Presentation Prep

Presentation Prep 🎤

As well as the two exams, you give one **formal presentation** — the **Spoken Language endorsement**. Stand up, talk for up to **10 minutes** on a topic you choose, and answer a few questions. It is reported **separately** (Pass, Merit, Distinction), so it can't drag your 9–1 grade down — but a Distinction looks great, and the skills matter for life.

What it assesses 🏅

Three things are marked while you present: • **AO7** — you **prepare and deliver** a presentation, speech or talk. • **AO8** — you **listen and respond** to questions afterwards. • **AO9** — you use spoken **Standard English** throughout.\n\nIt is judged **holistically**: to reach a grade you must meet **all** of its criteria — audibility, Standard English, ideas, vocabulary, structure and meeting the audience's needs.

Give it a backbone 🧱

A rambling talk loses the room. Build a clear **structure**: • An **opening** that hooks the audience and says what you'll cover. • Your points in a **logical order**, each **signposted** ("Firstly…", "On the other hand…", "Finally…"). • A **strong conclusion** that sums up your message and ends memorably.

Order the talk

An interactive activity.

Speak Standard English 🗣️

**AO9** wants **spoken Standard English** for a formal setting. That means full sentences, correct grammar and precise vocabulary — and **avoiding** slang, fillers ("um", "like") and non-standard grammar ("we was", "should of"). You can still sound like yourself — Standard English is about clarity and correctness, not being stiff or posh.

Which is Standard English?

Which sentence uses spoken Standard English suitable for a formal presentation?

• There are three reasons we should act now.
• There's like three reasons we should of acted, innit.
• Me and him done a survey about it.
• It ain't gonna work, basically.

Win the room 👥

A top presentation is built for its **audience**. Keep them with you: • **Pitch** your ideas and vocabulary so they can follow — explain, don't baffle. • **Engage** them: a rhetorical question, a vivid example, eye contact, varied tone. • **Signpost** clearly so they always know where you are in the talk.

Meet their needs

Which of these best helps you MEET YOUR AUDIENCE'S NEEDS during a presentation?

• Signpost your points and pitch your vocabulary so the audience can follow clearly
• Read quickly from a script in a flat monotone
• Use as much technical jargon as possible
• Face the screen with your back to the audience

Plan your opening

An interactive activity.

Going for Distinction 🎓

Ready to present. To aim for **Distinction**: • **Structure** it clearly — hook, signposted points, strong close — and keep to time. • Use **fluent Standard English** and a **wide, precise vocabulary**, with genuinely **developed ideas**. • **Engage** the audience throughout, and answer their questions **confidently and fully**.