Last Wednesday I talked about part three of the Cambridge Preliminary or PET exam speaking test. I'm going to continue today with part four of the Cambridge PET speaking. What many students don't realise is that part four is a continuation of part three and that it is another collaborative task. In other words, the two candidates could be having a conversation together. Continue listening to hear more and you can also read and listen to a model answer for speaking part 4. Here we go...
So part four is a continuation of part three. The examiner has a list of about five questions on his/her sheet, and she'll choose some from that list to fill the 3 to 4 minutes you have to speak.
Part 4 tests you on your ability to give opinions on the topic in part 3 and then to move on to other similar topics. As I said, this is a collaborative task but it's not a good idea to ask the examiner any questions! Instead, listen to the questions carefully and answer by offering more information such as reasons for your answer or you can also give an example. If you don't understand a question, you can ask the examiner to repeat it.
Sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you say it again?
You should also listen to what your partner says. This is the collaborative part. After your partner's answer, the examiner may ask you:
Do you agree?
What about you?
What do you think?
In this case, you should say if you agree or if you disagree. Perhaps you have to say whether you like or dislike something your partner mentioned, or if you have had an experience similar to your partner's. Here are some expressions to use:
Yes. I think so too...
I'm not sure I agree with you...
I
feel the same way...
I guess I'm quite different from you...
Now, depending on how well the task is going, the examiner may ask a question and make a gesture that means 'talk about this together'. You should then look at your partner and continue that part of the conversation together.
When it's your turn to speak you should try to speak for about fifteen to twenty seconds. You need to answer and then give reasons or examples. Use linking words like: but, because, although, plus so that you extend the length of your sentences with reasons why. Example:
Examiner: [looking at candidate
1] Do you like visiting museums?
Candidate 1:
Well. I find some museums really interesting but it depends on what the museum
is about. For example, I would love to visit a dinosaur
museum because I'm really keen on that subject, but
I wouldn't want to go to a modern art gallery because
I'm not a fan of that sort of painting.
If the examiner has made a gesture for you to speak together, you would end your turn with a phrase inviting your partner to speak.
Candidate 1: [looking at candidate
2] ...what about you? Do you like museums?
Candidate
2: [looking at candidate 1] I feel the same way as
you. It depends on the type of museum, although
I enjoy modern art. I think the paintings are really fascinating
plus you can learn a lot about the lives of the painters.
At this point, the examiner will probably ask you another question.
Ok! So that's enough of the theory! Let's listen to an example of answering questions in part 4. So, if you remember, last week I gave you an example in part 3 - see podcast 117 if you want to refresh your memory. And the question was:
A family are visiting a town for the day and want to visit
a museum that they will all enjoy.
Decide which museum would be best.
So the two candidates talked about the six pictures that represented different types of museums: an old instruments museum, dolls museum and museums about modern art, dinosaurs, trains and finally a castle - and the two candidates decided the castle would be the best option for the family to visit. If you remember, our two candidates were Sophie from France and Lars from Sweden. So let's listen to the continuation of the test, part four. The examiner doesn't say 'in this part of the test' as she does in part 3. She or he just starts to ask you questions. Here we go...
Examiner: Lars. Do you like visiting
museums?
Lars: Well. I find some museums really
interesting but it depends on what the museum is about. For
example, I would love to visit a dinosaur museum because
I'm really keen on that subject, but I wouldn't want
to go to a modern art gallery because I'm not a fan
of that sort of painting.
Examiner: Sophie. What about you?
Sophie: I feel the same way as Lars. It depends on the type of museum, although I enjoy modern art. I think the paintings are really fascinating plus you can learn a lot about the lives of the painters.
Examiner: Do you think museums are important in our society? [makes a gesture that Lars and Sophie should speak together]
Lars: I believe they are. A museum can tell us lots of things about our culture. Although we have the Internet, where we can find lots of information these days, a museum is something, eh, more physical, I mean you can go there, perhaps you can touch the things in the museum - a museum is different. [looks at Sophie] What do you think?
Sophie: Yes. I think so too. I mean, looking into a screen or reading a book about modern art, for example, is not the same as seeing it in, eh, in real life. You're looking at the real thing - not just a photo on a computer.
Examiner: How can we encourage young people to visit museums more? [makes a gesture that Lars and Sophie should speak together]
Sophie: Mmm. That's not easy! Young people, teenagers, for example, prefer to see everything on their mobile phones. I suppose school excursions can take students to a museum to see if they enjoy it. But I don't think most young people enjoy that sort of thing. What do you think? [looks at Lars]
Lars: I'm not sure I agree with you. It's true that most young people wouldn't choose to go to a museum by themselves but I used to love my school excursions. I was with my friends, which made it more fun. And some museums I really liked. Plus, I think if the museum let visitors touch things, or get onto things, it would be more attractive to young people.
Examiner. Thank you. That is the end of the test.
Good luck if you are taking an English exam soon. Goodbye for now!
Listen to more practice on the PET speaking part 3...
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