B2 First

Speaking test video: examiner feedback

Part 1
Simon Santiago

Simon answers all questions in a natural Santiago answers all questions

way. He includes relevant details and his
answers are about the right length.
Simon attempts some range in his use of
sentence structures and vocabulary – e.g. I
think my brother because he’s the nearest
person to me ….. I play a lot of sports with
him. There are some errors in what he says
– e.g. one friend I know since I’m two years
old ….. we did a lot of fun parties. However,
the errors don’t impede understanding.
Simon’s pronunciation is generally clear
and accurate.
appropriately, although he could take the
opportunity to say a little more. For
example, when he says he wants to learn
French because it’s interesting, he could
explain why he thinks it’s interesting.
The language that Santiago uses is generally
accurate and natural. There are a few
grammatical errors – e.g. I would like to
learn other language …….. I like read books
– but these errors don’t prevent the
listener from understanding him.
Santiago’s pronunciation is generally clear.

Tips for Part 1

• The questions in Part 1 are about your everyday life and include topics such as
people you know, what you do in your free time, your studies, work and holidays.
Practise talking about these topics with other students and people you know who
speak English.

• Say as much as you can in Part 1. The examiner will stop you if he or she thinks you
have said enough. However, your answers should be natural, and you shouldn’t
prepare by memorising little speeches.
Part 2
Simon
Simon gives an adequate description of the
two photographs. What he says is clear and
he makes the comparison that there are
three people working together in the first
picture but only one man looking at the
laptop on his own in the second picture.
However, Simon seems to run out of things
to say and doesn’t speak for the full
minute. When comparing the two pictures
he could say more about what he sees in
the pictures – e.g. the three people are
sitting outside at a table, possibly in a café
whereas the man is on a bench in a train
station; the people in the first picture are
wearing casual clothes, while the man in
the second pictures is dressed more
formally in a suit. Simon could also
speculate a little more about what the
people are looking at on the laptops – e.g.
the people in the first picture might be
reading an article and discussing it, whereas
the man in the second picture might be
writing emails to colleagues and clients.
Simon uses appropriate natural language to
describe the pictures – e.g. he looks like
somebody who works with finance … he’s
on his way to work.
Simon’s language is generally accurate,
though he starts by using the wrong verb
form to describe what the people are doing
– e.g. they learn together for a presentation
…. they work for a test together. However,
he does correct this – e.g. he’s working
alone …. he’s checking action, or something
like this.
Simon’s pronunciation is generally clear,
with appropriate stress and intonation.
Santiago
Santiago gives adequate descriptions of his
two photographs. What he says is clear and
he explains why he thinks people are
learning about the natural world in the two
different places.
Santiago speaks for the full minute, but he
is a little hesitant at times and could say
more about the similarities and differences
between the two pictures – e.g. in both
picture the people are outside in nature,
but in the first picture, adults are looking at
wild animals from a distance, whereas in
the second picture a group of children with
a teacher are looking at leaves and plants.
Santiago uses appropriate language to
describe the pictures and the meaning of
what he says is never in doubt. However,
he makes a number of errors with both
grammatical structures and vocabulary –
e.g. a teacher who is teaching to their
students … people don’t really matter the
world and the natural places …. the teacher
is learning about how not to destroy the
place.
Santiago’s pronunciation is generally clear.
However, in some words he puts too much
stress on certain syllables – e.g. animals,
elephants, natural. In each of these words,
the stress should be on the first syllable and
the vowel in the final syllable should be a
weak /ə/ sound; Santiago says the final
syllable with a strong /ɑ/ sound.
Tips for Part 2

• Listen carefully to the examiner’s instructions and don’t forget to read the
question above the pictures. If you’re not about something the examiner has said,
you can ask him or her to repeat; you will not lose marks for this.

• Practise different ways of expressing similarity and difference – e.g. one thing
that’s similar is that …..; in this picture there’s ….. whereas in the other picture ….. .
Structures and linking words like these will help you organise what you are saying,
and will also help you to speak more fluently.

• When you are asked to comment on your partner’s pictures, the question is
usually about what you feel or like. Try to extend your answer by giving reasons,
and examples from your own experience will often help you to do this. Say as
much as you can; the examiner will interrupt you to stop you if necessary.
Part 3
Simon
Simon takes the initiative and starts the
discussion, which is good. He also listens
carefully to what his partner says and
responds in an appropriate and natural
way. He also moves the discussion to
another point when he thinks it’s
necessary.
The language that Simon uses in Part 3 is
clear and reasonably accurate, and he
shows some range of vocabulary and
grammatical structures – e.g. When you get
a last-minute flight it could also be very
cheap …. it’s important to have a plan B ….
you can change your mind. He does,
however, produce some errors – e.g. when
you don’t plan the holidays so carefully, it’s
more adventurely …. you know for what
you’re learning.
Santiago
Santiago shows he can take the initiative by
starting the discussion in the second stage
of Part 3, and he moves the discussion on
to another point when he thinks it is
appropriate. He also listens to what his
partner says and responds in an
appropriate way. So Santiago shows that he
is able to interact in effectively.
The language that Santiago uses in Part 3 of
the test is generally accurate and shows an
adequate range – e.g. You have to organise
yourself …. If you have a goal you ….. you
have to decide what are you going to do
with your life. Santiago makes some errors
– e.g. maybe it’s more cheaper – but these
do not impede understanding.
Santiago’s pronunciation is generally clear.

Simon’s pronunciation is clear, with

appropriate stress and intonation.

Tips for Part 3

• In Part 3, don’t rush through all the points on the around the question. It’s better
to have a detailed discussion about one of two of the points than to have a brief
and superficial discussion about all five of them.

• When you practise for Part 3, try using language for managing the discussion – e.g.
Would you like to start? What do you think? I agree with you up to a point but …
Shall we move on to the point about … Maybe we should try to reach a decision
about this?
Part 4
Simon Santiago
Simon gives extended and relevant Santiago generally answers in an
responses to the questions in this part of appropriate way, although sometimes he
the test. He also interacts well with his could go into more detail – e.g. in
partner when he is given the opportunity explaining why it’s good for people to plan
to. for the future when they’re still at school.
He interacts well with his partner when
Simon uses a reasonable range of language appropriate. He also asks the examiner to
– e.g. if you’re spontaneous ….. when you’re repeat a question; this is acceptable and
with the right people, it could be a very would not lose him any marks.
good situation or a horrible situation. He
does make a number of language errors – Santiago uses a reasonable range of
e.g. you learned new peoples and get language – e.g. at some point you will have
something what you don’t do normally …. to deal with some things …. you don’t
the problem is when you plan something at always have to listen … maybe you should
very high hopes and at the end it’s not do whatever you think. However, he does
getting so good. However, the errors don’t makes errors – e.g. you have to talk with
prevent the listener from following what the people who cares about you.
Simon says.
Santiago’s pronunciation is generally clear
Simon’s pronunciation is generally clear. in this part of the test.

Tips for Part 4

• It’s important to give full answers in Part 4. Keeping question words in your head
like Why? How? When? Where? can help you extend you answers.

• Giving examples from your own life and from the lives of people you know can
help you to extend your answers. Also, examples are often more interesting to
listen to than general abstract statements.

• Sometimes you will realise that you have made a language mistake, perhaps with a
grammatical structure. In these cases, it’s good to correct yourself to show you are
aware of accuracy. However, you shouldn’t worry about making mistakes; it’s
better to be fluent and make a few mistakes than to be very accurate but not say
much.
Overall
Simon
Grammar and Vocabulary
Simon uses an adequate range of
vocabulary and grammatical structures. He
makes quite a lot of grammatical errors,
especially when he attempts to use more
complex structures, but the errors rarely
affect comprehension.
Discourse Management
Simon’s responses are usually clear and
relevant, although he is sometimes a little
repetitive. His answers are usually
sufficiently detailed, although in Part 2 he
runs out of things to say before the end of
the minute.
Pronunciation
Simon’s pronunciation is usually clear, with
appropriate individual sounds, stress and
intonation.
Interactive Communication
Simon responds well to the examiner and
his partner throughout the test. He
interacts well with his partner, mostly
agreeing, but disagreeing when
appropriate.
Santiago
Grammar and Vocabulary
Santiago uses an adequate range of
vocabulary and grammatical structures, and
his language is generally quite accurate. His
use of more complex structures is limited.
Discourse Management
Santiago’s responses are clear and relevant,
although sometimes they could be more
extended, allowing him to show a greater
range of language.
Pronunciation
Santiago’s pronunciation is usually very
clear. His pronunciation of certain words
show the influence of his first language,
Spanish, particularly when it comes to word
stress and certain individual sounds, but he
is comprehensible at all times.
Interactive Communication
Santiago shows that he is able to initiate
and respond appropriately in all parts of
the test. He listens to what the examiner
and his partner say and responds in a
natural and relevant way.