What the exam asks
- The task card. You receive a card with a topic (Describe a …), three or four prompts under You should say: and a final line beginning and explain …. The examiner also gives you a pencil and paper.
- One minute to prepare. You plan in silence. Your notes are for you only. They are not assessed, and you can look at them while you speak.
- Up to two minutes to talk. The examiner asks you to begin and stops you when time is up, often mid-sentence. Aim to talk for the full two minutes.
- Rounding-off questions. The examiner may ask one or two short questions on the same topic. A sentence or two is enough.
- Timing. Three to four minutes in all, including the preparation.
- Assessment. The same four criteria as the rest of the test. Fluency and Coherence is most exposed here: a talk that stops after a minute limits that criterion however good the language is.
Core ideas
Know the card types
| Card type | Example topic line | Main tenses | What the explain line usually wants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Person | Describe someone who taught you something useful | Present and past | Why they matter to you |
| Place | Describe a place where you like to relax | Present, would | Why it suits you |
| Object | Describe something you own that you would hate to lose | Present perfect, past | Its value or meaning |
| Event or experience | Describe a time you had to wait a long time | Narrative past, past perfect | How you felt or what you learned |
| Activity or habit | Describe a hobby you took up recently |