Improve your speaking test fluency score NOW with fillers
By Matthew, April 15 2023Fillers are a great way to sound natural when you speak. What's more, they are essential to improving your fluency and delivery score on a speaking test.
Fillers are a great way to sound natural when you speak. What's more, they are essential to improving your fluency and delivery score on a speaking test.
Many people taking a speaking test make this mistake: they focus on communicating their answer specifically to their test administrator. This is a problem because you are graded on the level of English you use, not on how easy it is to understand you. Your goal is not to give information, but to show your English ability.
To understand how to score high on a test, you need to understand the scoring system. G.B.C. scores are a little mysterious, but they are based on a system used by the U.S. government.
Speaking tests are a performance. You have to show your skills.
One of the most frequent questions I get is, "How long should my G.B.C. answer be?"
My immediate thought is always, "How long is a piece of string?"* But this is not a helpful answer! What follows is the actual answer I give to students who ask me this.
I have been teaching consultants for the G.B.C. test since 2011. I have learned a few things about it that I would like to share with you to help you better prepare for the test.
To understand how to perform in the G.B.C. test, it helps to know what the testers are looking and listening for. The test does not only evaluate your English speaking skills in the traditional sense (i.e. grammar, vocabulary etc.), but also tests you on your performance.