Cambridge English: C1 Advanced (CAE) Speaking
Difficulty
level: C1 / advanced
What is The C1 AdvancedSpeaking test like?
The test has four sections and takes 15 minutes:
You will do the speaking test with another candidate. The two of you will meet two examiners. One of the examiners will talk to you, the other does not participate in the conversations.
- Speaking part 1: short questions and answers between you and the examiner
- Speaking part 2: 'Long turn' .The examiner gives you three pictures and asks you to talk about them. You have to speak for 1 minute without interruption and the interlocutor then asks the other candidate to comment on what you have said for about 30 seconds. The other candidate receives a different set of photographs and you have to listen and comment when they have finished speaking.
- Speaking part 3: Collaborative task. Conversation with the other candidate. The examiner gives you some pictures and a task to do. You have to talk with the other candidate and make a decision.
- Speaking part 4: Discussion. Further discussion with the other candidate based on the topics or issues raised in the task in Part 3.
Scoring
The Speaking section is worth 25% of the total score for the exam.
Your speaking is assessed using five criteria:
- Grammar - have you used a range of grammar structures?
- Lexical resource - have you used a range of vocabulary?
- Discourse management - have you participated effectively in the conversations and discussions?
- Proununciation
- Interactive Communication - have you completed the tasks effectively?
How to prepare for CAE Speaking
- Read this article explaining how to do well in the speaking exam.
- Listen carefully to what the examiner has asked you to do.
- Speak as much as you can, with your friends.
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Practise looking at photographs and speaking about them.
- Listen! The more English you listen to the better you will do. Listen to the radio, English language TV, podcasts...