CAE and FCE Speaking guide

The Speaking part of both CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) and FCE (First Certificate in English) contains 4 different exercises. In this post you will find tips and strategies for each one of them, as well as model questions, taken from the official 2015 Sample Paper.  

Part 1

Personal questions

2 minutes

Shortly answer to each question.
Do not extend yourself too much.
Be objective and realistic.
Give yourself time to think, but do not hesitate on starting.

Model questions:

Likes and dislikes
• How do you like to spend your evenings? ...... (What do you do?) ...... (Why?)
• Do you prefer to spend time on your own or with other people? ...... (Why?)
• Tell us about a film you really like.
• Do you like cooking? ...... (What sort of things do you cook?)

Special occasions
• Do you normally celebrate special occasions with friends or family? ...... (Why?)
• Tell us about a festival or celebration in (candidate’s country).
• What did you do on your last birthday?
• Are you going to do anything special this weekend? ...... (Where are you going to go?) ......
(What are you going to do?)

Media
• How much TV do you watch in a week? ...... (Would you prefer to watch more TV than that
or less?) ...... (Why?)
• Tell us about a TV programme you’ve seen recently.
• Do you use the internet much? ...... (Why? / Why not?)
• Do you ever listen to the radio? ...... (What programmes do you like?) ...... (Why?

Part 2

Monologue (analysis of pictures)

1 minute

Stick to the question proposed.
Incorporate clear and specific ideas.
Do not be “childish”; do not state the obvious.

Suggested structure:

10 sec: analyse photo 1
10 sec: analyse photo 2
10 sec: compare both photos
15 sec: hypothesis
15 sec: personal opinion

Model question:
Why have the people decided to travel in these situations?

Part 3

Discussion with diagram

2 or 3 minutes

THIS IS NOT A MONOLOGUE!
Start by stating one clear idea and let your partner speak.
You do not have to talk about all points.
Be clear and specific.
Stick to the question proposed.
Ask about your partner’s opinion.
React to your partner’s answers
It might be a role-play situation.

There is a follow up question not written (1 min), where you usually have to reach an agreement or rank the options given.

Model question:

Part 4

Opinion questions about a topic

2 to 3 minutes

Questions based on the topic of the diagram.
Shortly answer to each question.
React to your partner’s answers if asked.
Be objective and specific.

Model questions:
• What is the advantage of keeping fit with friends?
• Some people say it is a waste of time going to a gym because you can exercise outside for free. What do you think?
• Is it possible to live healthily without spending a lot of money? ...... (Why? / Why not?)
• Do you think the government should spend more money on sports and leisure facilities? ...... (Why? / Why not?)
• Some people say it’s a school’s responsibility to help students keep fit. Do you agree?
• Do you think advertising makes people worry too much about keeping fit and how they look? ...... (Why? / Why not?)