The document provides information about the C1 Advanced Speaking test, including what is assessed. It explains that the interlocutor focuses on general performance and communication skills, while the assessor focuses on grammatical resource, lexical resource, discourse management, pronunciation, and interactive communication. Sample examiner comments are also provided that assess fluency, coherence, accuracy, and effort to build on ideas. The document concludes with tips for each part of the speaking test and encourages finding a study partner to practice.

1. Getting ready for C1Advanced
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking
Module 4: Speaking

2. Module 4: Speaking
Activity 4.3:
Understanding what is expected
in the C1 ADVANCED Speaking test
Achieving a certificate at this level proves that a
candidate has reached a very advanced level of
English required in demanding academic and
professional settings.
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking

3. What is assessed? Interlocutor
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking
Assessor
As you do the test, the interlocutor focuses on your general
performance and gives a mark for GLOBAL ACHIEVEMENT.
How well are you speaking about the topics you are given?
Are you communicating with your partner?
Are your answers clear and fluent?
Are you using language which is right for the level?

4. Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking

5. What is assessed?
As you do the test,the assessor focuses on these areas
of your English:
• Grammatical Resource
• Lexical Resource
• Discourse management
• Pronunciation
• Interactive communication
Interlocutor
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking
Assessor

6. Grammatical
Resource
Are you using agood rangeof grammatical structures? Are you using these
structures correctly?
Lexical
Resourc
e
Are you using agood rangeof vocabulary,which is appropriate for the
topics you are talking about? Are you using it correctly? Are you showing
that you canusesuitable vocabulary to talk about unfamiliar topics, aswell
astopics which you are more usedto talking about?
Discourse
Managemen
t
Are you using both long and short answers,depending on the task?Is
everything you sayrelevant to the topic? Are your ideasexpressedin clear
and well-organised language?Are you using arangeof language to link and
organiseyour ideas?Canyou speakfluently, without too muchhesitation?
Pronunciation Are you pronouncing individual soundscorrectly? Are you placing stresson
the right parts of words and on the right words in sentences?Doesyour
voice go up and down at the right times? Doesyour pronunciation help you
to communicate what youmean?
Interactive
Communication
Are you able to interact with the other candidate easily and effectively? Are
you listening to the other candidate and answering in away that makes
sense?Are you able to start adiscussionand help managethe discussionso
that you and your partner keepit going? Canyou think of new ideas toadd
to the discussion? Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking

7. Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking

8. How did they do in the test?
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking

9. Whatmarks did they get?
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking

10. Raphael: Overall comment
Raphaelcanhandle communication on arange of
familiar and unfamiliar topics with very little hesitation.
Hemakesaneffort throughout to respond to and build
on his partner’s ideas, but he could produce more
extended discourse at times during the test. Heis
generally coherent and accurate when expressing his
ideas, though someinaccuraciesand inappropriate
usage occur.
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking

11. Maude : Overall comment
Maude canhandle communication on arange of familiar
and unfamiliar topics with very little hesitation. Shecan
organise and produce extended discourse and makesan
effort throughout to respond to and build on her
partner’s ideas. Sheis generally coherent and accurate
when expressing her ideas, though at times shelets her
sentencestail off; nevertheless, this hasonly aminor
effect on her coherence.
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking

12. Top tip: find a study buddy!
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking
It may seem easier to practise speaking when
you’re studying in a classroom with other
students. However, there are many ways you
can practise from home,too.

13. Top tip: find a study buddy!
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking
• Use a digital device, e.g. a mobile phone or tablet to
record your speaking.
• Share your recordings with each other via Whatsapp,
email, Dropbox, Google Drive or similar tools.
• Do live speaking practice, for example on Zoom or Skype,
where you can record your speaking.
• Take turns in the roles of Student A and Student B.
• Share pictures on your screens and create your own
practice tasks.
• Give each other constructive feedback.

14. What do I do if I don’t have a study partner?
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking
• First, askyour teacher! Theymight be able to pair you off
with another student who is preparing the exam.
• If not, don’t worry.All practice is good practice. Youcan
practice for parts 1,2and 4 on your own.
• Useadigital device to record your speaking and sendit to
your teacher.
• Think about how successfully you were able to speakand
about your teacher’s feedback.

15. Part 1tips
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking
 Practisegiving information about yourself.
 Youcangive short answers,but it is good to extend them if
you can.
 Alittle detail is fine, but don’t worry if the examinerstops
you, becausethis part is short.
 Don’t give answerswhich you havelearned by heart, as
they don’t sound very natural.
 If you areaskedto give your opinion, remember to support
your answerswith reasonsor examples.

16. Part 2 tips
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking
 Practise comparing two pictures to get a feel for how much you
can say in 1minute. Youmay repeat the question or use phrases
to give your self time to think about what you will say.
 Don’t just describe the pictures. Tryto go beyond what you can
see,keepit abstract, and approach the task in anorganized way.
 Rememberthat the question is printed above the pictures. You
canalwaysrefer backto it!
 If you don’t know or can’t remember aword, try to useother
words for what you want to say..

17. Over to you!
Practiseparts 1& 2
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking

18. Part 3 tips
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking
 Discusseachof the prompts together in detail. It doesn’t
matter if you don’t talk about themall.
 Remember that the secondpart of the task is a
discussion about apossible decision; it is not essential to
reach adecision and you mayeven disagree.
 Listen to your partner and respond to what they say
before adding your own ideas.
 Youcanaskyour partner questions too if they are having
difficulty adding to the discussion.
 Remember to invite your partner to respond and/or
contribute.

19. Part 4 tips
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking
 Makesure you extend your answers with, e.g.reasons,
examples.
 Remember you canrespond or add to what your
partner saysin their answers.
 Sometimes the examiner will askyou to discussa
question together and this maylead to adiscussion
between you. Thismaylast more than one turn each,
which is fine.

20. Over to you!
Practiseparts 3&4
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking

21. Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking

22. Thank you!!!
Getting ready for C1 AdvancedSpeaking