Oh my god! We're doing part four! This is so exciting! Oh yay... oh yay... I'm so happy.
So you've survived part one, and part two, and part three! Well done! But there is a
part four! Oh no! My name is Toby, I am a Cambridge speaking examiner, this is SMASH
English and here is everything you need to know about part four of the B2 First speaking
exam.
Part four of the B2 First speaking exam is four minutes long if you have one partner
or six minutes long if you have two partners. The structure is simple: the examiner will
ask you questions and you must respond to them. Yeah, that... that's it. Yeah, yeah,
all right then so ask me some questions! No! Ask me the questions! I want to go first!
All right then, ask her some questions! I want to go home! Can we hurry up please!?
How important is money when choosing a job? Um... Oh my god you are so gross! I'll go
first okay? Go... go... Yes. Okay, um, it's very important. What she said. Yeah. Yeah,
don't do that! The questions in part four will be related to the topic you discussed
with your partner in part three. They will be open questions so please give reasons for
all of your answers. If you do not explain your reasons then the examiner will ask you
a very annoying question: WHY? Um yeah because money allows us to live a good life. Like
money can buy me bags and shoes and sushi. Without money I would be so depressed and
that would be awful. What was Bruce doing here? Nothing! Nothing! Bruce was doing NOTHING.
Who are the questions for in part four? Well the interlocutor, the person speaking, did
not say anyone's name so who speaks? You both speak! Part four is not the same as part one.
In part one the interlocutor asks you simple basic questions about familiar topics. In
part one you talk alone about yourself! My favorite topic: ME! Part four is more general.
It allows you to communicate with your partner about more general and complicated topics.
Yes! WITH your partner. So please, please, please, please, when you start part four turn
your chairs inwards so that you are facing your partner. You love your partner. You want
to talk to your partner because wow your partner is so interesting. Yes? Yes!
Monica, have you shaven your beard recently because it is looking very beautiful today!
Oh my god Bruce, that is so rude. Shut up! When was the last time you like had a shower?
You smell like urine. Oh, Monica that is the scent of a male! Yeah.
When the interlocutor asks you and your partner a question you will probably see them making
this weird movement with their hands, like this. This is because they want you and your
partner to answer the question together. So Bruce and Monica try again but this time answer
the question together as a team. It's a conversation and we love conversations. We do, we really
do. How important is money when choosing a job? Um yeah, I think money is like really
important because like it allows us to live a good life. If I didn't have money I wouldn't
be able to buy bags or shoes or sushi and these are like so important to me. Yeah and
I agree and that's why I'm looking for another job. Seriously like, I know we're recording
a video now but this is real. I hate my job, I want to leave, I don't like working with
you two and I just, I hate it here. What am I doing? Why... Oh my god! Workplace drama!
So exciting! Oh bloody hell... The problem here is that Bruce did not acknowledge what
Monica actually said. Instead he said "I agree" and spoke about something completely unrelated
and that is not a conversation. Please never say "I agree" and never say "I disagree" because
it is simple, it is boring and it will not get you the marks that you want. And the marks
that you want are the marks that I want you to get so don't make me sad. Thanks. Instead
you must link your contribution with what your partner said before you. So how do you
do this? Rephrase what your partner said to demonstrate that you were listening but please
do this in your own words. Then comment on what your partner said and this comment should
let your partner and the examiner know what your opinion is without you saying "I agree"
or "I disagree". Finally give your own thoughts on the question. In English this is what we
call "a conversation". Wow! A conversation! Do you think people work too much in today's
society? Uh yeah, I for example have to work about three hours every single day and it
is so difficult. I have to stand in front of a camera like an idiot with these people
and seriously, right, it's humiliating. It would be much better if people could work
less and do what they love yeah like drinking for example. Oh my god, Bruce! Three hours
a day? Oh my god that is like modern day slavery! That is a lot of work! Especially if you're
like standing in front of a camera. Being in front of a camera is like the most difficult
thing ever. I think people forget about what is important in life. I mean, if you're working
for three hours every single day then how can you enjoy being beautiful for example?
I think we need to change our modern idea of work. Uh yeah? But in what way, Monica?
Well like many people today are influencers and they just live their lives and take pictures
of it and they get paid for doing it! Right, so I could drink a beer, take a picture of
it and get money? Well no. Not you because you're disgusting and ugly but I could because
I'm beautiful and people want to be like me! Yeah whatever, Monica they want beards too.
Yeah... This was an interesting interaction. Of course do not be rude to your partner like
Monica, but... The interaction started with Bruce answering the question. Then Monica
rephrased Bruce's contribution, she expressed her agreement without saying "I agree" or
"I disagree", then she answered the question herself and finally she introduced a new topic:
"the modern idea of work". This is really good and this is because in part four the
interlocutor wants to relax. They do not want to ask you and your partner lots of questions.
The interlocutor has a list of six questions but that does not mean that the interlocutor
will ask you and your partner six questions. Actually the best part fours are the part
fours where the interlocutor only needs to ask the candidates a couple of questions because
the candidates just talk and talk and talk and the interlocutor can sit back, relax,
listen and think "Wow this is a great conversation! Look how good these people are at speaking
English! I love these people! Let's give them high marks! Brilliant!". So yes, it's a really
good idea to try to maintain the interaction for as long as possible but try not to be
irrelevant. For example in this interaction Bruce mentions drinking and this is okay because
Bruce is using drinking as an example to illustrate a point related to the topic. However, Monica
now cannot say "Hey Bruce what is your favorite drink?" because, yes that is a question, but
the original question that the interlocutor asked was about work. If you now start talking
about alcoholic drinks, well what are you doing? That's not... no, no, don',t don't
do that please. So if your partner introduces a new topic or says something interesting
then ask them about it! You are fascinated by your partner! You love your partner's brain
and you want to know all about it! So ask them questions! They are interesting, you
love them and enjoy the questions that you ask them... yeah... But she's not interesting!
She is an idiot! Excuse me, Bruce! Shut up, I'm talking about the nature of work. I'm
basically a philosopher. Yes, you're very intelligent Monica, well done! So your partner
talks, you rephrase it, you comment on it, then you introduce your own idea, then your
partner does the same. If your partner mentions an interesting topic you ask them a question
about it and then you rephrase that, you comment on it and then introduce your own idea. And
you do that over and over and over again and that's the perfect part four.
But sometimes the interlocutor might direct a question to one candidate. Oh my gosh! Why!?
Some people say that we form our most important relationships at work. Do you agree, Bruce?
Um but I want to go first! Shut up, Monica! Yeah, he wants to talk to me! Uh for example
I don't really like the people I work with and so I don't really think that people always
form relationships at work. Yeah, uh I think often people cannot reveal who they really
are at work because they must be professional so it's hard to make friends. Um, yeah, yeah,
can I talk now? I've got lots to say. Here the interlocutor directed the question to
Bruce. The question was not for both candidates. The interlocutor will do this when they do
not feel that they have heard enough from one of the candidates. Maybe this candidate
is very shy or maybe their partner talks a lot and it's difficult for them to involve
themselves in the conversation. If this happens to you don't worry. The interlocutor is helping
you. Remember this is a speaking exam and the interlocutor must hear you speak in order
to give you the marks that you want. They are giving you the opportunity to use some
wonderful grammar and vocabulary so they can say "Wow! This person is great!". And Monica,
what do you think? Oh my god finally! What was the question again? But please do not
be Monica. Just because the interlocutor has asked your partner a question doesn't mean
that they will not ask you to comment on it and to comment on what your partner said.
So make sure you always listen to the question and make sure that you always listen to your
partner's response and listen actively! Let the examiners know that you are listening
and let your partner know that you are listening because it's much nicer speaking when you
feel that people are listening to you. Like me now! No one is listening to me. I'm alone
in a room. I have no friends and no life and I feel sad. Please don't make your partner
feel the way that I feel right now. What qualities do you think make a good boss at work? Um
well I think that the boss should be understanding and fair and attractive. I also do not think
the boss should ask their staff to do anything that they wouldn't do themselves. Yeah, it's
important that a boss can relate to the needs of his staff right and he mustn't exploit
them but I'm not sure that being attractive is important though, Monica. Why'd you say
that? Because I find it motivates me when my boss is attractive because I always want
to impress a hot guy, don't you? No, Monica I don't. Do you think that your boss now has
those qualities? No, no, no, not really. Toby... he always makes us do these stupid speaking
exam practices. I already speak English and I don't even need to be doing this. I also
don't think he appreciates me as an employee and it's so important that a boss makes their
employees feel valued. It is yeah. I think that feeling valued is like the most important
part of job satisfaction. If you don't feel valued it hurts your motivation don't it?
And so it's the boss's duty to ensure that all employees feel like an important part
of the business. I completely agree and I do not feel that way working here. Oh my god!
Toby is terrible! Yeah he's an idiot! I don't even know why we're working... Right that's
enough! We're finished! What... Go away! So remember! One: part four consists of the interlocutor
asking you and your partner questions. Two: the questions are aimed at both of you so
please have a conversation. Three: please give reasons for your answers otherwise the
examiner will ask you "WHY?" and examiners hate doing that. Four: do not say "I agree"
or "I disagree" Instead rephrase what your partner said, comment on it and then introduce
your own idea. Five: the examiner may ask a question to one candidate only and this
is to encourage them to talk more. It's not a problem, do not worry about it. Six: remember
to actively listen to your partner. Even if the question was not directed at you you must
demonstrate to the examiner and your partner that you are listening to them. Very important!
And number seven: relax! Try to have a natural conversation with your partner. Remember your
partner is your friend so relax, talk to them and enjoy it. Try and enjoy the moment. Yeah.
Do not rehearse things in your head and please do not memorize grammar structures for part
four. If you do this the conversation will seem very unnatural and it will make your
partner feel uncomfortable. Do you rehearse real conversations in your head? No you don't.
Well maybe you do... I do. I rehearse conversations with myself all the time because I have no
one else to talk to... TRUST ME, if you rehearse material for part four the examiners will
know. TRUST ME, examiners know everything and that is why I am one of them... Yeah...
And with that we are finished! Now you know everything you need to know about part four
of the B2 First speaking exam! If you liked the video don't forget to SMASH that like
button, subscribe if you haven't already, leave comment down below! My name is Toby
and this was SMASH English...