Gaokao English Speaking

Master the Chinese college entrance Gaokao English speaking exam (高考英语听说考试). Practise automated story retelling, simulated roleplays, and secure your score.

Visit Official NEEA Gaokao Site

Who is this exam for?

The English listening and speaking test is a compulsory computer-delivered component of the Chinese college entrance examination (Gaokao) taken by millions of candidates annually in key provinces like Guangdong and Beijing.

Try a Story Retelling Prompt

In Part C of the Gaokao Speaking test, you must listen to a story twice and retell the details. Here is an authentic mock screen outline layout.

Gaokao Speaking Simulator — Part C (Story Retelling)

Story Prompt: You have just listened to a story about a boy named Leo who found a lost puppy on his way home from school and helped return it to its owner.

Use these visual keyword cues to retell the story:

  • Leo walking home — heard a soft cry — found a small brown puppy behind a tree.
  • Leo checked collar — tag had owner's phone number — called owner immediately.
  • Owner arrived — extremely grateful — puppy named Max happy to be reunited.
Prep: 60s | Speak: 120s Standby

Speaking Test Structure

The computer-delivered speaking test takes about 15 minutes. It is fully automated, and candidates wear a headset in a local computer lab to record responses.

Part A: Reading Aloud

60s Prep | 60s Speak

You read a short, general English passage displayed on the computer screen. This section tests basic pronunciation, rhythm, and natural syllable stress.

Pro Tip: Do not rush! Speak at a steady, comfortable pace and pay close attention to your intonation at punctuation marks. Clear linking between words is heavily scored.

Part B: Simulated Roleplay

10s per prompt

You play a role in a simulated conversation. You will listen to three English questions and must ask the computer three questions based on written Chinese prompt cues.

Pro Tip: Use correct question structures! Make sure you differentiate between open questions ("Why did you...") and closed questions ("Is there a...") based on the exact prompt.

Part C: Story Retelling

60s Prep | 120s Speak

You listen to a spoken English story twice while taking notes. You are then given 60 seconds to structure your thoughts and 2 minutes to retell the entire story based on visual keyword outlines.

Pro Tip: Ensure your story has a logical flow! Use simple past tense consistently, and employ transitional words like "Suddenly", "Consequently", and "In the end" to show structure.

Watch an Example Test

Watch an example of the computer-delivered Gaokao speaking test interface to understand the recording flow.

What are automated examiners listening for?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Gaokao English Speaking Test?

The Gaokao English Listening & Speaking test (高考英语听说考试) is a computer-delivered, standardised exam taken by millions of college applicants in China (e.g., in Guangdong and Beijing) as part of the National College Entrance Examination.

How is the Gaokao speaking test scored?

The exam is fully automated and graded using highly precise computer algorithms that assess pronunciation, intonation, grammatical accuracy, and story retelling completeness.

What is Part C (Story Retelling) in Gaokao?

Part C is Story Retelling (故事复述). Candidates listen to a story twice, take notes on keywords, and are given 60 seconds to prepare before delivering a detailed 2-minute oral retelling of the plot based on visual prompts.

Prepare for Your Gaokao Speaking

Practise timed story retelling tasks and read-aloud prompts with partners or book an online lesson with a certified British tutor.