16 minutes Speaking
Part 1 | 2 minutes for pairs (3 minutes for groups of 3)
Test 1
Interlocutor Good morning/afternoon/evening. My name is … and this is my colleague … . And your
names are … ? Could I have your mark sheets, please?
Thank you.
First of all, we’d like to know something about you.
Where are you from, Candidate A? And you, Candidate B?
Candidate A, are you working or studying at the moment? And you, Candidate B?
[Next, Interlocutor asks a series of personal questions, alternating between candidates.]
ll You mentioned you’re from place name. What’s it like living there?
ll How interested are you in place name’s history?
ll What role, if any, do you think English will play in your personal or professional
life in the future?
ll What would your dream job be?
ll How much interest do you take in current affairs, locally and globally?
ll Do you tend to use technology much in the course of your work or studies?
ll What do you like to do to relax and do you find it difficult to unwind?
Candidates .....................................
Interlocutor Thank you.
TIP BOX!
44 You will always be asked where you come from and whether you are working or studying at the moment.
44 You will be asked one more question about your everyday life, work, study, interests, or similar.
44 Practise answering the example questions in this book. Don’t learn answers off by heart. Try to
sound relaxed, fluid and natural.
Part 2 | 4 minutes for pairs (6 minutes for groups of 3)
Interlocutor ow, in this part of the test, you’re going to do something together. Here are some
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pictures of people in different situations.
[Interlocutor places the pictures on the desk and indicates two pictures for candidates to
initially focus on.]
First, I’d like you to look at pictures 1A and 1B and talk together about the different
aspects of urban living they show.
You have about 1 minute for this, so don’t worry if I interrupt you.
[2 minutes for groups of three.]
Candidates .....................................
Interlocutor Thank you. Now look at all the pictures.
25
Speaking
I’d like you to imagine that some students are going to have a discussion on the ad-
vantages and disadvantages of urban living. These pictures will be used as the basis
Test 1
for the discussion.
Talk together about the advantages and disadvantages of urban living. Then suggest
one other theme to include in the discussion.
You have about 3 minutes to talk about this. [4 minutes for groups of three.]
Candidates .....................................
Interlocutor Thank you. [Interlocutor retrieves picture sheet.]
Part 3 | 10 minutes approx.
Interlocutor ow, in this part of the test, you’re each going to talk on your own for about 2
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minutes. You need to listen while your partner is speaking, though, because you’ll be
asked to comment afterwards.
So, Candidate A, I’m going to give you a card with a question written on it and I’d like
you to tell us what you think. There are also some ideas on the card for you to use
if you like.
A All right? Here is your card.
Task 1a Is it better to work in a group or on your own?
• relationships Prompt card for
• ideas Candidate A
• different types of work
Remember, Candidate A, you have about 2 minutes to talk before we join in.
[Interlocutor allows candidate up to 10 seconds, if necessary, to get composed.]
Would you like to begin now?
Candidate A [Candidate A discusses the question for 2 minutes.]
Interlocutor Thank you.
[Interlocutor now asks Candidate B one of the following questions.]
ll Why do some people prefer to work alone?
ll Do some jobs require more cooperation than others?
ll Is it more important to encourage children to be kind to others or to think about
their own needs?
[Interlocutor invites Candidate A to re-join the dis- TIP BOX!
cussion with one of the following prompts.]
ll What do you think?
44
Familiarise yourself with
ll Do you agree? the format of and timings
ll How about you?
for the Speaking in advance.
44
On exam day, if you don’t
Candidates [The discussion lasts around 1 minute.] understand an instruction,
Thank you. [Interlocutor retrieves cards.] you can ask for clarification
before the task begins.
Aheadbooks
26
Speaking
Now, Candidate B, it’s your turn to be given a question. Here is your card.
Test 1
Task 1b What are the most important factors in job satisfaction?
• financial rewards Prompt card for
• opportunities Candidate B
• work environment
B Remember, Candidate B, you have about 2 minutes to tell us what you think, and
there are some ideas on the card for you to use if you like. All right?
[Interlocutor allows candidate up to 10 seconds, if necessary, to get composed.]
All right? Would you like to begin now?
Candidate B [Candidate B discusses the question for 2 minutes.]
Interlocutor Thank you.
[Interlocutor now asks Candidate A one of the following questions.]
ll Do you prefer a lively or quiet working(/learning) environment?
ll Is it more important to have opportunities for training or promotion in your job role?
ll Apart from salary, what other kinds of benefits do or would you value in a job?
[Interlocutor invites Candidate B to re-join the discussion with one of the following prompts.]
ll What do you think?
ll Do you agree?
ll How about you?
Candidates [The discussion lasts around 1 minute.]
Thank you. [Interlocutor retrieves cards.]
Interlocutor Now, to finish the test, we’re going to talk about work and relationships in general.
[Interlocutor addresses some of the following questions to both candidates.]
ll Some people say the only person you can really depend on is yourself. What do
you think?
ll Nowadays, a lot of offices are open plan [Interviewer might need to define this term].
Why do you think this is?
ll Thanks to social networks, we now have huge numbers of online friends. How
meaningful do you think these relationships are?
ll How do companies benefit from having a diverse range of characters in their
employment?
ll A lot of people move from company to company today, not working in any one
place for very long. Do you think this is wise?
ll In today’s world, it is often difficult for small companies to attract the best staff.
Why do you think this is?
ll In what ways do people need to cooperate with one another when they live in the
same neighbourhood or community?
Candidates [Up to 4 minutes is allowed for the discussion.]
Thank you. That is the end of the test.
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