Cambridge English / CPE / Speaking

Cambridge English / CPE / Speaking


What’s in the Speaking paper?

The C2 Proficiency Speaking test has three parts and you take it together with another candidate. There are two examiners. One of the examiners (the interlocutor) conducts the test and the other examiner (the assessor) listens to what you say and takes notes.

Summary

Time allowed: 16 minutes per pair of candidates
Number of parts: 3
You have to talk: with the examiner
with the other candidate
on your own

Part 1 (Interview)

What's in Part 1? Conversation between the interlocutor and each candidate. The examiner asks each of you a series of questions, addressing a question to each of you in turn, to give you an opportunity to talk about yourselves.
What do I have to practise? Giving information about yourself and expressing your opinion or speculating about various topics.
How long does Part 1 last? 2 minutes

Part 2 (Collaborative task)

What's in Part 2? The interlocutor gives you some spoken instructions and one or more pictures to look at. First, you have to answer a question which focuses on your reaction to aspects of one or more pictures (1 minute). The second part is a decision-making task which you have to do with the other candidate.
What do I have to practise? Sustaining an interaction: exchanging ideas, expressing and justifying opinions, agreeing and/or disagreeing, suggesting, speculating, evaluating, reaching a decision through negotiation, etc.
How long does Part 2 last? 4 minutes

Part 3 (Long turn and discussion)

What's in Part 3? The interlocutor gives you a card with a question and some ideas on it and you have to speak for about 2 minutes on your own. After you finish, your partner has to comment and the interlocutor then asks you both a question on the same topic. The interlocutor follows the same procedure with your partner and then leads a discussion with both of you.
What do I have to practise? Speaking on your own for a longer time, expressing and justifying opinions, developing topics.
How long does Part 3 last? 10 minutes (2-minute long turn for each candidate and then approximately 6 minutes for the discussion).