6.4 Speaking Module: Tasks 4–5 (Scenarios & Extended Presentation)
Key Takeaways
- Task 4 evaluates candidate performance in situational academic or professional scenarios, requiring appropriate register, problem-solving, and role-appropriate tone.
- Task 5 is the extended academic presentation task, requiring a structured 1.5–2 minute talk based on a multi-part prompt after a 1-minute planning period.
- Effective preparation for Task 5 involves creating a quick keyword signpost outline (Introduction, Point 1, Point 2, Recommendation/Conclusion) during the 60-second prep window.
- Spoken academic discourse requires clear signposting phrases (Turning now to..., To illustrate this point..., Taking all factors into consideration...) to guide the evaluator.
- Scoring high in Fluency and Pronunciation requires maintaining steady pacing, sentence stress, intonation contours, and clear articulation without rushing.
6.4 Speaking Module: Tasks 4–5 (Scenarios & Extended Presentation)
Tasks 4 and 5 represent the most challenging sections of the Password Skills Plus Speaking Module. Designed to assess higher-level cognitive processing, functional diplomacy, and sustained academic speech, these tasks simulate real-world university interactions, such as negotiating academic situations with faculty and delivering structured tutorial presentations.
Overview of Advanced Speaking Tasks (Tasks 4 & 5)
While Tasks 1–3 focus on personal background and short comparisons, Tasks 4 and 5 require candidates to demonstrate advanced communicative competence over extended durations.
| Feature / Metric | Task 4: Situational Academic Scenario | Task 5: Extended Academic Presentation |
|---|---|---|
| Core Focus | Role-appropriate situational communication & problem solving | Structured long-turn academic presentation on a multi-bullet prompt |
| Preparation Window | 15 – 20 seconds | 60 seconds (1 full minute of scratchpad planning) |
| Speaking Window | 60 seconds | 90 – 120 seconds (1.5 to 2 full minutes) |
| Primary Challenge | Tone calibration, polite negotiation, and context adaptation | Sustained coherence, signposting, note-taking execution, and pacing |
Task 4: Situational & Academic Scenarios
Task 4 places you inside a realistic university or professional scenario where you must address a problem, make a formal request, or resolve a conflict.
- Sample Prompt: "You missed a mandatory university chemistry laboratory session due to an unexpected medical emergency. Speak to your lab professor to explain your absence, request a make-up session, and propose how you will catch up on missed material."
- Preparation Window: 15–20 seconds.
- Speaking Window: 60 seconds.
Register & Tone Calibration
In Task 4, tone appropriateness is paramount. Speaking aggressively or using overly casual informal language ("Hey prof, I couldn't make it to lab, give me another chance") will result in low scores. You must adopt a respectful, formal, and solution-oriented tone.
Essential Functional Formulas for Task 4
- Formal Opening & Purpose: "Good morning, Professor [Name]. I am speaking to you regarding my absence from yesterday's chemistry lab..."
- Polite Explanation of Situation: "Regrettably, I experienced an unexpected medical emergency which prevented me from attending..."
- Indirect Polite Requests: "I was wondering whether it might be possible to schedule a make-up session..." or "I would be immensely grateful if you could grant an extension..."
- Proposing Action & Closing: "In the meantime, I have already reviewed the lecture slides and obtained notes from a classmate. Thank you for your time and understanding."
Task 5: Extended Academic Talk / Presentation
Task 5 is the capstone of the Password Speaking module. Candidates receive a detailed prompt card featuring a main topic and 3 to 4 specific sub-bullets that must be systematically addressed during a 90–120 second talk.
- Sample Prompt Card:
Describe a significant technological development that has impacted modern society. You should discuss:
- What the technology is and how it functions
- How it has influenced daily life or work
- Potential drawbacks or challenges associated with it
- Whether you believe its overall long-term impact is positive or negative
The 60-Second Note-Taking Strategy
During the 60-second preparation window, never attempt to write complete sentences. Attempting to transcribe full prose wastes time and leads to unnatural reading aloud during the recording. Instead, jot down a vertical keyword skeleton map on your scratchpad:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ TASK 5 PREPARATION SCRATCHPAD TEMPLATE │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 1. TOPIC: Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare │
│ 2. FUNCTION: Diagnostic algorithms & pattern recognition │
│ 3. IMPACT: Accelerated scans, reduced human error │
│ 4. DRAWBACK: Data privacy concerns, high implementation $ │
│ 5. CONCLUSION: Net positive -> revolutionary potential │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Spoken Signposting & Cohesion for Extended Talks
To guide the evaluator through your 2-minute presentation seamlessly, deploy clear spoken signposts. Signposts act as verbal directional markers, signaling transitions between points.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SPOKEN SIGNPOSTING ARCHITECTURE │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ INTRODUCTION │ "Today I would like to present on..." │
│ BULLET 1 (WHAT)│ "To begin with, regarding what it is..." │
│ BULLET 2 (HOW) │ "Turning now to its practical impact..." │
│ BULLET 3 (DRAW)│ "On the other hand, a major drawback..." │
│ CONCLUSION │ "Taking all factors into account..." │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
High-Scoring Spoken Transition Markers
- Opening the Talk: "I would like to focus my presentation on artificial intelligence, specifically its application within diagnostic healthcare..."
- Moving to Next Bullet: "Moving on to the aspect of societal impact...," "Shifting our attention to the potential challenges..."
- Elaborating & Illustrating: "To exemplify this trend...," "A concrete case in point is..."
- Concluding & Synthesizing: "To synthesize my overall perspective...," "In conclusion, despite certain privacy risks, the long-term benefits clearly predominate."
Pronunciation, Fluency & Time Control Mastery
Delivering a sustained 2-minute talk requires active management of physical speech mechanics and time pacing.
Speech Delivery Parameters
- Optimal Pacing: Aim for a steady delivery rate of 120 – 140 words per minute. Avoid speaking at breakneck speed, as overly rapid speech undermines articulation and causes mispronunciation.
- Sentence Stress & Prominence: Emphasize content words (nouns, main verbs, adjectives) while unstressing function words (prepositions, auxiliary verbs). This creates the natural rhythmic cadence of spoken English.
- Intonation Contours: Use falling intonation at the end of declarative statements to signal completion of an argument, and rising intonation when listing items.
- Visual Timer Monitoring: Monitor the visual countdown clock on screen. Allocate approximately 25–30 seconds per bullet point. If 90 seconds have elapsed and you have not reached the final bullet point, use a signposting transition immediately ("Finally, looking at the overall impact...") to ensure complete task response before time expires.
What is the preparation time and required speaking duration for Task 5 (Extended Academic Talk)?
What is the recommended note-taking strategy during the 60-second preparation period for Task 5?
In Task 4 (Situational Academic Scenario), such as explaining an absence to a professor, which linguistic register should be used?
Why is the use of spoken signposting phrases ('Moving on to...', 'To illustrate this point...', 'In conclusion...') crucial during Task 5?
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