The Speaking is the part of the FCE that scares candidates the most and gets trained the least. It lasts about 14 minutes, you sit it in a pair with another candidate, and there are two examiners in the room. It sounds intimidating, but it’s the most predictable test in the whole exam: always the same structure, the same four moments, the same four criteria. Once you know exactly what you’ll be asked to do, you stop improvising and start performing.
Why the Speaking makes candidates nervous
The problem is rarely the English itself. It’s the feeling that you have to speak “perfectly” and that any pause costs you marks. It doesn’t work like that. The examiners aren’t looking for a native speaker: they want someone who communicates clearly, keeps the conversation going, and uses natural B2-level English.
In your head: “If I hesitate or correct myself, I lose points” In the exam: correcting yourself and rephrasing shows control of the language ✓ / freezing up out of fear of making a mistake is what actually lowers your mark ✗ Typical mistake: going silent while hunting for the perfect word instead of explaining the idea with different words
There are three instincts worth switching off. The first is over-rehearsing every sentence in your head before you say it: it slows you down and sounds forced. The second is giving one-sentence answers (“Yes, I like it”) when you’re asked to develop your ideas. The third is either dominating the conversation or, the opposite, going quiet when it’s a paired task: the exam rewards collaboration, not winning.
The good news: all three are quick to train once you know exactly what’s being assessed in each part.
The 4 parts of the FCE Speaking
The test is run by one examiner (the interlocutor); the other only listens and scores (the assessor). Here are the four parts, in order.
| Part | Time | What you do | With whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 — Interview | ~2 min | Answer personal questions | Examiner → you |
| Part 2 — Long turn | ~4 min | Speak for 1 minute about 2 photos | You alone (then your partner, briefly) |
| Part 3 — Collaborative task | ~4 min | Discuss a task using prompts | You ↔ your partner |
| Part 4 — Discussion | ~4 min | Debate broader questions | Examiner ↔ both of you |
Part 1 — Interview
The examiner asks you simple questions: where you’re from, what you study or do for work, what you do in your free time, your plans for the future. It isn’t a trap — it’s the warm-up. The mistake is answering with one flat sentence.
✓ “Do you enjoy your studies?” → “Yes, I do. I’m studying engineering and what I like most is the practical side — we build small projects, which makes the theory easier to follow.”
✗ “Yes, I like it.” → technically correct, but it shows nothing of your English.
The Part 1 rule: answer, then extend with a reason or an example. Two or three sentences per answer, no more.
Part 2 — Long turn
You’re given two photos and a written question above them (for example: “Why might the people have chosen to do these activities?”). You speak for a full minute, on your own, comparing the photos and answering the question. When you finish, the examiner asks your partner a short related question (around 30 seconds).
What sinks people here is running out of material after 20 seconds. The fix is a fixed structure:
- Compare, don’t describe: “Both photos show people relaxing, but in different ways…”
- Speculate with language of probability: “The first one might be…”, “They could be…”, “Perhaps they…”
- Answer the question above the photos explicitly.
- If you have time left, contrast: “Whereas the second photo…”.
✓ “Both pictures show people spending time outdoors. In the first one, they might be hiking to get some exercise, whereas the second group seems to be there mainly to relax and chat. Personally, I think the first activity is more demanding but…”
✗ “In the first photo there is a mountain. There are people. They have backpacks.” → describing object by object uses up the minute without showing any level.
You don’t have to describe every detail. You have to compare and speculate for one minute.
Part 3 — Collaborative task
A diagram appears with a central question and several options around it. You and your partner discuss it together for about two minutes and then try to reach a decision (one more minute). The goal isn’t to “be right”: it’s to collaborate.
This is where the most-neglected criterion lives: Interactive Communication. You have to react to what your partner says, not deliver your monologue and switch off.
✓ Invite and react: “What do you think about this option?”, “That’s a good point, but have you considered…?”, “I see what you mean. So maybe we could…”
✗ Giving your opinion and looking at the examiner waiting for the next prompt. ✗ Deciding everything yourself without involving your partner.
You don’t need to cover every option. It’s better to go deep on a few and negotiate the final decision.
Part 4 — Discussion
The examiner asks you broader questions related to the Part 3 topic (“Do you think…?”, “Some people say… what’s your opinion?”). This is your moment to show developed opinions and B2-level language.
✓ Give an opinion and justify it: “I’d say it depends. On the one hand… but on the other…”, “I completely agree with that, especially because…”
✗ “I don’t know.” → you can always offer a tentative opinion: “I’m not sure, but I’d probably say…”
The 4 criteria: where marks are won and lost
Each candidate gets a mark on four scales (0-5). Knowing them changes how you prepare.
| Criterion | What they look at | How to raise it |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar & Vocabulary | Range and control of structures and lexis | Mix tenses and use precise vocabulary, not just “good/bad/nice” |
| Discourse Management | That you speak coherently and connectedly | Use linkers (however, although, so, which means) and don’t fall short |
| Pronunciation | That you’re understood: sounds, word stress, intonation | Articulate, mark the stressed syllable — you don’t need a native accent |
| Interactive Communication | That you start, respond, and keep the conversation going | React to your partner, ask questions, don’t dominate or disappear |
Notice something important: two of the four criteria (Discourse Management and Interactive Communication) aren’t about grammar at all. They’re about how you manage the conversation. Plenty of candidates with good English score below their level simply because they don’t react to their partner or because they give answers that are too short.
Grammar and vocabulary, though, are the foundation of the other criteria: if you master the competencies the exam takes for granted (tenses, conditionals, modals for opinion and speculation), you speak more fluently and with less fear. You can review them competency by competency in Mastery B2 First, which is exactly the map of what the exam assesses under the hood.
How to practise Speaking when you have no one to practise with
It’s the number-one complaint: “I don’t have a partner.” You don’t need one to train the essentials.
- You can train Parts 1 and 2 alone. Record yourself answering typical questions and speaking for one minute about any two photos (any pair of images will do). Listen back: are you comparing or just describing? Do you reach the full minute?
- Time yourself. The Part 2 minute feels endless the first time and short once you’ve nailed the structure. Measure it.
- Build “bridge phrases”. Memorise openers that always work: “Both pictures show…”, “The main difference is…”, “What do you think?”, “I see your point, but…”. They buy you thinking time without going silent.
- Speak out loud when you study. When you review a topic, explain it aloud in English. Fluency is trained by miles of speaking, not by reading.
And if you want guided practice with correction, on lingaly you train the competencies that underpin the Speaking with instant feedback.
Common mistakes that lower your mark (and are avoidable)
Going silent. If the word won’t come, paraphrase: “I don’t remember the exact word, but it’s a kind of…”. Keeping talking scores; silence doesn’t.
One-sentence answers. In Parts 1 and 4, always extend with a reason or an example. A bare sentence shows no level.
Ignoring your partner in Part 3. It’s the hardest mistake to break. Ask, react, negotiate. Interactive Communication is an entire criterion.
Describing instead of comparing in Part 2. “There is… there are…” uses up the minute. Compare and speculate.
Demanding perfection from yourself. Correcting yourself on the fly (“she go— she goes”) is a sign of control, not a serious error. What’s penalised is failing to communicate.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fail the Speaking if my partner speaks badly?
No. Each candidate is scored separately. Your partner’s performance doesn’t lower your mark. It only affects you if you fail to collaborate: if your partner is falling short, invite them in (“And you, what do you think?”) — that adds to your Interactive Communication.
Does my accent matter?
No, as long as you’re understood. Pronunciation assesses whether your sounds, word stress, and intonation get in the way of comprehension — not whether you sound British. Articulate clearly and mark the stressed syllables well.
How long is it and how is it organised with the other person?
About 14 minutes in total for the pair. The examiner directs the turns in each part, so you don’t have to fight to speak: there are moments designed for each candidate (especially Part 2).
Where do I start if I’m short on time?
Lock down the Part 2 structure first (compare + speculate for one minute) and the Part 3 openers, which is where the difference shows up most. To fit the Speaking into the full exam, read what the FCE B2 First is and the complete guide to preparing for B2 First. And if time is tight, plan with the guide to how long you need.