How should I practice for a GCSE French speaking exam?

There are three key stages to revising for a speaking exam. The first, highlighting the different topics up for discussion and what questions might come out of these. Using mind maps, researching the topics online or even discussing the themes with friends in English can make you comfortable with opinions you have and stop the dreaded panic of making up an opinion on the spot. The second step is strengthening your knowledge of subject-specific vocabulary and grammar points on the curriculum. Look at the exam board's expectations and outline exactly what tenses and phrases will help you climb those grade boundaries. Once you've done this you can start creating a bank of words and phrases to learn that will help make every sentence you prepare effective. A wider vocabulary allows for wider discussion which is always a plus point. Finally, the third step is to boost your own confidence in speaking French. This is so often the downfall of speaking exams as they can seem high pressure however, the problem can be tackled. You have to become accustomed to speaking aloud in a different language, to carrying on even when you do make mistakes. At the end of the day, grammar errors are natural in language, the ability to recover, maybe correct yourself, or move on entirely will add to the fluidity of your test. Record yourself speaking and listen back, speak with your friends or even watch films in French with subtitles. All of these steps will help you overcome your nerves when it comes to the day!