B1 PRACTISE SPEAKING

Part 1
Part 1 is the warm-up to your examination so it is important that you get accustomed to saying full sentences
and to linking your ideas with reasons, examples, results and contrasts. A great way to achieve this is to use
different linking expressions that you already know so there is nothing new for you to learn. Just make sure
that you put one or two of them in each answer in Part 1 and you will see that what you say immediately
makes more sense.

Below you can find some examples and these are probably the most common examples to give reasons or
examples and to express result or contrast.

USEFUL LANGUAGE FOR SPEAKING PART 1

GIVING REASON

because

because of + -ing/noun

since

as

GIVING EXAMPLES

for example

such as

for instance

like

EXPRESSING A RESULT/CONSEQUENCE
 so

to

in order to

for + -ing

EXPRESSING CONTRAST

but

although

even though

however

on the other hand

PART 2

We could say that Part 2 is where the exam really starts. Here you work on your own, which means
you don’t interact with your partner, but you talk about a photo that the examiner gives you for about
one minute. You have to describe the picture and tell the examiner what you can see.

This is a good strategy:

1. Describe the person/people in the picture first (appearance, What are they doing?, possible
feelings)
2. Describe their surroundings (Where are they? What objects are around them? Are the people
doing anything with the things around them?)

It is like going from the centre of the picture to the outside. You start with the people, who are usually
in the middle of the image, and you move to the outside from there. This way you don’t forget any
important details and if you get confused, you have something that can help you remember what to
do next.
USEFUL LANGUAGE PART 2

TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PICTURE (PREPOSITIONS)

on the right/left

at the top/bottom

in the top/bottom left/right corner

in the centre

in the foreground/background

next to / near

in front of / behind

DESCRIBING THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE

He’s/She’s got long/short/dark/fair/brown/red/grey hair.

He’s/She’s got blue/brown/green/grey eyes.

He’s/She’s tall/short/slim/big.

He’s/She’s wearing + clothes

DESCRIBING THE ACTIONS IN THE PICTURE

We always use the present continuous to describe what is happening in a photo.

Example: He is watching TV. She is writing an email on her laptop.

SPECULATING ABOUT THE THINGS IN THE PICTURE

maybe/perhaps

He/She might be + -ing/adjective

 I think/believe that…

It looks/seems like he/she is + -ing/adjective

Part 3

This is the first task in which you communicate directly with your partner. The examiner gives you a
situation and some pictures. Use these pictures to discuss the situation with your partner and make a
decision based on the examiner’s instructions. You have 2-3 minutes of talking time and the
examiner will stop you when the time is up.

Part 4

Last but not least, Part 4 marks the end of the Speaking paper in B1 Preliminary. Here, the examiner
asks you and your partner to discuss different questions together for about three minutes. The
topic is always connected to Part 3

USEFUL LANGUAGE FOR SPEAKING PARTS 3 AND 4

STARTING THE CONVERSATION

Shall I start?

Would you like to start?

Would you mind if I start?

How about I start?

MAKING SUGGESTIONS

What do you think about..?

What is your opinion on..?

How about..?

What about..?

GIVING YOUR OPINION

In my opinion, …

I think/believe/feel …

For me, …

I would say …

From my point of view

AGREEING/DISAGREEING

I agree/disagree.

I (don’t) think so.

I see your point.

Definitely/Absolutely!

Yes, but …

INVITING YOUR PARTNER TO SPEAK

What do you think?

What about you?

And you?

Do you agree?

What is your opinion?

GETTING OUT OF THE JAM

Sorry, I meant..

I wanted to say..

I don’t know the word, but it’s a type / kind of..

The word escapes me, but..

BACK UP PROMPTS FOR PART 1

● What’s your name? Where do you live/come from?

● Do you have a job?
● What job do you do?
● What do you do in your free time?
● How do you get to work/school/university every day?
● Do you usually travel by car? (Why?/Why not?)
● Do you think that English will be useful for you in the
● future? (Why?/Why not?)
● Tell us about the people you live with.
● Please tell me about an interesting place yo have visited recently
● Where would you most like to live?
● Which country would you like to visit most?
● Who do you most like to spend time with?
● How important is it to meet friends regularly?
● Is it important to have a hobby?
● Tell me about a book you have read recently.
● Do you prefer outdoor or indoor activities?