First Certificate in First Certificate in EnglishEnglish(FCE)(FCE)

Speaking ExamSpeaking Exam

How is it marked?How is it marked?

Grammar and VocabularyGrammar and Vocabulary

FCE speaking test assesed based on the four following analytic criteria:

Discourse ManagementDiscourse Management PronunciationPronunciation

Interative CommunicationInterative Communication

♦ Candidates are assesed on their own individual performance, not in relation to each other.

♦ Assesment is based on performance in the whole test and not in particular parts of the test.

PART 1: PART 1: ““Talking about yourself”Talking about yourself” (2’-3’)(2’-3’)

Common questions:Common questions:

► ► What’s your full name?What’s your full name?

► ► Where are you from?Where are you from?

► ► What do you like about living in…?What do you like about living in…?

► ► What do you do?What do you do?

► ► Do you enjoy Do you enjoy shopping/playing computer shopping/playing computer games/surfing on the Internet?games/surfing on the Internet?

► ► Why are you studying English?Why are you studying English?

► ► How do you usually spend your evenings/afternoons?How do you usually spend your evenings/afternoons?

►►Tell us about a film/book you really like.Tell us about a film/book you really like.

► ► What did you do yesterday/last weekend..?What did you do yesterday/last weekend..?

► ► How do you spend your free time?How do you spend your free time?

► ► How did you spend your How did you spend your last birthday?last birthday?

► ► Do you normally spend special occasions wih friends Do you normally spend special occasions wih friends or family??or family??

►►Tell us about a festival/celebration in SpainTell us about a festival/celebration in Spain

►►Tell us about a TV programme you have seen recentlyTell us about a TV programme you have seen recently

► ► Do you use the Internet much?Do you use the Internet much?

► ► Do you listen to the radio?Do you listen to the radio?

► ► How much TV do you How much TV do you watch in a week?watch in a week?

PART 2: PART 2: ““Talk on your own”Talk on your own” (4’)(4’)

Describing photographs:Describing photographs:REMEMBER: Describe the photographs REMEMBER: Describe the photographs

briefly so you can compare them and focus briefly so you can compare them and focus on the question made by the examiner.on the question made by the examiner.

► ► Useful VocabularyUseful Vocabulary

- In the foreground…- In the foreground…

- On the left/right side…- On the left/right side…

- At the top…- At the top…

- At the bottom…- At the bottom…

- In the top left-hand/right hand corner…- In the top left-hand/right hand corner…

- In the bottom left-hand/right hand corner…- In the bottom left-hand/right hand corner…

- In the centre…- In the centre…

► ► Useful ExpressionsUseful Expressions

- The picture takes place in…- The picture takes place in…

- This is an advertisement, a picture, etc.- This is an advertisement, a picture, etc.

- I can see…- I can see…

- There is / There are…- There is / There are…

- It looks as if…- It looks as if…

- The atmosphere is…- The atmosphere is…

- It makes me think of…- It makes me think of…

- It reminds me of…- It reminds me of…

- Present continuous: - Present continuous: “The man is reading….”“The man is reading….”

- - Present Simple: Present Simple: “The man looks “The man looks sad/happy/bored…”sad/happy/bored…”

- - Modal Verbs: Modal Verbs: “They might be…”“They might be…”

► ► Comparing and ContrastingComparing and Contrasting

- Both of these…- Both of these…

- Neither of these…- Neither of these…

- One of this … While the other…- One of this … While the other…

- This picture … whereas the other…- This picture … whereas the other…

► ► SpeculatingSpeculating

- It’s hard to say, but I think…- It’s hard to say, but I think…

- I don’t think it…because…- I don’t think it…because…

- It looks like a…- It looks like a…

- Both pictures might…- Both pictures might…

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HELP PEOPLE HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HELP PEOPLE IN THESE SITUATIONS?IN THESE SITUATIONS?

WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE ENJOYING ABOUT WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE ENJOYING ABOUT SPENDING TIME IN THESE GARDENS?SPENDING TIME IN THESE GARDENS?

PART 3: PART 3: ““Talk Together”Talk Together” (2’ + 1’)(2’ + 1’)

In this part of the exam you and your partner In this part of the exam you and your partner will be asked to talk about the topic set by the will be asked to talk about the topic set by the examiner. You will have a diagram to help you.examiner. You will have a diagram to help you.

► ► Useful PhrasesUseful Phrases

- Shall I start?- Shall I start?

- What do you think about…?- What do you think about…?

- It seems to me that…- It seems to me that…

- - As far as I am concerned… / Personally As far as I am concerned… / Personally speaking…speaking…

- Don’t you think…?- Don’t you think…?

- Could I just add that…?- Could I just add that…?

- I’ve heard…- I’ve heard…

AgreeingAgreeing- That’s a good point.- That’s a good point.

- I think you’re right about that.- I think you’re right about that.

- Oh, I hadn’t (really) thought of that.- Oh, I hadn’t (really) thought of that.

- That’s exactly what I think!- That’s exactly what I think!

- Oh, so do I!- Oh, so do I!

DisagreeingDisagreeing

- I see what you mean but, don’t you think…?- I see what you mean but, don’t you think…?

- I’m not sure I (completely) agree with you - I’m not sure I (completely) agree with you because…because…

- That’s a good point, but I think…because…- That’s a good point, but I think…because…

Part 3 diagramPart 3 diagram

Tips for Speaking Part 3Tips for Speaking Part 3 Remember you have 15 seconds to Remember you have 15 seconds to

look at the task before you start.look at the task before you start. In the In the first two minutesfirst two minutes you should you should

talk about the different ideas provided talk about the different ideas provided relating them to the question.relating them to the question.

Make sure you Make sure you interactinteract with your with your partner, listening carefully and partner, listening carefully and responding to what they say.responding to what they say.

Share the speaking time with your Share the speaking time with your partner.partner.

If you disagree make sure you you do If you disagree make sure you you do it in a polite way.it in a polite way.

PART 4: PART 4: ““Follow-up Questions”Follow-up Questions” (4’)(4’)

The aim of this part of the exam is testing your The aim of this part of the exam is testing your ability to develope your opinion, point of view ability to develope your opinion, point of view and preferences.and preferences.

The topic is related to the pictures you The topic is related to the pictures you described in Part 3described in Part 3

In this part of the test the examiner will ask In this part of the test the examiner will ask both of you questions.both of you questions.

Questions can be addressed either to you Questions can be addressed either to you individually or to both you and your partner.individually or to both you and your partner.

REMEMBERREMEMBER: Listen to your partner, as you : Listen to your partner, as you may be asked to agree or disagree with may be asked to agree or disagree with him/her.him/her.

Useful PhrasesUseful Phrases Offering a tentative opinion.-Offering a tentative opinion.-

Offering a strong opinion.-Offering a strong opinion.-

- I’m not sure…- I’m not sure…

- Probably…- Probably…

- Maybe / Perhaps…- Maybe / Perhaps…

- It’s very difficult …, but I think…- It’s very difficult …, but I think…

- It’s not something I feel very strongly - It’s not something I feel very strongly about, but…about, but…

- I’m quite certain that…- I’m quite certain that…

- I know for a fact that- I know for a fact that

- I don’t really think it is right that…- I don’t really think it is right that…

- Actually, I feel quite strongly about it…- Actually, I feel quite strongly about it…

Developing the discussion.-Developing the discussion.-

- I’d like to add something…- I’d like to add something…

- There’s something else I’d like to say…- There’s something else I’d like to say…

- Furthermore…- Furthermore…

- Besides…- Besides…

- I couldn’t have put it better myself.- I couldn’t have put it better myself.

Expressing agreement.-Expressing agreement.-

- Exactly!- Exactly!

- Absolutely!- Absolutely!

- I couldn’t agree more.- I couldn’t agree more.

- Could I just add…?- Could I just add…?

Hints for Speaking Part 4Hints for Speaking Part 4 Listen carefully to the questions Listen carefully to the questions and try to and try to

answer answer confidently.confidently. Listen carefully to what your partner is Listen carefully to what your partner is

saying saying and decide whether you and decide whether you agree agree or or disagree. disagree.

If you disagree If you disagree make sure you do it make sure you do it politelypolitely.. BE SENSITIVE: BE SENSITIVE: Don’t talk for too long Don’t talk for too long

without giving your partner or the without giving your partner or the interlocutor a chance to speak. interlocutor a chance to speak.

ALWAYS TRY TO ANSWER THE ALWAYS TRY TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS QUESTIONS FULLYFULLY. . When you tell the When you tell the examiner what you think try to tell him or her examiner what you think try to tell him or her WHY you think that as well.WHY you think that as well.

First Certificate Speaking First Certificate Speaking TestTest

(Real exam)(Real exam)

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdeZp0n0JHw

The The EndEnd

Created by: Created by: Cristina FernándezFotos: Fotos: http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/first/whats-in-the-exam/Video: Video: Cambrige English TV on YouTube