B2 First
Speaking
Test
PROF. SAMANTA MIGENS
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
What does the exam Part 1 A conversation between
the examiner and each
consist of? candidate (spoken questions)
Part 2 An individual ‘long turn’
for each candidate, with a
brief response from the second
candidate (you are given a
pair of photographs to talk
about).
The Cambridge First speaking test
takes 14 minutes. You do the test Part 3 A two-way conversation
between the candidates where
with another candidate. you have to decide something.
Candidates are expected to be
Part 4 A discussion on topics
able to respond to questions and related to Part 3 (spoken
to interact in conversational questions).
English.
Part 1
A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE EXAMINER
AND EACH CANDIDATE (SPOKEN QUESTIONS)
The examiner asks you a question. You reply to the
examiner.
You don't have to talk to your partner in this part of
the exam.
It will take about 2 minutes.
Cambridge want to help you relax in the test so they
start with some nice, easy questions. Don't worry if
you get off to a bad start - a lot of candidates start
badly because they are nervous
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
PART 1: Personal Questions
Starters Daily Life Education and Work
Can I have your mark Tell us about a day Do you use the internet
sheet, please? you’ve really enjoyed to learn new things?
What is your name? recently. Do you prefer working
Where are you from? Are you planning to do on your own or with
anything special this other people?
weekend? What do you think
How much time do you would be the most
spend at home? interesting job to do?
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
PART 1: Personal Questions II
Your Home Country Travel and Holidays Entertainment
Is it easy to meet new Where would you most Do you ever go to
people where you live? like to go on holiday in concerts?
What's the best place future? How important is TV to
to spend a free Do you prefer travelling you?
afternoon in your town? by train or plane? Do you enjoy going to
How expensive is it to Do you plan your holidays parties?
go out in the evening or decide everything What do you use the
where you live? spontaneously? internet for?
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
PART 1: Personal Questions III
Family and Friends Free Time Sports
Who are the most How much time do you Are you interested in
important people in spend at home sport?
nowadays? Is there a sport or
your life?
What's the most exciting hobby you enjoy doing?
What do you enjoy
thing you've ever done?
doing with your friends? Do you like to be
Is your routine at
Tell me about a good physically active or do
weekends different from
friend of yours. you prefer relaxing?
your daily routine?
Part 2
PART 2 IS AN INDIVIDUAL ‘LONG TURN’ FOR EACH CANDIDATE, WITH
A BRIEF RESPONSE FROM THE SECOND CANDIDATE (YOU ARE GIVEN A
PAIR OF PHOTOGRAPHS TO TALK ABOUT).
The examiner will ask you to COMPARE the photos AND SAY something about
them.
Study these examples from past exams:
Compare the photographs and say why they have chosen to travel in this way.
Compare the photographs and say why you think the people are talking.
Compare the photographs and say what the people are enjoying about
doing these things.
See the pattern? So the first thing you should learn is how to compare things,
and make sure you answer the second part of the question.
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
The top picture shows...
The bottom picture shows...
In one photo there are...
In the other photo there are...
In the picture above it looks as if...
In the one below it looks like...
Both pictures show...
Useful phrases In both pictures there are...
They're both quite similar because they both show...
In one respect the pictures are quite similar because...
One difference between the pictures is that...
in Part 2 The biggest difference between them is that this one... but
the other one...
Another thing that's different is...
Something else that's different is...
In my opinion...
I'd say that...
I think...
It seems to me...
My view is that...
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
PART 2: Sample task 1
How important do you think the relationship is to the different people?
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
PART 2: Sample task 2
Why do you think people choose to shop in these different places?
Part 3
THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE TASK. YOU GET ABOUT 15 SECONDS TO READ EVERYTHING, THEN YOU HAVE TO
DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR PARTNER FOR 2 MINUTES. WHEN THE 2 MINUTES ARE OVER, THE EXAMINER WILL
STOP YOU AND HE WILL ASK ANOTHER QUESTION. YOU DISCUSS THAT QUESTION FOR ANOTHER MINUTE.
What's the best way to do it?
LISTEN to your partner. Don't just wait for your turn to speak. Be interested
in what they are saying and politely agree or disagree. If you disagree, try
to persuade them to change their idea, but don't spend too long doing
that.
Refer back to things you already said.
Say a couple of sentences then ask a question. Never answer your own
questions!
Try to look at your speaking partner more than the paper.
Some students turn their chair a little bit - towards the other student. This
helps them to remember whom they should talk to.
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
Getting Started
Which one shall we start with?
What do you think, Bob?
Moving to the Next Item
Shall we move onto [topic] now?
So what about [topic]?
I wonder if we can compare [current topic] to [new topic]?
Ending Your Turn
What do you think?
Don't you agree?
Useful phrases
Do you have anything to say about that?
Agreeing
That's just what I was thinking.
I couldn't agree more.
in Part 3 You're totally right.
Disagreeing (with reasons)
Maybe, but what about...?
I think it would be better to...
I'm not so keen on that.
Reaching a Decision
Well, I think it's definitely not [topic]
We can eliminate [topic] right away. Don't you think?
So then, what do you think is the best one?
I don't think we're going to agree on this!
Let's agree to disagree!
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
PART 3: Sample task 1
Part 4
IN THIS PART OF THE TEST, YOU HAVE ABOUT 4 MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT THE TOPICS FROM PART
3 IN MORE DETAIL. YOU ARE TESTED ON YOUR ABILITY TO GIVE OPINIONS, GIVE REASONS FOR
YOUR OPINIONS, AND YOUR ABILITY TO POLITELY DISCUSS THINGS WITH YOUR PARTNER.
The examiner asks you a question. You answer it. But it's not the same as
part 1. It's more like part 3 - you should respond to your partner's answers,
and you should ask for their opinions.
The questions in part 4 are not written down, so you have to listen carefully.
If you don't understand the question, ask the examiner to repeat it.
Look at the examiner when you give your answer, but then look at your
partner when you are talking to each other.
Always explain your answers.
Use some interesting vocabulary, and try to use a variety of words.
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
Buying time
I've never really thought about that, but...
That's a good/an interesting question.
Oh! Let me think. Well, ...
Giving your opinion
What I think is that...
I might be wrong but ...
I'm no expert but...
Adding reasons
Apart from that, ...
Useful phrases
As well as that, ...
Just as importantly, ...
There's also the fact that...
Asking your partner
in Part 4 What do you think?
Don't you agree?
Do you have anything to add to that?
Interrupting politely
Do you mind if I add something?
I'd like to comment on that.
If I could just make a point.
Trying to change an opinion
Okay, but on the other hand...
Maybe there's another way to think about it.
You're partly right, but...
PART 4: Sample task 1
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
Prof. SAMANTA MIGENS
Homework
Let's work on practising some expressions
with these activities.
[Link]
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