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Activities Of The Future

Check out this sample question for part 3 of the speaking paper all about different activities that people may be doing in the future. Part 3 of the speaking paper is all about communicating and interacting with your partner, so candidates must practice using different phrases and vocabulary to agree/disagree, ask for opinions and comment on what their partner says.

Speaking Paper Part 3: Phrases

Below are some useful phrases that you can use to help you interact with your partner in the exam:

Practice Question

Below is a typical question that you might see in the exam. Firstly you should practice on your own expressing your opinion about each prompt. Try and give clear reasons for you opinion in each case. You should aim to spend around 2-3 minutes talking about all five prompts.

Further down the page you will see three different audios. These audios are of your partner expressing their opinion and then asking you to speak. You should listen carefully to what your partner says, comment on what they say where appropriate, express your agreement or disagreement about what they have said and finally give your own opinion.

What type of activity will become more popular in the future?
Language learning
Computer programming
Extreme sports
Yoga
Playing musical instruments

Interaction Practice: Audio One

In the following audio you will listen to a person (your partner) speak about one of the prompts of the question, then will bring you into the conversation. They may ask things like “Do you agree?”, “What do you think?”, “What’s your opinion this?” or something similar.

You need to practice continuing the conversation after “your partner” brings you into the conversation. Try where possible to reference what your partner has said to show your agreement, disagreement or similarities to another prompt they may ask you to talk about.

Remember: Your partner may not speak perfect English. They may use incorrect vocabulary or grammar so you should prepare from this. However, you should be able to understand what your partner is trying to say from the overall context even if they do make mistakes.

Interaction Practice: Audio Two

You will hear a different person talk about one of the prompts in the question, and bring you into the conversation like in the previous audio.

Remember: Your partner may not speak perfect English. They may use incorrect vocabulary or grammar so you should prepare from this. However, you should be able to understand what your partner is trying to say from the overall context even if they do make mistakes.

Interaction Practice: Audio Three

The examiner has now asked you and your partner the following question:

“Which activity will be the most popular in the future?”

You will hear your partner give their opinion about the decision question and then bring you into the conversation. Try and comment on what your partner has said and then give your own opinion.

Remember: Your partner may not speak perfect English. They may use incorrect vocabulary or grammar so you should prepare from this. However, you should be able to understand what your partner is trying to say from the overall context even if they do make mistakes.

Audio One

I would probably say that computer programming will become even more popular in the future. I just think that with technology improving all the time more and more people will be getting into programming, don’t you think so?

Audio Two

As for Yoga, I’d say this could possibly become more popular in the future as well. I think that people live a very stressful life nowadays and work a lot, so activities like yoga will become more popular so that people can reduce stress and keep fit. So, what’s your opinion about extreme sports?

Audio Three

The most popular in the future. Well, I would go with computer programming because I just think that is the direction that society is going. Having said that it could also be yoga or extreme sports. But I think we can eliminate languages and musical instruments. What would you say?