The FCE speaking part 3 exam requires two students to discuss a subject between them for about 2 minutes, having looked at the question for about 15 seconds, and make a decision about the points covered.

The speaking exam in general has a lot in common with the writing exam because the skill of expressing ideas is very similar.

The examiners clearly explain what is expected:

FOCUS

The focus is on sustaining an interaction; exchanging ideas, expressing opinions and justifying opinions, agreeing or disagreeing, suggesting, speculating, evaluating, and reaching a decision through negotiation.

For this reason, using the methods we discussed in the writing section - using good structure, good sentence construction, good variety of grammar elements can help the student get good marks.

The examiners also explain what specific elements they are looking for:

Students need to respond to each other's contributions by agreeing, disagreeing, and questioning each other.

Let's apply these ideas to a typical exam question:

To start with let's generate a basic answer:

A - I think a friend would be very helpful when preparing for exams because having company when you revise is more fun than revising alone. What do you think?

B - I think you're right, but I think a friend could be very helpful when getting a job, because you can cover more places when there are two of you. Do you agree?

A - Yes I do, but I think a friend could be more useful when a relationship has problems bacuase they could give moral support. What do you think?

B - I think a friend could be very useful when changing flats to help carry the furniture. What do you think?

A - I think a friend could be very useful when buying clothes because a second opinion is always very useful.

This is the most limited version of an acceptable answer because it has several problems:

There are no discourse markers.

The examiner will think the only way we know of suggesting an idea is

I think

and the only way we know of offering an opinion on an idea is

I agree.

because that is all we use. We need to add some important elements to improve this conversation:

The examiners need to hear a variety of ways in which ideas can be offered, and a variety of ways in which opinions on the ideas expressed can be given.

They also value the use of contrast linkers, and natural discourse markers which make natural conversations flow more easily.

Let's start by adding discourse markers:

A - Would you like to start or shall I?

B - I'm happy for you to start.

A - OK, well, looking at the first idea, I think a friend would be very helpful when preparing for exams because having company when you revise is more fun than revising alone. What do you think?

B - That's an interesting idea. I think you're right. But, moving on to the next item, I think a friend could be very helpful when getting a job, I do, but even though that's an interesting point of view, don't you think that a friend would be a great thing to have when looking for a job, because you can cover more places when there are two of you. Do you agree?

A - You're absolutely right, of course, but looking at the thirds item, I think a friend could be more useful when a relationship has problems bacuase they could give moral support. What do you think?

B - That's a point, but I'm not sure a friend's influence in such a situation would be completely positive. They could end up making a bad situation worse.

A - I understand what you are saying, however, talking about the fourth point, you must agree that a friend could be extremely useful when changing flats, to help carry the furniture. Do you see what I'm getting at?

B - Yes I do, and you make an excellent point, although, considering the final item, if you had a friend who had good fashion sense, buying clothes would be much more enjoyable, because a second opinion is always invaluable.

Now, let's add a variety of ways of suggesting ideas:

A - Would you like to start or shall I?

B - I'm happy for you to start.

A - OK, well, firstly I think a friend would be very helpful when preparing for exams because having company when you revise is more fun than revising alone. What do you think? OK, well, looking at the first idea, I feel that working with a friend when preparing for exams could be very useful, because having company when you revise is more fun than revising alone. Do you see what I mean?

B - That's an interesting idea. I think you're right, but I think a friend could be very helpful when getting a job, I do, but even though that's an interesting point of view, don't you think that a friend would be a great thing to have when looking for a job, as you could cover more places when there are two of you? I do, but even though that's an interesting point of view, a friend could also be a bit distracting. Moving on to the next item, don't you think it would be great to have a friend when looking for a job, because you could cover more places as there would be two of you?

A - You're absolutely right, of course, but I think a friend could be more useful when a relationship has problems bacuase they could give moral support. What do you think? what about having a friend when a relationship has problems? You're absolutely right, of course, but, looking at the third item, what about having a friend when a relationship has problems? Wouldn't that be useful?

B - That's interesting, but I'm not sure a friend's influence in such a situation would be completely positive. They could end up making a bad situation worse.

A - I understand what you are saying, however, you must agree that a friend could be extremely useful when changing flats, to help carry the furniture. I understand what you are saying, however, talking about the fourth point, you must agree that a friend could be extremely useful when changing flats, to help carry the furniture for example. Do you see what I'm getting at?

B - Yes I do, and you make an excellent point, although, looking at the final item, if you had a friend who had good fashion sense, buying clothes would be much more enjoyable, because a second opinion is always invaluable. Yes I do, and you make an excellent point, although, considering the final item, if you had a friend who had good fashion sense, buying clothes would be much more enjoyable, because a second opinion is always invaluable. Don't you think so?

Another element to add is a variety of ways of responding to any ideas suggested. It is necessary to disagree as well as agreeing to get good marks:

A - Would you like to start or shall I?

B - I'm happy for you to start.

A - OK, well, looking at the first idea, I feel that working with a friend when preparing for exams could be very useful, because having company when you revise is more fun than revising alone. Do you see what I mean?

B - I do, but even though that's an interesting point of view, a friend could also be a bit distracting. Moving on to the next item, don't you think it would be great to have a friend when looking for a job, because you could cover more places as there would be two of you?

A - You're absolutely right, of course, but, looking at the third item, what about having a friend when a relationship has problems? Wouldn't that be useful?

B - That's interesting, but I'm not sure a friend's influence in such a situation would be completely positive. They could end up making a bad situation worse.

A - I understand what you are saying, however, talking about the fourth point, you must agree that a friend could be extremely useful when changing flats, to help carry the furniture for example. Do you see what I'm getting at?

B - Yes I do, and you make an excellent point, although, considering the final item, if you had a friend who had good fashion sense, buying clothes would be much more enjoyable, because a second opinion is always invaluable. Don't you think so?

The improved version of the conversation would look like this:

A - Would you like to start or shall I?

B - I'm happy for you to start.

A - OK, well, looking at the first idea, I feel that working with a friend when preparing for exams could be very useful, because having company when you revise is more fun than revising alone. Do you see what I mean?

B - I do, but even though that's an interesting point of view, a friend could also be a bit distracting. Moving on to the next item, don't you think it would be great to have a friend when looking for a job, because you could cover more places as there would be two of you?

A - You're absolutely right, of course, but , looking at the third item, what about having a friend when a relationship has problems? Wouldn't that be useful?

B - That's interesting, but I'm not sure a friend's influence in such a situation would be completely positive. They could end up making a bad situation worse.

A - I understand what you are saying, however, talking about the fourth point, you must agree that a friend could be extremely useful when changing flats, to help carry the furniture for example. Do you see what I'm getting at?

B - Yes I do, and you make an excellent point, although, considering the final item, if you had a friend who had good fashion sense, buying clothes would be much more enjoyable, because a second opinion is always invaluable. Don't you think so?

Let's identify the elements of value:

Agreeing (1)

Disagreeing (2)

Questioning (3)

Good variety of ways of expressing opinions (4)

justifying opinions (5)

speculating by using modal verbs (6)

evaluating (7)

Concession (8)

Conditional (9)

Linkers and discourse markers (10)

Good variety of accepting ideas (11)

Using participle clauses (12)

Using relative clauses (13)

Using adverbs to strengthen adjectives (14)

Using interesting vocabulary (15)

A - Would you like to start or shall I?

B - I'm happy for you to start.

A - OK, well, looking at the first idea, (10) I feel that (4) working with a friend (12) when preparing for exams could be (6) very useful, because (5) having company (12) when you revise is more fun than revising alone. Do you see what I mean? (3)

B - I do,(1) but even though (10) that's an interesting point of view, (11)(8) a friend could also be (6) a bit distracting. (15) Moving on to the next item, (10) don't you think it would be (5) great to have a friend when looking for a job, because (5) you could cover more places as (5) there would be two of you? (3)

A - You're absolutely right, (14) (1) of course, (11) but , looking at the third item, (10) what about having a friend (12) when a relationship has problems? (3) Wouldn't that be (6) useful? (3)

B - That's interesting, but I'm not sure (2) (11) a friend's influence in such a situation would be (6) completely positive. (14) (7) They could end up making a bad situation worse. (15)

A - I understand what you are saying, however, (11) (2) (10) talking about the fourth point, (10) you must (6) agree that(4) a friend could be (6) extremely useful (14) when changing flats, to help carry the furniture for example. Do you see what I'm getting at? (15) (3)

B - Yes I do, and you make an excellent point, (1)(11) although,(10) considering the final item, (12) (10) if you had (4) (9) a friend who had good fashion sense, (15) (13) buying clothes would be (6) much more enjoyable, because (5) a second opinion (15) is always invaluable. (15) Don't you think so? (3)

So what steps would be used to prepare for this exercise?

1 STUDY THE SCHEMATIC CAREFULLY AND MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THE QUESTION IS ASKING YOU TO DISCUSS.

2 LOOK AT THE OPTIONS GIVEN AND QUICKLY THINK OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE IDEAS FOR EACH ONE.

3 BEFORE THE EXAM, PRACTISE USING DISCOURSE MARKERS.

   (Would you like to start or shall I?; I'm happy for you to start.; OK, well, looking at the first idea,;)

4 BEFORE THE EXAM, BECOME FAMILIAR WITH HOW TO MAKE A CONCESSION SENTENCE, A CONDITIONAL SENTENCE, A SENTENCE WHICH USES A PREPOSITIONAL CLAUSE, AND ONE THAT USES A RELATIVE CLAUSE.

   (even though that's an interesting point of view, a friend could also be a bit distracting.- concession)

   (if you had a friend who had good fashion sense, buying clothes would be much more enjoyable - conditional)

   (working with a friend when preparing for exams could be very useful - participle clause)

   (a friend, who had good fashion sense, - relative clause)

5 BEFORE THE EXAM PRACTISE USING ADVERBS TO STRENGTHEN VERBS AND ADJECTIVES.

   (completely positive; absolutely right; extremely useful;)

6 AS YOU THINK OF AN IDEA TO EXPRESS, AVOID REPEATING THE USUAL I THINK STRUCTURES, AND TRY TO INTRODUCE VARIETY.

7 WHEN YOUR PARTNER IS SPEAKING, DON'T LISTEN IN SILENCE, MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO INTRODUCE DISCOURSE MARKERS IN A CONVERSATION.

THE SECOND PART

Once the conversation has lasted for about 2 minutes, the examiner will ask both students to make a decision about which idea would be the best.

Thank you. Now you have a minute to decide in which situation a friend would be most useful.

The conversation could continue as follows:

B - OK I'll start this time if you like.

A - Fine.

B - Which situation shall we choose? I'd go for the flat moving scenario. I think that would make a lot of sense, and a friend could be enormously helpful in those circumstances.

A - I was initially thinking of how useful a friend could be when buying clothes, but upon reflection, I think your idea is better than mine, so I'd agree with you that when changing flats would be the best time to have a friend.

B - So we both agree.

A - Great.

This short exchange has all the elements we looked at in the first part:
Good discourse markers
Good vocabulary
Good idea interchange