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Pet Speaking Exam: PART 1: PERSONAL INFORMATION (2-3 Minutes) Warm-Up Questions

The document provides guidance for a PET speaking exam with 4 parts: 1. Personal information questions - candidates give biographical details about themselves. 2. Describing a photo - candidates analyze and discuss a photo using descriptive language. 3. Discussing a situation - candidates discuss options and make hypotheses about a situation illustrated on paper. 4. Discussion - candidates converse with each other on a topic related to part 3, expressing opinions and preferences. The exam tests candidates' ability to discuss, describe, and interact in English.

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Giuseppe Bianco
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201 views

Pet Speaking Exam: PART 1: PERSONAL INFORMATION (2-3 Minutes) Warm-Up Questions

The document provides guidance for a PET speaking exam with 4 parts: 1. Personal information questions - candidates give biographical details about themselves. 2. Describing a photo - candidates analyze and discuss a photo using descriptive language. 3. Discussing a situation - candidates discuss options and make hypotheses about a situation illustrated on paper. 4. Discussion - candidates converse with each other on a topic related to part 3, expressing opinions and preferences. The exam tests candidates' ability to discuss, describe, and interact in English.

Uploaded by

Giuseppe Bianco
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PET SPEAKING EXAM

PART 1 : PERSONAL INFORMATION (2-3 minutes) warm-up Questions


You have to: ​Give personal information. Answer questions about your family, studies, home
town, free time, job.

USEFUL LANGUAGE
Where are you from?​ I’m from​ Giugliano, a small town outside Naples / on the outskirts of
Naples / about 20 kilometres from Naples city centre.
What do you do ?​ ​I’m studying​ architecture/engineering at Fed 2 University.
Have you got any brothers or sisters?​ No, I’m an only child. / Yes, ​I’ve got​ an older brother.
He works for RAI in Rome.
What do you do in your free time?​ ​I enjoy reading​ and listening to music. I also like
swimming. I
usually go​ once a week.
Tell us about.......

REMEMBER!
● Avoid long, prepared speeches.
● Give your answer, say why, add a point. “and that’s all!”
● If you don’t understand the question -> CHECK!

PART 2 : DESCRIBING A PHOTO (1 minute each)

USEFUL LANGUAGE TO GIVE A GENERAL INTRODUCTION


Nb. Listen carefully to the examiner (s/he tells you “ here is ​your ​photograph: it
shows.......)

This picture shows ….


In this picture I can see
This is a picture of …..

Table 1: background definitely probably


place a station
Town or country? in the countryside or a small
town
season
weather
time of day

Table 2: people definitely probably


How many?
Ages
Occupations
Clothes
mood

Table 3: action definitely probably


Moving
Preparing to
holding

TALK ABOUT PLACES


They’re driving ​in t​ he country/in a city/in the mountains
She’s sitting ​inside/outside ​a cafè
I can see a ​street market/old building​/​square/street/restaurant/beach ​….

DESCRIBE PEOPLE’S AGE


He’s about 50 ​years old.
They’re in their twenties
She’s a teenager​/a young child/a middle-aged woman

DESCRIBE PEOPLE’S CLOTHES (​Remember to ​use PRESENT CONTINUOUS​)


She’s wearing a​ pair of shorts and a red Tshirt
They’re wearing ​quite casual/smart clothes
He’s wearing ​a uniform

MAKE GUESSES (​use MODAL VERBS​)


It might be ​summer because some people are wearing sunglasses
It’s probably ​in the country, because …
This picture could be i​ n Northern Europe because of the buildings
DRAW CONCLUSIONS / MAKE DEDUCTIONS
It MUST be ​winter because it’s snowing.
It can’t be v​ ery cold, because …
You can tell it’s hot weather because t​ he people are wearing shorts.

DESCRIBE PEOPLE’S ACTIONS (​Remember to use ​PRESENT CONTINUOUS​)


He’​s sitting ​at a desk
She’​s standing i​ n a queue
They’​re having ​a meal
Some people ​are sunbathing ​and others ​are swimming ​in the sea

DESCRIBE PEOPLE’S ROLES IN A PICTURE


He’s probably a ​shop assistant and ​she’s a customer
This person on the left ​seems to be a tourist guide ​– he’s pointing to a building
The man serving the drinks is ​a waiter

DESCRIBE PEOPLE’S FEELINGS IN A PICTURE


You can tell ​they are enjoying themselves ​because​ they are smiling
He ​seems ​a bit frightened. ​Maybe​ this is the first time he’s tried this
She ​looks v​ ery interested in this activity – she’s concentrating very hard
She ​looks as if she’s​ interested in this activity – she’s concentrating very hard
She ​looks like​ a top model – she’s very elegant.

PARAPHRASE (use these phrases to describe words you don’t know)


It’s something ​you fry food in (frying pan)
It’s a kind of ​container for flowers (a vase)
It’s a ​cupboard ​for ​keep​ing c​ lothes in (a wardrobe)

​ ESCRIBE POSITION
D
In the middle ​of the picture there is a group of people, probably tourists because …
In the background ​there is a church … ​In the foreground t​ here are some …...
There’s a bookshelf ​next to/near/behind/in front of ​the door

REMEMBER!
Talk in sentences – don’t make lists of items you can see
Organise your description – don’t describe the same thing more than once
Start with a general idea of the subject of the picture before going into details
Give reasons (related to the picture) for your ideas
Talk about the situation as well as the physical things you can see in the picture.
Give some personal reaction to the picture
Listen quietly​ when your partner describes his/her photo – ​don’t give help or comment
PART 3 : DISCUSSING A SITUATION (2-3 minutes)
You have to: ​Talk about a situation which is illustrated on a sheet of paper. Make
hypotheses, talk about possibility, give suggestions and discuss alternatives.

USEFUL LANGUAGE TO :

START THE DISCUSSION


Where shall we begin? Shall we start with this one?
Let’s talk about ​x​ first.
How about ​……. What do you think of that idea?
I think this is ​more useful ​because​ …
It would be better to go ​to the cinema ​because

COMPARE​ & DISCUSS ALTERNATIVES


Which do you think is ​best​?
Yes, that’s possible.
It’s difficult to decide but ​…….
I think ​x​ / this is ​a good idea​ / ​more useful/ better / b
​ ecause​ …
It would be better to (​go​ ​to the cinema​)​ ​because​ ….
This might work​ (because….)

MAKE HYPOTHESES
This might be / could be ​the best solution for ….
​ ecause​ …….
X would be the best ….. b

ASK FOR OPINIONS


What do you think about x / t​ hat? ​Do you think that’s a good idea​?
Do y​ ou agree?
How do you feel about t​ hat?
What ​shall ​we ​choose​?

GIVE YOUR OPINION


● I think/​ ​I don’t think t​ hat’s a good idea ​because​…
● Personally,​ I think that’s a terrible idea ​because​ …
● In my opinion ​it would be better to stay in a hotel ​because​ ….
● I’m not so sure about that because ….
AGREE AND DISAGREE
That’s what I think too ….. That’s a good idea. / That’s a good point.
I agree​. I see what you mean
Yes, you’re right.
Well, that’s true but ….
I’m sorry but ​I don’t agree with​ you.
I’m not sure I agree with you. I don’t think that’s such a good idea (because …. )
This wouldn’t be a good idea because …..

EXPRESS PREFERENCES
I’d rather go ​to a campsite
Personally, I’d like to stay ​in a youth hostel
I’d prefer to go ​to a hotel

MAKE SUGGESTIONS
How about ​go​ing ​to the cinema? Would that be a relaxing activity for the man?
Let’s ​move on to another point.

CHOOSING / SUMMING UP
Do you agree that this is the best one? Which one shall we choose ?
So, shall we choose this one?

REMEMBER!
● Listen carefully to the examiner’s instructions and focus on the picture in the
middle, which gives the ​key ​to the situation
● Use the pictures round the outside as ​ideas ​for your discussion. ​Don’t​ describe
them
● Think about the type of situation – it is ​NOT ​about ​you ​- it’s a ​third person
(hypotheitically)​ - use ​he ​or ​she ​consistently
● Quickly summarise the situation to make sure that you have BOTH understood …
but then start the discussion quickly – don’t waste time describing the pictures.
● Give reasons for your opinions/ideas
● Don’t​ dominate. ​Don’t​ be too quiet. It’s an INTERACTION (play ping-pong)
● Use strategies for “getting into” the conversation / interrupting a chatty partner.
● Make sure you give your partner an opportunity to participate equally in the
discussion.
● Use strategies to invite your partner to speak.
PART 4 : DISCUSSION (3 minutes)
You have to: ​talk ​with​ the other candidate about a topic related to part 3. You give your
opinion about something and explain what you prefer.

USEFUL LANGUAGE TO:


​TALK ABOUT PERSONAL LIKES /DISLIKES
I ​love/quite like/really enjoy/don’t like/hate camping ​because …
​
I find (don’t find) visiting museums quite boring/exciting/expensive/relaxing …
I’m (I’m not) very interested in / quite keen on ​sport …..

ASK FOR OPINIONS


What do you think of ​Italian TV?
What’s your opinion?
How do you feel about going o​ n a cruise?

EXPRESS PREFERENCES
I’d (wouldn’t) like to ​live in a big house because …
I’d rather/prefer to ​live in the country because …

HOW TO SHOW INTEREST


USE EXPRESSIONS LIKE ​: ​Oh, that’s interesting. / I see. / Mm – hmmm
ASK FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS LIKE :​ ​Architecture. Is it very difficult? /
What kind of books do you like reading?

REMEMBER!
● Listen carefully to the examiner’s questions (check if you aren’t sure). Remember
to talk with the other candidate and give reasons and examples for your opinions
Often ​the questions from the examiner will use the structure
Do you prefer / enjoy ….?​ ​ Is it important / useful to / better to …. ?
Do you think ……. ?
Would you like to…​?
What kind of (type of).... ?

● Listen carefully to decide if you should use ​would like + to + infinitive


OR ​like + the gerund ​in your answers
● Listen to your partner and show interest in what s/he says; ask your partner
questions ​and ​give your own answer
The examiner will say:
How about you? What about you? Do you agree? What do you think?​
● Answer the questions fully

Make sure that you know the following basic words


Hold, carry, keep, find, try, bring, take, lend, borrow, travel, find out, look for, look after,
collect, succeed in, manage to

A trip, a journey

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