This document provides tips and useful expressions for the FCE Speaking exam. It recommends speaking slowly and making eye contact in Part 1. In Part 2, it advises not describing the pictures but instead using a simple structure to compare and contrast them using expressions like "whereas" and "while." For Part 3/4, it offers phrases for turn-taking, reaching a decision, expressing opinions, and inviting agreement from the other speaker.

1. Speak slowly to give yourself
time to think! DON’T
DESCRIBE the
pictures in Part
2!
Make eye
contact!
Be sure to
answer
the
question!
Learn useful
expressions for
speculating,
comparing etc.
FCE SPEAKING EXAM TIPS

2. FCE SPEAKING EXAM
USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
PART 1
I’m speaking English for my own satisfaction.
I’m speaking English in order to improve my employment
prospects.
That’s a good question …
It’s funny you should ask …
Well, to cut a long story short …
Well, to be honest …
It’s difficult to say …
Let me think …
Well, let me see …
That’s a tricky one …
That’s an interesting question …
Where should I start …
… another point would be …
… and I should add that …

3. FCE SPEAKING EXAM
USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
PART 2 (1 minute to contrast & compare a photo)
(A SUGGESTED SIMPLE STRUCTURE TO USE)
Introduction:
As we can see, in Picture 1 …. and in Picture 2 ……
Compare/Contrast:
Both pictures are quite similar in that they show (similarities) …,
however, picture 1 (differences) … whereas picture 2 (differences) …
Conclusion:
To answer the question …
(It’s important to KEEP TALKING so here is an idea if you have
time left over (depending on the photo) state your preference
or say what you think about a situation in one of the photos)

4. FCE SPEAKING EXAM
USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
PART 2 Continued
Contrasting
In picture 1 we can see …
whereas/while/however in picture
2 …
In picture 1 we can see. In
contrast, picture 2 shows …
Picture 1 shows … while in picture
2 there is/are …
In the first picture … can be seen,
while the second picture shows …
Similarities
In both pictures we can see …
Both pictures show …
There is/are … in both pictures.
Picture 1 shows … and in Picture 2
we can also see …
… can be seen in both pictures.
Both pictures have something in
common; they show …
In picture 1 there is/are …
Similarly, picture 2 shows …

5. FCE SPEAKING EXAM
USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
PART 3/4 (Interactive – 2
minutes to discuss written
prompts and 1 minute to
arrive at a decision)
Turn Taking (to begin)
Shall I begin?
May I start?
Would you like to start?
Turn Taking (to change turn)
Shall we move on to …?
And what about …?
Let’s consider …
Why don’t we look at …?
How about …?
Let’s take a look at …
Reaching a Decision
Shall we agree on …?
Then we’re agreed; …
Can we agree on …?
Are we both agreed on …?
So shall we say …?
Why don’t we go with …
Expressing your Opinion
The way I see it …
If you ask me …
To my way of thinking …
Inviting a General Opinion
What’s your take?
What do you think?
Inviting Agreement
Don’t you think?
Wouldn’t you agree?
Wouldn’t you say?