In this unit you will focus on the following:

  • An overview of Part 2 of the speaking test
  • The examiner's instructions
  • Understanding the question
  • The examiner's follow-up questions
  • Making notes
  • Structuring your answer (1)
  • Expanding on ideas
  • Describing possessions

1. An overview of Part 2 of the speaking test.

Are the statements about Part 2 of the test (the long turn) true or false?

2. The examiner's instructions.

Watch the extract of the examiner giving instructions for Part 2 of the speaking test and choose the correct options to complete the information.

3. The examiner's instructions.

Use the words to complete the examiner's instructions, then watch the extract again to check your answers.

4. Understanding the question.

Read the three tasks below carefully. Then watch the video of Part 2 of the test. Which task is the candidate talking about?

1. Describe the way you use computers.
You should say:   what you use them for
what you would do without them
how long you have been using computers
and explain what you like most about using a computer.

2. Describe the different things people use computers for.
You should say:   why people use them
why they are important
what you use computers for
and explain what you wouldn’t be able to do without a computer.

3. Describe a piece of equipment that you often use at home or at work.
You should say:   what you use it for
what features it has
how important it is to you
and explain what you would do if you didn’t have this piece of equipment.

TIP:

The words phone and mobile have the same /əʊ/ sound, as do home, alone, own, and boat. Also, remember that the word mobile is stressed on the first syllable: mobile; /ˈməʊ.baɪl/. Look at how we make the /əʊ/ sound.

5. Examiner's observations.

Which comments best describe Teresa's response to the question?

Now watch the complete extract from Part 2 of the speaking test.

6. The examiner's follow-up questions.

During Part 2 of the speaking test, the examiner may ask you two follow-up questions on the topic you have been given. Listen and type in the missing words to complete the examples of follow-up questions.

7. Deciding what information to include.

Look at these topic points.

Describe a possession you couldn't live without.
You should say:   what you use it for
why it is important to you
where you got it from
and explain why you couldn't live without it.

TIP:

Don't spend too long thinking about which possession you want to talk about. It's important to decide quickly and spend time thinking about what you use it for, why it's important to you, and where you got it from.

Which pieces of information could you include in your answer to the question above?

8. Making notes.

TIP:

It's important to make useful notes in your preparation time. This will help you to organise your thoughts and to keep talking during this part of the test. There are different ways of making notes; choose the method you like best.

Look at the notes different students have made for the topic in the previous exercise. Match the notes to the comments.

  1. Using question words is a good way to organise your notes.
  2. There are not really enough ideas here to be very helpful to you.
  3. There are some good ideas here, but you need to think about all parts of the question.
  4. Remember, you have only one minute to prepare. You don't have time to write notes like these. Try to avoid writing full sentences.
  5. A simple diagram is a great way of quickly organising your notes. It is also easy for you to follow when you are speaking.
  6. There are some good ideas here, but organising your notes more carefully will make it easier for you to organise your ideas when you speak.

9. Structuring your answer.

TIP:

It's important to structure your answer logically. There are several ways you can do this, and you will probably use a combination of structures in your answer.

Match the examples to the different types of structure.

10. Expanding on your ideas.

TIP:

Giving examples and justifying your opinions will help you to keep talking for the required time in each part of the test and will impress the examiner.

Choose the initial statement that the examples follow.

  1. And then I use it at home, too.
  2. Do I think people rely too much on computers? I think so. I think so, now, yes.
  3. I use it to get information, too, about – I don't know, virtually everything.
  4. I've been using a computer for more than 20 years.
  5. If I couldn't use a computer? Maybe I'd have to go back to the old times and write with paper and a pen.
  6. If I don't have computer I cannot do anything.
  7. The computer I have now is just a normal one really, nothing special.

11. Expanding on your ideas.

TIP:

A useful strategy for extending your talk is to mention the past, present and future. This will give you more to talk about and will also show the examiner that you can use different grammatical structures. For example:
(Past) I didn’t have a mobile until I was 15. All my friends had one, so I was very envious of them.
(Present) Now, of course my mobile is important for me because I use it for so many things, like …
(Future) A lot of people change their mobiles frequently, but I won’t change mine until I really need to. … etc.

Read expanded answers from the previous exercise. What function do the phrases in bold have? Drag the phrases below the text into the correct category.


I couldn't live without the computer because I need it for work, and if I don't have a computer I cannot do anything. I mean, I use it for writing reports, sending emails to clients and other people in the company, organising my diary – virtually everything, really. I remember one day at work when the email system wasn't working; it was a complete disaster – nobody could do anything!

And then I use it at home, too. I mean, writing emails is a lot easier than writing letters, and it's much quicker, too. I can email some friends in the morning to organise to meet up in the afternoon. I guess I could call, but when it's a group of people, email is much easier.

I use it to get information, too, about – I don't know, virtually everything. Like if I want to cook something special I can get the recipe on the Internet, or even a video that shows me how to do it. It's so much easier than looking in a book, and of course with a book you'd need to go to a shop or the library or whatever, but I have a computer right in my house.

Do I think people rely too much on computers? I think so. I think so, now, yes. I mean, as I was saying, I couldn't do anything without mine, and I think a lot of people are the same.

12. I mean.

I mean is one of the most common phrases in spoken English. It is used to introduce an explanation.

Choose the correct option to introduce the explanations.

13. Describing possessions.

Drag the phrases to complete the first two descriptions.


Now complete the next two descriptions.

14. Task.

Now practise your answer to the Part 2 task:

Describe a possession you couldn't live without.
 
You should say:   what you use it for
  why it is important to you
  where you got it from

and explain why you couldn’t live without it.

Rounding-off questions

  • Is it valuable in terms of money?
  • Would it be easy to replace?

Time yourself so that you get used to speaking for two minutes without support.

Remember to:

  • use your preparation time carefully and make appropriate and useful notes.
  • expand on your answers using examples and justifications.
  • use strategies to make your hesitation sound natural.