Paper 3 Speaking

Paper 3:

Speaking tasks

8–10 mins

WHAT DO CANDIDATES
PART TIMING INTERACTION TASK TYPES
HAVE TO DO?

Interlocutor
Interlocutor asks
1 3–4 minutes --^
Candidate
questions to each
candidate in turn
Respond to questions, giving factual
or personal information.

Candidate Interlocutor

2 5–6 minutes ↕
Candidate
--^
Candidate
Discussion task
with visual stimulus
Candidates discuss likes,
dislikes and give reasons.

Speaking 43
 Advice by task
This section shows example screenshots from the A2 Key for Schools exam. Please scan the QR code, or
click on the link to access the full sample test. camengli.sh/3YITkt6
See these tasks in full from page 48.

Speaking Part 1

Test 1 Phase 2
Interlocutor
Part 1 (3-4 minutes)
Now, let’s talk about school.
Phase 1
Back-up prompts
Interlocutor
A, what subject do you like best? Do you like maths?
To both candidates Good morning / afternoon / evening.
Can I have your mark sheets, please? What clothes do you wear to school? Do you wear a uniform?

Hand over the mark sheets to the Assessor. B, What time do you finish school? Do you finish school at 4 o’clock?

I’m …………, and this is ………… . What do you eat after school? Do you eat snacks after school?

Extended Response Back-up questions

To Candidate A What’s your name? Now A, please tell me something about the Do you get a lot of homework every day?
homework you have to do. Did you do any homework yesterday?
To Candidate B And what’s your name? Do you like homework? (Why?/Why not?)

Interlocutor

Now, let’s talk about home.

Back-up prompts
Back-up prompts
B, how old are you? B, who do you live with? Do you live with your family?

How many bedrooms are there in your house? Are there three bedrooms in your house?
Where do you live? Do you live in … (name of district / town
etc.)?
A, where do you watch TV at home? Do you watch TV in the kitchen?
Thank you.
What’s your favourite room in your house? Do you like your bedroom?

A, how old are you?

Extended Response Back-up questions
Now, B, please tell me what you like doing at Do you like cooking?
Where do you live? Do you live in … (name of district / town home. Do you play computer games?
etc.)? Did you stay at home last weekend?
Thank you.

THE TASK
f This part of the test assesses the candidates’ ability to answer simple questions about themselves. The focus is on
interactional and social language.
f The interlocutor leads a general conversation with each of the candidates.
2 3

f In Part 1, Phase 1, the interlocutor asks questions of a factual and personal nature to each candidate in turn.
f Part 1, Phase 2 takes the form of a topic-based interview. The interlocutor asks two short-answer questions to each
candidate about their daily life, interests, likes, dislikes etc. followed by one longer ‘Tell me something about …’ question.
f Candidates respond directly to the interlocutor – they do not talk to each other in this task.
f Part 1 lasts 3–4 minutes in total.

HOW TO APPROACH THE TASK

f It’s normal for candidates to feel nervous at the beginning of the Speaking test. This conversation uses everyday, simple
language. It is designed to help settle candidates into the test.
f Candidates should listen carefully to the questions and give relevant answers.
f Candidates should avoid giving one-word answers, but try to extend their answers with reasons and examples wherever
possible. However, they are not expected to give very long answers at this stage.
f If candidates have any difficulty in understanding a question, they should ask the interlocutor to repeat it.

46
 Paper 3

Speaking Part 2

Test 1
Do you like these different hobbies?
Part 2 (5-6 minutes)

Phase 1
Interlocutor
 3-4 minutes
Now, in this part of the test you are going to talk together.

Place Part 2 booklet, open at Task 2a, in front of candidates.

Here are some pictures that show different hobbies.

Do you like these different hobbies? Say why or why not. I’ll say that again.

Do you like these different hobbies? Say why or why not.

All right? Now, talk together.

Candidates ………………………………………………………..
 Allow a minimum of 1 minute (maximum of 2 minutes) before moving on to the
following questions

Interlocutor / Do you think …

Candidates … playing football is fun? Optional prompt
Use as appropriate. … playing an instrument is difficult? Why?/Why not?
Ask each candidate … playing computer games is boring?
at least one … reading is interesting? What do you think?
question. … painting/drawing is easy?

Interlocutor So, A, which of these hobbies do you like best?

And you, B, which of these hobbies do you like best?

Thank you. (Can I have the booklet, please?) Retrieve Part 2 booklet.
Phase 2

Interlocutor Now, do you prefer to spend your free time alone or with other people, B? (Why?)
 Allow up to 2
minutes
And what about you, A? (Do you prefer to spend your free time alone or with
other people?) (Why?)

Which is more fun, playing sports or watching sports, A? (Why?)

And you, B? (Which is more fun, playing sports or watching sports?) (Why?)

Thank you. That is the end of the test.

THE TASK
f 4
In Part 2, Phase 1, the candidates talk to each other. The interlocutor sets up the task, but does not take part in this
phase.
f Part 2, Phase 1 takes the form of a discussion based on five illustrations representing an appropriate topic. e.g. hobbies.
The candidates are asked to discuss the activities, things or places illustrated.
5

f The interlocutor allows candidates to speak together for 1–2 minutes before intervening to extend the conversation
by asking questions related to the activities, things or places. A rounding-off short-answer question asked to both
candidates closes this phase.
f In Part 2, Phase 2, the interlocutor leads a follow-up discussion on the same topic as that discussed in Phase 1. Each
candidate is asked two questions.

HOW TO APPROACH THE TASK

f Candidates should look at the illustrations on the visual prompt carefully and identify the activity, place or thing each
one represents.
f Candidates should aim to talk about all of the activities, things or places, saying which they like and dislike, and why.
f Candidates are assessed on their use of appropriate language and interactive strategies, not on their ideas. They
should elaborate on their answers and respond to each other’s utterances, for example, by giving their opinion on their
partner’s idea or asking a question to help keep the conversation going.
f Possible topics include activities and places relating to daily life, school, leisure activities, transport, towns and cities, and
holidays.

Speaking Advice by task 47