Indicative Questions for the Warm up Stage

The importance of the Warm up Stage

a) If Candidates are well-prepared for the Warm up Stage, they can make a very positive first
impression on the Examiner and they can also feel more confident to continue.
b) The topics for the Warm up Stage are known, so Teachers can prepare a variety of questions for
their Candidates, they can assign them for homework and then practise in class.
c) Teachers should train their Candidates to answer in complete sentences and avoid one word
answers or using very short discourse; they should train them to justify what they say.

For example:
Examiner: Do you find school difficult this year?
Candidate: Yes. Or Yes, I do. (short discourse)
Yes, I do. School is quite difficult this year because the subjects this year are
more demanding and we also have a lot of homework to do.
(long contribution)

Indicative Questions for the Warm up Stage

1. Hobbies (for all Levels)

1. What is your favourite hobby?

2. Why did you choose it?
3. How long have you had this hobby?
4. Is your hobby expensive?
5. Is your hobby popular?
6. Is your hobby dangerous?
7. Is your hobby difficult?
8. Which hobbies are popular with young people?
9. What hobbies do you find interesting?
10. What hobbies do you find boring?

Hobbies (for C1, C2)

1. Why is it important to have a hobby?

2. Do you like reading? Why? Why not?
3. What extreme sports would you like to do? Why?

2. Free time activities (for all Levels)

1. What do you like doing in your free time?

2. Who do you spend your free time with?
3. Do you have a lot of / enough free time?
4. What do you like doing with your friends in your free time?

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Indicative Questions for the Warm up Stage

5. When you are at home what do you like doing?

6. What do usually do at the weekends?
7. How do you usually spend your summer holiday?
8. Do you do any sports?
9. What sport do you do?
10. What kind of sports are you interested in?
11. What sports do you like watching?
12. How often do you go to the cinema?
13. Which do you prefer more, watching television or going to the cinema?
14. Do you watch much T.V?
15. How often do you go to the cinema and what kind of films do you see?
16. Do you like playing computer games in your free time?
17. Do you like going shopping?
18. Where do you like doing your shopping?
19. Where would you go for an evening out with your friends?
20. Do you like travelling? Why? Why not?

Free time activities (for C1, C2)

1. What kind of things do you like doing in your free time?

2. Do people spend their free time differently now as compared to the past?
3. How important is music in your life?
4. How much free time do you have at the moment?
5. What do you think is the attraction of computer games?
6. Do you think people will still go to the cinema in 10 years’ time?
7. What do you usually like to do in order to relax?
8. What was the best/worst holiday you had?
9. How do you like travelling?
10. How often do you go on trips?
11. How do young people like to enjoy themselves in their free time?
12. What is your favourite activity?
13. What new activity would you like to try?
14. What sports or hobbies are popular among young people in your country?
15. Do you think it’s important to do a sport?
16. Do you prefer to watch films at home? Why? Why not?
17. What sort of T.V programmes or films do you like to watch?
18. What can young people do in your town to have fun?
19. What kind of music do you enjoy most?

3. School (for all Levels)

1. What is your favourite school subject? Why?

2. Which school subject do you find difficult/easy? Why?
3. Do you have a favourite teacher?
4. How do you get on with your teachers?
5. What do you like about your school?
6. What facilities does your school offer?
7. Does your school have a computer lab?

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Indicative Questions for the Warm up Stage

8. What changes would you like to see at your school?

9. What school activities do you like the most/the least? Why?
10. How do you get to school?
11. What school do you go to and what class are you in?

School and Education (for C1, C2)

1. Can you tell me something about your school?

2. Do you prefer to study alone or with your friends?
3. Why do you learn English?
4. What do you like about your school?
5. What makes a good teacher?
6. What teacher impressed you the most?
7. What do you enjoy most about your studies?
8. How important is education in a person’s life?
9. How much free time do high schools students have?
10. How do you feel about the school you go to?
11. Do you have happy memories from primary school?
12. Do you have a lot of pressure at school?
13. What would you do to improve your classroom?

4. Home town/Neighbourhood (for all Levels)

1. Do you like the area where you live? Why? Why not/
2. What is the best/worst thing about the area you live in?
3. What is your home town like?
4. What is your neighbourhood like?
5. What is the most interesting place to visit in your area?
6. Does your area have parks?
7. Does your area have a lot of shops?
8. Are there places where young people can have fun?
9. What changes would you like to see in your area?
10. Is there a lot of traffic in your area?
11. Are there cinemas in your area?
12. Does your area have sport facilities?

Home town / Neighbourhood (for C1, C2)

1. Would you ever consider moving to the countryside?

2. What do you do for entertainment in your town?
3. If you had the choice, where would you like to live? Why?
4. What facilities are there for young people in your area?
5. If you could live in any country, apart from your own, which one would it be? Why?
6. What do you like most about where you live?
7. Where do you live and how long have you lived there?
8. What would your ideal home be like?
9. What would be the ideal place for you to live?

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Indicative Questions for the Warm up Stage

5. Future plans (for all Levels)

1. Do you have any plans for the weekend?

2. Where are you planning to go for your winter/summer holiday?

Future plans for C1, C2

1. What would you like to do after you graduate from high school?
2. What would you like to study at University?
3. Would you like to live in your home town for ever? Why? Why not?

6. Jobs (for C1 and C2)

1. What type of job would you like to do in the future? Why?

2. Would you like to work in your hometown? Why? Why not?
3. Would you like to work abroad? Why? Why not?
4. Would you like to work in a company? Why? Why not?
5. Do you work? What kind of work do you do?
6. What qualifications do people need to get a well-paid job?
7. What would be the most satisfying job for you?
8. Would you like to change jobs? Why? Why not?
9. Which professions / jobs are popular in your country?
10. How important is your job for you?

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