Track 1 – Two Candidates
Listen to two candidates answer the same questions. Candidate A hesitates and repeats. Candidate B speaks smoothly and links ideas. What makes the difference?
Show the audio script
Examiner: Do you like cooking?
Candidate A: Yes. I like cooking… … Erm… I cook… cook at home. Erm… Firstly, it is cheap. Secondly… erm… it is… healthy.
Examiner: Do you like cooking?
Candidate B: Well, yes, I really enjoy it, actually. I didn’t cook much when I lived with my parents, but since I moved into my own flat, I’ve been cooking almost every evening. The thing is, it’s much cheaper than eating out, and it’s healthier too. I’d like to learn some Thai dishes next.
Examiner: Why do people eat out more nowadays?
Candidate A: Because… … they are busy. Erm… Moreover, restaurants are… erm… many. Furthermore… … I don’t know… people like it.
Examiner: Why do people eat out more nowadays?
Candidate B: Let me see… I think the main reason is that people are so busy. A lot of people work long hours, so they don’t have the energy to cook. Plus, there are delivery apps now, which means you can order almost anything in a few minutes. Mind you, it’s not always healthy, and it can get expensive.
Track 2 – Your Turn
Answer each question aloud. You hear a short tone when your time is up: 25 seconds for Part 1, one minute to plan and two minutes to speak in Part 2, and 40 seconds for Part 3. Record yourself if you can.
Show the audio script
Examiner: What do you usually do at weekends?
Examiner: Now I’m going to give you a topic, and I’d like you to talk about it for one to two minutes. Before you talk, you have one minute to think about what you’re going to say. You can make some notes if you wish. Here is your topic: Describe a skill you learned that is useful to you.
Examiner: All right? Remember, you have one to two minutes for this, so don’t worry if I stop you. Please start speaking now.
Examiner: Is it easier to learn new skills now than it was in the past?
Track 3 – Model Answers
Compare your answers with these model answers. Notice the linking phrases and how each answer keeps going.
Show the audio script
Examiner: What do you usually do at weekends?
Candidate: Well, it depends, but I usually try to relax. On Saturday mornings I go swimming, and then I meet friends for lunch. I used to work on Saturdays, so I really appreciate having the whole weekend free now. Sundays are quieter – I normally just cook and get ready for the week.
Part 2 – Describe a skill you learned that is useful to you: I’d like to talk about learning to drive, which is probably the most useful skill I have. I learned about four years ago, when I got a job outside the city. The thing is, there weren’t any buses to the office, so I didn’t really have a choice. I took lessons twice a week with a local instructor. Honestly, at first I was terrible – I stalled the car all the time, and I failed my first test because I didn’t check my mirrors. Mind you, that was a good lesson. I practised a lot more with my dad, and I passed the second time. These days I drive almost every day – to work, to the supermarket, and to visit my grandparents in the countryside at weekends. As for why it’s useful, it’s given me a lot of freedom. I don’t have to depend on anyone, and I can go wherever I want. Plus, it’s opened up job opportunities that I couldn’t have taken before. Next year I’d like to take a course in driving in winter conditions, because the roads near us can get icy.
Examiner: Is it easier to learn new skills now than it was in the past?
Candidate: Yes, I’d say it is, in many ways. In the past, people used to need a teacher or a class, which meant spending time and money. Nowadays, you can learn almost anything online – cooking, coding, even playing the guitar – and much of it is free. Mind you, it’s easy to give up when nobody is checking your progress, so I think you still need a lot of self-discipline.