MUET Speaking Test Guide & Tips

The MUET speaking test is one of the four components of the MUET exam. The speaking section has two tasks and is the only part of the MUET exam where you interact with other candidates as part of the test. The MUET speaking test evaluates your understanding, fluency, and use of English to communicate effectively.

MUET speaking test outline

The MUET speaking test lasts for 30 minutes and counts for 25 per cent of your overall MUET exam score. The first part of the test is an individual presentation where you get two minutes to express and communicate your thoughts on a given topic. The second part of the MUET speaking test is a group discussion. In this part of the test, you must be able to hold a conversation, express your opinion, think critically and use language fluently and confidently. The discussion lasts 10 to 12  minutes.

MUET speaking test structure part one 

Let’s take a closer look at part one of the speaking test. All students are posed the same scenario but you will not receive the same question. Usually there is a set of four questions and you will receive one of these. Once you have been given the question you have two minutes to prepare your answer and then two minutes to present. 

MUET speaking test part one sample questions

Sample question A

Situation/scenario: There are many ways to achieve happiness. What are some of the ways?

Candidate Instructions: You have to give a presentation to your class. Talk about having a positive view on life.

Sample question B

Situation/scenario: There are many ways to achieve happiness. What are some of the ways?

Candidate Instructions: You have to give a presentation to your class. Talk about having a healthy body.

Sample question C

Situation/scenario: There are many ways to achieve happiness. What are some of the ways?

Candidate Instructions: You have to give a presentation to your class. Talk about having a good relationship with other people. 

Sample question D

Situation/scenario: There are many ways to achieve happiness. What are some of the ways?

Candidate Instructions: You have to give a presentation to your class. Talk about a plan to develop ourselves.

How to structure your answer

Take time to think about your answer and how you wish to structure it during your preparation time. Ensure you understand the question and then begin to develop your framework.  Start by asking yourself simple questions about the task. These include who, what, when, why and how questions. Once you have established these basic elements, you can build your answer into five parts:

1. Introduction 
   1. Greet the examiners and your fellow candidates 
   2. Introduce the scenario and the task.
2. Present the idea/s that you have for addressing or solving the problem or question
3. Discuss the reasons for your opinions and viewpoints with examples 
4. Explain how you would implement or resolve the matter with details of actions
5. Deliver your conclusion 
   1. Keep this short. It should ideally be about a sentence. 

Try to speak clearly and at a speed that is comfortable for you. A good structured answer is important because while two minutes sounds like a long time, it can go by quickly. 

Tips for part one of the MUET speaking test 

• Study the scenario or topic given carefully.
• Double-check which candidate you are (A, B, C, D) to make sure you don’t prepare another candidate’s speech. 
• Make sure you don’t run out of topics.
• Prepare two to three points to present on
• You MUST agree with the point that is given to you.
• Make full use of the two minutes that you have. Don’t go less than 1 minute 45 seconds or more than two minutes when presenting. 
• If you don’t have as many points to cover, try talking more slowly. 
• Don’t relax after your turn! Listen carefully to what the other candidates are saying.
• Write down the other students’ answers as they present their two-minute speech (to prepare yourself for Task B).

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MUET speaking test structure part two

For part two of the MUET speaking test, you will have a group discussion with three other candidates. The discussion is based on a single topic with five associated prompts. You get three minutes to prepare your points where you can either agree or disagree with the view. When this time is up, the examiner usually says, “Candidates, you can begin your discussion now and have eight to 12 minutes to discuss the topic.” 

Remember that you can agree with what other candidates are saying, but you must be able to explain why and how. The discussion will last for 10 to 12 minutes, giving each candidate approximately two and a half and three minutes each to speak. 

MUET speaking test part two sample question

Situation: Students sometimes need help in their studies. In your group, discuss who can help students in their studies. 

Prompts: A good student; A teacher. A sibling. A counsellor. A parent. 

Instruction: At the end of the discussion, try to decide the best person to help a student in their studies. 

Tips for part two of the MUET speaking test

• NEVER stay silent
• It is a plus point when you initiate the discussion. (Example: “To kick start the discussion, after listening to all of the other candidates’ answers I still stand by my own point that parents can help students most.”)
• Ask other candidates questions to keep the discussion alive (Example: “How about you, Candidate B? What do you think?” “What do you mean by that, Candidate C? Could you elaborate more on that point?”)
• If you want to interrupt when someone is speaking, do it politely. (Example: “I’m sorry, may I interrupt?”)

General MUET speaking test tips

• Speak loudly and clearly so that the examiners can hear you.
• Don’t be so nervous that you can’t speak properly. Take a deep breath, and speak slowly and clearly.
• Make eye contact with the examiners and the other candidates – especially during Task B as it is a group discussion.
• Use good language. Good choice of words and sentence structure are plus points.
• Don’t be rude. Always say “excuse me” when you wish to interrupt, and “thank you” after giving your speech in Task A.

To understand how the MUET exam is graded and other general MUET information check out our guide to the MUET.