Paper 5 Speaking (about 15 minutes per pair of candidates)

The CAE speaking paper is conducted by two examiners (an interlocutor and an assessor), with pairs of candidates. The four parts of this paper are based on visual stimuli and verbal prompts and are designed to elicit a wide range of speaking skills and strategies from both candidates. Each part of this paper lasts 3-4 minutes. This paper tests your accuracy, range of vocabulary, pronunciation, discourse management, and ability to communicate and complete the tasks.

Part 1 The interviewer asks each candidate a few questions. You are asked to find out some information about each other , on topics such as hobbies interests, career plans etc.

Part 2 You will each be given the opportunity to talk for about a minute, and comment briefly after your partner has spoken. The interlocutor gives you set of photographs and asks you to talk about them for about one minute. Each set of photographs has a different focus, so it is important to listen carefully to the interlocutor's instructions. The interlocutor then asks your partner a question about your photographs and your partner responds briefly. You will then be given another set of photographs to look at. Your partner talks about these photographs for about one minute. This time the interlocutor asks you a question about your partner's photographs and you respond briefly.

Example

Inerlocutor: Candidate B, could you please compare and contrast these two women and say how you think their lifestyles might be different.

Interlocutor: Candidate A, can you say which of these women you would rather be.

Mary Spratt & Lynda B. Taylor: The Cambridge CAE Course , self-study student book, wyd. Cambridge Univeristy Press 2000

Part 3

You are given a new set of pictures and are asked to talk together. This stimulus provides the basis for a discussion. The interlocutor explains what you have to do.

Part 4

The interlocutor will ask some further questions, which will lead to a more general

discussion of what you have talked about in Part 3 and in which you will be encouraged to comment on what your partner says.

Example

Part 3 (3 or 4 minutes)

Choosing photos for job applications (interpret and discuss)

Interlocutor: Now, I'd like you to discuss something between the pair of you, but please make sure I can hear you. I'd like you to imagine that you have a friend who is applying for a job as a teacher of English, and that she has been asked to send a photo of herself along with her application. Talk to one another about which of these photos you think she should send. You have three or four minutes for this.

Candidates A and B: Three to four minutes

Interlocutor: Thank you. Which photo have you chosen?

Part 4 (3 or 4 minutes)

Interlocutor: (Select any of the following questions as appropriate)

- Should employers consider appearance when employing people?

- Would you always wear your smartest clothes to go to job interview?

- Do you think employers have the right to ask you to submit a photo with your application?

- What could an employer possibly tell about a person from their photo that would help them to make a selection?

- Are there any jobs in which it is essential to look right for the job ?

Thank you. That is the end of the test.

Mary Spratt & Lynda B. Taylor: The Cambridge CAE Course , self-study student book, wyd. Cambridge Univeristy Press 2000

The Speaking Test is an opportunity to demonstrate your level of English . Candidates are involved in a discussion. Explaining and giving reasons are important aspects of this, as well as asking each other to justify their opinions.

---