B2 FIRST – SPEAKING

Speaking Part 1

The examiner asks you questions about yourself. These may include questions
about your life, your work or studies, your plans for the future, your family and
your interests, etc.

This part is intended to break the ice and tests your ability to interact with the
examiner and use general social language.

Speaking Part 2

You and the other candidate take turns to speak on your own for a minute
during which you:
 Compare two photos which the examiner gives you.
 Answer a question connected with both photos.
 Answer a question quite briefly about your partner’s photos.

This part tests your ability to speak at length, organize your ideas, compare,
describe and express opinions.

Speaking Part 3

 You and the other candidate must discuss a situation or problem

together and reach a decision.
 The examiner gives you a page with a task consisting of a question and
five different word prompts.
 You have 15 seconds to read and think about the task and then you have
two minutes to discuss your ideas.
 The examiner then asks you another question (which is not written down)
so that you can summarize your thoughts. You will have one minute to
do this.

This part tests your ability to interact by exchanging ideas, discussing opinions,
suggesting, agreeing, disagreeing, etc.

Speaking Part 4

The examiner:
 Asks you questions to find out your opinions on general topics related to
Part 3.
 May also ask you to discuss questions with the other candidate and react
to ideas and opinions which they express.

This part tests your ability to express and justify opinions, agree and disagree.