Paper 2 is the part of the ELPAC that determines most of your result. Where Paper 1 assesses listening comprehension alone, Paper 2 — the Oral Interaction paper — is where five of the six ICAO criteria are graded live: pronunciation, structure, vocabulary, fluency and interaction (with comprehension running throughout).
This guide explains what happens in Paper 2 and how to prepare for it. For the two-paper overview, see our ELPAC test explained guide.
The Format
Paper 2 is a spoken paper lasting roughly 20 minutes, conducted with two examiners. One typically manages the interaction while the other observes and rates. Because it is built specifically for aeronautical communication, the tasks stay inside the world you already work in — radiotelephony situations, aviation topics, and the kind of problem-solving exchanges that happen on frequency, rather than general “describe your last holiday” small talk.
What the Examiners Are Really Rating
It is easy to assume the exam rewards big vocabulary or a native-like accent. It does not. The ICAO scale is a lowest-score rule: your final level is the lowest of the six criteria. That changes how you should prepare.
- Interaction is a scored criterion in its own right — asking for clarification, confirming, and repairing a misunderstanding all count in your favour, not against you.
- Fluency means keeping going at a workable pace, not speaking fast.
- Comprehension is tested by how you respond to the unexpected, not the routine.
A candidate who speaks simply but clearly, and who manages misunderstandings well, out-scores a candidate with rich vocabulary who freezes when the exchange goes off-script.
The Three Things Paper 2 Will Push On
1. Handling a non-routine situation in plain English
Expect to be taken out of standard phraseology — a technical problem, weather, a medical case, an unfamiliar request. The examiners want to hear you explain, negotiate and resolve it in clear plain English. Prepare by practising the why, not just the what: why you need a diversion, why you are requesting priority, what the consequence is if the request is refused.
2. Managing misunderstanding — out loud
When you don’t catch something, the strong move is to say so and resolve it: “Say again the last part,” “Confirm you want us to…” “Just to clarify…” This is the single most under-used scoring opportunity in the whole exam. Silence or guessing loses marks; a clean clarification gains them.
3. Sustained, natural exchange
The examiners need enough continuous speech to rate you. One-word answers starve them of evidence. Extend every answer with a reason, a consequence, or a short example — turn “yes” into “yes, because…”
How to Prepare Efficiently
- Speak, don’t just read. Reading about what to say is not preparation. Say your answers out loud, under a little time pressure, and record them.
- Use an AI conversation partner. Tools like ChatGPT or Claude can role-play an examiner, throw non-routine scenarios at you, and correct your grammar and phrasing — available at any hour, for as long as you want.
- Drill clarification phrases until they come out automatically. These are your highest-value, lowest-effort points.
- Practise both roles — controller and pilot — so unexpected instructions stop surprising you.
Level 4 vs Level 5 in the Oral
At Level 4 you handle routine and some non-routine situations with occasional strain, and misunderstandings are usually resolved. At Level 5 you stay effective on unexpected turns, your responses are more immediate, and you manage the interaction rather than just surviving it. If Level 5 is your target, spend your practice time on the parts of a scenario that go wrong — that is where the difference is scored.
Next Steps
Prepare both papers together: build listening stamina for Paper 1 while drilling clarification and plain-English problem-solving for Paper 2. The two reinforce each other.