Speaking Test Finished

Part 1 · Personal questions

Part 1: Personal information. You will answer three short questions about yourself. You have 30 seconds for each answer. Speak after the beep.

1. Please tell me about a time when you helped a neighbour or a friend. (30 s)
2. Have you ever done any voluntary work? (30 s)
3. What do you usually do with things you no longer need? (30 s)

Part 2 · Describe a photo

Part 2: Describing a picture. Look at the photograph. You will answer three questions, with 45 seconds for each answer.

1. Describe this picture. (45 s)
2. Tell me about a place near you that needs to be cleaner. (45 s)
3. Why do you think some people leave rubbish in public places? (45 s)

Part 3 · Compare two photos

Part 3: Comparing two pictures. Look at the two photographs. You will answer three questions, with 45 seconds for each answer.

1. Describe these two pictures. (45 s)
2. Which of these two kinds of voluntary work would you like to do? Why? (45 s)
3. What do people gain from helping others without being paid? (45 s)

Part 4 · Long turn: Volunteering and helping others

Part 4: Discussion. You will see three questions on one topic. You have one minute to prepare and two minutes to answer all three questions together.

1. Tell me about a person or an organisation that helps people in your community.
2. Why do you think some people volunteer and others do not?
3. Should schools ask students to do some voluntary work? Why or why not?

60 s to prepare, 120 s to answer all three questions together.

How to assess yourself

In the real exam each part gets a mark, and the examiner listens for the same four things in every answer. Play each recording and ask yourself:

• Fluency and cohesion: did I speak for the whole time without long pauses, and did I link my ideas (because, although, however, on the other hand)?
• Vocabulary: did I use varied, precise words, or did I repeat the same ones?
• Grammar: did I use the right tenses, and did I try structures beyond the simplest ones?
• Pronunciation: would a stranger understand me easily at first listen?

And one that is not a language criterion but costs marks every time: did I actually answer the question that was asked, or did I talk around it?

Tip: in Parts 2 and 3, describe first (who, where, what is happening), then compare or give your opinion. Running out of things to say usually means the description was too short.