CAE SPEAKING PART 2
Part 2 (Long Turn)
In this part, you should speak for one minute coherently, use language to describe, compare and contrast, hypothesise and comment upon a topic.
Part 2 of the CAE Speaking test lasts about 4 minutes (six minutes for groups of three). Candidate A is passed a set of pictures and has to choose two of the pictures to speak without interruption or help for one minute. When Candidate A has finished the examiner asks Candidate B to answer a brief question about the pictures. The roles are then reversed: Candidate B is given a different set of pictures and speaks for 1 minute followed by Candidate A, who answers a brief question about the pictures.
Example Task
At this stage of the interview the examiner will say something on the lines of:
Q: In this part of the exam I'm going to give each of you three photographs and I'd like you to talk about them on your own for about a minute and also to answer a question briefly about your partner's photographs.
Q: Here are your pictures (Candidate A). They show people in different educational settings. I'd like you to talk about two of these photos, compare the settings and say how the students may be feeling in each one.
Q: All right?
Notice there are TWO instructions here: first to 'compare' the photographs and also to speculate on how the students 'may be feeling'. In Part 2 you are required to show you can do more than simply describe and will need to show the ability to speculate or hypothesize on a particular topic or scene.
Tips!
1. The picture set will have a general theme but try to find two that are either very similar or very different in some way. This will give you a basis on which to compare and/or contrast the two pictures. In the example above, pictures two and three show two contrasting educational settings: the formal lecture theatre in picture two compared to the relaxed outdoor scene in picture three.
2. In terms of hypothesizing, pictures two and three offer a good opportunity to speculate on how students in each contrasting situation might be feeling. Think about opportunities for hypothesizing when choosing your pictures.
3. Signpost the end of your talk by adding a personal reaction to the pictures. For example:
'The two people in picture three look like they're enjoying themselves but personally, I think I'd prefer to spend my study time in a lecture theatre where I'd be more able to concentrate on learning'.
4. Many people preparing for the CAE oral exam worry about not having enough to say in the time available or not having enough time to express their ideas. The best way to get the timing right is to practise making short talks on various topics on your own. (Or in front of a loved one if you're feeling brave!)
