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B2 First (FCE) – Speaking – Part 3 and 4

Provided below are some Part 3 and 4 practice questions for B2 First (formally known as FCE ). Before answering the questions, read these important notes about B2 First.

• In Part 3 of this exam, you’ll be given a prompt with a question and several solutions. You must discuss this with your partner during the exam, so it is important to practice talking about the prompts, but also ask your partner for their opinion . 
• In Part 4 you must do the same, so after the examiner asks you a question, you must say your answer, but then encourage your partner to answer the question too . 
• Be sure to listen and respond to your partner. Part of the grade for B2 First is “Interactive Communication . ” If you don’t actively listen , respond , and encourage your partner, you may receive a poor mark for this criteria.

NOTE FOR TEACHERS : If you are using these prompts in class, have students ask and answer the questions in partners . Be sure to encourage them to ask questions like, “How about you?” and “What do you think?” If you are teaching this one-on-one with a student, then you should act as a partner for the student, providing your own opinions and interacting like a peer with your student.

Let’s Start!

Part 3: studying discuss this question with your partner.

Sample Answer: “Well, I personally love mind maps. When I draw a mind map, I can organize my thoughts better. How do you feel about mind maps?”

Part 4: Studying Answer the following questions with your partner

• Sample Answer: “It’s so important for me. Without studying I wouldn’t be able to complete my engineering degree or get a good job. Is studying important for you?”
• Is it better to study with music or in silence? Why?
• Do you agree that studying is easier nowadays with the invention of the internet? Why or why not?
• Do you think children study more or less nowadays? Why?
• When you are older, do you think you will continue to study? Why or why not?

Let’s try a differe nt topic:

Part 3: health.

Part 4: Health

• Do you consider yourself healthy? Why or why not?
• Which sports are popular where you live? Why?
• Would you want to join a new sport? Why or why not?
• What effect do cell phones, computers, and TVs have on our health?
• Do you think people will become more or less healthy in the future? Why?

Let’s try one more:

Part 3: library.

Part 4: Library

• Are libraries popular in your town/city/country? Why or why not?
• Do you think we will have more or fewer libraries in the future? Why?
• Do you read physical books or e-books? Why?
• What’s your favorite thing to read? Why?
• Some people say young people are reading less nowadays. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Practice makes perfect:

Part 3: small town.

Part 4: Small Town

• What are some advantages of living in a small town?
• How about the downsides?
• What kinds of things can you do for entertainment in a small town?
• Are small towns better for old people or young people? Why?
• When you retire, where would you prefer to live? Why?

Don’t give up now:

Part 3: restaurant.

Part 4: Restaurant

• Is it better to eat at home or at a restaurant? Why?
• Is fast food popular in your country? Why or why not?
• Would you ever become a vegetarian? Why or why not?
• What cuisines are most popular in your town? Why?
• Some people say healthy food is more expensive than cheap food. Is that true? Why or why not?

If you want more B2 First (FCE) practice, then check out our other questions here .

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How to Succeed in B2 First (FCE) Speaking Part 3

Luis @ kse academy.

• noviembre 28, 2019

In a different article, I have already told you about the B2 FCE Speaking Test (officially called B2 First (FCE), by the way). But in this post I will focus more specifically in FCE Speaking Part 3 , and I will give a detailed description of this part, which is very popular, just like I did with Part 1 and Part 2 . In this part, as we will see in a minute, both candidates have to interact in order to succeed.

• Examiner's final instructions
• FCE Speaking Part 3: Useful Phrases to Engage in a Discussion

Description of FCE Speaking Part 3

This part of the test comprises 1 discussion divided into 2 parts. First, the examiner will describe a situation to you and your partner, and he/she will offer you different options to discuss . Second, after the brief discussion, you and your partner will have to decide on the best option  for the situation proposed in the first part of the discussion.

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:

• Examiner’s instructions (total): 1 minute
• Pair discussion of the options: 2 minutes (3 minutes for groups of 3 candidates)
• Reaching a conclusion:  1 minute

Instructions and Possible Candidate’s Response

When sitting any speaking exam, it is important to know what to expect in terms of timing, tasks, instructions, content and so on. For this reason, it is absolutely essential to know the instructions you will receive during the B2 FCE’s speaking test. So let’s see what they are for FCE Speaking part 3 with an example :

Examiner’s initial instructions

Now, I’d like you to talk about something together for about two minutes.

I’d like you to imagine that a town wants more tourists to visit. Here are some ideas they’re thinking about and a question for you to discuss. First you have some time to look at the task. (The examiner places the following picture in front of you and allows you 15 seconds to read the question and study the options.)

Candidates’ discussion (2 minutes)

– Candidate A: Shall I go first?   – Candidate B:  Sure, go ahead . – Candidate A:  I believe that this option (pointing), «building a large nightclub», will attract tourists, especially young ones who enjoy partying and going out with friends, don’t you think? – Candidate B:  Yes, I think so, too. However, it might not be the best type of tourism, because it can disturb neighbours and residents. How about having more shops? – Candidate A:  Oh, that’s a great idea . If the city offers a good shopping experience, many people will be attracted to it, which I guess is quite positive for everyone. Wouldn’t you agree? – Candidate B:  Yes, of course . Maybe that option could go hand in hand with building holiday flats because.  The way I see it , you want tourists to spend more time in your city. So if you have plenty of shops and accommodation, it’s the perfect combination, right? – Candidate A:  Yeah, you’re absolutely right . But what do you think about the other two options? (pointing)? Do you think they’re a good idea? – Candidate B:  Well, if you ask me , putting up security cameras isn’t very appealing to anyone. But I suppose parks can be attractive, but I’m not sure how much exactly. What’s your take on those two options? – Candidate A: As you said , security cameras are not appealing at all. As for parks, maybe they are a good thing for residents, but not for tourists, particularly. 

Examiner’s second set of instructions

The examiner will interrupt the conversation above and say:

Thank you. Now you have about a minute to decide  which idea would be best for the town .

Candidate’s making a decision

– Candidate B: Well, given our previous comments , I would say that the two best options would probably be the shops and the holiday flats, don’t you think? – Candidate A: Yeah, well, I do agree with you on having more shops, but I think that building a nightclub is more important than holiday flats. – Candidate B: Okay, I see what you mean , but I don’t think the same way . Shall we stick to having more shops then? – Candidate A:  Yes, sure, I also think it’s the best one. So do we have an agreement? – Candidate B: Yes, we do.

Examiner’s final instructions

Thank you. Can I have the booklet, please?

Basic observations for B2 First (FCE) Speaking Part 3

If you read the task above carefully, you will notice the following features in FCE Speaking part 3:

• The candidates are asked to  interact with each other rather than speak by themselves .
• It is essential to express and ask for opinions ,  agree and disagree with the other candidate, and  change the subject .
• The examiner’s question is written in the middle of the booklet he/she places in front of the candidates.
• Candidates are encouraged to discuss the different options .
• Candidates are expected to have a conversation , sharing opinions and asking questions .
• The expressions  in bold are useful words or phrases to use in any discussion.
• It is advisable to reach an agreement with your partner, but it is not absolutely necessary .
• The most important thing is to show the examiner that you are discussing and working towards a final decision .

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:

• 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?
• 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,…
• 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…?
• 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.
• 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. 
• 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
• I believe we have an agreement, don’t we?
• So, do we have an agreement? 
• Shall we stick to…?
• Shall we agree on..?

Top 10 Tips for FCE Speaking Part 3

• Have a clear discussion, not 2 monologues:  it is common for candidates to think that the more they speak, the better. That’s not correct. It’s what you say that matters, and in this part you’re expected to discuss, not to speak by yourself.
• Justify your opinions:  expressing your opinions is not the only thing that matters; justifying them is just as important. For one thing, you are showing the examiner that you can justify your opinions in English, and for another, you are giving your partner material to work with throughout the conversation. Let’s say that your justifications feed the conversation on hand.
• Try to speak about all the options:  while this is not compulsory, if you focus on only one option, you will have less of a chance to show how well you can interact in a conversation. That’s why I always recommend jumping from one option to another, so that you get more opportunities to agree, disagree and express your opinions.
• Work with your partner: your partner is not your enemy. You will be assessed separately, so you must see him/her as your ally.
• Help your partner: if your partner is struggling to find the appropriate words or some ideas to express, you can give him/her a hand by stepping with some ideas or the words you think he/she is looking for. Not only will this help the conversation itself, it will also show the examiner that you have good communication skills.
• Step up your interaction skills: most of the score in this part of the speaking is based on your ability to interact, which means that you have to ask for opinions and be able to agree or disagree with your partner. For this reason, you should know a set of expressions to do so that will impress the examiner. So try to avoid the typical «What do you think about…?» or «I agree/disagree», and go for something a little more advanced, such as «wouldn’t you agree?», or «I’m afraid I don’t hold the same opinion.»
• Keep your turn short: remember, we are discussing different options with the other candidate, not reciting a monologue. If you spend 1 minute speaking non-stop, you are not interacting, which shows poor communication skills on your part.
• Stick to the topic:  make sure that you stick to the topic and answer exactly what the examiner asked.
• Finish your statements with a question or a question tag: finishing your statements with a questions is a very natural way of keeping the conversation flowing, which is the whole point in this part.
• Address your partner: remember that you are having a conversation with someone. That someone is your partner, not the examiner, so be sure to look at the other candidate when you speak.
• Be polite & smile: you’d be surprised by what human beings can achieve with politeness and a smile. A positive, cheerful attitude will make you cause a better impression on the examiners and your partner, plus it makes you, to some extent, a better communicator.

Video of a Real FCE Speaking Part 3

It is always useful to see a real exam, so here’s a video of the third part of the FCE speaking test. But remember, these candidates are not perfect, so try to learn from their mistakes rather than make them yours!

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

If you enjoyed this post, please comment and share! And don’t forget to keep up with KSE Academy’s latest news by following me on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!

And don’t forget to keep smiling !

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How entertaining is each type of TV show? Which two types of show should a TV network add to its programming?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each activity? Which activity would everyone enjoy?

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Breakout English

First (FCE) Speaking – Sample Tests

In the Cambridge First Certificate Speaking test, there are 4 parts. Each part offers its own set of difficulties and challenges. The best way to prepare for the First (FCE) Speaking is to practise as much as possible. There are phrases you can learn, vocabulary you can memorise and expressions you can use, but in the end, there’s no substitute for authentic practice.

That’s why we’ve created a set of 5 First (FCE) Speaking tests in a Cambridge style booklet. Perfect for practice at home or in the classroom.

GET FIRST (FCE) SPEAKING TESTS:

GET ALL CAMBRIDGE SPEAKING TESTS (PET, FCE, CAE):

Format of First (FCE) Speaking

Part 1 – interview.

Part 1 of the First Certificate is a short interview between the candidates and the examiner. It lasts for 2 minutes. The examiner asks questions about your day-to-day life, hobbies and other common topics.

For a list of typical FCE Speaking Part 1 topics and some chat cards, check out our Cambridge Speaking Part 1 post.

Part 2 – Long Turn

In part 2 of FCE Speaking, you are asked to speak alone about a pair of pictures for about 1 minute each. You are also asked a brief question about your partner’s pictures. The challenge for this part of the exam is to stay organised, use the best language possible and keep on speaking for the full minute.

There are many possible topic areas for this part of the exam. Here are a few popular ones:

• Family life
• Education / School life
• Leisure (e.g. sports, free-time activities)
• City life (e.g. transport, culture)

For some tips and tricks for First (FCE) Speaking Part 2, check out our How to do First (FCE) Speaking Part 2 post.

Part 3 – Collaborative Task

Part 3 of FCE Speaking is the first time that you interact with your partner. You are given a diagram, which includes a question with 5 different ideas to discuss. First, you speak about the question for 2 minutes together, then the examiner will give you 1 minute to make a decision about the best/worst/most interesting option.

This part of the test is your opportunity to collaborate with your partner and show your ability to interact in English. You should ask and answer questions to your partner while connecting your ideas together. Topics in Part 3 start to get a bit more complex and more abstract.

Part 4 – Discussion

FCE Speaking Part 4 continues the discussion that you started in Part 3. The examiner will ask you and your partner questions on the same topic. Each question normally gets slightly more abstract and more difficult to answer. The discussion lasts for 4 minutes.

In this part, you may be asked to answer a question individually, but you may also be encouraged to continue speaking together with your partner. In general, it’s always better to keep up the interaction and connect your ideas with your partner’s ideas throughout this part of the test.

Tips and Tricks for First (FCE) Speaking

• Always give complete extended answers to all the questions. You don’t need to have a speech prepared, but you shouldn’t answer with 2 or 3 words either.
• Don’t give a long pre-prepared speech about where you are from. You’re not going to get any bonus points for memorisation.
• In Part 2, expect to get pictures that are a little bit strange .
• Don’t describe your pictures too much . It’s more important to answer the questions than describe the pictures.
• Connect your ideas together with linking words ( whereas, meanwhile, on the other hand, also, on top of that etc). These go a long way to keep your long turn clear and organised.
• In Part 3, don’t worry about discussing all of the options. The options are there as a guide , not a requirement.
• Always communicate with your partner . Ask them questions and tell them if you agree or disagree with them.
• Comment on what your partner says and connect your ideas to your partner’s ideas . It’s not enough to say “I agree” and then speak about something completely different.
• Don’t make your decisions too quickly. Speak until the examiner interrupts you .
• In Part 4, follow the examiner’s lead . You may need to answer a question individually or you may need to talk with your partner.
• Maintaining the interaction between you and your partner is key . A casual, interesting conversation is always better than a forced, awkward one.
• Relax and do your best .

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How does the FCE Speaking Exam Part 3 work?

In this part of the test you and your partner will talk together. The interlocutor will place a new set of pictures on the table between you for you to discuss together.

• Be prepared to ask your partner for his or her opinion rather than simply stating your own. For example: ‘What do you think?’ ‘How about you?’ ‘Do you think …?’
• Listen carefully to what your partner says and respond to comments he or she makes to help the discussion flow. For example: ‘Do/Have/Are you?’ ‘Don’t/Haven’t/Aren’t you?’ ‘Do you think so? ‘Really?’
• If you disagree try expressing this politely. For example: ‘I see what you mean but …’ ‘I can see your point but …’ ‘But don’t you think …’
• Use expressions to allow yourself time to think. For example: ‘That’s a good question.’ ‘Well, let me think …’ ‘It’s difficult to say …’
• You’ll possibly find you don’t understand something your partner has said. If this happens, take control with simple questions like those below to help you deal positively with the situation. This will also give you the chance to impress the examiner with your communication skills. A) If you didn’t quite understand a word or phrase just say something like: “Sorry but could you explain what you mean by ……..” or “I haven’t come across that word/expression before. Could you explain what you mean?” B) If you didn’t hear or didn’t understand something your partner has said, ask them to repeat it: “Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you say that again?” “Excuse me. Could you repeat that?” C) Alternatively, you might want to confirm what you think your partner said so you could say something like: “Do you mean ……..” “When you say …….., are you asking/do you mean ……..?”

In this post you will find more useful phrases that you can use in your Speaking Exam.

The Best Strategy for FCE Speaking Exam Part 3

Speaking Part 3 has two sections and for each one you should follow a different plan. Luckily, this plan can be used every time you practise as well as in the exam itself, so here you are the best strategies you can use for each of them.

In the discussion part you should mostly focus on well structured answers, good language and interaction with your partner. It follows a cycle that you go through together until the examiner stops you after about two minutes. This cycle looks something like this:

You can see that it is a back and forth between you and your partner and it always follows the same structure. You agree or disagree, you give your opinion (always give reasons and examples to support your argument) and you invite the other candidate back into the conversation. You do this until the two minutes are up and the examiner asks you to stop.

The second section of Speaking Part 3 is different from the first one in a couple of ways. Number one, you have only one minute and number two, you have to decide something with your partner instead of discussing the question in the spiderweb. It is very important for you to have the right strategy in order to balance your talking time and to work towards a decision.

Just as before, however, there is a model that you can and should use:

It always works the same. Candidate A starts by suggesting one of the five prompts giving reasons for his/her answer. The next step is the most important part. Candidate B has to suggest another option because if you simply agree, there won’t be anything left to talk about. The problem is that you need to speak until the examiner stops you.

For this reason, Candidate B always offers another option so that you can choose between two of the points. This way, you can talk to each other for the full minute using some nice language (keep reading below for good examples) and interacting with each other.

REMEMBER! DO discuss each of the prompts in detail. It doesn’t matter if you don’t talk about all of them. DO listen to your partner and respond to what he/she has to say before adding your own ideas. DO invite your partner to respond and/or contribute – remember, it should be a conversation between the two of you! DON’T worry if you don’t come to an agreement with your partner. The important part is discussing and sharing your opinion! DON’T dominate the conversation – be sure your partner gets a chance to speak as well.

If this sounds very messy, don’t worry because now you can check out one real-life example so you can see exactly how it works. Hope you find this information useful!

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Cambridge B2 First (FCE): Speaking

Cambridge B2 First Speaking in a nutshell

Speaking is one of the five exam papers in Cambridge B2 First, the others being Reading, Use of English, Listening and Writing. It usually takes around 14 minutes and you are tested together with another candidate.

In the Speaking test, you need to demonstrate your ability to respond to simple and more complex questions, as well as discuss and negotiate different topics with a partner.

There are four parts in the Cambridge B2 First Speaking test:

• A conversation between the interlocutor (examiner) and each candidate. The examiner asks questions about the candidates preferences, hobbies, likes/dislikes and other personal topics.
• An individual ‘long turn’ by each candidate. The examiner gives you two photographs and a question to answer. You also need to answer a question about the other candidate’s photos.
• A discussion and decision-making task in which the examiner gives you and your partner a scenario plus written prompts for you to talk about.
• A discussion of different questions with your partner based on the topic in Part 3.

There are always two examiners in the room. One of them asks all the questions and times the exam while the other person takes notes and marks your speaking. The main marking criteria are your ability to form full and informative answers, your use of grammar and vocabulary, pronunciation, and the interaction between you and your partner.

Speaking accounts for 20% of your overall mark in B2 First.

The different parts of B2 First Speaking

In this part we are going to have a look at the different sections of the Speaking test. You are going to learn what area of your speaking is tested in each part, we are going to have a look at an example and I’m going to give to some useful tips so you know exactly what to do and how to get great marks.

Speaking Part 1

Part 1 of the Speaking test is a little bit like a warm up for you and your speaking. The examiner asks you some questions about yourself and your life, which could include your family, friends, hobbies, plans, experiences and other topics.

This part only takes around 2 minutes and you need to show your ability to use social and interactional English.

There is a rule that I always teach my students and it has helped many of them: Always support your answers and try to speak for 20-25 seconds per answer.

Many candidates, especially the unprepared ones, go into the exam and give very short answers to the pretty short questions the examiner might ask them, for example:

Examiner: Where are you from? Candidate: From Spain.

The answer in this case is completely unsupported and, therefore, too short. Instead, the candidate could have given more information by detailing where she is from.

Examiner: Where are you from? Candidate: I’m from Barcelona, the second-largest city in Spain. It is the capital of the province of Catalonia and located right on the Mediterranean coast. The climate is hot in summer and not too cold in winter so many tourists come to visit and explore it. Barcelona is also famous for its architecture mainly because of Antoni Gaudi and his Sagrada Familia.

This is a lot better. There are much more details so the examiner is fully informed.

Remember, reasons, examples and details give you the extra information you need so don’t forget about them.

Speaking Part 2

In Part 2, you need to speak on your own about a pair of photographs for about a minute. You compare and contrast the two pictures and answer a written question about them. In addition, you answer a short question about your partner’s photos (30 seconds).

The total time for both candidates is usually around 4 minutes. You need to demonstrate that you can speak spontaneously and for an extended period of time (one minute) with the focus on comparing and describing as well as giving your opinion.

The two most important aspects of this task are your time management and your choice of language. As I said earlier, you are expected to compare/contrast and answer a question about the pictures the examiner shows you. Spend about equal time on these two parts and use some specific language in your response. Here’s an example:

In both photos,  the people  seem to be  very focussed because the man at the top has a very intense look and body language  while  the man in the second photo  looks as if  he is in tricky situation climbing a wall with only few holds. There is  also  an element of danger to both situations  even though  the men move in different environments. This kind of danger is  perhaps  the reason why they enjoy their sports. I have watched videos in which surfers get wiped out by big waves and  it appears to me  that that is actually part of the fun.  I also think  that the climber enjoys the challenge of combining strength and flexibility to get to the top of the wall and  I can imagine  that it  must feel  great to achieve this kind of goal.  On top of that , climbing can also be practised in the outdoors and, just like surfing, it brings people closer to nature.  For me , that would also be a reason to do these types of sport.

This is probably worth one minute of speaking. I’ve highlighted all the useful language for you so you get a better idea of how to deal with Speaking Part 2.

If you want more information about this part of the Speaking test, I wrote a very detailed article with another example, analyses of two recorded Part 2s as well as tons of useful language. You can follow the link below to find out more.

>>> A detailed analysis of Speaking Part 2 with many useful tips and tricks <<<

>>> If you want a FREE grammar and spelling correction tool, click here! <<<

Speaking Part 3

Part 3 is where you and your partner have to work together. The examiner gives you a situation, some written prompts and a question for you to discuss in about two minutes. Once you finish that discussion you need to make a decision together based on the examiner’s instructions in another minute.

Overall, this part of the Speaking test takes about four minutes and the language focus is definitely on interacting with your partner (agreeing/disagreeing, giving your opinion, discussing topics, negotiating, reaching a decision together, etc.).

As with the other parts, there is a lot of useful language that you can and should incorporate into your practice, but because of the crazy amount of expressions and other tips that I would like to share with you I wrote an article just about Speaking Part 3. Simply follow the link below and find out everything you need to know including strategies and all the language that gets you to great marks.

>>> Everything you need to know about Speaking Part 3 <<<

>>> Do you want to learn other languages??? Click HERE! <<<

Speaking Part 4

In the last part of the Speaking paper in Cambridge B2 First you discuss different questions with your partner. The topic is always the same as in part 3, but they are not written down. Instead, the examiner only asks them verbally and you have to deal with it on the spot.

This part takes around four minutes and the examiner just keeps asking questions until the time is up. Here, you should focus on giving your opinion, agreeing and disagreeing with you partner as well as speculating about the questions.

I can refer you back to my article about Speaking Part 3 as there is a lot of overlap when it comes to useful expressions. However, there is no time limit for each question so you are freer in your responses. This also means that you need to measure yourself in order not to dominate the conversation too much and outshine your partner.

Be smart and do the right thing.

Time to practise

With all the information in this article I hope you have a better understanding of how the Speaking paper in Cambridge B2 First works, but now it is time to put your knowledge to work. Find a partner you can practise with and keep checking put the many great videos online so you can steadily improve and learn from your mistakes.

Practice makes perfect!

Lots of love,

Teacher Phill 🙂

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Podcast 124 - FCE Speaking test Part 3

When I was examining some students the other day for First Certificate (FCE) speaking exam, I noticed one thing especially which most students could not do correctly. I'm referring to intonation! Intonation is where you place stress on certain words in a sentence. So, I'm not talking about pronunciation. Many of the students I was examining pronounced fairly well but the intonation was generally quite bad. Why is that important? Well, one of the criteria that examiners use to give you a mark is on pronunciation and that includes intonation. So, it doesn't matter how well you pronounce words. If your intonation is poor, you will lose marks. In this podcast, I'm going to offer you a model version of Part 3 of the FCE speaking exam (the collaborative task) which will emphasize the correct intonation. Here we go...

The importance of intonation in the FCE speaking test

First of all, let me remind you that there are podcasts at Practising English where you can listen to a detailed explanation of intonation and rhythm at podcast 43 , podcast 97 and podcast 109 all at B2 level English. Today, I'm just going to remind you of the basics. And the basics are these: we put more stress on key meaning words and less stress on words with less meaning or importance.

For example, listen to this question.

What is the best way to learn about events happening in the world ? (repeated)

The stress falls on 'what', 'best way', 'learn', 'events', 'happening', and 'world'. These are key meaning words - without these words it would be difficult to understand the sentence. In fact, if I made a sentence just with these words, I'm sure you would understand it. Listen:

What - best way - learn - events - happening - world?

Words that receive stress are usually: question words, adjectives, adverbs, nouns, verbs. Negative words like 'don't' and 'not' are also usually stressed.

The words of less or no meaning (perhaps they are just grammatical words) do not receive stress usually. In this sentence, they are:

is the - to - about - in the

Those words tell us nothing about the context of the question (repeat it), do they? Words which receive no stress are usually: prepositions, articles, auxiliary verbs like the verb to be in present continuous. That's why we have contractions: I'm speaking, you're speaking etc. The verb to be in general usually receives no stress - as in the question I just mentioned: What is the best way...?

When these words have no stress the pronunciation often changes. I've talked about the change in pronunciation in unstressed words before, listen to podcast 97 for that... What I want to show you today is a model Part 3 of the Cambridge First Certificate speaking test with correct intonation - perhaps not perfect pronunciation and certainly not with an English accent. Accent isn't the problem.

So I've invited my ideal candidates. Here we have Anders from Sweden to demonstrate one of the speakers. 'Hello, again, Anders!'

'Hello, Mike! It's good to be on the show again!'

And we have Marie from France as the other candidate to partner with Anders. 'Nice to see you again, Marie!'

'Hello, Mike! Lovely to see you too!'

And, of course, we need our Cambridge examiner to control the exam, and her she is, Edna Bucket! Good evening, Edna!

'Good evening, Mike!'

So listen out for how key words are emphasized during this test. Listen for how meaning words receive more stress. This is a technique you should practise yourselves. You could start by coming over to Practising English, podcast 124, and reading and repeating the test as you hear it on this audio.

Well, Edna. Would you like to start the test?

Cambridge First Certificate speaking test (part 3) model answer

Edna (examiner): 'Certainly, Mike! Now, I’d like you to talk about something together for about two minutes. People often keep up-to-date about the world news in different ways. Here are some ways they learn about events happening in the world and a question for you to discuss. First you have some time to look at the task.' [Fifteen second pause.] Now, talk to each other about what the best way is to learn about things happening in the world.

Anders: Would you like to start, Marie, or shall I?

Marie: That's ok. I'll start. Erm... well, the first option there is about watching the news on the TV. I would say that that must be the most common way people follow news events. I can remember seeing the news on TV even when I was a small child. I believe most people trust the news on television. Don't you think so?

Anders: Well. I agree with you up to a point. However, some TV news channels can be run by political parties and therefore opinions can be different. On the whole, though, I feel that TV news is fairly reliable. Now. What about social media? I think the argument is different here, isn't it?

Marie: Yes, definitely! We all know that due to less control on the Internet, people say all sorts of things. Things that we cannot trust.

Anders: I know what you mean! I think they call that 'fake news'. You're right. We can't choose that option as the best. Then we have your friends and family. What is your opinion about that?

Marie: Erm. On the one hand, I do learn some things from friends and family about news events although, on the other hand, we can't depend on these people to tell us everything we want to know about the world.

Anders: You're right of course. In fact, my parents never tell me about shocking news - you know, about violence and war and stuff. They'd prefer I didn't know those things. They still treat me like a child!

Anders: Marie: (Both laugh)

Marie: I suppose newspapers are like you said about TV news. They can be political and so tell the news differently. Do you agree with that!

Anders: You're right, of course. But if you choose a newspaper you trust, the news can be quite accurate. A good newspaper can be a reliable source to learn about news events. But, as we know, newspapers are not as easy to find these days!

Marie: I know what you mean about a newspaper you trust. There are French newspapers that I read and I feel I am reading the truth. Shall we go for that one as the best?

Anders: Yes. That would be a good choice for me too.

Edna (examiner): Thank you. Now you have about a minute to decide which is not a good way to learn about events happening in the world.

Anders: Well, that one would be an easier question to answer for me. Social media is full of untruthful stories about world events. But we haven't talked about school. What are your thoughts about that one, Marie?

Marie: Well. That isn't really relevant for me now as I've left school. But when I was younger, I can remember hearing all sorts of strange stories about the world from my friends. But we were only children...

Anders: Yes. But I was thinking about the teachers. I remember we had a subject at school called 'current affairs'. It was about things happening in the world now.

Marie: But I imagine that type of lesson didn't tell you about news that was really up-to-date.

Anders: No, no, it wasn't very up-to-date. That's true. But I believe what we learnt was truthful. So, therefore, it wouldn't be a candidate for a source that is not a good way to learn about events, would it?

Marie: I agree entirely. So shall we choose social media?

Anders: Definitely! It has to be the worst way to be well-informed about world events!

Edna (examiner): Thank you!

Yes, thank you all for coming into the studio today. I think that will be very useful for all our learners studying for the B2 exams.

Until next time! Good bye for now!

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Speaking Fce part 3 travel

Examples from our community, 10,000+ results for 'speaking fce part 3 travel'.

Travel and Holidays

Practice for the first part of the speaking paper by answering these questions all related to the topic of travel and holidays. Try and answer in two or three sentences giving a short reason or example with your answers.

You are not expected to speak for a long time answering questions in part 1 so you should practice answering questions in around 15 seconds.

Useful Grammar

Useful vocabulary, practice questions.

Try and answer each question in around 15 seconds. You will see a timer on the screen after each question is asked to help you.

How do people in your country usually spend their summer breaks?

Is there a part of the world that you would particularly like to visit?

Tell me about a place you really enjoyed visiting?

Where did you go on your last holiday?

Do you prefer to spend your holidays with friends or family?

What’s the most interesting historic building you have visited?

What do you think is the most important public holiday in your town or country?

Would you like to travel around the world in the future?

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