Think about these questions, or answer them aloud.
This test has the same structure as Full speaking practice test, but every topic is new. Treat it as a measure of progress across the C1 course.
Afterwards, listen to your recordings once for each criterion, using the descriptor table in the Model section, and compare them with your recordings from the first test.
| Section | Tasks | Preparation | Speaking time |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Part 1: Introduction and interview | 6 questions: reading and gifts | None | About 20–30 seconds each |
| IELTS Part 2: Long turn | 1 cue card about advice | 1 minute (notes allowed) | Up to 2 minutes |
| IELTS Part 3: Discussion | 5 questions about advice | None | About 45–60 seconds each |
| TOEFL: Take an Interview | 1 interview question | None | 45 seconds |
| TOEIC: Express an opinion | 1 opinion question | 45 seconds | 60 seconds |
| Criterion | Band 7 (key sentences) | Band 8 (key sentences) |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency and Coherence | “Able to keep going and readily produce long turns without noticeable effort.” “Flexible use of spoken discourse markers, connectives and cohesive features.” | “Fluent with only very occasional repetition or self-correction.” “Hesitation may occasionally be used to find words or grammar, but most will be content related.” “Topic development is coherent, appropriate and relevant.” |
| Lexical Resource | “Resource flexibly used to discuss a variety of topics.” “Some ability to use less common and idiomatic items and an awareness of style and collocation is evident though inappropriacies occur.” | “Wide resource, readily and flexibly used to discuss all topics and convey precise meaning.” “Skilful use of less common and idiomatic items despite occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation.” |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | “A range of structures flexibly used. Error-free sentences are frequent.” “Both simple and complex sentences are used effectively despite some errors.” | “Wide range of structures, flexibly used.” “The majority of sentences are error free.” |
| Pronunciation | “Displays all the positive features of band 6, and some, but not all, of the positive features of band 8.” | “Uses a wide range of phonological features to convey precise and/or subtle meaning.” “Can sustain appropriate rhythm. Flexible use of stress and intonation across long utterances, despite occasional lapses.” “Can be easily understood throughout.” |
The examiner will ask you about reading and then about gifts. There is no preparation time. Give a direct answer, then add a reason, a detail or an example. Aim for about 20–30 seconds per answer.
Let's talk about reading. Do you read much for pleasure these days?
No preparation time · 0:30 speaking
Do you prefer reading on paper or on a screen?
No preparation time · 0:30 speaking
Did you read a lot when you were a child?
No preparation time · 0:30 speaking
Now let's talk about gifts. Do you enjoy choosing presents for other people?
No preparation time · 0:30 speaking
What's the best present you've ever received?
No preparation time · 0:30 speaking
Is it better to give someone money or a physical gift?
No preparation time · 0:30 speaking
Read the cue card. You have one minute to prepare and you can make notes. Then speak for up to two minutes. The examiner will stop you when the time is up.
Describe a piece of advice you received that turned out to be useful.
You should say:
60 s preparation · 2:00 speaking
The examiner will now ask you some more general questions about advice. There is no preparation time. Give a clear position, develop it, and consider other views. Aim for about 45–60 seconds per answer.
Who do young people tend to go to for advice nowadays? Has this changed?
No preparation time · 1:00 speaking
Is advice from professionals, such as financial advisers, always more reliable than advice from friends and family?
No preparation time · 1:00 speaking
Some people now get advice from online influencers. What are the risks of this?
No preparation time · 1:00 speaking
Should schools teach practical life skills, such as managing money, rather than leaving this to parents?
No preparation time · 1:00 speaking
Do you think artificial intelligence will become a major source of personal advice in the future?
No preparation time · 1:00 speaking
An interviewer is asking students how they use their summer breaks. There is no preparation time. Start answering straight away and speak for 45 seconds.
Interviewer: Some students spend their summer break on an unpaid internship in their field, while others take a paid job that isn't related to their studies. Which do you think is more valuable, and why?
No preparation time · 0:45 speaking
You will have 45 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak. Give your opinion and support it with reasons and examples.
Which is a more effective way for a company to train new employees: having them work alongside an experienced colleague, or sending them on a formal training course? Give specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
45 s preparation · 1:00 speaking
Save words to review them later with flashcards.
“The restaurant's service is a bit hit and miss.”
“I was sceptical, but I'm now a convert to audiobooks.”
“My manager took me aside after the meeting.”
“She said I could call any time, so I took her at her word.”
“Try to reframe mistakes as chances to learn.”
“For most students, the library website is the first port of call.”
“His personal experience coloured his view of the policy.”
“The advice was too generic to be useful.”
“Free tutoring could help to level the playing field.”
“The report sounds authoritative, but the data is weak.”
“Every office has its unwritten rules about lunch breaks.”
