G.B.C. Mock Tests (Edition 2)

The English Farm | GBC Mock Tests course

Use mock tests to practice strong argumentation, fluency and delivery—skills learned in the Speaking Test Strategies course.

Each mock test includes questions regarding:

familiar or personal topics;
business and your industry;
your country or global issues; and
abstract topics.

The 2021 edition includes a variety of interview types. Some interviewers are warm and friendly, others are cold. Some ask many follow-up questions on one topic, others jump between topics. These mock tests will help you prepare for each type.

The English Farm recommends spending about two weeks doing this type of preparation. Read about how to prepare and not prepare for the G.B.C. test.

After your test, review your performance with your instructor and check your study direction.

Time to complete

Fast

Relaxed

The Plan

Each lesson has a focus (outlined at the bottom of this page). Work through the lessons in order.

If your student has a couple weeks or more before their test, then you can work slowly and focus on gaining vocabulary and phrases, or sharpen their strategies. If the test is in a few days, then minimise your talk time and give plenty of praise to calm the student's nerves.

Each lesson has around 10 questions. You may not finish all of them in your lesson, you can assign the next teacher to pick up where you left off. For example: GBC mock test 3, from question #6.

What not to do:

Do not spend more than a couple weeks or so doing test prep.
Do not allow your students to memorise or prepare full answers.
Do not race through these questions, or spend too long on a single one.

Tips and advice:

Giving quick model answers can help your student benchmark their ability against that of a native speaker.
Help with strong endings by giving your student another chance to finish, but don't make students repeat too much as it's demotivating.
Refer to Speaking Test Strategies lessons when possible.
Keep the student's latest GBC result open and refer to it while you are giving corrections or advice.
Do not let your students repeat themselves—don't waffle on.
If you can't follow your student then be honest, "I'm a native speaker but I can't really follow your logic. Can you think of another way to say that?"
Give praise as well! Specific examples, interesting facts, quick starts, varied tone—it's all important to point out.

Lesson focus table of contents