HASanticipate questions, practice, put your stage fright into perspective… As the big oral examination of the baccalaureate approaches, terminale teachers entrust the Point five key tips for carrying out the exercise. Lasting twenty minutes, it consists of three phases: the presentation of one of the two subjects prepared in advance by the student, drawn by lot (five minutes), a question-and-answer session with the examiners – including one of them teaches the specialty concerned – (ten minutes) then a time of discussion devoted to the orientation of the candidate (five minutes). This test, intended to train students to “speak clearly and convincingly in public”, according to the Ministry of National Education, marked out of 20 (coefficient 10), constitutes the final stage of the national examination.
Avoid “by heart”
Learn his text by heart? Some students might be tempted, but it’s a “very bad idea”, warns Sébastien Vieille, an English teacher in the Doubs. “We must at all costs avoid the pitfall of recitation, he warns, no examiner expects this from the candidate. Also, it is better to memorize the only plan of your presentation, it is “the best way – despite the stress – to look natural” and to find your way if you lose the thread of his thought. This does not prevent repeating his presentation (to his relatives, for example), in order to “make the exercise more familiar”, suggests Élisabeth Rodriguez, professor of letters in Hyères (Var).
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Master your subject
The candidate’s specialty subjects having already been assessed in writing, “the purpose of this final test is, above all, to assess the student’s oral abilities”, recalls Sylvie Lamboley, professor of mathematics in Montbéliard. Clarity of the subject, posture and diction will not fail to be observed. But it is nonetheless “fundamental” to master your subject, reminds the professor: if you can delude yourself about the presentation, “there is no secret, it is still the only way to succeed question-and-answer exercise” with the examiners.
Argue your answers
“The ten minutes allotted to this exchange can be very long if the candidate answers with “yes” or “no”…” warns, in this respect, Elisabeth Rodriguez. The qualities of argumentation being part of the evaluation criteria, “you should not hesitate to have the question rephrased if you are not sure you have understood it”, advises Sylvie Lamboley. Do not hesitate, either, to question the jury: “During her white oral on mathematical modelling, a student took as an example the bottle of water of one of her examiners, relates the professor. Not all subjects lend themselves to it, but interacting in this way can be a real plus! And for good reason, the “quality of the interaction” is also one of the evaluation criteria for this test.
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Anticipate guiding questions
The third part, devoted to orientation, can also be a source of apprehension for the candidate. “That’s wrong! assures Sébastien Vieille: “If it aims to show the consistency of the choices he has made in terms of specialties and study project, he must not be afraid to say that he was wrong, that he realized that he was more attracted to another field and had chosen another path. This is in no way a failure. “Explaining it can even be the subject of” an interesting conversation “, underlines the professor. Do not hesitate, as such, to anticipate the questions of the examiners.
Put stage fright into perspective
“Being stressed is completely normal and showing signs of stage fright is not a problem! ” assures Lydia Pichot, professor of history and geography in Clermont-Ferrand. “Being sure of yourself is, on the contrary, a rather bad sign! As intimidating as the situation may be, be sure to breathe, control your speaking rate and limit gestures and language tics as much as possible.