IO 考的不只是「說得流利」，而是能否圍繞一則刺激材料（stimulus），有條理地分析文本與全球性議題之間的關係。以下五點，是我們多年帶考的心得。The IO isn't just about speaking fluently. It asks whether you can build a clear, analytical link between a stimulus and a global issue. Here are five things we've learned from years of coaching it.
一、選對刺激材料1. Choose the right stimulus
刺激材料要能同時連結你熟悉的文本與一個具體的全球性議題。太抽象的圖片會讓分析無從入手；選一個你能講出「作者用了什麼手法、想帶出什麼」的材料，會輕鬆很多。Your stimulus should connect a text you know well to a specific global issue. Overly abstract images give you nothing to analyse. Pick one where you can clearly say what the writer does and why.
二、先搭骨架，再填內容2. Build the skeleton first
用「引入 → 文本分析 → 議題連結 → 總結」的結構開口，考官一聽就知道你有章法。練習時把時間分配寫下來，確保每部分都講得到。Speak to a clear frame: introduction, textual analysis, link to the issue, conclusion. Rehearse with a rough time budget so every part gets its share.
三、分析手法，不要複述劇情3. Analyse technique, don't retell the plot
高分與中等的分別，往往在於有沒有指出「作者怎樣寫」——修辭、結構、用詞、視角，再說明這些選擇如何服務主題。The gap between a good mark and a top one is usually whether you name how the writer writes: rhetoric, structure, word choice, point of view, and how those choices serve the theme.
四、預備追問4. Prepare for the follow-up questions
口試後段考官會追問。事先想好三、四個可能被問到的角度，準備一句話的清晰回應，臨場就不會慌。The examiner will probe afterwards. Anticipate three or four likely angles and prepare a crisp one-line answer for each, so you stay composed.
最後，錄下自己的練習再回聽，你會很快發現哪裡在複述、哪裡真正在分析。持續調整，分數自然會上來。Finally, record your practice and listen back. You'll quickly hear where you're summarising rather than analysing, and steady adjustment is what lifts the score.