Cambridge IGCSE Speaking
Confidently talk about any topic, maintain fluent conversation, and develop your ideas—whether you're discussing hobbies or defending a viewpoint on social media.
Quick Overview
🎤 What You'll Learn
How to prepare for and perform in a one-to-one conversation with an examiner. Topics vary, but strategies stay the same.
🎯 The Big Picture
Speaking tests your fluency, vocabulary range, grammar, and ability to develop ideas in real conversation (not a prepared speech).
⏱️ Time & Marks
Prep time: 2-3 minutes. Exam: 6-9 minutes (Part D, assessed). Core: ~25 marks. Extended: ~25 marks.
✅ Your Goal
Speak naturally, maintain conversation flow, use varied vocabulary and structures, develop your ideas with examples and reasons.
1. Understanding the Cambridge IGCSE Speaking Exam
The Exam Structure: Four Parts, Only One Assessed
The speaking test seems complicated, but it's actually straightforward. You talk to an examiner about a topic for about 10 minutes total. Only the last 6–9 minutes counts toward your mark.
The Four-Part Structure
PART A – Welcome (0–2 minutes, not timed): The examiner greets you and explains what will happen. You relax. Nothing is assessed. No stress.
PART B – Warm-up (2–3 minutes, not assessed): The examiner asks you casual questions: "What do you like to do in your free time?" "What are your hobbies?" "What do you want to do in the future?" These questions help the examiner choose a topic card suited to you. This is about building rapport and helping you settle in.
PART C – Preparation (2–3 minutes): The examiner gives you a topic card with five prompts. You have 2–3 minutes to prepare. You can ask questions about vocabulary or unclear ideas. NO WRITTEN NOTES allowed—just thinking time.
PART D – Conversation (6–9 minutes, fully assessed): You and the examiner have a conversation based on the topic card. This is NOT a speech or monologue. The examiner asks questions, you answer and develop your ideas. This is where your marks come from.
💡 Key Insight: Parts A, B, C are warm-up. Part D is the exam. By the time Part D starts, you'll be relaxed and ready. The exam isn't testing how nervous you are—it's testing how you speak English when you're comfortable.
What Gets Marked? The Five Assessment Criteria
Examiners assess you on five things. Max marks per criterion ≈ 5. Total ≈ 25 marks.
| Criterion |
What It Means |
Examples of Good Performance |
| Fluency |
Do you speak smoothly without long pauses? Do you sound natural? |
You speak in connected sentences. Minimal hesitation. You don't sound rehearsed. |
| Grammar |
Correct use of tenses, structures, sentences? |
You use past, present, future tenses correctly. You use complex sentences ("Although... I think..."). Few errors. |
| Vocabulary |
Range of words? Do you use varied, precise vocabulary? |
You use topic-specific words. You avoid repetition. You describe ideas with variety. |