B2 First (FCE) Speaking Practice About Keeping Fit and Healthy [Part 3]

Here is a sample exam question to help you prepare for part 3 of the speaking paper in your Cambridge B2 First (FCE) exam. In part 3 candidates are not only judged on their speaking ability, but also how they communicate with their partner. So it is important for candidates to practice agreeing, disagreeing, asking for their partners opinion etc..

Useful Vocabulary

Habit

A ‘habit’ is something which someone does regularly, usually without thinking about it. A habit can be a good thing…read more

Lifestyle

“Lifestyle” is a B2 level noun that you may find in your B2 First exam and is a noun that…read more

Take into account

‘Take into account’ means consider or think about something when making a judgment or decision about something else.

Speaking Paper Part 3: Phrases

The infographic below shows some useful phrases that candidates can use in this part of the speaking paper:

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.

How important are these things for keeping fit and healthy?

Sleeping 8 hours every night

Exercising every day

Drinking enough water

Spending time outdoors

Avoiding stressful situations

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.

Interaction Practice: Audio Three

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

“Which is the most important thing to help someone keep fit and healthy”

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.

Audio One

Personally speaking, I think spending time outdoors is very important. I think that with the kind of lifestyle that people have nowadays we spend most of our time indoors in front of a computer screen so just being outside for one or two hours every day is certainly going to help with fitness and health. Do you agree?

Audio Two

I think exercising every day is also very important. It doesn’t need to be very intense exercise, maybe just a walk or a jog or something like that. It’s just important that it becomes a habit. Regarding sleeping, I usually sleep for 6 hours so I’m not sure about that, what do you think?

Audio Three

I would probably say the most important thing is exercising every day. As I said before, it doesn’t need to be very intense exercise, but just doing thirty minutes of light exercise every day I think is by far the most important. How about you?