Home > C1 Advanced > Speaking > Part 3
Many students seem to miss basic facts about the C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3, so this page is to fill in some of that missing information about Part 3. There is also a separate page for general information and advice as well as others for each part.
C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3
| Task Type and Format | A two-way conversation between the candidates. The candidates are given spoken instructions with written stimuli, which are used in a discussion and decision-making task. The conversation is divided into a discussion phase (2 minutes) and a decision phase (1 minute). Candidates are given approximately 15 seconds to initially read the task before starting to speak. |
| Focus | The focus is on sustaining an interaction, exchanging ideas, expressing and justifying opinions, agreeing and/or disagreeing, suggesting, speculating, evaluating, reaching a decision through negotiation etc. |
| Timing | 4 minutes |
The task gives candidates the opportunity to show their range of
language and their ability to invite the opinions and ideas of their
partner. Candidates are expected to share the interaction in this
way and to initiate and respond appropriately.
Information
This part tests the candidates’ ability to engage in a discussion and to work towards a negotiated decision.
In Part 3, candidates are given spoken instructions and provided with written prompts to form the basis for two tasks which they carry out together.
They are expected to discuss some or all of the prompts in relation to a question, expressing and justifying opinions, evaluating and speculating.
They are then asked another question which will engage them in negotiating towards a decision related to the written prompts that they have previously discussed.
The instructions for the first task will begin with the words: ‘Here are some… and a question for you to discuss’. The sheet with the written prompts and a central question will then be placed in front of the candidates.
The candidates are given 15 seconds to read the question and the prompts. This is made clear to the candidates with the instruction: ‘First you have some time to look at the task.’ The task gives candidates the opportunity to show their range of language and their ability to invite the opinions and ideas of their partner.
Candidates are expected to share the interaction in this way and to initiate and respond appropriately.
After the candidates have discussed the question with relation to the prompts, they will be given another task in which they are asked to make a decision. The instruction for this will be: ‘Now you have about a minute to decide…’
The decision will be related to the prompts they have just been discussing.
They are assessed on their ability to use the language of negotiation and collaboration while doing this. However, they are not penalised if they fail to reach a negotiated decision. There is no right or wrong answer to the task.
The instruction to the candidates for the second part of this task will be: ‘Now you have about a minute to decide’ … The decision will be related to the prompts they have just been discussing. They are assessed on their ability to use the language of negotiation and collaboration while doing this. However, they are not penalised if they fail to reach a negotiated decision. There is no right or wrong answer to the task.
Advice
a) Make use of conversation fillers to give yourself time to think, e.g. ‘Well, now, let me see.’ However, do not over-use these as this will limit your range of language. Also make use of strategies which invite your partner to contribute to the discussion but do not give the impression that you are relying on your partner to do all the work.
b) Act out a scenario with a teacher, classmate or friend in which you either constantly interrupt what they are saying or say almost nothing at all. They should deal politely with your interruptions or try to encourage you to say something. This will provide invaluable training in managing and developing an interaction.
c) Keep a notebook to list a variety of functional language, e.g. ways of interrupting politely, or ways of asking your partner for their opinion. Use as many different ways of doing things as possible to avoid repetition.
d) Try not to try to rush through all the prompts in your discussion. It is better to deal with several of them in depth than to try to deal with all of them superficially. There is no requirement to talk about all five prompts – the emphasis should be on developing a more meaningful discussion rather than ‘ticking off’ the prompts.
e) Engage with as wide a range of written-prompt ideas as possible and express ideas and opinions of your own. Simply agreeing or disagreeing with your partner, or echoing what your partner has said, while being a natural thing to do, will not enable you to show what you can do.
C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3 Sample Question
Conclusion
I hope that has helped to give you a better understanding of what is required for the C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3, and that you will look into each part in more detail. There is a full list of pages on the C1 Advanced Speaking test here. Good luck with your test!
information on this page is adapted from The Cambridge C1 Handbook for Teachers