TEM-4 & TEM-8 Spoken English Test Guide

Try a TEM Story Retelling Prompt

In Task 1 of the TEM-4 Spoken English test, candidates listen to a story twice and retell it. Here is a realistic practice simulation.

TEM-4 Spoken Test: Task 1 (Story Retelling)

Scenario: The Wisdom of the Old Carpenter
"You listen to a 300-word narrative twice about an old carpenter who decided to retire. His employer asked him to build one last house. The carpenter, wanting to finish quickly, used poor materials and sloppy workmanship. When completed, the employer handed him the front-door keys, saying, 'This house is my retirement gift to you.'..."

You have 3 minutes to review your handwritten notes. In your 3-minute recording, you must:

Retell the story chronologically, covering all core characters and narrative milestones.
Maintain logical coherence, explaining the moral dilemma and ultimate surprise.
Use a wide range of compound narrative tenses (past continuous, past perfect).
Deliver your speech with steady pacing and natural, clear sentence stress.

TEM Speaking Structure

The computer-delivered test takes place in a dedicated language laboratory with headset microphones, lasting approximately 20 minutes.

TEM-4 Oral Task 1: Story Retelling

3 Mins Notes | 3 Mins Speak

You listen to a spoken narrative passage twice, compile systematic notes, and deliver a comprehensive chronological retelling of the plot and moral.

Pro Tip: Focus on chronological signposting! Connect your narrative chunks smoothly using time links like "initially", "subsequently", and "unexpectedly".

TEM-4 Oral Task 2: Individual Mini-Talk

3 Mins Prep | 2 Mins Speak

You are given a social or philosophical topic. You must prepare a structured speech and speak continuously for 2 minutes stating your views.

Pro Tip: Structure with transitions! Begin with an explicit introductory stance, develop two points with concrete examples, and conclude cleanly.

TEM-8 Oral Task 2: Argumentative Commentary

4 Mins Prep | 4 Mins Speak

You read a sophisticated academic prompt text. You must deliver a formal, highly analytical monologue commenting on the argument's validity.

Pro Tip: Use advanced academic vocabulary! Incorporate literary collocations and complex sentence patterns to demonstrate advanced discourse control.

Watch a TEM Spoken English Guide

Watch an educational walkthrough of computer-delivered language lab spoken tests to learn how to record your responses confidently.

What are examiners listening for?

1. Grammatical Range & Accuracy

Demonstrate comfortable command over compound tenses, passive voices, relative clauses, and complex subordinating structures without error.
2. Lexical Richness & Precision

Incorporate a diverse range of advanced academic vocabulary, appropriate collocations, and active verbs suitable for formal speech.
3. Rhetorical Cohesion & Pacing

Organize your monologues logically. Deliver a continuous, well-developed speech within the designated time limit without excessive pauses.
4. Pronunciation & Elocution

Deliver your speech with clear, standard pronunciation, correct word stress, and natural sentence intonation that is highly intelligible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Chinese TEM Spoken English test format?

The TEM (Test for English Majors) Spoken English test is computer-delivered in a language lab. TEM-4 Oral (TMD-1) covers Story Retelling, Mini-Talk, and Dialogue. TEM-8 Oral (TMD-2) covers Interpreting and Academic Oral Presentation.

How long are the TEM-4 and TEM-8 Speaking tests?

The computerized exams take approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Candidates record their spoken responses directly through headset microphones under strict automated timers.

How is the TEM oral exam assessed?

Grading is extremely strict, focusing on grammatical accuracy, advanced academic vocabulary, natural pronunciation, narrative logic, and cohesive transitions.

TEM Spoken English

Who is this exam for?