B2 First (FCE) Speaking Practice About Working From Home [Part 3]

Practice for part 3 of the speaking paper with this sample exam question all about working from home. Part 3 requires candidates to express their opinions clearly and engage in a discussion with their partner. So it is important that candidates are comfortable asking for opinions, agreeing, disagreeing and commenting on what other people say.

Useful Vocabulary

Schedule

Schedule is a B2 level noun that refers to a plan that details the time that different things are happening.

Flexible

“Flexible” is a B2 level adjective and it refers to the action of being able to change easily according to…read more

Beneficial

“Beneficial” is a B2 level adjective that means to be helpful or useful. Being able to use it easily in…read more

Flexibility

“Flexibility” is a noun that means the ability to change easily according to the situation. It is a B2 level…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

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.

Why do people choose to work from home?

Money

Flexible schedule

Children

Travel

Be more productive

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:

“What two things do you think are the most common reasons people choose to work from home?”

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

I would say that a flexible schedule is one of the biggest reasons people choose to work from home. It gives them the ability to manage their work and home life much better. Don’t you think?

Audio Two

I think that working from home can be more productive, but it depends on the job and where you are working at home. For example if you have your own office at home then there will probably be much less distractions, but if you are working in the living room, and maybe you have children it would be very difficult to be more productive. So yeh, as for children, do you think they are a reason to work from home?

Audio Three

Well, I think they are all important reasons to work from home, but I would say that travel and a flexible schedule are the most common reasons people work from home. Do you agree?