Succeed in the oral English component of the Spanish EBAU / Selectividad exams. Master the personal interview, text reactions, and interactive debate tasks.
Get ready for EBAU Speaking!The English speaking component of the EBAU (Evaluación del Bachillerato para el Acceso a la Universidad), formerly known as Selectividad, is taken by Spanish students seeking university entrance. It evaluates spoken expression and interaction at the CEFR B1/B2 standard.
EBAU oral tasks test your ability to respond spontaneously and structure logical arguments. Here is a typical exam scenario.
The oral English exam typically lasts about 12 minutes, preceded by a brief quiet preparation phase if you are required to read a text card.
The examiner asks simple introductory questions about your personal interests, study habits, hobbies, and plans for the future. Designed to warm you up.
You summarize the key arguments of a short provided text or graphic and express your personal perspective on the issue. Evaluates your monologue structure and opinion justification.
An interactive exchange on a related controversial topic. You must react to the examiner's counterarguments, express agreement/disagreement, and negotiate points.
Use precise collocations, relevant phrasal verbs, and descriptive adjectives. Avoid repeating basic terms like "good", "bad", or "interesting".
Show control over verb conjugations, subject-verb agreement, and complex connectors. Try to use relative clauses and basic conditional sentences.
Speak clearly with proper word stresses and pause groups. Focus on distinguishing key English sounds to prevent native-language interference from affecting clarity.
Keep the stream of speech flowing naturally without excessive searching. React naturally to the examiner's inputs during the Part 3 debate.
It is the oral test component introduced into the English evaluation of the university access exams in Spain, evaluating spoken fluency, interaction, and comprehension.
The implementation is determined regionally by the Autonomous Communities. Some communities have fully integrated oral testing, while others use pilot schemes. Check with your Bachillerato coordinator.
Preparation time is usually 10 minutes (to read and take notes on the text/prompt), followed by approximately 10 to 12 minutes of speaking time in front of an examiner panel.
