Cambridge C1 CAE Speaking: How to do Part 2

Do you want to stop being afraid of the speaking part? Would you like to study some typical phrases and expressions that will make you feel more confident for your Cambridge C1 CAE Speaking exam? If you answered ‘yes’ to both questions, keep on reading this blog. Otherwise, I don’t think this is the right blog for you.

The speaking part of the exam is usually one of the most feared parts of the exam as you don’t have too much time to think or because it is not so predictable. In fact, there are many things we can predict and many things you can do to feel ready to speak fluently in this important part of your exam.

Today, I will discuss Cambridge C1 CAE Speaking Part 2: how to deal with picture comparison and how to answer the second question with confidence and, most importantly, with the type of expressions and vocabulary the examiners want to hear.

Timing and type of task

Cambridge C1 CAE Speaking Part 2 takes 4 minutes in total. Yes, only 4 minutes in total divided into two one-minute-long turns – you and the other candidate will compare two out of three pictures in one minute – and then, you will briefly answer (you’ve got 30 seconds for this answer) a question about your partner’s pictures.

What is the focus?

The focus is on organising a longer discourse, comparing, describing, expressing opinions and speculating.

It is crucial to know that you should focus on these things, as this will help you organise your discourse and use specific structures and expressions to make sure you are doing what you are supposed to be doing rather than speaking for the sake of speaking.

Useful Phrases to:

Compare and contrast:

• Both pictures show…
• In both pictures we can see…
• In the first photo the people* are…
• The main difference is that…
• While/whereas / on the one hand / on the other hand…
• Although both are…

*Try to avoid using general words such as people. If possible, be specific:

– middle-aged students are

-the teenagers playing soccer on the pitch are…

-the young person on the left seems to be…

To speculate

Speculating is one of the most important things you need to do at this level. If you want to show your level you should definitely remember to speculate and part 2 is the best to do so because sometimes you don’t know exactly what’s going on (some pictures are not that clear).

In order to do so, you can use the following phrases:

• I guess they/he/she (remember to be as specific as possible, so replace these subject pronouns with any specific information you can get from the picture)
• They might / may / might well / may well + be + doing…
• Based on (the expression on their faces) I would say that…
• I think it’s quite clear that they …
• They may/might have + past participle: They might have chosen to celebrate in that way because/since/as…
• From what I can see I guess (…)

To answer the questions

In this part, you need to answer two questions so if you use the following expressions to make sure you answer both:

• Regarding the first question, I would say that…
• When it comes to (mention something related to the second question)

In the same answer above you will see how you can combine the phrases in a good coherent and advanced answer.

What else should you consider?

As in any part of the Cambridge C1 CAE Speaking exam, you need to use specific vocabulary related to the topic you are presented as well as phrasal verbs and why not one idiom.

It doesn’t mean that you should force yourself to do so, to search for one phrasal verb, one idiom and a couple of words related to the topic. However, the more you practice, the more naturally these expressions will come.

Sample Task and Sample Answer

You can find this and other sample pictures in the Free Teachers’ Handbook.

What if you don’t finish answering the question?

It’s perfectly fine, don’t you panic. You will see that the more you practice the more you will be able to deal with the timing. One minute seems to last ten at the beginning but little by little you end up realising that it flies so it is worth practising various times until it flows naturally and you are able to describe, speculate and compare.

How to answer the second question:

After the other candidate has answered his or her questions, you will be asked a short question related to his or her pictures. This question is much shorter – around 30 seconds – and it has to do with your personal opinion.

What you should do is:

• Keep it short, go straight to the point
• Give your opinion first and provide an example afterward

Sample question:

Examiner: Which type of event would you enjoy most?

Candidate: Oh, it’s easy to answer that, you know, I’m a sports fan and I would definitely enjoy being a spectator at the tennis match. In fact, last month I was about to get the tickets for one important match I was looking forward to going to but I ended up waiting too much so they run out of tickets. Shame on me, next time I won’t miss it.

As you can see, it’s not rocket science (another idiom to use!), the key is practising as much as possible and having a study buddy and someone to provide you with feedback.

If you’d like to take a look at the Blog The seven most useful idioms for Business English you can find some inspiration for business-related topics and don’t miss the blog on How to Write an Essay for C1 Advanced (CAE).

Do you need professional guidance? Would you like me to guide you and give you feedback so that you ace your speaking exam? Book a FREE session and tell me when you need to sit for the exam, we will make a plan to make sure that you feel more confident: Let’s Talk!