C1 Advanced Speaking

Overview

The speaking exam is usually done in pairs. Sometimes there will be a group of 3 students and more time will be given. There will be two examiners in the room: One who asks questions and one who is assessing you.

Part 1 (Interview):

The interlocutor will ask you your name and where you are from. They will also ask other questions about your life, for example your hobbies, studies, travel experiences and daily life. These are individual questions and you are not expected to interact with your partner. 2 minutes total.

How to Prepare

Practise giving information about yourself. Avoid memorised answers to sound more natural.

Learn some phrases, collocations or key words to use for any topic.

Extra Tips

Try to give extended answers. Don't just say one or two words.

If you can't think what to say think of the wh- question words: what, where, who, when and why?

Try to sound interesting through intonation, confidence, and personality.

Turn slightly to your partner to show that you are interested but don't interrupt them.

Overview

Part 2 (Long Turn):

The interlocutor will give you three photographs and two questions to answer. You must choose two of the three photos and speak for 1 minute. Speculate about the photographs and answer the questions in your response. Your partner will be asked to comment (for about 30 seconds) after you finish speaking. You then do the same for their photos.

How to Prepare

Learn speculative language and practise some sample tasks.

Practise speaking about two photos for one minute without stopping. The examiner will interrupt you to say thank you.

Extra Tips

In the First Certificate (B2) exam there are two photos for you to compare. At C1 you must speculate, rather than just compare.

The questions will be written with the word 'might', so in your response you must use 'might' and other speculative language.

Focus on the similarities and differences between the photographs.

Don't forget to answer the questions.

Many candidates give short answers when asked to comment on their partner's photos but you have around 30 seconds. Use it!

When commenting on your partner's photos you can choose the 'unused' photo that they did not mention.

Overview

Part 3 (Collaborative Task):

In this part of the exam the interlocutor will give you a sheet with a question and prompts. You have 15 seconds to read them. You must discuss them with your partner for 2 minutes. Then the examiner will ask you a question where you must make a decision about the ideas you've discussed.

How to Prepare

Learn phrases for managing the conversation, inviting your partner to speak and reacting to what they said.

Practise reacting to opinions and developing the conversation. Don't just agree or disagree with what your partner says, but build on it.

Extra Tips

If you do not reach a decision it is not a problem. This part is about your conversational skills.

Remember not to dominate the conversation: Ask your partner their opinion and invite them to speak.

Don't be afraid to disagree. It can actually make the discussion more interesting.

If your partner is not giving you the opportunity to speak it is okay to interrupt them politely.

Help each other! If your partner can't think of a certain word and you know it, say it for them.

Listen and react to what your partner is saying and build on it.

There is no requirement to speak about all five prompts. Don't race through them.

Overview

Part 4 (Discussion):

In part 4 the interlocutor will ask you broader questions about the topic introduced in part 3. They will direct the discussion and will ask you questions individually or maybe to discuss as a pair. They may also ask you to react to what your partner has said. 5 minutes total.

How to Prepare

Learn phrases to buy yourself time to think. For example "That's a really good question. On reflection I'd say that..."

Practise giving your opinion and justifying it. It's easy to say what you think, but much more difficult to say why.

Extra Tips

Part 4 is always on the same topic as part 3 but the questions are broader and more abstract.

Listen carefully to what your partner is saying: the interlocutor might ask what you think about it.