SPM English Group Discussion Tips — Score in the Speaking Test

How the SPM Speaking Test Works

The SPM English speaking test has two parts:

Individual presentation (2 minutes) — You speak about a given topic
Group discussion (10 minutes) — You discuss with 3-4 other candidates

Most students prepare for the individual presentation but neglect the group discussion. Yet the group discussion carries equal or more weight because it tests real communication skills.

What Examiners Assess

The examiner watches for these specific skills:

Skill	What It Looks Like
Contributing ideas	Sharing relevant points, giving examples
Responding to others	Agreeing, disagreeing, building on points
Managing interaction	Taking turns, inviting others to speak
Language accuracy	Grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation
Fluency	Speaking smoothly without long pauses
Task fulfilment	Staying on topic, reaching a conclusion

Key insight: You’re not competing against the other candidates. The examiner wants to see you communicate with them. Helping others speak well actually helps YOUR score.

Phrases That Score Marks

Starting the Discussion

“Shall we begin by looking at the first point?”
“Let’s start by discussing what we think about…”
“I’d like to begin with…”

Giving Your Opinion

“In my opinion, the most important factor is…”
“I believe that… because…”
“From my point of view…”
“Based on my experience…”

Agreeing with Others

“I agree with [name]‘s point about…”
“That’s a very good point. I’d also like to add that…”
“I think [name] is right because…”
“Absolutely. And to support that…”

Disagreeing Politely

“I see your point, but I think…”
“That’s an interesting perspective. However, I believe…”
“I respectfully disagree because…”
“While that may be true, we should also consider…”

Asking for Others’ Opinions

“[Name], what do you think about this?”
“Does anyone have a different view?”
“What’s your opinion on this, [name]?”
“Would anyone like to add something?”

Building on Someone’s Point

“To add to what [name] said…”
“That reminds me of another point…”
“Following on from that…”
“Expanding on [name]‘s idea…”

Giving Examples

“For example, in my school…”
“A good example of this would be…”
“To illustrate this point…”

Summarising and Concluding

“So, to summarise our discussion…”
“It seems like we all agree that…”
“In conclusion, the main points we’ve discussed are…”
“Shall we agree that the best solution is…?”

The 5 Roles You Can Play

You don’t need to play every role, but showing 2-3 of these earns higher marks:

1. The Initiator

Start the discussion or introduce new points. Shows leadership.

“I think we should start with the most obvious solution…“

2. The Builder

Expand on what others say. Shows listening skills.

“Building on what Aisha said, I think we could also…“

3. The Questioner

Ask others for their input. Shows interaction management.

“Ahmad, you haven’t shared your view yet. What do you think?“

4. The Mediator

Find common ground when opinions differ. Shows maturity.

“Both of you make good points. Perhaps we can combine these ideas…“

5. The Summariser

Pull ideas together and move toward a conclusion. Shows organisation.

“So far, we’ve discussed three main points. Let me summarise…”

Common Mistakes That Cost Marks

Mistake 1: Staying Silent

If you don’t speak, you can’t score. Even if you’re nervous, force yourself to contribute at least 4-5 times during the discussion.

Fix: Prepare 3-4 universal points that work for most topics — education, technology, social impact, personal development.

Mistake 2: Dominating the Discussion

Speaking too much is almost as bad as not speaking. If you talk for 2 minutes straight, the examiner notes that you can’t manage interaction.

Fix: Make your point in 20-30 seconds, then invite someone else to respond.

Mistake 3: Not Listening to Others

Some students prepare their next point while others are speaking, then say something completely unrelated.

Fix: Use response phrases that reference what the previous speaker said: “I agree with what [name] mentioned about…”

Mistake 4: Only Agreeing

If you agree with everything, you show limited thinking. The examiner wants to see you evaluate ideas.

Fix: Politely disagree at least once: “That’s a good point, but I think we should also consider…”

Mistake 5: Using Bahasa Melayu or Mandarin

Even one word in another language counts against you. If you forget a word, describe it in English instead.

Fix: Practise paraphrasing. Can’t remember “environment”? Say “the natural world around us.”

How to Prepare

1. Practise with Friends

Form a group of 4-5 and practise discussing topics weekly. Time yourselves — 10 minutes per discussion.

2. Read Current Issues

Many discussion topics relate to current events. Read English news articles about education, environment, technology, and social issues.

3. Build a Phrase Bank

Memorise 3-4 phrases from each category above. These become automatic during the actual test.

4. Record Yourself

Use your phone to record practice discussions. Listen back and check for:

Long silences
Repeated filler words (um, like, you know)
Grammar mistakes you can fix
Whether you responded to others or just stated your own points

5. Practise the “Uncomfortable” Skills

If you’re naturally quiet, practise initiating. If you tend to dominate, practise asking others for input. The exam rewards balance.

Sample Discussion Flow

Topic: “What is the best way to improve English among Malaysian students?”

Student A (Initiator): “I think the best way is to increase English exposure through reading programmes. Many students only encounter English in the classroom.”
Student B (Builder): “I agree with that. To add to your point, schools could set up English corners where students are encouraged to speak only English during recess.”
Student C (Questioner): “Those are good ideas. But what about students in rural areas who may not have access to English books? [Name], what do you think?”
Student D (New point): “I believe technology can help. Free apps and YouTube channels can provide English content even to students in remote areas.”
Student A (Responder): “That’s a great point about technology. However, we should consider that not all students have internet access at home.”
Student B (Mediator): “Perhaps a combination would work best — school-based programmes for access during school hours, and technology-based options for those who can use them at home.”
Student C (Summariser): “So it seems we agree that a multi-approach strategy would be most effective — reading programmes, English corners, and technology-based solutions.”

Develop Your Speaking Confidence

The speaking test rewards confident, natural communication — and that comes from practice. At SPMEnglish.com.my, our speaking skills programme includes live group discussion practice with feedback on your interaction skills, fluency, and accuracy. WhatsApp us to start building your speaking confidence.

Speaking Test Tips — Individual presentation strategies
Pronunciation Tips — Sound confident when you speak
Vocabulary Building — Have the words you need in discussions

SPM English Group Discussion: How to Score in the Speaking Test