What do you need to do?

Collaborative task (part 3) 3 minutes: In this part of the exam the candidates speak together about a situation for 2-3 minutes and then discuss the same topic for a further 4 minutes with extra discussion questions. In this part you need to look at the 5 options or topics and use the following skills to have a conversation. They will have two minutes to discuss the options and then one minute to come to a conclusion.

• Suggest
• Initiate and respond (questions)
• Develop (maintain the conversation and make it interesting)
• Link (relate your points to those of your partner)
• Negotiate an outcome (conclusion)

 

An important part of this part of the exam is the use of ´question tags´, the conversation needs to be natural and easy to follow with little repetition or hesitation. Do not stop speaking until the examiner stops you.

 

HOW CAN I ANSWER THIS TASK WELL?

You need to watch examples and also practice with your speaking partner. What the examiners want is an informal conversation, as if you were two friends chatting in a café. See this link for examples

 

Example 1:

 

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

I’d like you to imagine that you are talking about health at work. 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 why overworking can be bad for your health and well-being.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Thank you. Now you have about a minute to decide which is the best way to avoid health problems at work.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Thank you.

 

Why can overworking be detrimental for your health and well-being?

• stress
• tiredness and exhaustion
• time-consuming
• diet
• lack of exercise

 

Use the following questions, in order, as appropriate.

• Do you think you spend too much time at work?
• Some people say that you should work to live, not live to work. Do you agree?
• If you enjoy your job, does it help you avoid stress and anxiety?
• Do you think we get enough holidays to be able to relax?
• Should people take regular breaks at work?
• Would you say that people, in general, work hard in your country?

Example 2:

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

I’d like you to imagine that you are talking about sport and health. 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 why sport is important to live a healthy life.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Thank you. Now you have about a minute to decide which is the main benefit of staying fit and healthy.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Thank you.

 

What are the main benefits of getting regular exercise?

• fitness
• stress relief
• rest and relaxation
• socializing and friendships
• self-confidence 

 

Use the following questions, in order, as appropriate.

• Why do some people find it challenging to find time to do exercise?
• Some people say that doing sport 3 times a week is enough. Do you agree?
• What types of sports are popular in your country and why?
• Can people get addicted to doing sport and why?
• Why do people like being involved in team sports?
• What can people learn from doing individual sports like running or swimming?

EXAMPLE 3:

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

I’d like you to imagine that you are talking about health and well-being. 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 what is needed to be fulfilled.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Thank you. Now you have about a minute to decide which is the best way to get a sense of self-satisfaction and well-being.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Thank you.

 

What should you do to achieve a sense of satisfaction and well-being?

• study
• travel
• work
• eat a balanced-diet
• earn a high salary

 

Use the following questions, in order, as appropriate.

• Why do some people try to buy happiness?
• Some people say that if you aren’t happy without something, you will never be happy with it. Do you agree?
• Is having new experiences important for well-being?
• How can learning new things make you feel fulfilled?
• Do we need to learn to face problems to feel truly happy?

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Evaluation:

For interactive communication “Initiates and responds appropriately, linking contributions to those of other speakers. Maintains and develops the interaction and negotiates towards an outcome”. This means that you can form questions well, you can continue a conversation and make it interesting, and you can link topics to other topics or to what your partner has said. And that you try to give a conclusion. I always tell candidates that you want to think of it as la patata caliente. You do not want to speak for too long (20 seconds maximum) and then you pass it to your partner with a question or a question tag. It is an informal conversation and you can interrupt and show disagreement. Try to be creative and give the activity a context, boring conversations usually get a bad mark/grade.