B2 SPEAKING

What’s in the Speaking paper?

The Cambridge English: First Speaking test has four parts and you take it together with another candidate.

There are two examiners. One of the examiners asks you questions and gives you the booklet with things to talk about. The other examiner listens to what you say.

Summary

Time allowed:	14 minutes per pair of candidates
Number of parts:	4
Marks:	20% total
You have to talk:	with the examiner with the other candidate on your own

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Part 1 (Interview)

What's in Part 1?	Conversation with the examiner. The examiner asks questions and you may have to give information about your interests, studies, career, etc.
What do I have to practise?	Giving information about yourself and expressing your opinion about various topics.
How long do I have to speak?	2 minutes

This video shows you a real speaking exam. Watch it and try to learn from it.

In this part of the exam, the interviewer will ask you and your partner several questions about everyday topics. Here is a list of questions arranged by topic:

Area where you live or used to live

- Is there anything you would like to learn about your country?

- Which area of your country would you like to get to know better?

- What's the most interesting place you've visited in your country?

- Could you tell me something about the area where you grew up?

- Could you describe your family home to me?

Sports

- Are you interested in sports?

- Is there a sport you would really like to try?

- What sports do peple play most in your country?

- How much exercise do you take each week?

- Do you like to be physically active or do you prefer relaxing?

- Have you ever practiced extreme sports?

Leisure

- How much TV do you watch in a week?

- Tell us about a TV programme you've seen recently

- Do you have a favourite newspaper or magazine?

- What do you spend your time doing?

- Do you enjoy reading?

- What sort of books do you read?

- Which is the last book you have read?

- Does anyone you know have an interesting hobby?

- What is the difference between reading the news in the newspaper and watching it on TV?

- Who do you spend your free time with?

- Do you prefer to be outside or inside when you have free time?

Work and study

- Do you find it easy to study where you live?

- Do you use the internet to learn new things?

- Do you prefer working on your own or with other people?

- What kind of work would you really like to do in the future?

- Are you happier doing mental or physical work?

- Can you remember your first English lessons?

- What do you think were the most important things you learned at primary school?

- Would you prefer to work for a big or small company?

Family and friends

- Who do you spend your free time with?

- Who are the most important people in your life?

- Do you and your friends share the same ideas?

- Tell me about your best friend?

- Do you normally go out with family or friends?

Travel and holidays

- Have you ever used your English on holiday?

- Where would you really like to go on holiday in the future?

- Do you like to plan your holidays carefully or do you prefer to just go?

- How do you prefer to travel? by train, by plane..?

- What's public transport like in your country?

Entertainment

- Do you ever go to concerts?

- Where do you like going to the cinema?

- Do you enjoy playing computer games?

- Do you enjoy shopping?

- Do you like going to parties?

- What do people normally do in the place you live to enjoy at weekends?

Daily life

- How much time do you spend at home?

- Tell us about a day you've really enjoyed recently?

- Do you like cooking?

- What's your favourite food/meal?

- Have you got any plans for this weekend?

- What's your favourite day of the week?

- Are you planning to do anything special this weekend?

- What's your favourite part of the day?

Part 2 (Long turn)

What's in Part 2?	The examiner gives you two photographs and asks you to talk about them. You have to speak for 1 minute without interruption and the interlocutor then asks the other candidate to comment on your photographs for about 30 seconds. The other candidate receives a different set of photographs and you have to listen and comment when they have finished speaking. The question you have to answer about your photographs is written at the top of the page to remind you what you should talk about.
What do I have to practise?	Talking on your own about something: comparing, describing, expressing opinions, speculating.
How long do I have to speak?	1 minute per candidate

Just to see how to do that, I have looked for a video of a real exam. Pay attention and try to do the same

Now, let's practice with Megan:

Part 3 (Collaborative task)

What’s in Part 3?	Conversation with the other candidate. The examiner gives the students a question and some written prompts. The students discuss these together for two minutes. The examiner will then ask them to make a decision together about the topic they have been discussing.
What do students have to practise?	Exchanging ideas, expressing and justifying opinions, agreeing and/or disagreeing, suggesting, speculating, evaluating, reaching a decision through negotiation, etc.
How long does each student have to speak?	A 2-minute discussion followed by a 1-minute decision-making task

Let's practice: