Best GCSE English Speaking Topics — Ideas and Advice

Best GCSE English Speaking Topics

Are you on the prowl for some GCSE English Speaking and Listening topics? Well keep reading.

Assuming your assessment is a pre-prepared presentation (i.e. you get to choose the topic you present on in advance of the exam), here is a list of potential topics for you to run with.

You could:

1. Talk about your favourite band/singer

2. Talk about a hobby that interests you

3. Speak for or against the motion, ‘The death penalty should be reinstated.’

4. You could discuss cruelty to animals in travelling circuses

5. You could discuss a particular culture or country that interests you

6. Speak for or against the motion, ‘Homework should be banned.’

7. Speak for or against the motion, ‘Donald Trump is a corrupt president.’

8. Outline your stance on Brexit

9. Speak for or against the motion, ‘Students shouldn’t have to wear school uniform.’

10. Discuss technology addiction and reliance amongst young people

11. Discuss your favourite school subject, outlining why

12. You could discuss feminism/racism/sexism

13. Discuss the difference in wages which men and women receive.

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Regardless of the topic you choose (once it’s politically correct and one that you and your examiner are comfortable in discussing), you should focus on the bigger picture, not just the facts and figures.

In short, you should spend the bulk of your presentation offering your own insight and opinion on the topic, not outlining a stream of facts and figures, regardless of how well-researched these might be.

Once you’ve chosen your topic, a basic structure for a four-minute presentation could look like this:

1) Introduction — Introduce the topic, briefly explaining it and the reason(s) you chose it if necessary — 30–45 seconds

2) Main Body — Offer your stance on the subject; e.g., if arguing for or against Brexit, make your case, giving at least three developed reasons for your stance — 2–2.5 minutes

3) Conclusion — Briefly summarise your case/stance, then outline outstanding issues regarding your topic (taking the Brexit example again, you could outline your vision for post-Brexit Britain); you could use this section to prompt your examiner into asking questions you’ve prepared answers for — 1 minute approx.

Achieving 5+

Equally as important as what you say is how you say it, if not more so. Speak clearly and take your time; vary your tone of voice to suit the purpose of what you’re saying; make regular eye-contact with the examiner and gesture as appropriate; use discourse markers to structure and signpost your talk.