Speaker A
Good afternoon. Hello. My name is Jenny Cooke, and this is my colleague, Jill Budgie. Hello.
A Cambridge B2 First speaking test sample with candidates Victoria and Edward covering personal questions, photo comparisons, and a collaborative tourism discussion.
Key Takeaways
- Candidates should give extended answers, support opinions, and respond to a partner's ideas.
- Comparing photos requires describing both images, speculating on feelings, and answering a brief question about the partner's pictures.
- Collaborative tasks reward negotiation, agreeing and disagreeing politely, and reaching a joint decision.
- Planning ahead can make travel affordable, a useful point for B2-level discussion.
What the video covers
- Examiners Jenny Cooke and Jill Budgie introduce the B2 First speaking test and collect candidates' mark sheets.
- Victoria (from northern Germany, now in England) and Edward (from Lima, Peru) answer warm-up questions about hobbies, festivals, internet use, and films.
- Edward describes Mistura, Lima's big food festival, and Victoria explains she has more free time in England.
- Part 2: Victoria compares photos of people helping others (a footballer with a cramp, a policeman assisting a confused lady) and explains why helping matters.
- Edward recounts asking for help in London to find a cheaper hostel.
- Part 2 continued: Edward compares photos of people enjoying gardens and relaxing outdoors, and Victoria states her preference for her own garden.
- Part 3: The pair discusses ways a town could attract tourists (nightclubs, shops, parks, holiday flats, security cameras) and decides parks and shopping areas are best.
- The candidates agree that parks benefit families, the environment, and visitors, while nightclubs and security cameras are less appealing.
- Final question: Victoria argues a good holiday need not be expensive if one plans and books early.
- The video serves as a model for learners preparing for the Speaking paper of the Cambridge B2 First exam.
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
And your names are?
Speaker A
My name is Victoria. My name is Edward. Can I have your mark sheets, please?
Speaker A
Of course. Thank you. Where are you from, Victoria?
Speaker A
I'm from Germany. I'm from the north coast of Germany.
Speaker A
And it's very nice there because I live close to the sea. And Edward, where are you from?
Speaker A
I'm from Peru. I live in the capital, Lima. It's near the coast.
Speaker A
First, we'd like to know something about you. Victoria, how do you like to spend your evenings?
Speaker A
In Germany, I like to go to my horse, and now I go to the gym or do something else or spend time with my friends.
Speaker A
And, Edward, tell us about a festival or celebration in Peru.
Speaker A
Well, in Peru, there is a lot of festivals. There is one called Mistura.
Speaker A
It's about food, because in Peru, we have a lot of very different kinds of food.
Speaker A
So, all the chefs and plates go there. And there is a big festival in Lima. I love it.
Speaker A
Victoria, do you use the Internet much?
Speaker A
At home, not really, but now I'm in England, so I used to Skype very often, and to go, yeah, and look at films on the Internet or listen to music more, because I have more free time now.
Speaker A
Edward, tell us about a film you really like.
Speaker A
A film? Well, I really like cars and action, so maybe Fast and Furious was quite interesting for me, the last one. Six.
Speaker A
I find it really good because there are quite expensive cars, there are things I like. Thank you.
Speaker A
In this part of the test, I'm going to give each of you two photographs.
Speaker A
I'd like you to talk about your photographs on your own for about a minute, and also to answer a short question about your partner's photographs.
Speaker A
Victoria, it's your turn first. Here are your photographs. They show people who are helping other people in different situations.
Speaker A
I'd like you to compare the photographs and say how important it is to help people in these situations.
Speaker A
OK. All right? Yeah.
Speaker A
In the first picture, I see a sportsman, a footballer, and somebody. I think he has a cramp or something like this, and somebody helps him.
Speaker A
In the second picture, there's a policeman. The lady, I think, she asks for the direction because she's confused in the city.
Speaker A
She's new or a tourist. I think both are very important persons, because in the first picture, he has pain.
Speaker A
In the second picture, she needs help as well. So, I think that both are very important persons for the people in each situation.
Speaker A
I think I would prefer to help people who play sports, because I like sports.
Speaker A
And it's really interesting to see other people. And I-- Thank you.
Speaker A
Edward, do you find it easy to ask for help when you have a problem?
Speaker A
Yes, I have an experience in London. I was looking for a hostel, and I asked an ambulance for some special place, a cheaper hostel, and they helped me.
Speaker A
Thank you. Can I have the booklet, please?
Speaker A
Now, Edward, here are your photographs. They show people spending time in different gardens.
Speaker A
I'd like you to compare the photographs and say what you think the people are enjoying about spending time in these gardens?
Speaker A
OK. All right? Yes.
Speaker A
Well, in the first picture, I see a girl, a young girl, in a garden with, I think, special plants there. She has special care about them.
Speaker A
In the second, I think it's a big garden where people can go and have a picnic or spend some time with family, a time to relax.
Speaker A
I think, in both cases, they are all enjoying the things. In the first one, I think that girl likes to grow these plants in maybe her garden. Maybe she's going to eat them.
Speaker A
In the second one, they like to spend time in the fresh air, or maybe free things is good. Both are enjoying each. Thank you.
Speaker A
Victoria, which garden would you prefer to spend time in?
Speaker A
I think I would prefer to enjoy my own garden, so in the first picture, because it is really enjoyable to see the plants grow up and which colours they have.
Speaker A
And so, I think it is nice when you sit on the terrace and have a look at your own garden.
Speaker A
Thank you. Can I have the booklet, please?
Speaker A
Thank you. Now, I'd like you to talk about something together for about two minutes.
Speaker A
I'd like you to imagine that a town wants more tourists to visit. Here are some ideas they're thinking about and a question for you to discuss.
Speaker A
First, you have some time to look at the task. Now, talk to each other about why these ideas would attract more tourists to the town.
Speaker A
OK. Maybe we can choose one. Yeah, OK. Shall we talk about building nightclubs?
Speaker A
What do we think about it? Yes, maybe. Nightclubs, I think, are a focus for young people. I think that not young people like to visit towns for a nightclub.
Speaker A
What about having more shops?
Speaker A
I think that shopping is a special thing. Shops are, I think, a good idea as well, because they can go with the whole family, or sometimes parents can go on their own and the children are with their own.
Speaker A
But I think it would be nice when it is a shopping area and not shops on the street, because when the children want to go alone, maybe it is a little bit dangerous.
Speaker A
So, maybe we can be providing new parks. Parks, parks. I don't really like parks.
Speaker A
Because I don't want to have a picnic in the park, but maybe it is nice.
Speaker A
What do you think about it? I'm sorry, I can't agree with you. I like parks, because most people like to spend time with their family doing a picnic in the fresh air if it's good weather. So, maybe more tourists can go to the parks.
Speaker A
Yeah. Well, but maybe we can-- what do you think about building holiday flats?
Speaker A
I think it is a good idea, but I'm not really sure if everybody wants to live in a holiday flat, but I think it can be very interesting when it's nice.
Speaker A
Yeah, it's a nice flat. What's your opinion?
Speaker A
I think that is not good for tourists or for the interests of them, and putting up security cameras also.
Speaker A
I think they are more for people who live there. Yeah, I think when I went on holiday, I know there are still cameras around me-- Thank you.
Speaker A
Now, you have about a minute to decide which idea would be best for the town.
Speaker A
OK. OK. I think the shopping areas are really nice, because the whole family has something from it.
Speaker A
I also think providing parks. So, we have to discuss which is the best one.
Speaker A
OK. Yes. I like parks, also because they help the weather and are good for the environment. When you go to a new place, you also visit the parks, that kind of thing.
Speaker A
OK, maybe I would change my opinion when I see a nice park. It's possible.
Speaker A
Yes? So, if we can find new parks? Maybe. I have to try it, yeah.
Speaker A
Yes. It was the best option. I think so. But not about discussing the nightclub or putting in security cameras, because they are more for determined kinds of people.
Speaker A
Thank you. Can I have the booklet, please?
Speaker A
Thank you. Victoria, do you think you have to spend a lot of money to have a good holiday?
Speaker A
Not really. I think when you're well organised and you look early enough for something, it might be possible to make it less expensive to go on a good holiday.
Topics:B2 FirstCambridge Englishspeaking testexam preparationEnglish examspeaking skillsphoto comparisoncollaborative tasktourismsample test
