The B2 First (FCE) Speaking Part 3 involves actual interaction between you and other candidates as it entails a thorough discussion about a specific topic that the examiner will give you. This test will prove your competency in speaking and expressing yourself in English. You will have to show your skills in conveying your ideas and conversing entirely in English if you are serious about passing this test.
What Does B2 First (FCE) Speaking Part 3 Contain?
Like the other standardized English exams, FCE Speaking Part 3 is also a time-pressured exam. A strict number of minutes will be allotted for each portion. To successfully navigate the limited time, you should be able to anticipate and prepare for a multitude of topics and all possible scenarios that may happen during the exam. You will also have to interact with the other candidates to pass this exam.
Below are some tips and suggestions for each part of Speaking Part 3.
1. First Stage
At the start of the exam, you will be grouped in pairs with the other candidates. The examiner will give you and your partner a particular scenario. You will be asked to analyze the situation and develop viable solutions to tackle the situation. For example, the examiner may ask you to cite certain situations where people may feel proud about various things. Your task would be to supply those various things. You may say, for instance, that most people are proud of their children, while your partner will also provide his/her example, and so forth.
2. Second Stage
In this next step, you will brainstorm with other participants to develop as many viable options for a given scenario. You will all be required to throw in as many options and ideas as possible to keep the list going. Don’t worry about all the little details, you’ll be filtering them out later. Your job at this stage is to mention whatever pops up in your mind relating to the given scenario, no matter how incredible they may seem initially. Sorting out and weighing these ideas will be done in the next stage of the FCE Speaking Part 3.
3. Third Stage
This is the step where you get to scrutinize and filter out the invalid ideas. Pick and analyze each idea one by one. Make sure that every idea you reject has adequately been analyzed. After weighing all the options, make a top three list and agree on which idea you think is best. The examiner will be giving you further instructions at this stage, so make sure to listen carefully.
4. Final Stage
Finally, you will be asked by the examiner about your final answer at the fourth and final stage of FCE Speaking Part 3. You will have to explain and justify why you have chosen the said option, and you and your partner may need to expound on some points to support your choice. This concludes the process of the third speaking exam.
Remember that you and your partner will only be given 4-5 minutes to accomplish each of the abovementioned activities.
How to Prepare for the FCE Speaking Part 3 Test
Preparing for the exam beforehand is always advisable when taking any test. Preparation also instills the necessary confidence as you enter the exam, effectively elevating your chances of passing the test even higher.
Below are some things you can do to prepare for the FCE Speaking Part 3 Test.
1. Learn Phrases
When conversing with others, you must use appropriate connecting or starting phrases to help you convey your ideas clearly. For instance, you can lean on some go-to phrases such as: “What do you think about…”, “I can see what you mean, but…” or “I think it’s better if we…”
2. Be more confident
Since FCE Speaking Part 3 is a collaborative task, you will be forced to talk and interact with others. Thus, you need to have enough confidence as you try to talk with more conviction. You can practice this beforehand by taking the time to talk to other people more often and try to engage in meaningful conversations or some playful banter as the situation dictates.
3. Express your feelings
Being able to express your feelings is critical in this category as this activity depends upon the two of you being able to handle each other’s ideas and opinions as you try to come up with a mutually agreed final answer. Therefore, the ability to express your thoughts and insights about the given situation would be essential in this activity.
Tips to Improve Your Score in FCE Speaking Part 3
For those willing to go the extra mile, here are some other tips you can do to help you gain that extra inch or two as you try to reach the last mile, so to speak, in terms of passing the exam. Coupled with the proper preparation, these few additional steps may give you that final lift over the hump.
Tip 1: Expand your vocabulary
Your vocabulary is one of your most important assets, especially in FCE Speaking Part 3. Expanding it by constantly learning new words will help you express your ideas more efficiently and with greater conviction. A broader vocabulary will also help in the eyes of the examiner since he/she will view you as a person who is fluent and has a good grasp of the English language.
Tip 2: Practice your listening abilities
You will interact with another person for the entire exam, so you must sharpen your listening abilities. You have to focus on what the other person is saying and be able to consider their opinions and feelings about the subject matter at hand. This exam will force you to consider and respect each other’s opinions to come up with a mutual agreement.
Tip 3: Use fillers
There will be instances when you’ll need a moment to gather your thoughts or breathe for a minute. However, you won‘t have that luxury when you’re taking the FCE Speaking Part 3 test. Since you are under a time constraint, you must use all your time wisely. Any type of dead air is not welcome in tests like these. To avoid those situations, you can use fillers while you think of something to say. You can say phrases like “I like what you’ve just said, but I think that…” or “No, I don’t think that’s right, I think that…”.
We hope this article on B2 First (FCE) Speaking Part 3 was helpful. Make sure also to check out our Scholarships Page for different information on scholarships and universities across the globe!
