About

This question type is the 1st one in the Speaking Section. Test takers will see a textual passage before they are given 40 seconds for preparation and another 40 seconds for reading the passage aloud, and their responses will be recorded only once. This question type usually consists of 6 or 7 questions.

Tips

This question type is the most difficult one in the Speaking Section, on which test takers are the least likely to achieve improvement. The techniques in this question type even underlie those in other ones.

Grading of RA covers assessments of test takers’ pronunciation and fluency. However, pronunciation here means much more than correctness and smoothness.

Pearson will put many subtle details into assessment: stress, liason, loss of plosion and division of sense group.

Time Span

The maximum time length for response recording is 40 seconds and when speaking with a normal pace 20 to 30 seconds will be enough for a complete response. If it takes a test taker 40 seconds to finish his or her response, it indicates that he or she has spoken too slowly, and his or her grade in this question type will be rather low.

Practice Goal

WHV: Do well in accordance with the tips taught in the introductory classes and speak smoothly in terms of tone and voice.

50 points: Errors about pronunciations of word or mis-stressed syllables are acceptable so test takers should not keep fussing over minor details too much, and should bear it to mind: to speak in a smooth, consistent and mild fashion with a moderate pace and without monotonous or over-stressed tones.

65 points: Errors about pronunciations of word or mis-stressed syllables are acceptable so test takers should not keep fussing over minor details too much, and should bear it to mind: to speak in a smooth, consistent and mild fashion with a moderate pace and without monotonous or over-stressed tones.

79 points: Errors about pronunciations of word or mis-stressed syllables are acceptable so test takers should not keep fussing over minor details too much, and should bear it to mind: to speak in a smooth, consistent and mild fashion with a moderate pace and without monotonous or over-stressed tones.

Practice Task

Listen to and repeat RA shadowing samples on a daily basis. And read aloud 3 RA passages chosen by yourself from the question bank of this question type, to meet the requirements corresponding to a specific grade section.