What if I don't understand the question?

If you do not understand a question the examiner has asked you, here is some advice to help:
1. Remember the questions will be related to the topic you have just talked about in Part 2.

    E.g. If you have give your talk on the topic of travel, then expect the questions in part 3 to be related, for example, tourism or transport, etc.


2. Ask the examiner to repeat the question and listen out for key words such as the question words (why/where/when/what) and nouns.

E.g. Could you repeat the question please?

3. Ask the examiner to rephrase the question. However, try not to do this more than once or twice in part 3 as you will start to lose marks. Also remember the examiner will not help explain words you do not understand, he/she is not there to teach you.

E.g. Can you rephrase the question please?

4. Try to confirm the question, as you think it is, with the examiner.
E.g. Do you mean ...?

5. If at this stage you still not understand the question, I suggest explaining to the examiner that you are no certain about the question and then try your best to guess (from the key words and vocabularies you have understood in the question) and give your answer.

E.g. I don't fully understand the question, however I think ...