English oral Bagrut
English oral Bagrut (COBE): what is scored, how to practise, and how not to freeze at the microphone
Quick answer
In its current format the English oral Bagrut (COBE) is computer-based: the student sits at a computer with a headset and records answers to four questions in three sections, a personal question, a question about the year's project and two questions about a short video, in about 30 minutes. Scoring is based on content, fluency, vocabulary and grammar, and the exam is 20% of the final English grade for all levels (3, 4 and 5 units). The only way to prepare is to speak out loud, with a timer, and get corrected.
Most students reach the oral exam after years of reading and writing and almost no speaking. The result is familiar: you know the word but cannot get it into a sentence within 20 seconds. This page covers the exam structure as it stands today, exactly what is measured, a bank of practice prompts for each section, and a method for practising speaking for real, out loud, with someone who listens and corrects.
Practice prompts, by exam section
Answer out loud, with a timer, without writing first. Then open a conversation with Kate and ask her to put the same questions and correct you.
Personal section (one question, 20 to 40 seconds)
- Talk about a person who influenced you and why.
- What would you change about your school if you could?
- Describe a place you love and what you do there.
- Which skill would you like to learn, and how would you start?
- Tell about an event that taught you something about yourself.
Project section (one question, at least one minute)
- What is your project about and why did you choose the topic?
- What was the most surprising finding or idea?
- What was the hardest part of the work and how did you handle it?
- If you started again, what would you do differently?
Video section (two questions, 20 to 40 seconds each)
- Describe what happened in the clip: who, where, what changed.
- What do you think the clip's message is, and do you agree with it?
- How would you react in the main character's place?
- Does a situation like this happen in Israel too? Give an example.
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The exam structure in its current format
- Personal section: one question (choose one of two) about yourself, your life, your opinions. At least 20 seconds, ideally about 40.
- Project section: one question about the project you prepared during the year. At least one minute. This is the section you can prepare for best.
- Video section: watch a short clip and answer two questions, one descriptive and one opinion or analysis. 20 to 40 seconds each.
- Computer-based and recorded, with no examiner in front of you. About 30 minutes. The score is 20% of the English Bagrut grade.
- The exact format and weights are updated each year in the Ministry of Education circular. Check with your teacher what applies to your cohort.
Exactly what is measured
Four criteria: content (you answered the question, with detail and examples), fluency (you spoke continuously, without long silences or translating in your head), vocabulary (precise and varied words, not just good and nice) and grammar (tenses, sentence structure, agreement). Content is the heaviest criterion, even more so at 5 units. In practice: a full answer with two grammar mistakes beats two perfect sentences and silence.
A practice method that works
- Ten minutes a day: pick a prompt from the bank, set a 40-second timer, answer out loud. No writing first, because there is no time to write in the exam.
- Record yourself on your phone and listen back. Most students discover they stop after 12 seconds. The goal: reach 40 without stopping.
- Build a skeleton for every answer: an opening sentence, two reasons or examples, a closing sentence. The skeleton works on any personal question.
- For the project: prepare three one-minute answers (what it is, what I found, what was hard) and practise until they come out without thinking.
- For the video: watch any short English clip on YouTube and describe out loud what happened and what you think. That is exactly the exercise.
- Practise with Kate: ask her to put exam questions to you, answer out loud, and get corrections and alternative words in your language. Learn from mistakes in real time.
Phrases that raise the score
To open: In my opinion, From my experience, One thing that really matters to me is. To add a reason: The main reason is, Another point is, For example. To contrast: On the other hand, However, Even though. To close: All in all, That's why I believe, To sum up. Ten such phrases, once automatic, give you fluency and time to think about content. They are in the Bagrut sets in the library, with audio.
Frequently asked questions
How much of the English grade is the oral exam?
In the current format, 20% of the final English Bagrut grade at all levels. The rest comes from the written papers. Check your year's circular, since weights can be updated.
Is there an examiner in front of me?
No. The exam is computer-based: you hear or read the question and record an answer with a headset. Nobody helps if you get stuck, which is why practising with a timer matters so much.
What happens if I answer for less than 20 seconds?
A too-short answer mainly hurts the content score, which is the heaviest criterion. Keep talking, add an example or another reason, even with a mistake, rather than stopping.
How do I practise speaking if there is nobody to speak English with?
On SpeakBase you open a conversation with Kate, an AI tutor who talks with you in real time. Ask her to put oral Bagrut questions to you, answer out loud, and get a correction and explanation in your language. Ten minutes a month free.
Should project answers be memorised?
Prepare them, but do not memorise word for word. A memorised answer sounds flat and collapses if the question is phrased differently. Prepare points and practise talking about them in several ways.
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