Exam training Speaking BEC Vantage

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 3

Which skill is easiest for you in English?

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

all skills

What is most important when speaking convincingly?

Good grammar

Good intonation

Good vocabulary

Good pronunciation

Cambridge exam: speaking

15 minutes

Four tasks

25% of the exam

In pairs, or group of three

02:08

What kind of meetings did you attend during your internship?

Write down different phrases of giving your opinion, besides "I think"

Speaking part one

Speaking Part One - The Interview

This part is for about three minutes, you answer questions about yourself, and give your opinion about a general business topic.

The examiner will also ask your partner questions so in fact, this part is only really 90 seconds long for you. General advice.

 • Listen carefully to the question so that you can answer it!

 • Give a short answer to the question and add one extra detail.

Speaking part one - practice

What qualities does a good business person have?

Do you think it's important for business people to relax in their free time? 

Should companies provide facilities such as sports clubs for their staff? 

Do you think there are advantages in meeting clients socially?

Do you think new technology makes our working lives easier or more difficult?

STRUCTURE YOUR ANSWER: OPINION - REASON - EXAMPLE/ EXPERIENCE

00:27

How long does your presentation have to be?

1. one minute
2. two minutes
3. three minutes

Structure your presentation

Structure of your talk

Firstly + example topic is important because (reason) + give your own example with detail

Secondly + example topic is necessary too because (reason) + give your own example with detail

Finally + example topic is also useful (reason) + give your own example with detail 

Task part two - practice- in pairs

What is important when interviewing someone for a job

- deciding what qualifications are needed

- deciding what questions to ask

What is important when arranging a meeting

- deciding who needs to be there

- sending out important papers

What is important when giving a presentation

- preparing materials carefully

- keeping calm

What is important when deciding to visit a trade fair?

Types of product displayed

Number of exhibitors 

It is clear how I can structure my presentation and what language I need to use.

yes

no

a little bit

Speaking part three

Focus: having a discussion on a business-related topic, taking turns, collaborating and giving your opinion, agreeing and disagreeing 

TIP: Cooperating with your partner: this is the key skill 

here! Do not dominate the conversation, ask your partner for his or her opinion. 

  

The speaking exam, part 3, is a collaborative task. You are to take turns, collaborate and give your opinion, agree and disagree. The phrases below could prove useful.  tvak

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Are the answers of an appropriate length for the task? Is there much hesitation?

Are the contributions relevant? Is there much repetition? Is it well organised?

Does the speaker use a range of cohesive devices? And discourse markers?

Are the answers clear? Can the speaker be generally understood?

Is the speaker’s intonation appropriate?

Does the speaker use sentence stress correctly? Is word stress correct

Are individual sounds clear? Are they correctly produced

Does the speaker start discussions? Does the speaker introduce new ideas?

Does the speaker react appropriately to what the interlocutor or other candidate says?

Does the speaker keep the interaction going? Does the speaker say more than the minimum? Does the speaker involve the other candidate?

Does the speaker try to move the interaction in an appropriate direction? (‘develop the interaction and negotiate towards an outcome’) Does the speaker need support?

Does the speaker use simple grammatical forms with control?

Does the speaker use complex grammatical forms?

Does the speaker use a range of appropriate vocabulary? (everyday situations / familiar topics / wide range of familiar topics?

Grammar and vocab

Discourse management

Interactive communication

Pronunciation.

Good interaction, involving other speaker.

range of simple and complex forms and phrases

Clear stress and intonation.

relevant answers, right length, answers well-organised

Phase 1

• Read the task carefully.
• Make sure you understand what you have to discuss and decide about. 
• Make sure you both have the chance to speak.
• Put ideas forward and respond to ideas.
• To keep the discussion going, always try to bring in your partner.
• It is good to disagree, but give reasons why.
• 
  

useful language

part three - practice

PART THREE - Phase 2

Follow-up questions about the topic. About 2 minutes

• Use phrases to give your opinion: "As I see it... From my point of view...My take on this is...
• Give full answers, including REASONS for your opinion.
• Stuck for ideas? "I've never really considered that before, but I suppose..."
• "I'm not quite sure what to say about that , but maybe....
• Listen carefully to your partner's answers, you might be asked the same question.
• If you get the same question, try to link it to your your partner's answer.
• "I completely agree with [name] because...."or "I thought what [name] said was interesting because..."

Phase 2 - example questions

• Do you think profit is the most important reason for increasing production? Why? Why not?
• Do you think managers and staff should receive a bonus if production increases? Why? Why not? 
• Why do you think some companies decide to produce less than they could?
• Why do you think some companies decide to produce less than they could?

Speaking part 3 - practice

Phase 2 - follow-up questions

• Do you think some staff are always more motivated than others in a company? Why? Why not?
• Do you think managers should meet staff regularly to discuss how they are feeling about work? Why? Why not?
• Do you think people should change jobs frequently in order to stay motivated? Why? Why not?
• Do you think some reasons for poor staff motivation are outside a company's control? Why? Why not?

I fully understand how to perform well in part three.

yes

no

where can I find useful phrases?

ELO

All information is available in ELO.

If you want extra practice or paper copies of hand-outs, ask me in class.