Urgent. Can someone pls explain the English GCSE speaking assessment

[PikachuSayBoo]

Dd is supposed to be doing it on Tuesday. but has done fuck all.

She says she has to talk for between 3 and 10 minutes. There has to be three sections, but she doesn't know what the sections are.

She says she can pick her own topic.
But doesn't know how to structure it.

As others have said, this doesn't count. But your DD is clearly having you on about spending a half term with her hand up. She could have come to you or the teacher at any point for help.

Does it have to be a controversial subject? DD has hers in 2 weeks, and was thinking to speak about beach safety and lifeguarding (so I guess the dangers of rip tides / importance of swimming between the flags etc).

She hasn't written it yet though - and had also considered talking about diversity in the media - the impression I'm getting here is that would be better?

We're in Wales and the GCSEs are a bit different, so I think it may count!

It doesn't have to be controversial but when a more complex topic is chosen, this tends to lend itself to greater sophistication in terms of ideas and structure.

That makes sense - I'll pass the message on. Thanks Trifle - tbh the main problem if she talks about diversity and representation in the media will probably be keeping her down to 10 minutes or whatever is allowed

Well its actually tomorrow not today.

Dd still hasn't written it.

She still claims not to know what the three sections are supposed to be. However she does seem to be writing something among the sighing and wailing.

Well, I've discovered that (a) DD has to do hers in 3 weeks and (oh joy) she has to do almost exactly the same task in Welsh as well - except that the Welsh one has to be different in just enough ways that they can't translate the damned thing and use it twice!

Oh, and both of them do actually count for the GCSE grade (10% in English, I think the same in Welsh).

I predict a great deal of 'background research' for 3 weeks, then a very stressful weekend in a couple of weeks time . . . (I may be being overly pessimistic, but am not hopeful - languages and open ended tasks not dd's strong point. Though to be fair she has been sent home with a detailed set of notes on structure - and her English teacher is very scary.)

If it's the same as ours, there are three sections; an individual talk, a paired discussion and a group discussion.

The individual talk needs you to explain, describe and narrate. You talk for three to five minutes, can use props and may need to answer questions. Take prompt notes but don't read. Suggestions for topics; musical instrument you play, sport, hobby, bit of your English Lit course, a belief or passion.

Paired task; provided by the teacher, all about listening as well as speaking...

Group task; same as above, but work with all others in the group to explore ideas, listen and speak....

Can you tell I'm summarising the sheet??? Ours is next Friday

My ds has written his out, taped it in his phone to time it, and needs to do his prompt cards....

Good luck, HTH

Good luck

It's 10% of the final mark

She's now decided to talk about beach safety / lifesaving in Welsh and the search for extra-terrestrial life in English (fortunately - vocab for that one would have been interesting in Welsh )

Sorry, I realised after my massive scribe that it was on Tuesday hopefully some help to others.....

Well dd hasn't done it.

Was meant to do it and she started crying. Which made the teacher swear at her.

She reckons she might feel up to doing it next week. I join the teacher in a FFS!

If it's any consolation, you wouldn't believe the nightmare I had getting grown adults to do this last year! I didn't swear, but I did snap at someone!

For AQA it does not count towards the final grade, the exam specification describes the speaking assessment as an endorsement.

The teacher swore at her. Really?

Well she said "for fucks sake dd"

So it's not like she called her a stupid bitch.

A teacher said for fucks sake. Again. Really? In 16 years I have never sworn at a pupil, nor have any of my colleagues. If she has sworn at your daughter then you need to take it further. If.

I'm not bothered if she did to be honest.

Edexcel doesn't count for the final grade either.

I like you a lot Pikachu.

Ah thanks.

You're welcome! Have a glass of on me!

from me, too!