1

Exam material

402

Speaking Test Parts 1 & 2

8 tests

Sources: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1 & Cambridge Official Examination Papers FCE Book 4

2

Part 1 2 minutes (3 minutes for groups of 3)

Likes and dislikes• What kind of music do you listen to? When do you listen to

music?• Do you enjoy watching films? Tell us about a film you have

watched recently.

Work and education• Do you think you will use English a lot in the future? In what

ways?• What other languages would you like to learn? Why?

Travel and holidays• What is your favourite place for a holiday? Why?• What do you enjoy doing on holiday?

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1

3

Free timePlaces to shop

In this part of the test, I’m going to give each of you two photographs. I’d like you to talk about your photographs on your own for about a minute, and also to answer a short question about your partner’s photographs.

(Candidate A), it’s your turn first. Here are your photographs. They show people enjoying their free time in different ways.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say why you think people enjoy activities like these in their free time.

(Candidate B), have you ever been ice skating?

Now, (Candidate B), here are your two photographs. They show people buying and selling different things.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say why you think people choose to shop in places like these.

(Candidate A), do you enjoy shopping?

Part 2 4 minutes (6 minutes for groups of 3)

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1

4

Why do people enjoy activities like these in their free time?

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1

5

Why do people choose to shop in places like these?

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1

6

Part 1 2 minutes (3 minutes for groups of 3)

Free time• Are you an active person in your free time? What sort of things

do you do?• When did you last play a sport? What was it?

Travel • Which country would you most like to visit? Why?• Do you prefer going on holiday in a small group or a large

group? Why?

Personal experience• What is your favourite time of year? Why?• Do you think you’ll always have the same friends? Why (not)?

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Books 1 & 2

7

By the riverPreparing a meal

In this part of the test, I’m going to give each of you two photographs. I’d like you to talk about your photographs on your own for about a minute, and also to answer a short question about your partner’s photographs.

(Candidate A), it’s your turn first. Here are your photographs. They show people spending time by different rivers.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say what you think people are enjoying about spending time by these rivers.

(Candidate B), which of the rivers would you prefer to visit?

Now, (Candidate B), here are your two photographs. They show people preparing a meal in different situations.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say what you think is difficult about preparing meals in these situations.

(Candidate A), do you enjoy cooking?

Part 2 4 minutes (6 minutes for groups of 3)

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1

8

What are the people enjoying about spending time by these rivers?

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1

9

What is difficult about preparing meals in these situations?

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1

10

Part 1 2 minutes (3 minutes for groups of 3)

Homelife• Do you come from a large or a small family? What do you like

about it?• Does your family live in a house or a flat? Tell me something

about it.

Work and education• What sort of job would you like to do in the future? Why?• Would you like a job in a multinational company? Why (not)?

Personal experiences• What do you enjoy doing with your friends? Why?• What’s your favourite month of the year? Why?

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1

11

BeachesAdventure activities

In this part of the test, I’m going to give each of you two photographs. I’d like you to talk about your photographs on your own for about a minute, and also to answer a short question about your partner’s photographs.

(Candidate A), it’s your turn first. Here are your photographs. They show two different beaches.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say why you think people choose to go to beaches like these.

(Candidate B), which beach would you prefer to go to?

Now, (Candidate B), here are your two photographs. They show people doing adventurous things.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say what you think can be difficult about doing these things.

(Candidate A), would you like to do either of these things?

Part 2 4 minutes (6 minutes for groups of 3)

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1

12

Why do people choose to go to beaches like these?

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1

13

What can be difficult about doing these things?

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1

14

Part 1 2 minutes (3 minutes for groups of 3)

Personal experience• Do you enjoy buying presents for people? Is it ever difficult to buy for

someone?• What was the best present you received recently? Who gave it to

you?

Daily life • Is your daily routine different from your weekend routine? In what

ways?• What do you look forward to at the end of the day?

Media• How much TV do you watch? What kind of programmes do you not

enjoy?• Do you buy magazines or newspapers regularly? Why (not)?

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1

15

Teachers and childrenPlaces

In this part of the test, I’m going to give each of you two photographs. I’d like you to talk about your photographs on your own for about a minute, and also to answer a short question about your partner’s photographs.

(Candidate A), it’s your turn first. Here are your photographs. They show two teachers and children.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say how important it is to have a teacher in each situation.

(Candidate B), would you like to teach children?

Now, (Candidate B), here are your two photographs. They show places where people live.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say what you think it would be like to live and work in places like these.

(Candidate A), where would you prefer to live?

Part 2 4 minutes (6 minutes for groups of 3)

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1

16

How important is it to have a teacher in each situation?

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1

17

What would it be like to live and work in places like these?

Source: FCE ESOL examinations (2008) Book 1

18

Part 1 2 minutes (3 minutes for groups of 3)

Leisure and entertainment• What sort of films do you prefer to watch? Why?• Tell us about the last time you went shopping.

Media• Do you like any magazines? Which ones?• Do you use the Internet to find out about the news?

Future life• Do you think your life will change much in the future?• Do you plan to use your English in the future?

Source: Cambridge Official Examination Papers FCE Book 4

19

A day outCity streetsIn this part of the test, I’m going to give each of you two photographs. I’d like you to talk about your photographs on your own for about a minute, and also to answer a short question about your partner’s photographs.

(Candidate A), it’s your turn first. Here are your photographs. They show places where people go for a day out.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say why you think people go to places like these for a day out.

(Candidate B), which place would you prefer to visit?

Now, (Candidate B), here are your two photographs. They show streets in different cities.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say what you the people are enjoying about spending time in these different streets.

(Candidate A), do you enjoy being in a city?

Part 2 4 minutes (6 minutes for groups of 3)

Source: Cambridge Official Examination Papers FCE Book 4

20

Why do people go to places like these for a day out?

Source: Cambridge Official Examination Papers FCE Book 4

21

What are the people enjoying about spending time in these different places?

Source: Cambridge Official Examination Papers FCE Book 4

22

Part 1 2 minutes (3 minutes for groups of 3)

Personal experience• Tell us about the last meal you enjoyed.• What do you like most about your family? Why?

Travel• How do you prefer to travel? Why?• Do you have any travel plans for the future? Where are you

going?

Free time activity• What’s the most interesting thing you do in your free time?• Do you spend a lot of time using the computer?

Source: Cambridge Official Examination Papers. FCE Book 4

23

Music WaterIn this part of the test, I’m going to give each of you two photographs. I’d like you to talk about your photographs on your own for about a minute, and also to answer a short question about your partner’s photographs.

(Candidate A), it’s your turn first. Here are your photographs. They show people playing music in different places.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say why you think the people are playing music in these places.

(Candidate B), do you play a musical instrument?

Now, (Candidate B), here are your two photographs. They show people using water in different ways.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say why you think water is important to these different people.

(Candidate A), who do you think is enjoying their time more?

Part 2 4 minutes (6 minutes for groups of 3)

Source: Cambridge Official Examination Papers. FCE Book 4

24

Why are the people playing music in these places?

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Why is water important to these different people?

Source: Cambridge Official Examination Papers FCE Book 4

26

Part 1 2 minutes (3 minutes for groups of 3)

Holidays• Do you usually take books with you to read on holiday? Why? /

Why not?• Is there a place in the world you would really like to visit? Why?

Likes and dislikes• Which is your favourite month of the year? Why?• Do you like to plan your holidays a long time in advance?

Why? / Why not?

Sport• Do you prefer to exercise with other people or on your own?• Are any of your friends very good at sports? Which ones?

Source: Cambridge Official Examination Papers FCE Book 4

27

Children learning Taking a breakIn this part of the test, I’m going to give each of you two photographs. I’d like you to talk about your photographs on your own for about a minute, and also to answer a short question about your partner’s photographs.

(Candidate A), it’s your turn first. Here are your photographs. They show children learning different things.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say how useful is it for children to learn these things.

(Candidate B), do you enjoy studying mathematics?

Now, (Candidate B), here are your two photographs. They show people taking a break in different places.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say why you think the people are taking a break in these places.

(Candidate A), do you enjoy relaxing in the fresh air?

Source: Cambridge Official Examination Papers FCE Book 4

Part 2 4 minutes (6 minutes for groups of 3)

28

How useful is it for children to learn these things?

Source: Cambridge Official Examination Papers FCE Book 4

29

Why are the people taking a break in these places?

Cambridge Official Examination Papers FCE Book 4

30

Part 1 2 minutes (3 minutes for groups of 3)

Daily routine• Do you have enough free time? Why? / Why not?• Do you watch television every day?

Work and education• Is there anything you would really like to study in the future?

What?• Would you prefer to work inside or outside? Why?

Music• Do you like listening to the same music as your parents?

Why? / Why not?• Is there a musical instrument you would really like to play?

Source: Cambridge Official Examination Papers FCE Book 4

31

Travelling Adventure activitiesIn this part of the test, I’m going to give each of you two photographs. I’d like you to talk about your photographs on your own for about a minute, and also to answer a short question about your partner’s photographs.

(Candidate A), it’s your turn first. Here are your photographs. They show people travelling in different ways.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say why you think the people are travelling in these different ways.

(Candidate B), do you enjoy travelling by train?

Now, (Candidate B), here are your two photographs. They show people doing adventurous things.

I’d like you to compare the photographs and say what you think can be difficult about doing these things.

(Candidate A), would you like to do either of these things?

Source: Cambridge Official Examination Papers FCE Book 4

Part 2 4 minutes (6 minutes for groups of 3)

32

Why are the people travelling in these different ways?

Source: Cambridge Official Examination Papers FCE Book 4

What can be difficult about doing these things?

33 Cambridge Official Examination Papers FCE Book 4