FCE Speaking. Do you want to pass the First Certificate in English?
Today, I'm going to give you some essential tips
on how to pass part 2 of the Speaking exam.
If you haven't see my video on Speaking Part One, I suggest
that you see it first by clicking on the link at the top right hand side of the screen.
I am going to help you not just pass but pass with a better grade.
Remember to turn the subtitles on so you can follow along.
Let's get started.
The speaking exam last 14 minutes.
Part 2 lasts 4 minutes.
So what do you have to do in Part 2.
This part is called the "long turn".
This is where you have one minute,
to compare 2 photos
and answer one question relating to these photos.
You should talk about the similarities and differences between the photos.
and answer the question.
You will also have to answer a question
about your partner's photos.
This normally takes about 30 seconds.
To pass the FCE you need to use
B2 or Upper Intermediate level English
which is set by the
Common European Framework for Languages.
The CEFR.
So what are the examiners looking for?
Firstly,
they are looking at grammar and vocabulary.
A successful candidate
will use some simple
and some complex grammar.
and a wide range of vocabulary.
Secondly,
they are looking for discourse management.
What's that, I hear you ask?
A successful candidate at the speaking exam
will have very little hesitation,
a clear organisation of ideas
by using a range of cohesive devices
and discourse markers.
This means that your ideas are linked
with language that helps the listener understand you
and makes your speaking clearer.
I am now going to give you some language to help you with your discourse management.
For instance: when contrasting ideas.
you can use language such as : On the one hand...
although and whereas.
For adding similar ideas:
Another reason is,
What is more,
Equally
For introducing your opinion:
In my opinion...
To my mind...
It seems to me that...
For giving examples:
for example,
For instance...
Such as...
For sequencing:
Firstly...
Secondly...
To start with...
Talking about similarities
Both photos show...
In both photos we can see...
They are similar in that they both show...
And talking about differences:
whereas in the second photo...
while in the first photo...
Unlike the first photo...
The examiners are also listening for good pronunciation.
You need to be intelligible,
you need to have appropriate intonation,
to have accurate word and sentence stress
and to clearly articulate.
They do not mind if you have an accent as long as you can be understood.
The fourth criteria is interactive communication,
this is how you interact with your partner.
This is not really tested in Speaking Part 2
but will be seen more in part 3 and 4.
Other useful language for Speaking Part 2 is the language of speculation.
They seem to be...
They are probably...
It could be...
They may be...
and the language of comparison:
more than...
less than ...
as something as...
What do you say when you get into difficulties?
When you can't think of the word.
Say what it's like or what it's used for:
I can't think of the word but it's a kind of...
I'm not sure how to say it, but it's used for...
What's the word?
It is quite normal for you to not know all the vocabulary
but you will get a better grade
if you show that you know how to describe something
and show that in a real life situation
you would be able to communicate effectively.
I'm now going to give you an example question for Speaking Part 2.
You can see two photographs and the question:
"What are the people learning from doing these two types of work?"
Here is a possible answer.
Well, OK. Firstly I can say that both photographs show young people,
perhaps teenagers working,
both jobs in the photos involve working in situations
where they need good skills in dealing with people in the correct way.
I'm sure neither of them is very well-paid.
Anyway, the first photo shows a girl serving young people in a restaurant.
whereas in the second photo a boy is working with children and coaching them to play football.
The girl's job maybe full-time whereas the boy's job is probably part-time.
I think both can learn a lot from these jobs.
The girl can learn how to keep customers happy while the boy has to keep children in order.
The girl has to learn to work efficiently under pressure, on the other hand the boy has to learn to keep cool.
He'll probably learn not just to deal with children but also their parents.
You can hear me comparing similarities and differences and answering the question.
using some of the language from today's tutorial.
It's now its quiz time.
Each candidate must speak alone for one minute?
True.
You have to compare four photographs
and answer a more general question about them?
False.
There are only 2 photographs to compare but there is a question relating to these photos.
You should compare the photos in detail.
False, you have one minute to talk about the photos
and answer the question
you don't have time to talk about the photos in detail.
You should look at the similarities and the differences.
You should spend half the time on the photos
and half the time on the printed question.
True.
After your partner has spoken
you will be asked a question about the same photos.
True.
So remember to listen to what your partner says
so you don't repeat what they have already said.
Here are some final tips.
Listen carefully to instructions and your partners answer.
Speak clearly.
Imagine you are talking to somebody on a telephone.
and you are describing what you see.
Use phrases or chunks of language as we have seen in this tutorial.
Practise.
Time yourself speaking for 60 seconds.
You could even record yourself,
so you can hear your strengths and your weaknesses.
Don't forget to answer the question.
You can get all caught up describing the photographs
that you run out of time and forget to answer the question.
So leave yourself time.
Keep talking:
The examiner will stop you when the minute is up.
Good luck.
You now know how to pass part 2 of the FCE speaking exam.
Remember to like this video, I would really appreciate it.
and subscribe to my channel Oxford English Now. FCE Speaking.