Home > B2 First > Speaking > Part 1
Many students think that the B2 First Speaking Part 1 questions are the easiest and simplest of the four parts, but it is a great time to show off what you can do. In real life, people take three seconds to find out if they like someone or not when they get that first impression. This is a great chance for you to give your examiner a good first impression before you move on to the next part.
It’s About You
These questions are all about you, your work or studies and your life, so you know the answers. This is a wonderful opportunity to show what you can do, rather than just answer the questions mechanically.
Since the answers are about you, it’s tempting for some students to memorise answers. Don’t do that! The examiner will know immediately, and it will affect your score badly.
You should answer the question and add one or two sentences to extend your answer. There is another article about that here.
Here are four great general tips to remember so that you can score more.
1/ Try not to repeat the question.
A good strategy is to paraphrase (say something in your own words). If you repeat the question, then it is the same as raising your hand and shouting at the examiner. LOOK AT ME, I CAN’T PARAPHRASE! Saying that, though, there are often more important things to worry about, so do your best!
For example
What electronic devices have you bought recently?
Poor – The electronic devices I have bought recently are a mobile phone and a Kindle. ….. – This is repeating the question. You don’t get points for using English that is given to you.
Better – I bought a mobile phone from Amazon and a Kindle from Ebay. ….. – This is better, but there is nothing regarding ‘recently’.
Best – I have just bought an i-phone from Amazon and a second-hand Kindle from Ebay. – This is better, it gives the required information and adds more so in the next sentences you could talk about why you bought the i-phone new and the Kindle second hand.
Another example
Do you want to learn how to cook well?
Poor – Yes, I do want to learn to cook well. ……. – This is repeating the question. You don’t get points for using English that is given to you.
Better – Yes, I do. I think learning cooking is something everyone should do. ….. – This is fine, but while you’re not repeating the words in the question, you are repeating the meaning.
Best – I really do, because I’m such a terrible cook. ……. – This answer is more concise and gives a reason quickly. This means you can use the following sentences to give examples or say what you would like to cook.
2/ If you can, use the grammar tense of the question.
For example, if the question starts ‘Do you …….’ answer ‘Yes I do’ or ‘No I don’t’, and then add one or two sentences to extend your answer. When you add these sentences, there is a good chance you will change the grammar tense.
For example
Are clothes important to you?
Yes, they are. I absolutely love wearing the latest fashions when I have the chance. I have been into fashion for as long as I can remember.
When you add more sentences, do not, however, TRY to change the tense, it will just make your answer sound poor. Let it happen, and it will sound much more natural.
REMEMBER: When you add more sentences, do not, however, TRY to change the tense, it will just make your answer sound poor. Let it happen, and it will sound much more natural.
Do not just say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or use any other one-word answer. There is no grammar in these words, so you can’t show any grammar RANGE.
Another example
Do you prefer hot or cold weather?
I like hot weather much more actually. I’m one of these people who feel really relaxed if it’s really hot and sunny, not like my mum. She much prefers it when it’s cold and wet for some reason.
REMEMBER: When you paraphrase, you don’t need to change every word and can change the form of the word instead of using a synonym.
| Common Starts of Questions | Ways to answer |
| Do you …..? | Yes I do / No I don’t |
| Have you ……? | Yes I have / No I haven’t |
| Would you ….? | Yes I would / No I wouldn’t |
| How important is …? | It’s incredibly important / it’s crucial / it’s essential / it’s important to some extent / it isn’t really important at all / it’s completely unimportant |
3/ Some of the questions can be very personal
So, decide when you practice what information you can tell the examiner, and when you might tell a white lie. You are asked personal questions in Part 1 because you know the answers, so it should make you less nervous and you should be able to build on these answers to get a good score.
On the other hand, it will show the examiners very quickly that your level is not very good if you answer poorly.
For instance, if the examiner asks where you come from, do you talk about where you were born, where you moved to when you were ten years old, or where you lived after your parents split up?
Decide how you will talk about certain personal subjects before your speaking test, it will be much easier and stop you hesitating while you decide during it.
REMEMBER: Decide how you will talk about certain personal subjects before your speaking test, it will be much easier and stop you hesitating while you decide during it.
For example:
Where are you from?
Poor – Berlin – This isn’t even a sentence. Don’t give one-word answers. It doesn’t matter how nervous you are, you should show what you can do.
Better – I come from Berlin, but moved here when I was ten years old. – This is much better, but still brief.
Best – I was born in Berlin, but due to family issues I ended up here when I was ten and have been here ever since. – This shows much more vocabulary and use of grammar range. It also doesn’t say what the ‘issues’ were, so you don’t need to go into detail.
Another example:
What interesting events have happened in your life recently?
Poor – Nothing interesting happens in my life. – Although this could be funny, it won’t be if you don’t add more.
Better – Nothing really, because I’ve been studying for this test and also for my work exams. Maybe that’s interesting, I passed all of them. – This is better because it says more, even if it doesn’t go into much detail.
Best – I haven’t done much at all really except study for this test and also for my work exams. Maybe that’s something interesting, I passed them with flying colours and came top of the class. – Says the same as the previous one with more detail.
4/ It’s an English test.
It’s not a general knowledge test, so there are two important points you need to remember.
a) It’s ok not to tell the truth. However, if you do lie, try to remember what you said because it sounds TERRIBLE if you contradict yourself a few minutes later. If you do this, the examiner will think something is wrong.
b) You can’t know about everything, so don’t try and pretend you do. If you don’t know, say so. If you admit you don’t know, then it will make it easier for you to talk about it.
For example
Do you like geography?
Poor – Yes, I do. And I used to love geography at school and really wanted to do it at university. My teacher helped me a lot and I thought it was good. – This says nothing
Better – No, I don’t. In fact, I never managed to get into my head what the subject was about at school. I thought it was about maps and stuff like that, but then they started on about populations and things. I hate it. – This is extreme, you don’t need to approach it like this.
Best – To be honest, I have no idea about geography at all. From what I remember, it was a subject at school but not one I ever took. I was more into music and dance as opposed to any of that stuff. – This is better, and a good answer. Nobody knows everything about everything, you need to speak, so say what you mean.
There is also another choice. If you really have no idea, say so and then guess. It’s a speaking test, so you need to speak!
REMEMBER: There is also another choice. If you really have no idea, say so and then guess. It’s a speaking test, so you need to speak!
For example
What’s the most popular social media in your country?
Actually, I have no idea. I imagine it’s either Facebook or Instagram, but to be honest I never use any of them. Staring at my phone endlessly is not my idea of fun.
The C1 Advanced Speaking Rubric has a section on Lexical Resource, which says ‘to give and exchange views on familiar and unfamiliar topics’. So have phrases prepared for this (an article on this is here)
REMEMBER: The B2 First Speaking Rubric has a section on Lexical Resource, which says ‘to give and exchange views on familiar and unfamiliar topics’. So have phrases prepared for this.
Conclusion
If you keep these four tips in mind when you are starting your B2 First Speaking test, you will build a really good foundation for a great speaking score and give an excellent first impression. Good luck!