Hello Exam Seekers,
Last week we started posting a new series of examination tips, we started talking about the C1: Advanced (former CAE). In our first post, we talked about the first part of Speaking, which is the Interview. Today we are going to explain a little bit about the second part of the examination.
Part 2: The Long Turn
At this part of the exam, you are asked to talk on your own about some photographs: comparing, describing, expressing opinions, speculating. At this point, you can start noticing some differences between the B2: First. At B2 Speaking Part 2, you are given two pictures at C1 Speaking Part 2 you are given three pictures. This exam is also done in pairs – or trios – and even though both candidates won’t talk together at this point, all candidates should be aware of what’s going on with the other at all times.
The interlocutor will give you these three pictures which might not look correlated, however, you have to talk about them for 1 minute without interruption. When you are done, he/she will ask for the other candidate to comment on what you have said for about 30 seconds – and this is why all candidates should be aware of what the other has said, otherwise when the second person has to answer his/her speech might not seem connected at all and the assessor might think that he/she doesn’t have level enough to understand and respond to what was given.
After that the situation is inverted, the other candidate receives a different set of photographs and you have to listen and comment when he/she has finished speaking.
There is always a couple of questions attached to the pictures, the interlocutor asks these questions, but they are also written at the top of the page to remind you what you should talk about.
This exam shouldn’t take more than 4 minutes – except if you are in a trio, then it’s up to 6 minutes since each of the candidates should speak for no longer than 1 minute and 30 seconds. If you are in a trio, you will have another person sharing his/her thoughts and you or another candidate should comment on it – all the candidates have their long turns and 30 minutes to respond to the other candidate’s long turn.
For you to practice, I brought a sample with some possible answers so that you can understand how the exam works. First, the interlocutor introduces the topic and say:
In this part of the test, I’m going to give each of you three pictures. I’d like you to talk about two of them on your own for about a minute, and to answer a question briefly about your partner’s picture.
(Candidate A), it’s your turn first. Here are your pictures. They show people doing things together.
I’d like you to compare two of the pictures, and say why the people might be doing these things together, and how the people might be feeling.
All right?
In my opinion, these people are enjoying each other’s company in different types of activities. For example, in the first picture, there are five people together in the mountains in a cold place. They probably decided to go hiking together, which is a very good activity to do in groups, since it’s dangerous to do it alone: one person might fall and hurt him/herself badly. Moreover, it is interesting to do it with other people due to the loneliness a person might feel by doing it alone. You can also see that these people in picture 3 are happy. It seems that the boys are enjoying each other’s company while playing instruments. They might be in a band and that would be the reason for playing together, or they are simply enjoying playing songs together and practicing.
Thank you.
(Candidate B), in which situation do you think people benefit most from being together? …. (Why?)
As (Candidate A) said, I think it might be dangerous to go hiking all by yourself due to the loneliness and due to the danger of getting hurt and not being able to communicate that to anyone. Therefore I believe that people in picture one might benefit more than people from the other pictures that might be only enjoying the other’s company.
Thank you.
As I mentioned after Candidate A answered and Candidate B replied, it inverts. Here is the second part of the sample, but I’ll leave it blank for you to practice:
Thank you. (Can I have the booklet, please?)
Now, (Candidate B), here are your pictures. They show students doing different activities.
I’d like you to compare two of the pictures, and say how students can benefit from doing these different activities, and how helpful the activities might be in preparing for their future lives.
All right?
…
Thank you.
(Candidate B), which of these activities do you think is the most useful? …. (Why?)
…
Thank you. (Can I have your booklet, please?)
And this is the end of C1 Speaking Exam Part 2. I hope that this has cleared some doubts/questions you might have had about this test.
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Have a great week,
Patty