C1 Advanced Speaking Part 2 Sample Answer

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These are high-scoring sample answers for the following Cambridge C1 Advanced Speaking Part 2. Read them to understand what you need to talk about and the kind of answers you need to give for a good C1 Advanced speaking score. For advice, strategies and tips on the best ways to answer (because 1 minute is very short), this article will help.

Question

Why might the people need to take a break?

How relaxing might the situations actually be?

C1 Advanced Speaking Part 2 - A tennis pro taking a break during a competitive match

C1 Advanced Speaking Part 2 - A man in a suit sitting on some steps outside a building eating a sandwich with his briefcase on his lap

C1 Advanced Speaking Part 2 - A young child drawing on a piece of paper on the floor with a woman in a green top in the background leaning against a white sofa.

Sample Answer

1 minute to compare and contrast the two pictures you have chosen as well as answer the two questions.

I’d like to choose the first picture and the third and the second picture. I think the guy, the tennis player, in the first picture looks as if he’s shattered after a hectic, hectic set and will welcome the relief of a few minutes sitting down and considering his options, while the man in the second picture looks as if he’s eating on the run. Well, actually, he’s eating on the steps, but he’s eating a quick lunch before he needs to move on with his busy day. I don’t think he will be feeling very relaxed at all. And so, the man on the steps is in his working clothes and has his briefcase, has his working tools with them, so to speak, as does the tennis player with his racket because these are really his working clothes also.

Video

Analysis

This is my opinion of the above answer. The answer was given as in a test, with minimal preparation time.

This way of answering is the most common. talk about one picture, then talk about the other. If you have time, then talk about them both. There are pitfalls doing it this way, the biggest one being that it is really easy to run out of time.

Good use of phrases, such as ‘I think’, ‘looks as if’ to show that you can’t be sure from the pictures alone.

Lesser-Known Vocabulary

shattered – exceptionally tired
hectic – extremely busy
relief – a feeling of relaxation after stress is over
considering his options – thinking about the choices he has
eating on the run – not stopping and eating a proper meal
move on – continue
at all – (used for emphasis) in any way; to any extent
so to speak – used to highlight the fact that one is describing something in an unusual or metaphorical way
as does – a way of saying ‘too’
racket – what a tennis layer uses to hit a ball