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FCE/CAE Speaking Useful Expressions

This document provides expressions to help with the four parts of the Cambridge FCE and CAE speaking exams: 1. The interview part suggests expressions like "Well...", "Let me think...", and "I've never really thought about it, but..." to buy time to think and safely answer personal questions. 2. For the photo description part, it recommends comparing and contrasting the photos using expressions like "The top/bottom photo...", "Unlike the first, the second...", and "By looking at the images, I could say..." 3. The collaborative task part suggests asking questions like "What do you think?" and making statements like "I believe that..." to discuss the prompts, and agreeing/

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324 views3 pages

FCE/CAE Speaking Useful Expressions

This document provides expressions to help with the four parts of the Cambridge FCE and CAE speaking exams: 1. The interview part suggests expressions like "Well...", "Let me think...", and "I've never really thought about it, but..." to buy time to think and safely answer personal questions. 2. For the photo description part, it recommends comparing and contrasting the photos using expressions like "The top/bottom photo...", "Unlike the first, the second...", and "By looking at the images, I could say..." 3. The collaborative task part suggests asking questions like "What do you think?" and making statements like "I believe that..." to discuss the prompts, and agreeing/

Uploaded by

Lucian Varga
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Part 1 - The Interview
  • Part 2 - The Monologue
  • Part 3 - Collaborative Task
  • Part 4 - Collaborative Part Again

Cambridge FCE / CAE Useful Expressions

 the Cambridge exams for speaking have 4 parts


 each part should contain specific expressions to help you answer the task well. These
expressions are a way to gain some seconds for thinking or a good manner to express
yourselves in a safe language
PART 1 – THE INTERVIEW(you are asked basic general questions related to your own person,
your universe and your way of thinking. Each candidate has to answer 4-5 questions. The questions
may or may not change from one candidate to another. A good advice would be to pay full attention
to your exam partner and do not try to make your own answer in your head.)

Useful expressions

Well,…
Let me see/ think,…
I would / could say that…
I need to think for a moment. Hm!...
That’s an interesting / difficult question..
Well, it’s difficult to say, really!...
It depends on what you mean exactly!
I guess the honest answer would be…
I suppose the simplest answer to this question is…
I f I think about it, I suppose…
I’ve never really thought about it, but I could say that…

PART 2 – THE MONOLOGUE – in this part you are supposed to compare and contrast 2 photos
(FCE) / 2 photos chosen out of 3(CAE), answering 1 written question in FCE and 2 questions in CAE.

Useful Expressions
-to safely express personal opinions try using modal verbs such as – MIGHT, COULD, WOULD or verbs
like – SUPPOSE, ASSUME, GUESS, IMAGINE
- never forget to always use complex sentences in order to tackle both pictures
- The top/bottom picture/image/photo….
-The first/the second image
- The images depict/shows/captures…
- The main similarity between the pictures is that they both…
- The two pictures are somehow similar in that they both…
- In contrast, the second one emphasizes…
- ….while/whereas the second one…
- Unlike the first image, the second one….
- By looking at the image(s), I could say that…
- Based on the fact that…
- Judging by…., I would say that…
- ….suggests that…
- It seems to me that…
- PROBABLY / MAYBE
Expressing Personal Opinions

PART 3 – COLLABORATIVE TASK


- it is separated in two parts – 2 minutes to discuss together the prompts and one more minute to do
the negotiation dialogue
- the dialogue needs to sound natural, real-life like, coherent and fluent
- all candidates find a balance between talking and being silent
- this is the part where the candidates can help each other out

Useful expressions
- Why don’t we start by looking at this prompt…
- Let’s think about…
- I believe that …. is …
- The point I would like to make is….

To help your partner step in the dialogue you can ask questions:
- What do you think about…?
- Do you agree with me?
- Do you see my point?
- What about…?
- Do you share my view?
- What is your opinion on this?
- What’s your view on this?

Agreeing or disagreeing with the other candidate:


- You’re right about that.
- I believe you’re right.
- You have a point there.
- I see your point.
- I completely agree with you.
- I can’t contradict you.
- That is a very good point.
- I share your view.
- I see what you mean.
- I think you have just outlined an important aspect here.
- I can relate / connect to what you have just said.

PART 4 – COLLABORATIVE PART AGAIN


- expressions from part 1 and 3

Cambridge FCE / CAE Useful Expressions  the Cambridge exams for speaking have 4 parts  each part should contain specific ex
- PROBABLY / MAYBE Expressing Personal Opinions PART 3 – COLLABORATIVE TASK - it is separated in two parts – 2 minutes to dis
- The point I would like to make is…. To help your partner step in the dialogue you can ask questions: - What do you think ab

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