PART 1

Tip 

• The examiners want you to perform to the best of your ability and the test is designed to give you every opportunity to speak, but examiners can only rate what they hear from you. So make sure you speak up and use the time as effectively as possible.
• In Part 1, if the examiner asks you a question which can be answered by 'Yes' or 'No', try to give some extra information to extend your answer. Yes/No questions in English are often an invitation to say more.
• Make sure you answer the question you are asked. Do not come to the interview with a learned talk.

The examiner will ask you questions about yourself, such as:

What Is your name?

Where do you live?

What family members do you live with?

What are you studying?

What do you like about your studies?

What do you like about learning English?

How often do you use English?

PART 2

The topic for your talk will be written on a card which the examiner will hand you. Read it carefully and then make some brief notes.

A city you have visited

Describe a city you have visited which has impressed you.

You should say:     

where it is situated

why you visited it

what you liked about it 

At the end of your talk, the examiner will ask one or two brief questions to signal that it is time to stop talking. For example, he or she might ask you:

Do you like cities generally?

Would you like to live in the city you spoke about?

Tip 

• In Part 2, try to make your talk as interesting as possible. You have a minute to prepare what you are going to say and you can make some notes. Write down some key words or ideas only. Do not write out everything you are going to say.
• Look carefully at the prompt card on this page. Think of a city which impressed you.
• Think of 2 or 3 things you really remember about the city. Try to interest the examiner in what you say.

PART 3

Once your talk in Part 2 is over, your examiner will ask you further questions related to the topic in Part 2. The examiner may ask you to speak about these points.

A city you have visited

•  advantages of living in a big city'
•  negative aspects of crowded cities
•  architectural design
•  paying for the services
•  transport

TIP

*   Look at the follow-up discussion ideas for Part 3 on this page. See how they are broadly linked to the topic of Part 2.

*   Make a few notes in response to each of the prompts given here. The discussion could take any of these directions.

*   Try to think of at least five other interesting ideas linked to this topic. Remember! You can take the discussion in a direction of your choice, if it is appropriately linked.

 *  Don't be afraid to take the initiative in Part 3 of the speaking test. This is your chance to show your fluency, your ability to give and support an opinion and your range of grammatical forms and vocabulary.