What should I do to get a good grade for Interaction in the CAE C1 Speaking exam?
In the CAE Speaking exam, Part 3 is your main opportunity to show the examiners how well you can interact with another person.
You'll be given a question to discuss with your partner, along with five different prompts. You'll have two minutes to discuss your ideas, followed by another minute in which you need to work together to make a decision.
Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? Well, there's a little more to it than that!
The first thing to remember is that this is a conversation, not a competition. You're not trying to show that your English is better than your partner's. You're trying to show that you can communicate effectively with your partner.
So, how can you do that?
1. Don't try to talk about all five prompts
This is probably one of the most common mistakes students make.
You only have two minutes, so there's no need to rush through all five prompts. In fact, it's much better to discuss two or three in some depth than to say one sentence about each of the five.
Remember, the examiner is interested in how well you develop a discussion, not how many prompts you manage to cover.
2. Ask your partner what they think
Don't just give your opinion and then move straight on to the next point. Bring your partner into the conversation.
Try expressions such as:
These little questions are extremely useful because they show that you're interested in your partner's ideas and want to develop the conversation together.
3. Listen and respond to what your partner says
This is really important!
Imagine your partner says, "I think working from home is much more productive."
If you simply reply, "Yes, and I think travelling is important," you're not really interacting. You're just introducing your own idea.
A much better response would be:
"That's an interesting point. I suppose it depends on the type of work you're doing, though. Don't you think some people work better in an office?"
Now you're having a proper discussion!
And here's something worth remembering: you don't actually have to reach an agreement to get a good mark. What matters is how effectively you work towards one.
Mark's final tip
Stop thinking about what you're going to say next and start listening to what your partner is saying now.
Students sometimes become so focused on using impressive vocabulary and complicated grammar that they forget the most important part of interaction: having a natural conversation.
Of course, good vocabulary and grammar matter in the Speaking exam, but Interaction is also about listening, responding, asking questions and developing ideas together.
My advice? When you practice Part 3, don't just ask yourself, "Did I speak well?"
Ask yourself, "Did we have a good conversation?"
If the answer is yes, you're on the right track!
