What’s in Speaking Part 1 (Interview) ?| B2 First (FCE)
B2 First (FCE): Speaking – All Parts
- Part 1 (Interview)
- Part 2 (Long turn)
- Part 3 (Collaborative task)
- Part 4 (Discussion)
B2 First (FCE): Speaking Part 1 – Format
Conversation with the examiner. The examiner asks speaking questions and you may have to give information about your interests, studies, career, etc.
We call Part 1 the interview because the interlocutor will ask you questions – interview you – about yourself. You will not have to speak to the other candidate, though you may if you wish.
The speaking questions will centre around your work/study, leisure time and future plans. You may be asked about the sports you enjoy, for example, or your travel and holiday experiences…
It is important that you give adequate answers; that means no ‘yes’ or `no‘ responses. For example, if the examiner asks you where you live, rather than simply saying; ‘I live in London, England’s capital city.’ You could say; ‘I live in an area of London called Streatham, with my family – my mum, dad and baby sister. We live in a fourth-floor flat. It’s nice and cosy, but sometimes I wish it was a little less noisy outside – there’s so much traffic on the road.‘ In other words, say as much as you can.
B2 First (FCE) Speaking Part 1 Video
CAE, FCE, CPE
Speaking Practice (On-line)
Find your speaking partner, practice and prepare for exams together.Use our base of questions/topics to prepare for your speaking exam
B2 First (FCE): Speaking Part 1 – Speaking Questions
Below you will find sample speaking questions that may appear on the Cambridge exam:
In this first part of the Speaking test, the examiner will ask you questions about topics such as family life, daily routines, or how you spend your free time.
- How many people are there in your family? (Who are they?)
- Which family member do you spend the most time with?
- Could you tell me about your family home?
- Do you like your neighbourhood?
- Is there anything you would like to change about your neighbourhood?
In this first part of the Speaking test, the examiner will ask you questions about topics such as family life, daily routines, or how you spend your free time.
- What are your favourite and least favourite subjects?
- What is the most important thing that you’ve learned at school?
- Where do you go when you have to study? (Why do you like to study there?)
- Is there something new you’d really like to learn about? (Why?)
- Do you plan to study in the future? (What do you want to study?)
In this first part of the Speaking test, the examiner will ask you questions about topics such as family life, daily routines, or how you spend your free time.
- Would you prefer to work indoors or outdoors? (Why?)
- Do you prefer working on your own or with other people? (Why?)
- What kind of work would you like to do in the future? (Why?)
- Is there a job you would never want to do? (Why?)
- What do you think would be the most difficult job to do? (Why?)
In this first part of the Speaking test, the examiner will ask you questions about topics such as family life, daily routines, or how you spend your free time.
- Who do you spend your free time with?
- How much time do you spend at home?
- Is it easy to meet new people where you live? (Why? / Why not?)
- Where do you like to go to meet your friends?
- Have you got any plans for this weekend? (What are you going to do?)
In this first part of the Speaking test, the examiner will ask you questions about topics such as family life, daily routines, or how you spend your free time.
- What’s your favourite way of travelling? (Why do you like it?)
- What’s the longest journey you’ve ever been on? (Tell us about it.)
- How do you pass the time on a long journey?
- Do you prefer to travel abroad on holiday or to stay closer to home? (Why?)
- Where do you think you’ll spend your holidays next year?
FCE, CAE, CPE
Practice Tests Online
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In this first part of the Speaking test, the examiner will ask you questions about topics such as family life, daily routines, or how you spend your free time.
- How do you find out what’s happening in the world?
- Do you have a favourite newspaper or magazine? (Why do you like it?)
- Do you use the Internet? (What sort of things do you use it for?)
- What’s the difference between reading the news in the newspaper or on the internet?
- Do you think computers will replace newspapers and TV in the future?
In this first part of the Speaking test, the examiner will ask you questions about topics such as family life, daily routines, or how you spend your free time.
- How much TV do you watch in a week?
- How often do you go to the cinema?
- Tell us about a film you’ve seen recently.
- Would you rather go to the cinema or the theatre? Why?
Have you ever been to a concert? (What did you see?)
In this first part of the Speaking test, the examiner will ask you questions about topics such as family life, daily routines, or how you spend your free time.
- Which area of your country would you like to get to know better? (Why?)
- What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever visited? (Tell us about it.)
- Have you ever used your English on holiday? (What did you use it for?)
- Do you like to plan your holidays just before you go, or do you not plan in advance? (Why?)
- If you could go anywhere on holiday, where would you go? (Why?)
In this first part of the Speaking test, the examiner will ask you questions about topics such as family life, daily routines, or how you spend your free time.
- What sort of music do you listen to? (Why do you enjoy it?)
- Do you like shopping? (What sort of things do you buy?)
- What’s your favourite food? (Why do you like it?)
- What do you like to do at the weekend?
- Tell us about a day you’ve really enjoyed recently
In this first part of the Speaking test, the examiner will ask you questions about topics such as family life, daily routines, or how you spend your free time.
- What sorts of books do you enjoy reading most?
- What is the most popular sport in your country?
- What do you do to exercise?
- Does anyone you know have an interesting hobby?
- If you could take up a new hobby, what would you do?
CAE, FCE, CPE
Speaking Practice (On-line)
Find your speaking partner, practice and prepare for exams together.Use our base of questions/topics to prepare for your speaking exam
B2 First (FCE): Speaking Part 1 – FAQ
What do I have to practise?
Practise talking about yourself as often as possible, but avoid going into the exam with a list of answers that you have memorised.
The examiner will spot this and will adjust your score downward. One of the best ways to practise is by brainstorming – thinking of as many things as possible to say in response to a question, making some notes if necessary. But after you have thought of the ideas and made some notes, try to speak without the aid of your notes and without having memorised them. With practice, you will find yourself improving your ability to think on your feet and paraphrase, as well as your overall fluency.
How long do I have to speak?
2 minutes