C1 Advanced Speaking Parts 3 & 4 Sample Answers

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These are high-scoring sample answers for the following Cambridge C1 Advanced Speaking Parts 3 and 4. 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.

C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3

Question

C1 Advanced Speaking Parts 3 and 4 Sample Answers

Sample Answer – Discussion

There is two minutes to discuss how each part influences the central question.

A/ I think as far as buying possessions is concerned, I think many people think it’s important because it gives them an aura of being successful and of being better than other people, wouldn’t you agree?

B/ I completely understand what you mean. I don t particularly agree with them, but I agree with you. Yes. And I would also say that something similar is having a certain lifestyle. If you live a certain lifestyle, go on expensive holidays, have an expensive house and so on, it doesn’t matter if you can afford it or not. But having that lifestyle is incredibly important to give off the aura of that success, don’t you think?

A/ Yes, I do. And I think what’s also important as well, what is truly important is keeping up to date these days. Because the rate of change of several aspects of life is incredible. You have political change, climate change. You have all the changes in technologies and computers and so on. You continually have to learn how to update your software and so on. So, I think that’s essential in this day and age, wouldn’t you say?

B/ Yes, I think we see eye to eye on that one. And I think that’s why taking time to relax is so important, because there’s all these changes going on. And so, it’s not just changes in the outside lives, it’s not just changes politically, but it’s also changes, you know, and these can affect your job. So, it makes people’s lives unstable in some ways. And so relaxing is a great way of taking away some of that stress, to be quite honest with you.

Sample Answer – Reaching a Decision

There is one minute for the candidates to reach a decision about which activity needs the most concentration.

B/ I would say that the most important would be doing exercise, the one we didn’t mention before, because doing exercise is good for both your physical health and your mental health. And so that would help you cope much better with all the stresses that these things bring, whether it’s keeping up with the Joneses or keeping up with life. What would you say to that?

A/ I see what you mean, but I don’t really agree. Personally, I would say taking time to relax is the one for me. It would be the most important be for similar reasons to you, basically. But people just need to stop. They need to take a breath, they need to slow down. They need to spend some valuable time with their family so that they can have a good perspective on things.

B/ Well, yes, I see your point. You’re absolutely right.

Sample Answer Video

C1 Advanced Speaking Part 4

One candidate is asked a Part 4 question, then the other one is asked to give a shorter opinion on it too.

Questions

Do you think that people have the right priorities in life nowadays? Why/Why not?
Some people say that certain jobs are overvalued and overpaid. What’s your opinion?
What part does the media play in people’s expectations of life nowadays?
Do you think that people’s expectations of what is achievable are too high nowadays? Why/Why not?
Do you think that life is easier now than it was in our grandparents’ day? Why/Why not?
Some people say that it’s only possible to be happy if you have a lot of money. What’s your opinion?

Sample Answers

Question – Do you think that people have the right priorities in life nowadays? Why/Why not?

Sample answer – Personally, I think people are moving towards having the right priorities these days. I think we’re just leaving. We’re just finishing with an era where you needed to have the biggest and the best and the newest and the nicest house, the fastest car and so on. I think especially after the pandemic, people are realising that health is definitely more important. I also think that people are realising, as youngsters who have been taught about this at school are getting older, the public is really becoming more aware of green issues such as pollution, global warming, deforestation, the extinction crisis and so on. And so, I think these are a priority.

Question – Some people say that certain jobs are overvalued and overpaid. What’s your opinion?

Sample answer – A large part of me wants to say that people who have such opinions must think they are undervalued and underpaid. As for me, I think that society has come to the decision that these jobs are worth more in monetary and other terms. In other words, the rules we live by mean that such jobs exist and only by society changing, will things change in general. If that ever happens, there will still be those who strive for the best pay or status, regardless of the jobs they must do.

Question – What part does the media play in people’s expectations of life nowadays?

Sample answer – In this respect, I think media content is like a carrot being dangled in front of a donkey. They show their audiences what is possible and how the special few can achieve it if they strive for it enough. Also, they show how those down on their luck have fallen from grace and have maybe even ended up bankrupt and living in a tiny cold flat after their family has deserted them due to some problem or another. The vast majority, therefore, do not expect to amass a fortune, but that’s fine as long as they do not end up poor.

Question – Do you think that people’s expectations of what is achievable are too high nowadays? Why/Why not?

Sample answer – For many younger people they are, yes. They see Instagram influencers who are younger than them making heaps of money by doing something that anyone could do. They see footballers making a fortune by playing their favourite game and from what I understand, as a result many feel entitled to at least some kind of luxury in their lives. For those whose expectations don’t match their circumstances, it means it is easy for them to turn to crime to achieve their dreams.

Question – Do you think that life is easier now than it was in our grandparents’ day? Why/Why not?

Sample answer – I’m not really sure, I haven’t really talked to my grandparents about this, but I suppose it must be. If things were worse than at that time, it would be in the newspapers every day and the government would be forced to call for an election. I think people my grandparent’s age, actually most people when you think about it, tend to think that things were always better when they were younger.

Question – Some people say that it’s only possible to be happy if you have a lot of money. What’s your opinion?

Sample answer – I would hasten to disagree with this, to be honest. I would say that some rich people are happy, and others aren’t. The same could be said of any income group, regardless of their situation. In my opinion, acceptance is a big part of being happy. I don’t mean you ned to accept unfair practices and so on, but if you accept the partner you have, your children’s bad habits, your parent’s foibles, then it makes for a much happier life than if you fight against them continuously. Being aware of your own failings, personally and financially, also makes it easier.