In this blog we will be learning how to get excellent grades in speaking.
Don’t be stressed! Cambridge will not ask you difficult questions at the beginning of your speaking test. They want you to relax and give good answers.
You are going to work in a group of two or three students, which means it might be very helpful to practise speaking with two other friends before your exam.
What kind of questions should I expect?
| What’s your name?
Where do you come from? Do you work, or are you a student? |
Look at these questions. I’m sure you can answer them easily. Don’t forget to find out how to pronounce your profession correctly. If you work as a “communication tower climber”, it might take time to remember the job title😊
| What did you do yesterday evening?
Do you think English will be useful for you in the future? Tell us about a place you would like to visit in the future? |
As you can see, knowing the Present Simple verb tense will not help you to answer these questions. You should be familiar with Past Simple and Future Simple as well. Use a range of tenses and add extra information.
| Do you like talking to your friends? |
How to answer this question?
I like to talk… Definitely not!
I would like to talk… again a mistake!
Yes, I do! I like talking to my friends when I don’t have classes!
Don’t forget to use the grammar of the question. It will help you avoid unnecessary mistakes.
| What do you enjoy doing in your free time? |
This question allows you to demonstrate that you know adverbs of frequency.
always
I usually play tennis with my friends.
often
How much time do I have?
The first part of the speaking exam takes about 2 minutes. You don’t talk to your partner. Be focused on the examiner only.
What should I do if I don’t understand the question?
You can always ask the examiner to repeat it. You will not lose any marks.
| Could you repeat it, please?Could you say that again, please?
Sorry, I didn’t understand your question. |
It’s much better to give the correct answer!
How to get better marks?
First of all, listen carefully to what your partner says. Show respect and be very attentive. You can nod😊
Use different grammatical structures you have learnt before.
For example, “be going to” is perfect to talk about future plans.
Time expressions, such as yesterday, last weekend, next year, will help you to talk about the past or future.
