Pet speaking

1. PET SPEAKING PAPER
PART 1: PERSONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT FAMILIAR TOPICS (3
minutes). Conversation with the examiner.
The examiner asks questions and you give information about yourself, talk
about past experiences, present job, studies, where you live, etc., and
future plans.
EXAMINER’S QUESTIONS
A. HOME TOWN
 Where are you from?
 Can you tell me something about your town?
 What is the most interesting part of your town?
 Can you describe some of the shops in your town?
B. FAMILY AND HOME
 Can you tell me about your family?
 What does your family so together?
 Can you describe your house or flat?
 Do you have a favourite relative? What’s he / she like?
C. WORK / STUDY
 Can you tell me something about your school?
 What subjects do you enjoy the most? The least?
 How long have you been studying English?
 What so you find most difficult in studying English?
 Do you have a part-time job after school?
D. LEISURE
 Do you have any hobbies?
 How did you become interested in your hobby?
 What kind of music so you enjoy most?
 What kind of sports are you and your friends interested in?
 What do you and your friends like to do when you go out?
 How do you usually spend your holidays?
E. FUTURE PLANS
 What do you hope to do in the next few years?
 What kind of job do you hope to be doing in 10 year’s time?

2. PART 2: COMMUNICATION ACTIVITY CANDIDATES INTERACT
WITH EACH OTHER. (3 minutes).
In part 2, the examiner gives you some pictures and describes a situation
to you. You have to talk to the other candidate and decide / come to a
decision with your partner about what would be best in the situation.
Making and responding to suggestions, discussing alternatives, making
recommendations, negotiating agreement.
REMEMBER!
 You have to speak for one minute. Start out by comparing and
contrasting the photos, but make sure that you answer the
additional question.
USEFUL LANGUAGE
GETTING STARTED
Well, we have to choose / talk about …………….
Why don’t we first talk about each……… before we decide.
What should we do first?
INVITING YOUR PARTNER TO SPEAK
That’s a good idea. Let’s start with…………… Is that OK with you?
Maybe we should just go in order. What do you think?
How do you see it?
Do you think we should…..?
PRESENTING AN IDEA/ EXPRESSING YOUR OPINION
I think we should………….. / I don’t think…….
I definitely think we need …………..
In my opinion, ……………….
Wouldn’t it be better if ………………..
If you ask me, ………………..
Personally, I don’t like………….
I’m not sure I’d go along with that.
AGREEING
That’s absolutely true
Absolutely.
It’ a good idea provided…………
It’ a good idea if you take into account that……………
Exactly.
I couldn’t agree more
You’ve got a point.
DISAGREEING
Well, I don’t think ……………..
I’m not sure I agree with you. I think……………..
That’s not how I see it. I think that…………….
Well, I hadn’t thought about that. We could ……………
CONCLUDING
Right then. So you’re saying that……………., but I think…………….
So if we summarize, we can say that we are choosing……………………
So shall we say…………….?

3. PART 3: PHOTOGRAPHS (2-3 minutes). CANDIDATES SPEAK IN
TURNS.
In Part 3,
The examiner gives you a colour photograph and you have to talk about
it. Candidates should be encouraged to talk about the setting, people,
activities and feelings. The photographs are linked thematically to
establish a common starting point for part 4.
 Discuss each item
REMEMBER!
 Discuss each item before coming to a decision don’t do all the
talking invite your partner to speak too. When your partner speaks,
it’s important to respond to what he/she says.
 Relate to your partner. Turn him / her as you talk. After saying
what you think and why, ask him /her opinion. Listen and say
whether you agree or disagree, or add to what he/she says.
USEFUL LANGUAGE
COMPARING
There are some similarities between these two photographs. For example,
………………
As we can see, both pictures show…………...(example: Both pictures show
places where people shop. One of these pictures show a small shop while
the other shows a big shopping mall with a variety of products)
CONTRASTING
At the same time we can see some differences. (example: One picture
shows a shopping mall with a lot of hops under one roof, while the other
picture shows a family-run shop)
SPECULATING
It looks like……….
Picture A/B seems to be more………
I would say that…………
It’s very difficult to say, but I suppose that picture A/B……..
EXPRESSING PREFERENCE / LIKES AND DISLIKES
I’d rather……………..
Personally I prefer ………… (example: Personally, I prefer the small shop
shown in this picture because you can probably feel the friendly, family-
like atmosphere as you walk in)
I don’t really like………..
I’m afraid I don’t like / I’m not very keen on………
What I especially like about picture A/B is……………
If I had to choose between the two, I’d prefer………..

4. PART 4: DISCUSSION (4 minutes) Further discussion with the
other candidate about the same topic as the task in Part 3.
In part 4, your examiner will ask you and the other candidate to discuss
several questions on the topics introduced in part3.
The interlocutor initiates the discussion but the candidates are expected to
talk between themselves. They should be able to talk about their interest
and reasons for liking or not liking something. The interlocutor will use
prompts if the discussion fails to develop.
This part of the test should be like a natural conversation.
REMEMBER!
 This is a three-way discussion. The examiner will either turn to you
specifically or just throw open the question.
 You should give more than a minimal response. Try to develop the
topic if you can.
 There is no right or wrong answer.
 You may response to what your partner says but this is not
expected or necessary.
USEFUL LANGUAGE
EXPRESSING PREFERENCES / OPINIONS
I definitely think that………….
I don’t really think I’d want to………….
I believe that…………
If you ask me ………….
I suppose…………..
Personally, I think……………
GIVING INFORMATION
Well, I would say that…………
It’s well known that…………..
As far as I know………….
As far as I’m concerned…………..