AEXALEVI SPEAKING TEST

Communication Skills for 5th, 6th & 7th Year (B1, B1+ and B2 levels)

TIPS for a successful interaction at the SPEAKING TEST:

1. Express your opinion and justify your choice. Remember that there are no right or
wrong answers as long as you account for them.
2. When discussing a topic, take turns to speak. Listen to what the other person is
saying, and try not to interrupt him/her frequently. If you do, do it politely.
3. Gain thinking time: when it’s your turn to speak, and you need more time to think
what to say, avoid long pauses. Use phrases which help you gain time.
4. Show interest: listen to your partner and respond to what he/she is saying by
showing interest and or agreeing and disagreeing with them.
5. Help each other. For example, if your partner gets stuck, ask him/her a question.
6. Ask for clarification and/or repetition: when having a conversation with someone,
listen carefully. If you don’t understand something, ask them to repeat or clarify
what they said.
7. Negotiating & reaching a decision: don’t forget to reach a decision that both have
negotiated with your partner at the end of the task.

Discussion and Conversation Skills for the interaction task:

LANGUAGE BANK & STRATEGY TRAINING

Managing the conversation

Opening a conversation

● Hi there! What’s new?

● How is it going?
● Fancy meeting/seeing you here!
● I haven’t seen you for ages. How are things?
● Hello. Great to see you again!

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 ● Hey! Long time no see!
● Hey, you are …, aren’t you?
● XXX, is that you?

Closing a conversation

● See you later. Bye!

● Take care.
● Got to go now.
● Give me a call sometime, OK?
● I’m off. It was nice seeing you again.
● Time for me to go.
● I have to run. It was great chatting with you.
● Have a nice day.
● It is getting late. I should go.

Managing your turn:

Elaborating your ideas/Adding ideas/ Giving yourself time to think/
Reformulating and adding clarification/Asking for clarification/
Changing the subject/Starting a new topic

Emphasising a point
● That’s just the point.
● But the question is...
● But the real question is...
● But you can’t see...

Adding things
● To start with, ...
● And another thing, ...
● What’s more, ...
● Just a small point, ...
● Perhaps I should mention...
● Oh, I almost forgot...

Adding a reason
● And besides, ...
● Also, ...
● In addition, ... (more formal)
● What’s more, ...
● And another thing, ...
● Plus the fact that...
● Not only that, but...

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Giving a reason
● The reason why...
● Because...
● Because of that...
● That’s why...
● That’s the reason why...
● For this reason... (more formal)

Thinking time expressions to give yourself time to think when answering a

difficult question
● Repeating the original question / ‘Ah, yes, now…’ / ‘Well, actually, …’ / ‘That’s a
very interesting question…’ / ‘How shall I put it?...’ / ‘Well, as far as I can see…’
● Using fillers: er...erm...uh um (AmE)
● Well, let’s see now...
● Well, let me think…
● Um, give me a minute.
● You know,…

Using vague language

We don’t always have time to be precise – and being vague can be a more relaxed way
of speaking to people.
● Stuff / Things / Something like that.
● a couple of
● I kind of/kinda freaked out.
● … and that kind/sort/type of thing.
● … and stuff like that.
● … and that sort of thing/stuff.
● … and that type of thing and so on.
● … and things like that.
● … and this, that and the other.
● … and the like.

Communication problems
Asking for clarification and repetition
● Did you say…?
● Sorry. I don’t understand. What does xxx mean?
● I’m not following you.
● I’m not sure I get what you mean.
● Sorry, I didn’t get/catch that.
● Sorry, I missed that.
● Could you say/explain that (again)?
● Could you repeat that?

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 ● Pardon?
● Would you mind repeating that?
● Sorry?
● Sorry, I didn’t catch the last part.
● Sorry, you’ve lost me.
● Sorry, I don’t follow you.
● What was that again?
● Sorry, what did you say?
● I didn’t get the bit about...
● I’m sorry I can’t hear you. It’s a very bad line. (on the phone)
● Would you mind saying that again?
● Could you spell it, please?

Checking if the other person understands

● Are you with me?
● Are you still with me?
● Is that clear?
● OK so far?
● Have you got it?
● Do you understand so far?

Correcting yourself
● What I mean is...
● What I meant was...
● Let me put it another way.
● What I’m saying is...
● What I’m trying to say is...
● Don’t misunderstand me, ...

Hesitation phrases
● Well, um...
● Well, let’s see.
● Mmm, I’ll have to think about that.

Re-stating
● So what you’re (really) saying is...
● In other words, ...
● If I understand you correctly, ...
● So you mean that...

Changing the subject

● Talking/Speaking of...
● That reminds me...

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 ● By the way, ...
● Oh, before I forget, …
● Changing the subject for a minute, …

Illustrating your point

● For example, ...
● For instance, ...
● Take the way (he)...
● Take for example...
● For one thing, ...
● For one thing... And, for another, ...
● To give you an idea…

Dealing with vocabulary problems: explaining what you mean when you don’t
remember a word
E.g. Oh, I can’t think of a word now. I don’t know how to say it/call it in English.
It’s a kind/sort of… It’s what happens when…

● Use a simpler/similar word.

● Explain the word: What does it look like? What is it used for?
● Use opposites and comparisons.
● Use examples, and be as specific as you can.

Dealing with interruptions and returning to your topic

Interrupting politely
● Sorry to interrupt, but …
● Can I add something…?
● Could I say something before you continue?
● May I interrupt for a second?
● Hold on. Are you saying that…?

Keeping the conversation going: avoiding long pauses

● Make a comment to show you are following the conversation: uh-huh, I
see.
● Show interest and react/respond: Really? Yes! Right. OK. Yes? And?
Really? (to make the other person continue or expand)
And then? Did you? / Have you? / Are you? / Were you? / Was it?
● Make non-verbal vocalisations: laughter, sighs
● Ask questions asking for details or to repair or ask for clarification
● Make appreciative comments like Wonderful! Terrible!
● Pay attention to non-verbal communication: eye contact, body posture,
gestures (with your hands), facial expressions as well as other factors in
communication such as the tone of your voice, your pitch and loudness,

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Responding gambits
Right or wrong
● Correct.
● That’s right.
● Right.
● OK.
● Yes.
● Exactly!
● Wrong.
● No, I’m afraid not.
● Not quite.
● You’re close.
● I don’t know.
● I’m not sure.

Expressing surprise
● Really! (Often used to make the other person say more.)
● Are you joking?
● Oh?
● Goodness!
● What?

Being sympathetic
Less serious news
● Oh, no!
● What a pity!
● What a shame.
● What a nuisance.
● Poor you.
● Poor thing.

Very sad news

● How awful!
● How terrible!
● I’m really sorry to hear that.
● That must’ve been awful!

Asking for and giving opinions

● What do you think about…?
● Do you agree …?
● What would you say about…?

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Expressing neutral opinions
● I think/feel/believe/guess/reckon that...
● In my view, ...
● In my opinion,...
● If you ask me, ..
● The way I see it, …
● Personally,...

Expressing strong opinions

● I really think that ...
● I strongly believe that...
● I’m 100% sure ...

Discussing and evaluating options, and reaching conclusions

● I believe...would be a good idea because…
● … would give him/her the opportunity to …
● He/She may find this … because…
● He/She is not interested in…
● I definitely think that...would be more/less fun for him/her
● I agree/I disagree. I think he/she would find … more enjoyable/useful…
● I don’t think she would want to...

Agreeing Disagreeing

I (completely/totally) agree (with you). I agree to an extent that… / I’m not sure
I couldn’t agree more. that’s true. / I take your point, but…
That’s so true. I completely/totally disagree with you .
Very true. I don’t agree (at all).
That’s for sure. No way!
You’re absolutely right. I don’t think so.
Exactly! Absolutely! Definitely! I think the opposite is true.
I feel the same. I don’t feel the same.
That’s a good point. I think you’re wrong about that.
You’ve got a point. I’m not (so) sure about that.
That’s what I was thinking, too. That’s not always true.
I think so too. Very true, but…
I don’t think so either. I kind/sort of agree but…
I see what you mean. I understand what you’re saying, but…

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Making a suggestion
● Why not…?
● Why don’t you…?
● You could always...
● One way would be to...
● Perhaps you could...
● If I were you, I’d...
● What about –ing…?
● Try –ing...
● Have you thought about…?
● I have an idea.
● Let’s...

Plans
● Our plan is to...
● We’re thinking of...
● What we have in mind is...
● What we plan to do is...
● I’ll tell you what we’ll do.
● What about this for an idea…?

Counterplans
● Why don’t you…?
● You could always…?
● If I were you, I’d...
● Why not…?
● How about…?
● Try –ing…

Saying ‘no’ tactfully

● I’m not keen on...
● I don’t particularly like...
● I can’t stand... (+ noun / --ing)
● It’s not my idea of...
● I’d really rather not…

Expressing preference
● I’d prefer... (+ noun / to inf)
● I’d really much rather...
● I’d rather…

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Surprising news
● Guess what!
● Surprise!
● I’ve got news for you!
● Do you know what!
● Are you sitting down?
● You’d better sit down!
● You won’t believe this, but…

Apologising and explaining

● I’m so/really/terribly sorry!
● I’m sorry for…
● I’m sorry I … (did sth wrong)
● Sorry about that!
● It’s my fault!
● I didn’t mean to. It was an accident.
● I don’t know how it happened.
● I know that was wrong of me.
● It won’t happen again. I promise!

Responding to an apology
● That’s OK.
● No problem.
● Don’t worry about it.
● Oh, well. Never mind.
● It doesn’t matter.
● Forget about it.
● It happens.
● I hope this doesn’t happen again.

Offering help
● Would you like some help?
● Do you need any help?
● Need any help?
● What can I do for you?
● Can I give you a hand with that?
● Let me help/show you.
● I’ll help/give you a hand.
● Why don’t I…?
● Do you want me to…?
● Would you like me to…?
● Can I do something?
● What do you need?
● All you have to do is…

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Asking for help
● Can you help me?
● Can I ask you something?
● I'm not sure how to…
● I need some help here, please.
● I can't manage on my own. Can you help me?
● Can I ask you a favour?
● Could you help me for a second?
● Give me a hand with this, will you?
● Would you mind helping me out?

Guessing
● I’d say...
● Could it be…?
● Perhaps it’s...
● I think it’s...
● It looks like...
● It’s difficult to say, but I’d guess...
● I’d say...
● Could it be…?
● Perhaps it’s...
● It looks like...
● It’s difficult to say, but I’d guess..

Finishing your story

● To cut a long story short, ...
● So in the end, ...
● So, in short, ...
● So, ...
● To sum up, ...
● All in all, ...
● To put the whole thing in a nutshell, …
● To put it in a nutshell, …

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