinions' is far more useful in the final days before an exam than general encouragement alone.