Speaking Practice · Week 2 (Reading) · Day 5
Speaking Part 1 · Quick-fire Review + Part 2 Bridge
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End of the Part 1 weeks. Today’s session is the full Reading mock, so keep this light: a fast Part 1 warm-up drawing on any topic from the last two weeks, then a first, low-stakes taste of the Part 2 cue card to set up Writing week.
Part 1 has no planning time in the real test. Read each question and answer on the spot in two to three full sentences — that on-your-feet fluency is exactly what this builds.
Quick-fire warm-up
pick any four and answer each in two full sentences, fast. No planning:
- Tell me about your hometown.
- What do you do in your free time?
- Do you prefer reading on paper or on a screen?
- What did you do last weekend?
- How do you usually get around your city?
- Who are you closest to in your family?
- What’s your favourite kind of food?
- What kind of weather do you like?
- What do you mainly use your phone for?
- Do you prefer shopping online or in shops?
- What would you like to do next weekend?
- What’s the best thing about where you live?
Describe a book, article or website you read recently
You should say:
- what it was
- how you came across it
- what it was about
- and explain whether you would recommend it
Preview only — see how the long turn feels. One minute to plan, then talk for up to two minutes.
More bridge cards (try a different one)
Describe a website or app you use a lot
You should say:
- what it is
- what you use it for
- how often you use it
- and explain why it’s useful to you
Preview only — see how the long turn feels. One minute to plan, then talk for up to two minutes.
Describe something interesting you learned recently
You should say:
- what it was
- where or how you learned it
- why it interested you
- and explain whether you’ve told anyone about it
Preview only — see how the long turn feels. One minute to plan, then talk for up to two minutes.
Examples
Quick-fire: How do you usually get around your city? I mostly walk or take the bus — it’s cheap and I quite enjoy the chance to people-watch. For longer trips across town, though, I’ll grab a taxi if I’m in a hurry. Bridge note-plan (1 min) for the book card WHAT: a short article on sleep · CAME ACROSS: shared by a friend · ABOUT: why routine matters more than hours · RECOMMEND: yes, it changed my evenings — turn those four phrases into ~2 minutes.
Pair-work sequence (~30 min)
▸ Interview · 13 min — A asks every question, B answers (~6 min); swap so B asks and A answers (~6 min). The examiner-partner keeps the pace brisk, like the real test, and resists chatting back. No planning — straight in.
▸ Extend & re-run · 13 min — New partner. Run the set again — but now every answer must carry a reason (“because…”) and one example or detail. Faster, more natural delivery. ▸ Feedback · 4 min — Whole-class: read out two answers you overheard that grew from one word into a full, natural reply.
Listen for / feedback: Mark any answer that stops at one word — push that student for a reason and a detail. Praise natural extenders: “Well, actually…”, “I’d say…”, “It depends, but…”. Note tense slips (“I go yesterday”) for a quick thirty-second correction at the end.
Flexibility: Heads-up: today’s 90 minutes are taken by the full practice test, so treat this set as home practice by default. Only run it in the room as a 10-minute warm-up if a group finishes the test early — otherwise send it home and review answers tomorrow.