How to Prepare for an Oral Test

Part 1: The Announcement

It was a bright Monday morning when the bell rang at Greenfield High School. The English teacher, Ms. Rahman, walked into the classroom holding a stack of papers. Everyone fell silent; her serious face meant something important was about to happen.

“Class,” she said, placing the papers on the desk, “next week we will have an oral English test. Each of you will speak for two minutes on a given topic. Your confidence, pronunciation, and fluency will be graded.”

A murmur spread across the room. Some students looked excited, but others—especially Aisha Khan—felt their stomachs twist with anxiety.

Aisha was a good student. She always scored high in written exams, loved reading novels, and wrote essays beautifully. But there was one thing she feared more than anything—speaking in front of others.

As soon as Ms. Rahman left the room, Aisha’s friend Sara leaned over and said, “You’ll do great! You’re the smartest in class.”

Aisha shook her head. “You don’t understand, Sara. I can write perfectly, but when I speak, my mind goes blank.”

Sara smiled. “Then we’ll fix that together.”


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Part 2: The Fear of Speaking

That evening, Aisha sat quietly at her study desk, staring at her notebook. She had written the topic ‘My Favorite Book’ but couldn’t say even two sentences aloud.

She tried speaking into the mirror.
“My favorite book is—” she began, but her voice cracked.
Her reflection looked nervous, almost trembling.

In frustration, she sat on her bed. “Why can’t I talk normally when people listen?” she thought. “Why does my heart beat so fast?”

Her mother entered the room just then. “What’s wrong, beta?” she asked softly.

Aisha sighed. “Ammi, I have an oral test. I’m scared. What if I forget everything?”

Her mother smiled kindly and sat beside her. “Courage grows only when you face what you fear,” she said. “Start small. Talk to yourself. Talk to me. Practice. You’ll see—your voice will find its strength.”

Her mother’s words lit a tiny spark inside her.


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Part 3: The Plan

The next morning, Aisha decided to make a plan—a step-by-step way to prepare for her oral exam. She wrote it neatly in her notebook:

1. Understand the topic — Know what to say clearly.


2. Write key points — Don’t memorize everything.


3. Practice in front of a mirror.


4. Record your voice and listen.


5. Ask a friend to test you.


6. Improve day by day.



She smiled. “If I follow this plan, maybe I can do it.”

After school, she and Sara met in the library. Sara brought a timer and a notebook.
“Let’s pretend I’m the teacher,” Sara said playfully. “You have two minutes. Start!”

Aisha froze for a second, then took a deep breath. “My favorite book is The Secret Garden. It’s about…”

At first, her voice trembled. She forgot words, repeated sentences, and spoke too fast. But Sara clapped anyway.
“Good start!” she said. “You just need more practice.”

They met every day after school. Each time, Aisha got a little better. Her sentences flowed more smoothly, and her confidence began to bloom like spring flowers after a long winter.


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Part 4: The Mirror Method

At home, Aisha turned her mirror into her best friend.
She stood tall, looked herself in the eyes, and practiced speaking as if the mirror were her audience.

Sometimes she laughed at her own mistakes; other times, she got emotional. But the mirror never judged her—it simply reflected her courage back.

One night, her younger brother peeked into her room. “Are you talking to yourself?” he teased.

She smiled. “Yes, but soon I’ll talk to the whole class!”


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Part 5: Learning to Listen

One of the most important things Aisha did was record her voice. At first, she hated it. Her voice sounded strange, and she could hear every mistake.

But slowly, she began to appreciate the recordings. She could hear where she paused too long or spoke too fast. She corrected pronunciation, added expression, and learned to control her breathing.

Every night she played her recordings before sleeping. It became her own way of learning—by listening to herself.


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Part 6: A Test Before the Test

Three days before the real exam, Ms. Rahman gave the class a practice round.
Aisha’s hands were shaking as she waited for her turn.

When her name was called, she walked to the front of the class. Her heart thumped in her chest like a drum.

She looked at the class—rows of eyes watching her. She took a deep breath and began, “My favorite book is The Secret Garden…”

Her first few words were shaky, but then she remembered everything she had practiced: the mirror, the recordings, Sara’s encouragement, and her mother’s wisdom.

Her voice steadied. She smiled naturally, spoke clearly, and even added a little expression to her words.

When she finished, the class clapped. Ms. Rahman said, “Much better, Aisha. You’re improving!”

Aisha couldn’t stop smiling. For the first time, she believed she could really do this.


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Part 7: The Night Before the Exam

The night before the oral test, Aisha felt nervous again. Her notes were ready, but her mind was full of “what ifs.”

“What if I forget?”
“What if I stammer?”
“What if they laugh?”

Her father came into her room and said, “You’ve worked hard, Aisha. Remember, even the best speakers get nervous. Just speak from your heart.”

That night, she prayed for courage and went to sleep early, whispering to herself, “I can do it.”


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Part 8: The Big Day

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the classroom window. One by one, students went up for their oral tests. Some were confident, others nervous.

When Ms. Rahman called, “Aisha Khan,” time seemed to slow.

She stood up, walked to the front, and turned to face her classmates. Her hands were slightly cold, but her heart felt warm.

She remembered her plan:
Breathe. Smile. Speak clearly.

“Good morning,” she began. “My topic is The Secret Garden. It is a story about friendship, nature, and hope…”

As she spoke, her voice grew stronger. Her words flowed naturally. She no longer thought about being perfect—she just shared her thoughts honestly.

When she finished, there was silence for a second, then the class burst into applause. Ms. Rahman smiled proudly. “Excellent, Aisha! Confident and fluent. Well done.”

Tears welled up in Aisha’s eyes—not from sadness, but from relief and pride. She had faced her biggest fear and won.


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Part 9: The Reward Beyond Marks

After the test, Sara hugged her. “You did it! You sounded amazing!”

Aisha laughed. “I can’t believe it’s over!”

Later that week, the results were announced. Aisha got full marks for her oral test. But more important than marks was the lesson she learned—that courage and practice can turn fear into strength.

That evening, Ms. Rahman called her to the front again. “Aisha,” she said, “since you’ve improved so much, would you like to help other students prepare for their next oral test?”

Aisha agreed with a wide smile. Soon, she became the ‘Confidence Coach’ for her classmates, helping shy students practice just as Sara had helped her.

She shared her methods:

Practice daily.

Don’t memorize; understand.

Speak slowly and clearly.

Record and listen.

Smile and believe in yourself.


Her classmates began to admire her—not only for her marks but for her kindness and confidence.


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Part 10: The Reflection

One afternoon, sitting by her window, Aisha opened her diary and wrote:

> “I used to be afraid of my own voice. But I learned that fear is like a shadow—it disappears when you walk toward the light. The light is confidence, and confidence comes from preparation and practice.”



She closed her diary, looked at the mirror again, and smiled. The reflection that once looked frightened now looked fearless.


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Part 11: A Year Later

A year later, Aisha stood on the school stage delivering a speech during the annual function. The same shy girl who once trembled to say two sentences was now speaking in front of hundreds of people—with calm eyes and a confident voice.

Parents, teachers, and students listened attentively. When she finished, she received a standing ovation.

Her mother, watching from the audience, wiped a tear of joy. Her daughter had truly found her voice.


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Part 12: Aisha’s Secret of Success

After the event, a younger student asked her, “Aisha, how did you become so confident?”

She smiled and said, “I wasn’t born confident. I built it. Every time I practiced, every time I failed, I got a little stronger. The secret is simple—believe you can, and practice until you do.”

That simple advice became her life’s motto.


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🌟 MORAL OF THE STORY:

Confidence is not a gift—it’s the reward of preparation, courage, and persistence.
When you face your fears instead of running from them, your voice becomes your power.