The second part of the Cambridge Speaking exam is often referred to as the individual turn, as you will be given three pictures and asked to talk about two of them for about a minute. During this part, you won’t be interrupted by the examiner or expected to discuss anything with your speaking partner.
The pictures always have a common theme, such as holidays, hobbies or jobs, and will show people in different situations related to this topic. Students who do well in this part don’t just describe the pictures; they compare them, explaining the similarities and differences between them.
As well as comparing two pictures, there is always a second part to the task where you are expected to give an opinion. For example, you might be asked:
“Compare the pictures and say why the people might have chosen these types of holiday.”
There is no right or wrong answer, and it is good to speculate rather than come to a definite conclusion.
After your partner has spoken, you will be given a follow-up question and have about 30 seconds to answer it. Again, it will usually ask for your opinion, and there is no right or wrong answer.
I find that practice is the most important thing here, as it can be difficult to get a feel for how long one minute is. At English Academy, we use past papers to practise this part of the exam and set a one-minute timer so that you can perfect your timing. As the teachers are also examiners, we can give real examples of times when we have seen candidates do well, and not so well, in this part of the exam. This helps you understand what examiners are looking for and improve your performance in this part of the exam.
Mark McTaggart
English Academy Director
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