In 2020, Cambridge Assessment English made some changes to the exam and there are big differences in the A2 Key Speaking paper as well. It is very important for teachers and students to know and understand these new tasks so you can prepare in the right way and take the exam with confidence.
There are still two parts in A2 Key Speaking, but they are not the same as before:
1. Introductory phase – The examiner asks the candidates in turn for some factual information, for example, questions about their daily lives, likes and dislikes, hobbies, friends and family, school or work, etc.
2. Collaborative task – The candidates work together and discuss different pictures that belong to one topic plus there is a follow-up discussion that the examiner moderates.
Every candidate should have the same experience when they take the Speaking exam in Cambridge A2 Key. Before your exam starts, you have to arrive at the test location a little bit earlier so you can register.
At the registration, Cambridge check your identity and you receive your mark sheet. You need to fill in your details (name, etc.) because you have to give this piece of paper to the examiner at the beginning of your test.
You will never have to take the exam alone. This test is always done in pairs (in the last group of the day there might be three candidates) and there are always two examiners in the room with you. One of them is called the interlocutor (the person who asks all the questions and talks to the candidates) and the other one is the assessor (the examiner who checks your language and gives you your marks).
Last but not least, the test takes between 8-10 minutes depending on the number of students (pairs or groups of three) and how long or short your answers are.
Below, you can watch an example test with two candidates, Greta and Tommaso so you can see everything in action.
When you discuss the pictures, it is important to ask your partner good questions and to give your opinion. Again, you should always give full-sentence answers and also use reasons and examples to give more information.
Let’s see how Asia and Vittoria do this first phase of Speaking Part 2.
Hi, my name is Phill. I’m an English teacher with over a decade of experience in four different countries and I want to help YOU pass your Cambridge English exam. Let’s go!
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