Keep Smiling English Speaking - First

Cambridge English: First (FCE)

- Speaking Paper -

The Speaking paper is one of the four parts in regular Cambridge English exams.
This article will outline the four different parts of the Speaking Paper
for Cambridge English: First (B2).

General Considerations
This paper comprises 4 parts.
It is carried out in pairs.
There are two examiners.
During the exam you have to interact with one of the oral examiners
(the interlocutor), and with your partner.
The other examiner does not speak, and only takes notes.

You now have a full description of each of the parts, with examples of the types
of questions and the material used in the exam.

Speaking Part 1 - Interview (2 minutes)

During this part, the examiner asks you different questions about your personal
background (hometown, reason for learning English, past experiences, jobs,
studies, etc.) You will also have to express your opinion about various topics. This
is an individual task, so you only interact with the examiner. However, you must
pay attention to the questions that the interlocutor asks your partner, as he/she
may ask you the same. Here's a set of typical topic-based questions you might
be asked:

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Via Cambridge English

For a more insightful description of this part as well as a number of questions,

please read this post.

Speaking Part 2 - Comparing Two Pictures (3 minutes)

In part 2, you are asked to talk about and compare two pictures in 1 minute. You
have to do this individually. You are given two pictures and a question written
above them. You have to answer the question in relation to the pictures. When
you have done this, after 1 minute, the examiner asks your partner a question
about the topic of your pictures, which he/she should answer in 20-30 seconds.
Then, the same process happens vice versa.
Here's an example of the interlocutor's instructions and the pictures you may be
asked to talk about:

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Via Cambridge English

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Keep Smiling English Speaking - First

Via Cambridge English

Although these pictures are black & white, in the exam they are coloured.
In this part you are assessed on how well you can compare, describe, express
opinions, speculate, etc.

For a more insightful description of this part as well as a number of questions,

please read this post.

Speaking Part 3 - Discussion (3 minutes)

During this third part, you interact with your partner. The examiner describes a
situation to you both, and gives you a task/question and a set of written cues/
ideas to help you. You have to discuss the different ideas with your partner and,
if possible, reach an agreement. The aim of this part is to assess how well you
can exchange ideas, express and justify opinions, agree and/or disagree,
suggest, speculate, evaluate, and work towards reaching a decision through
negotiation.
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You have 2 minutes to discuss the different cues. After this, the examiner will
interrupt you and ask you to reach an agreement. You are given 1 minute
to conclude.
Here's an example of what the examiner would say, and the written cues:

Via Cambridge English

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Speaking Part 4 - Further Discussion (4 minutes)

In this part, you have to carry out a discussion which stems from the topic
featured in part 3. You are asked different questions that you have to talk
about with your partner. The task that comes after part 3 is the following:

Via Cambridge English

Expressing and justifying opinions, agreeing and/or disagreeing are the key
points relevant to this task.

General Tips
Although each part is different, there are several things that you should bear in
mind during the whole test. Let's see:
You are assessed individually, so don't worry about being better or worse than
your partner. As former oral examiner, Stephen Hasler, recently said, "neither
the partner nor the examiners are the enemy. Your only enemy in the room can
be yourself.
In this test you must show that your level of English is within the B2 scope or
above. For this reason, it is not enough to be communicative, as it was at lower
levels. In this case you must use a range of grammatical structures and
vocabulary that are characteristic of a B2 level of English.
It is OK if the examiner stops you, so don't worry if you talk until he/she cuts
you off.

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Be as spontaneous as possible. Do not memorise a sort of "speech" for the
exam. The examiners will notice right away.
Always answer exactly what you are being asked. If you start talking about
something irrelevant, the examiners will cut you off and move on to another
question.
Always pay attention to your partner's opinions and questions. You're
supposed to express agreement/disagreement, to hold a conversation and to
discuss different ideas (parts 2, 3 & 4), so don't ignore what he/she is saying!
Be polite. Even if you disagree with your partner's opinions, you must always
be polite! There are many structures to disagree politely, so make sure you
know them and know how to use them before you take the exam.
Smile! You'd be surprised by what a smile can do! If you smile, everyone in the
room will be more open and receptive to what you have to say for yourself.
This may positively affect your overall score!

For more information about the First exam (previously known as FCE),
visit Cambridge English: First / What's in the exam?

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