Candidates taking a Communication Skills exam from Grade 4 onwards need to provide a presentation; at earlier grades they give a talk, but speaking in front of an examiner, or audience, can feel daunting. In this blog we explore some practical tips and techniques candidates can use to deliver their presentations with confidence.
1. Know your main message
Before you start designing slides or writing notes, think about what you actually want your audience to take away from your presentation. For example, at Grade 5, candidates giving a presentation in support of a particular cause or charity to an imagined, defined audience should consider; what do you want the examiner to understand about this cause? What are the key points you want to get across?
Having a clear central message will help you decide what information to include and, just as importantly, what to leave out. A presentation doesn't need to contain everything you know about a subject. It needs to communicate the most important things clearly.
2. Give your presentation a clear structure
A well-structured presentation is much easier for an audience to follow. A simple beginning, middle and end can work really effectively:
Introduction: Tell your audience what you are going to talk about and why.
Main section: Explore two, three or four key points. Use examples, evidence, stories or images to help explain them.
Conclusion: Bring your ideas together and remind your audience of the key message.
3. Know your audience
Candidates need to give their presentations to an intended audience, and they must specify who this audience is, the audience size, and the venue, before they begin. Try to make this intended audience as clear as possible as this will affect the content of the presentation.
For example, a presentation aimed at specialists can use more technical language, while a presentation for a general audience may need concepts to be explained in simpler terms. Thinking about your audience also helps you choose relevant examples.
4. Practice makes perfect!
One of the best ways to improve a presentation is surprisingly simple: say it out loud. Reading your presentation silently does not give you a clear sense of how the presentation flows, or whether it sounds conversational. Speaking it aloud allows you to discover whether your sentences flow naturally, whether you've included too much information, and where you might need to pause.
Always practise your presentation with a timer. There is a maximum timing for each task, found in the specification, and candidates should aim to get as close to this time as possible. It's very easy to underestimate how long it takes to explain something, particularly when you're enthusiastic about your subject. A presentation that is too long can leave you rushing through the final points or, worse, running out of time altogether.
5. Use your voice
Your voice is one of your most important presentation tools. Try varying your volume, pace, pitch and emphasis. A short pause before an important point can create emphasis, while a pause afterwards gives the audience time to think about what you've said.
When people are nervous, they often speak much faster than they realise. Make a conscious effort to slow down. Give your audience time to absorb what you're saying, particularly when you introduce an important idea or piece of information
6. Think about your body language
You don't need to become a professional actor to use body language effectively. Stand comfortably and try to avoid distracting habits such as rocking from side to side, playing with your hair, clicking a pen or repeatedly looking at your watch. Natural hand gestures can help you communicate an idea.
Eye contact also helps create a connection with your audience. Rather than looking constantly at your slides, notes or the floor, look up and around the room. You can look at the examiner but don’t be put off if they break eye contact with you, remember they will be busy taking notes during the exam!
7. Keep your slides simple
From Grade 4 onwards candidates can use PowerPoint (or similar) for their presentations, whiteboards or blackboards, flip charts or video clips, but the focus must always be on the presentation and not on the technology. If you are using slides, don’t over-complicate them. Avoid filling every available space with text, images and graphics. A clean, uncluttered slide is usually much easier to understand.
One of the most common presentation problems is putting too much text on slides and then reading it word-for-word. Instead, use slides to support your presentation. You could include short phrases, key words, images, diagrams, charts, quotes or simple statistics. Think of the slides as a visual aid rather than your script.
8. Have a backup plan
Technology doesn't always cooperate! Save your presentation somewhere other than your main computer, for example, on a USB drive or secure online storage. Candidates should bring notes or printed slides in case the technology fails on the day, so that they can still go ahead with the exam. They should also ensure any use of technology does not cause the exam to overrun.
Knowing that you could continue if something goes wrong can actually make you feel much more confident.
9. Dealing with nerves
Being nervous when speaking in front of people is completely normal. Rather than trying to eliminate nerves altogether, focus on managing them. Take a few slow breaths before you begin. If you need to take a sip of water, that is fine. Remember, if you make a mistake, the important thing is to keep going.
10. Show your enthusiasm
Your audience will take their cue from you. If you sound interested in your subject, that enthusiasm can be contagious. Tell stories, use examples and explain why the subject interests you. You don't need to be loud or overly energetic. Authentic enthusiasm is often much more effective than trying to put on a performance.
To assist teachers delivering our Communication Skills exams we have developed brand new schemes of work which can reduce planning time for teachers while supporting learners to develop the confidence and skills they need to express themselves clearly, thoughtfully and with growing independence. Download our schemes of work here.
Comments & Replies