B1 Preliminary for Schools Handbook

B1 Preliminary for Schools 
Speaking Test 
 
Part 1 (2–3 minutes) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Phase 1 
Interlocutor 
 
To both candidates 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
To Candidate A 
 
 
To Candidate B 
 
 
 
 
Good morning/afternoon/evening.
Can I have your mark sheets, please?
Hand over the mark sheets to the Assessor. 
I’m ………… and this is ………… . 
What’s your name? How old are you? 
Thank you. 
And what’s your name? How old are you? 
Thank you. 
 
 
 
Back-up prompts 
 
B
, where do you live? 
Do you live in 
name of town, city or region
? 
Who do you live with? 
Do you live with your family? 
Thank you. 
 
 
And 
A
, where do you live? 
Do you live in 
name of town, city or region
? 
Who do you live with? 
Do you live with your family? 
Thank you. 
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Speaking Part 2
THE TASK
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The interlocutor instructs each candidate in turn. 
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The candidates take turns to speak for about 1 minute each. 
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Each candidate is given one colour photograph to describe. The 
photographs show everyday situations which are relevant to the age group. 
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The candidates describe what they can see in their photograph.
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When they have finished, they give their photograph back to the 
interlocutor.
HOW TO APPROACH THE TASK
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Candidates should keep their descriptions simple, and should not speculate 
about the context or talk about any wider issues raised by the photographs.
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They should use this part of the test to show their range of vocabulary.
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Candidates should describe the people and activities in the photographs as 
fully as possible. They should imagine they are describing the photograph 
to someone who can’t see it. This may include naming all the objects, 
describing colours, clothing, time of day, weather, etc.
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Candidates can also show their ability to organise their language using 
simple connectives.
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If candidates can’t recall a certain word, they will be given credit if they can 
use paraphrase or other strategies to deal with items of vocabulary that 
they don’t know or can’t remember.
ASSESSMENT
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All criteria are assessed in this part of the test.