Speaking Exam Information

Click on the links below for example speaking exams, including information about how the exam is structured. The final link - 'Sample Speaking Exam 3: Top Tips' - is especially useful:

Sample Speaking Exam
Sample Speaking Exam 2

Sample Speaking Exam 3: Top Tips

Below are links to videos of the speaking exam being carried out. It would be extremely useful for you to watch at least one of these videos, as this would give you a really good idea of exactly what to expect.

Sample Speaking Exam: Video 1

Sample Speaking Exam: Video 2

Useful Phrases for the Speaking Exam:

Introducing yourself

I'm speaking English for my own satisfaction / my job / in order to improve my employment prospects / so that I can study a degree/course in …

If you want to get ahead these days, you need to have a good command of English

I’ve always loved (the sea).

I'd love to visit places untouched by man.

However, there's no place like home.

That's a big question!

I want to be a useful member of society.

I'm keen on ...

I'm an avid (traveler, reader) ...

I haven't given it much thought until now.

Analysing pictures

What strikes me about the first picture is the fact that...

This picture reminds me of...

Judging from the photograph, the children...

The man appears to be...

From what we can see here, he must...

There are many similarities...

Both pictures depict...

Both pictures are quite similar in that they show...

When you give it a closer look it reveals...

The first picture ... whereas the other picture ...

Another important difference is...

Picture ... doesn't show ... as clearly as ...

Picture ... attempts to ... but I think picture ... does this more effectively...

All pictures are interesting, but ... gives a stronger idea of...

It's difficult to tell from a photograph but this picture could have been taken in ...

I might be wrong, but I'd say that this picture ...

I would imagine/guess that this picture comes from ...

…picture ... is by far the best to show … because ...

To me, picture ... is essential for this kind of publication.

I'm surprised there is no picture showing...

A picture of ... would get the message across more effectively.

The cover would be so much better if we had a picture of ...

So let's look at the alternatives ...

The name for this escapes me at present, but it's for/it's like ...

The name for it is on the tip of my tongue ...

Expressing Opinions

As far as the problem in question is concerned ...

The main problem centres around ...

It's my belief ...

For my part ...

As I see it ...

As I was saying ...

I forgot to mention ...

I'm of the opinion that ...

To my mind ...

To my way of thinking ...

I am convinced that ...

I am inclined to believe that ...

Don't get me wrong but shouldn't we ... ?

Judging by ... they must be ...

... is a separate issue.

Moving on to ...

Taking everything into account ...

I couldn't agree more.

I agree up to a point.

I think I see what you mean, but ...

I'm in two minds about it. / I'm ambivalent about ...

I don't see eye to eye with you here ...

That's true in a way, I suppose, but ...

I don't feel convinced ...

That's one way of looking at it. On the other hand ...

It brings us to the question / idea / problem of whether ...

Perhaps we should put ... first? What do you think?

A strong point in favour of ... is that ...

What do you think should go next?

Are you happy with this order then?

Would you go along with that?

Adding to what your partner has said…

Just following from what X was saying, I also feel ...

While generally agreeing with X, I must say that ...

Adding to what X has just said, I think ...

I can sympathise with what X said but ...

One thing X didn't mention is ...

Surprising, as it may seem, I don't support X's view on ...
Perhaps it should be also emphasised that ... / it should be pointed out that ...