With ExamSpeak your learners become active participants in their own learning. Educators agree that learners learn best when they are interested. By combining leading-edge immersive simulation, speech and natural language processing, and underpinning this with a sound pedagogic approach, ExamSpeak ensures that motivating and successful language learning takes place.

How it works: Exam Preparation

ExamSpeak allows learners to take a Speaking Test under exam conditions. They sign in for the exam; they meet the examiner and the other candidate. They are asked questions on a range of topics to which they must respond. They are given a task to complete with the other candidate. They receive a score based on their performance. This real time experience of the Speaking Test is great for calming nerves and building confidence.

With ExamSpeak your learners can do more than just practise the test. They can build up the skills necessary for success in the Speaking Test by taking a test with supports. Every time they are asked a question they can stop and get information on how best to answer the question. They learn new phrases, they learn new vocabulary. They have the opportunity to use these words and phrases in a context. This ensures deeper understanding and better memorization.

As in the real exam, questions are asked in a number of different ways with ExamSpeak, so exam candidates can familiarise themselves with the different question forms and will not be put off if questions are asked in different ways. In addition, the question topic and train of questions change depending on the response given, so that learners become used to dealing with the flow of the exam.

Once they have finished a section of the test, learners get feedback on any language mistakes that they have made. They know that they have made an error, and they are given the tools to fix it. The correct use of the language, necessary for the test, becomes embedded.

While they are speaking, they get immediate, colour coded feedback on how they are speaking. ExamSpeak encourages learners to speak clearly and fluently. As in real life situations if they are not comprehensible, they have to try again. They are supported to improve their pronunciation.

Improving General English

With ExamSpeak learners not only improve their Speaking test scores, they improve their overall levels of English.

• Integration of skills
  By reacting in real time, learners practise language skills which mirror real life situations. The skill of listening, for example, is not practised in isolation as it sometimes is in the classroom. Instead, listening is practised in the context of spoken exchanges. Furthermore, for learners who are literate, writing tasks also entail reading so they can use writing to support the development of their speaking skills and speaking to support the development of their writing skills.
• Vocabulary
  By associating new vocabulary with real situations, learners are provided with input that is both relevant and memorable.
• Grammar
  Analysis of grammatical items is based on real interactions that have taken place in the world. Learners respond to their own grammatical errors and with support, understand them. Reflection on grammar is therefore always associated with the communication of meaning

All language used in ExamSpeak is closely referenced to the Common European Framework of Reference. This means that regardless of which text book or other materials are being used, ExamSpeak can be easily integrated into any language course.