Description of FCE Speaking Test Part 1

The first part of this speaking test is, basically, a simple interview with the examiner and
your partner, which lasts only 2 or 3 minutes. Like the rest of Cambridge English
speaking exams, this one starts with a few questions that the examiner will ask you and
your partner. You are expected to give suitable answers to the questions you are
asked.

● Typical Opening Questions

○ What is your name? Well, my name is Elizabeth, however
most of my friends call me Liz. In fact, I have a Chinese
name too, which is ….
○ Where are you from? I’m originally from England, but I moved
to Malaysia ten years ago. I’m currently living in Penang.
○ What do you like about living in…?
○ How long have you been studying English?
○ What do you like about studying English?
● Work & Study
○ What do you do?
○ What would make a job interesting for you?
○ What kind of skills do you need in your job?
○ How easy or difficult is it for young people to get a job?
○ Would you like to do the same job forever?
● Personal Background
○ Where do you come from?
○ In how many different places have you lived during your life?
○ Can you describe your neighbourhood?
○ Do you come from a big or a small family?
○ Would you like to live in the same place for a long time?
● Travel and Holidays
○ How do you normally spend your holidays?
○ Do you prefer to spend your holidays with friends or with
family?
○ What’s the last foreign country you visited? Did you like it?
○ Have you ever been to a city that has disappointed you?
Where was it?
○ What’s the most interesting place you have visited? Why?
○ Do many tourists visit your city?
○ What’s your favourite means of transport? Why?
● Entertainment: Reading, Movies, Going Out, etc.
○ How do you normally spend your free time?
○ Do you have many things in common with your friends?
○ Can you describe the last book you read? Was it good?
○ Do you like science fiction literature? Why (not)?
○ Do you prefer to read a book or to watch a movie?
○ How often do you go to the cinema and who do you go with?
○ Do you prefer to go out with your friends or with your family?
● Food, Health & Sport
○ Is it expensive to eat out in your city?
○ Do you prefer to eat out or to cook for yourself? Why?
○ Do you think that people should take better care of
themselves? Why?
○ What sports do young people like doing in your country?
○ Would you rather watch sports at home or take part? Why?
○ When was the last time you attended a live sports event in
your city?
○ Do you support any team in particular?
● Clothes, Fashion, Music & Other Trends
○ What type of clothes do people wear in your country?
○ Do students in your country care much about fashion?
○ Do you like to wear fashionable clothes? Why (not)?
○ How often do you go shopping for clothes?
○ Are there any trends that have a negative impact on people’s
lives?
○ What are the current trends in the area where you live?
○ What type of music do you like?
○ Is there a band that is particularly famous in your country
nowadays?
● The Environment
○ Do you, your friends or your family recycle household waste?
○ Is recycling rewarded in some way by the state in your
country?
○ What are the main environmental issues affecting your
country at the moment?
○ What is the weather like in your city?
○ What kind of wildlife surrounds the area in which you live?
Description of FCE Speaking Part 2
This part of the test comprises 2 tasks. First, you or your partner will have to compare
two pictures and answer one question in the process. Second, you or your partner will
be asked a follow-up question after the comparison. When you make the comparison,
your partner will answer the other question and vice versa.

Timing of the B2 First Speaking Part 2

This part of the test is supposed to last 3 or 4 minutes, and the main elements that are
timed are the following:

1. Candidate A’s comparison + question: 1 minute

2. Candidate B’s follow-up question: 30 seconds
3. Candidate B’s comparison + question: 1 minute
4. Candidate A’s follow-up question: 30 seconds

FCE Speaking Part 2: Useful Phrases to Compare Pictures

In this section, we’ll see useful expressions that you can use in any comparison.
However, as a basic tip, I’ll tell you that in order to compare, most of the connectors
you’ll have to use are contrasting connectors. Let’s see.

● Starting your comparison

○ Both of these pictures show…
○ These two pictures show…
○ The two situations in these pictures are…
● Talking about similarities
○ These two pictures/situations are similar because/in that…
○ In both pictures we can see…
○ One similarity between these two pictures/situations is that…
○ Another similarity might be that…
○ One thing that these two pictures/situations have in common
is that…
○ One thing that these two pictures share is that…
○ The most obvious similarity is that…
○ These two pictures share the fact that…
○ Both pictures (…) in the same way.
● Talking about differences
○ One of the most obvious differences (between these two
pictures) is that…
○ Another difference is that…
○ Something that makes these two pictures different is…
○ What makes these two situations (so/completely) different
is…
○ While the first picture …, the second one…
○ The first picture…. However, the second one…
○ The first picture… whereas the second one…
○ Although the first picture…., the second one…
○ On the one hand, the first picture shows… . On the other
hand, the second one…
● Introducing the answer to the question
○ As for + paraphrased question
○ As to + paraphrased question
○ In relation to the question,…
○ In response to the question, I’d say that…
○ As regards the question,…
○ Regarding the question of the task,
○ With regard to + paraphrased question
Timing of the B2 First Speaking Part 3
This part of the test is supposed to last 4 minutes, or 5 minutes if the speaking task is
carried out by 3 candidates. The main elements of the task are the following:

1. Examiner’s instructions (total): 1 minute

2. Pair discussion of the options: 2 minutes (3 minutes for groups of 3
candidates)
3. Reaching a conclusion: 1 minute

FCE Speaking Part 3: Useful Phrases to Engage in a Discussion

In this section, we’ll go over some useful phrases that you can use in any discussion
like the one in this part of the B2 Speaking. Let’s see:

● Starting your discussion

○ Shall I start? / Yeah, go on.
○ Shall I go first? / Of course, go ahead.
○ Is it okay if I start? / Sure, no problem.
○ Would you like to go first? / Yes, why not?
● Expressing your opinion
○ I believe/think that…
○ In my opinion,…
○ The way I see it,…
○ If you ask me,…
○ I would say that…
○ It seems to me that…
○ In my view…
○ As far as I’m concerned,…
● Asking for your partner’s opinion
○ statement, don’t you think/agree?
○ statement, wouldn’t you say so?
○ statement , wouldn’t you agree?
○ statement, right?
○ Do you think…?
○ Do you believe that…?
○ What do you think about…?
○ How about…?
○ What about…?
○ What’s your take on…?
● Agreeing with your partner
○ I (totally) agree with you.
○ You’re dead right.
○ That’s (absolutely) true.
○ You’re (absolutely) right.
○ That’s a great idea.
○ I couldn’t agree more.
○ Yes, I see what you mean.
○ I see it that way, too.
○ Yes, of course.
○ I think so, too.
● Disagreeing with your partner
○ I’m afraid I don’t see it the same way.
○ I’m sorry but I have to disagree.
○ You may be right, but I have a different view.
○ That might be true, but I’m not sure I agree with you.
○ I’m sorry, but I don’t agree.
● Changing the subject
○ As for + one of the options
○ As to + one of the options
○ In relation to + one of the options
○ As regards + one of the options
○ Regarding the question of the task,
○ With regard to + paraphrased question
● Concluding the discussion
○ I believe we have an agreement, don’t we?
○ So, do we have an agreement?
○ Shall we stick to…?
○ Shall we agree on..?

Useful Phrases for Speaking Test Part 4

It is important for candidates to answer the questions as fully as possible in this part.
They should offer more than minimal responses and show what they can do. In order to
be able to make a full and accurate assessment of each candidate’s performance, the
examiners must be given a reasonable amount of language to assess and this part of
the test gives candidates a final opportunity to show how capable they are. Teachers
should help their students to be able to give full and natural answers and to be able to
give opinions about everyday situations and current events, so they can participate fully.
Candidates will be rewarded for making positive contributions to the development of the
task, such as a willingness and ability to develop the topic.

BUYING TIME

I've never really thought about that, but...

What a good question!

That's a good question.

That's an interesting question.

Oh! Let me think. Well, ...

GIVING YOUR OPINION

What I think is that...

In my opinion, ...

It's clear to me that...

One thing I'm sure of is...

I might be wrong but ...

I'm no expert but...

“Do you think it’s useful to have a career day in school?”

“It’s clear to me that young people need help choosing a career, so a careers day might
be good for them. I’m no expert but I’m sure those days have helped a lot of people get
ideas for the future.”

GIVING REASONS FOR YOUR OPINIONS

... because ....

... so it's obvious that...

... That means...

“What things do you need to think about when choosing a career?”

“The first thing is money. That means knowing how much you will be paid in the career
you choose.”

ADDING REASONS

Another thing is...

Apart from that, ...

As well as that, ...

Just as importantly, ...

There's also the fact that...

And don't forget...

“Just as importantly, you have to choose a career with work that you enjoy.”

ASKING YOUR SPEAKING PARTNER

What do you think, Jack?

Don't you agree?

Do you have anything to say about that?

Jack, do you have anything to add to that?

Did I forget anything?

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

But don't you think that...

Yes, but isn't it true that...

Okay, but on the other hand...

Maybe there's another way to think about it.

You're partly right, but...

“I think money isn’t the most important thing when you choose a career. The most
important thing is to have fun every day.”

“You’re partly right, but if you want a nice flat or if you have a family, you have to think
about how much money the job pays. Don’t you think so?”