PAPER 5: Speaking - Part 4 - Three-way discussion - Tips

PAPER 5: SPEAKING (14 MINUTES) 4 parts in total to speak on – 40 points in total

PAPER 5: Speaking - Part 4 - Three-way discussion - Tips to remember while in the exam

Part 4: THREE-WAY DISCUSSION - 4 minutes

Tips to remember while in the exam

NB: This part is a run on from Part 3. It may be related directly, or indirectly, to Part 3. It is a three-way task: the examiner and two/three candidates. Candidates may speak together and the examiner interrupts/joins in whenever.

- You can be asked to talk amongst yourselves, giving your opinions about a subject related to the photos in Part 3.

- Express and justify opinions, agreeing and/or disagreeing. 

- General conversation using set questions (cues) from the examiner.

- How you develop your arguments and responses will determine if the examiner interjects or redirects the conversation.

- There may be four or five set questions that the examiner can use with both of you as follow-up questions (cues), just to see how you handle a so-called “out-of-the-blue” question.

- Four or five questions will be plenty enough even if you should give shortish answers.

- Keep the communication going between you and your partner(s). In this way you are taking control and not the examiner.

- The more you all speak together (you, your partner{s} along with the examiner) and answer the question, the fewer throw-in questions will appear. This is your time to bloom in English so have fun and be natural!

- If you both stall, the examiner will throw in more questions (cues) to get things rolling again. Try to avoid this wherever possible!

- Basically how you interact with the other candidate(s) and/or the examiner with the follow-on questions (cues) will determine just how much an independent user of English you really are at this B2 level.

- Answer all the examiner’s questions in full.
- Here is your opportunity to demonstrate that you are capable of interacting with your partner(s) and the examiner.

At the end of the test:

- When the examiner has finished asking the required number of questions in Part 4 or the time has come to a satisfactory end, the examiner will then bring to an end the test.

- Once you have been finished the speaking test, the examiner will tell you both:

            “That is the end of the test. Well done both/all of you. Thank you!”

- Once this happens, you should follow the examiners lead and exchange farewells.

- Thank them for their time and say goodbye.

- Leave the room quietly.

- No talking or muttering to each other until you’re well outside the testing area.