CAE speaking exam

• English
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 4,5

Today's programme - 

Speaking practice part 1

Speaking practice part 2

3.2 Angry relationships

Idiom: 

drive/send someone round the bend/twist

Meaning

Make someone very angry (or sometimes very bored)

Example:

His lack of consideration is driving me round the twist.

Today's learning aims:

Knowing what CAE speaking exam entails

Useful phrases 

CAE speaking part 1

Two- way conversation between candidates and examiner. This lasts for 2 minutes and you should be able to ask and answer personal questions. This part tests your ability to use general. interactional and social language.

CAE Part 1

How important is sport in your life?

• Tell us about a story that is currently in the news.

• What was your journey here like today?

• Which time of year do you enjoy most?

CAE speaking part 2

You have one minute to talk about two out of three pictures you will be given. You need to answer 2 questions while comparing and speculating about the photo (for 1 minute, each). This part lasts 4 minutes (in total) and tests your ability to describe, speculate, compare and comment during a longer and organised conversation.

For example:

Starting off:

Starting your comparison

Both of these pictures show…

These two pictures show…

The two situations in these pictures are…

Should only be 10 seconds

Then get comparing, whilst answering the provided questions..

Example sentence starters..

These two pictures are similar because…

These two situations are similar in that…

In both pictures we can see…

One similarity between these two pictures/situations is that…

Another similarity might be that…

One thing that these two situations have in common is that…

One thing that these two pictures share is that…

The most obvious similarity is that…

These two pictures share the fact that…

Both pictures (…) in the same way.

Part 2

Typical Questions:

How might the people be feeling?

What might they be thinking?

Why are they doing this?

What has just happened?

Speculation:

Present:

They could/might/may be…………..

They can’t be………………..

They must be…………………

Perhaps they…………..

They look as if they……………….

Their expressions suggest that……………….

Past

They could/might/may have just + past participle (very recent events)

They can’t have just + past participle (very recent events)

They must have just + past participle (very recent events)

Perhaps they have…………..

They look as if they have……………….

Your Turn...

NOTE: At first, Candidate A gets their three pictures and two questions to speculate about. Like discussed.

After that, Candidate B gets a question about Candidate A's photos and has to answer the question for about 20-30 seconds.

Let's take a look and try! Get in pairs!

Whilst listening to each other, are we speculating enough and answering the questions?

(Examiner says) Candidate A: I’d like you to compare two of the pictures and say why people might be interested in eating each place, and what food would be like in each place. (1 minute)

After one minute then examiner says: Candidate B: In which place do you think you might get the healthiest food? (Why?)

(approximately 30 seconds) 

Now, Candidate B, here are your photos. 

They show people doing different types of exercise.

Candidate B:I’d like you to compare two of the pictures and say why people might have chosen to do this type of exercise, and how effective each type of exercise might be. 

Candidate A, which type of exercise do you think is the most effective? (Why?)
 

(approximately 30 seconds) 

Other examples..

Speaking: Part 2 (the long turn)

Text

Which people do you think are enjoying dancing the most? (Why?)

Part 3 (4-5 minutes)

Part 3 of the speaking exam is a two-way interaction between candidates and lasts 4-5 minutes. You discuss a problem solving task and are tested on your ability to interact, exchange ideas, express opinions, agree/disagree, evaluate and reach a decision.

Part 3: Collaborative task

You have to be overly polite..

START with these sentences..

Shall we start with … ?

Maybe we could begin by looking at …

Why don’t we start with this one?

One option worth considering is …

Move on with these to show interaction:

Inviting your partner to speak (very important for interaction)

What do you think about that?

Do you agree, or do you see it differently?

How do you feel about this option?

Would you add anything to that?

Agreeing

That’s a good point, and I also think …

I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re right …

Exactly, and another benefit could be …

Disagreeing

I see what you mean, but I’m not sure I completely agree …

That’s true to some extent; however, …

I agree up to a point, although …

I’m not entirely convinced because …

Just incase you have someone who blabbers on!

Shall we move on to another option?

We haven’t talked about this one yet.

Maybe we should consider one more idea.

Comparing options

This might be more effective than … because …

Both options have advantages, but …

MOST IMPORTANT

Talk about 2–3 options

Give short opinions

Ask your partner questions

The examiner says:

Now, I’d like you to talk about something together for about two minutes.

Here are some different types of tasks you might be given as part of a job interview and a question for you to discuss. 

Now, talk to each other about what each of following job interview tasks might enable employers to learn about candidates.  (2 - 3 minutes)

Now you have about 1 minute to decide which two tasks are most effective?

Work together to come to an agreement

Another example:

Easier...

Now, talk to each other about how important studying these subjects is for a person’s future life.

After 2 minutes: Thank you. Now you have a minute to decide which of these subjects requires the most study time at school.

Talk to each other about how important these things are when considering living in a different country for work.

Now you have about a minute to decide which aspect is the least important when moving to a different country for work.

Part 4 

Part 4 are mainly questions about the subject of part 3. Make sure to listen to each other, because you'll be asked to expand on your partner's idea. Answer in full sentences. Examples: 

To what extent should students be able to choose what they study at school? (Why?)

• Should it be the responsibility of schools to teach moral values to young people? (Why? / Why not?)

• What – if any – are the advantages of single-sex education? (Why?)

• How can young people benefit from school trips and other school activities outside the classroom? (Why?)

Any questions?

Homework: 

Go to youtube and type: "CAE speaking simulator" 

Find one and practice with a fellow classmate.