red plastic cup besides dried leaves

Helping The Environment

Practice for part 3 of the speaking paper with this sample exam question about the environment. In part 3 of the speaking paper you not only assessed on your ability to express your opinion, but also how you communicate and interact with your partner. This is why it is important for candidates to practice starting the conversation, agreeing/disagreeing with their partner and commenting on what their partner has said.

Speaking Paper Part 3: Phrases

Check out the infographic below for 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 can people do to help the environment?
Recycle
Public Transport
Protest
Local food markets
Education

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 they 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:

“What is the most important thing people can do to help the environment?”

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

Personally, I think that education is very important for helping the environment, especially with younger people. If we can teach people from a young age about the importance of taking care of the planet they will develop natural habits to help the environment which they will do throughout their lives, don’t you think?”

Audio Two

I would definitely say that recycling is extremely beneficial for the environment, and I think if the government makes it easier for people to recycle then this can make a huge difference to the environment, so I think that is an obvious one. Protest, I’m not too sure about, what’s your view on them?”

Audio Three

Although I think that recycling is a very important thing for people to do, I would say over the long term education is by far the most important because without education it is going to be much harder to get people to do things like recycling, driving less or buying food locally. Would you agree?