SPEAKING EXAM - USEFUL
EXPRESSIONS FOR INTERACTION
In part 2 of the speaking exam,there is a situation for you and your partner. With a partner, you have to decide what to do in the
situation.
Here are some useful
expressions to help you begin, maintain the conversation and end this part of
the test:
USEFUL EXPRESSIONS FOR SPEAKING PART 2
Beginning
OK, we need to decide what to buy / get / do /where to go / what we should
take [objects on a journey]
So, which of these are the most important / are the best / are the most
useful?
So, which of these would he / she like?
Saying what you think
I think we should / he should + infinitive
In my opinion, we should + infinitive
It would be a good idea to + infinitive because…….
I think it would be better to + infinitive than to +
infinitive
I think he’d / she’d like ….
Making suggestions
Why don’t we …? + infinitive
We could / she could + infinitive
How about…? + - ing form
What about the…. ? + object. What do you think about that?
Let’s + infinitive
I’d like to + infinitive. What about you?
……. would be useful. Do you agree?
Asking what your partner thinks
Do you agree?
How about you? Do you agree?
What do you think?
Agreeing
Yes, I agree.
Yes, that’s a good / great idea.
That sounds good.
Disagreeing
No, I don’t think so because….
I don’t think that’s a very good idea because…
That’s not a bad idea but….
That’s true but….
I’m sorry, I don’t agree.
Im not sure about that. What about….? +
object / + - ing form
Preferences
[Specific occasion] I’d rather + infinitive + than + infinitive
[Specific occasion] I’d prefer to + infinitive
[In general] I prefer + noun + noun
[In general] I prefer + - ing form + to + - ing form
Concluding
So, we think …. and … are the most important things. Is that right?
So, we’re going to take [objects on a journey] / get / buy / go to ….
and …. . Is that right?
Yes, let’s take / get / buy/ go to…..
So we think he should + infinitive…
So we think he’d like + object / + to + infinitive
Yes, I think he’d really like that.
Yes, I think that would be best.
Yes, that would be really good.
REMEMBER!
· Ask your partner questions and answer the questions fully
· Listen to your partner and show interest in what s/he says
· Avoid long, prepared speeches
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SOME USEFUL LANGUAGE
HOW TO :
ASK FOR SUGGESTIONS
· What shall we do tonight? · Where shall we go tonight?
MAKE SUGGESTIONS
· How about going to the cinema?
· Why don’t we have a meal in that new restaurant?
· We could stay in and watch a video.
· Let’s invite some friends round for dinner.
RESPOND TO SUGGESTIONS
· Yeah, that’s a great idea.
· Yes, that sounds good.
· Well, I think I’d prefer to go to a disco.
· Yes, OK
· All right, I agree.
DISCUSS ALTERNATIVES
· Which do you think is best?
· Yes, that’s possible.
· It’s difficult to decide but …….
· I think this is more useful because …
· It would be better to go to the cinema because ….
ASK FOR OPINIONS
· What do you think about that?
· Do you agree?
· How do you feel about that?
GIVE YOUR OPINION
· I think/I don’t think that’s a good idea because…
· Personally, I think that’s a terrible idea because …
· In my opinion it would be better to stay in a hotel because ….
AGREE AND DISAGREE
· That’s what I think too
· I agree.
· I’m not sure I agree with you.
· Yes, you’re right.
· Well, that’s true but ….
· I’m sorry but I don’t agree with you.
EXPRESS PREFERENCES
· I’d rather go to a campsite
· I’d like to stay in a youth hostel
· I’d prefer to go to a hotel
REMEMBER!
· Use the pictures round the outside as ideas for your discussion. Don’t describe them
· Think about the type of situation – is it directly about you or a third person? If it’s
about a third person, use he or she consistently
· Start the discussion immediately, DON’T waste time by giving the background to the
situation
· Give reasons for your opinions/ideas
· Make sure you give your partner an opportunity to participate equally in the
discussion. Don’t dominate
