This post will provide you all with some phrases that you can use in the B2 First from Cambridge Exam English. These key phrases can be applied to speaking part 3 (The Collaborative Task) and part 4 (The Discussion). Study the phrases, review the example conversation and practice with your speaking partner.

We also have a special cheat sheet for speaking exams that might be worth downloading.

 

KEY PHRASES FOR THE B2 FIRST: SPEAKING EXAM

TYPE	PHRASES
SUGGESTING DEVELOPING	WHY DON’T WE TALK ABOUT…? HOW/WHAT ABOUT…? WHAT’S YOUR VIEW ON…? SHOULDN’T WE CONSIDER…?
DISCOURSE MARKERS EXAMPLES	…AND SO ON. …AND SO FORTH. …AND SUCH LIKE. …OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AGREEING REINFORCING	I COULDN´T AGREE MORE. THAT´S JUST WHAT I WAS THINKING! THAT´S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY! YOU TOOK THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH.
DISAGREEING GIVING REASONS	THAT COULD BE THE CASE, HOWEVER, … WELL, THAT MAY WELL BE SO, BUT… I FAIL TO SEE WHY… HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. I WOULD SAY YOU HAVE A POINT, BUT…
OUTCOME COMING TO A CONCLUSION SETTLING AN ARGUMENT	ALL IN ALL, I RECKON… I WOULD SAY WE CAN DISCARD… I GUESS WE SHOULD GO FOR… SO THEN, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE? LET’S AGREE TO DISAGREE. LET’S MOVE ON, SHALL WE?

 

DOWNLOAD THIS LIST IN PDF HERE

 

Example tasks (Part 3 and 4)

Read the question and then speak with your speaking partners on our site.

 

Interlocutor

Now, I’d like you to talk about something together for about two minutes.

 

I’d like you to imagine that you want to find out some important information. Here are some of the ideas they are thinking about and a question for you to discuss. First you have some time to look at the task.

Now, talk to each other about which is the best way to find out some new information.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Thank you. Now you have about a minute to decide which is the most effective way to get new information?

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Thank you.

 

Which is the best way to find out new information and why?

• use the internet
• read a book
• look it up in a journal
• watch tv
• do a course

 

Tip:

The conversation needs to be informal, fun and easy to follow. You need to do several things like set a context, discuss the different options and try to come to a decision at the end.

 

Example conversation: read this conversation and then practice on our platform

JUAN: So, if you wanted to learn about something, how would you try to get information?

PILAR: Well, as you know, there are several ways of doing so. I think the most common way in the past was to look it up in a book. That’s what I would do.

JUAN: I see your point, but like you were saying, that is a way of doing it in the past. Now people tend to use other resources. What about the internet?

PILAR: Yeah, I get what you mean, but the internet is so vast that I can never find what I’m looking for.

JUAN: Maybe you aren’t using it right.

PILAR: I’m not that old, cheeky!

JUAN: I know, I didn’t mean that, but I’d say that the internet is the best resource that we have within reach. It is freely available and has everything you need.

PILAR: I couldn’t agree more, but shouldn’t we also consider other resources like TV?

JUAN: Well, yes, with on demand TV you can see some great documentaries, but you need to check the reliability of the information.

PILAR: That’s just what I was thinking!

JUAN: What about looking things up in journals? Academic journals, I mean.

PILAR: Well, I would say that access to them can be an issue.

JUAN: Of course, that and also it can be really time consuming.

PILAR: You took the words out of my mouth!  So, all in all, which are we going to go for?

JUAN: Without a doubt the internet.

PILAR: I knew you were going to say that.

JUAN: I just sincerely think it’s the best option.

PILAR: As we have said that we can discard journals, books and Tv because of the time restraints and reliability. That just leaves courses or the internet. So I will pick the internet, too.

JUAN: I’m glad we could finally agree on something, haha.

 

TO DOWNLOAD MORE EXAMPLE QUESTIONS FOR (PART 3: COLLABORATIVE TASK) CLICK HERE

 

Example questions for part 4 of this type of task would be:

1. How often do you look up new information?
2. What do you usually use the internet for?
3. Some people think the internet has made information less valuable, do you agree?
4. Would you prefer to read a paperback or an ebook?
5. Is it thought that the internet has made our lives easier?
6. Are you in favor of learning new things online or in conventional classes?