Part 1: Interview

Description
Part 1 resembles a social situation in which candidates provide information about
themselves. Questions will cover a range of areas such as:
where you live
leisure pursuits
travel and holiday experiences
friendship
learning English
work
future plans
These are getting-to-know you questions designed to break the ice. Even so, the assessor
closely monitors the candidates' language.

Strategy
In this part of the test, candidates are asked questions in turn.
Answer your own question as candidates do not engage in interaction in part 2.
Give interesting answers.
Answers shouldn't be very short or very long either. Extremely short answers (yes /
no answers) are highly unlikely to provide enough information and language for
assessment, so examiners typically ask reserved candidates to explain (Why / Why
not?). Lengthy answers are unsuitable in part 1 as long turns are required in part 2.
Thinking on your feet is an essential communication skill in the speaking paper, so try
to be as spontaneous as possible.
Learning a speech by heart and delivering it during the test will not come in handy.
Provide reasons, details and examples to illustrate your statements.
Candidates should try to use a range of tenses and vocabulary.
Example #1

Interlocutor: What do you like doing in your free time?

Candidate: Well, I'd say I don't have lots of free time, which is unfortunate. My
schedule's been very hectic lately because I'm snowed under mountains of homework.
However, when I do manage to squeeze in some time for myself, I like listening to my
favourite bands - Radiohead and Pearl Jam.

Comments:
The candidate uses a range of tenses: Present Simple ("I like", "I don't have"), Present
Perfect ("My schedule's been..."), Conditional ("I'd say").
Other grammatical forms are more complex. Emphasis with the auxiliary do in
"When I do manage..." is an advanced feature of the candidate's discourse.
Vocabulary: varied and interesting ("hectic", "snowed under", "squeeze in",
"unfortunate", "mountains of homework").
The candidate explains why he / she does not have too much free time. He or she also
provides examples of bands to show what music genre he / she is into.
The candidate makes use of linking words such as "because", "however" and begins
his answer with a discourse marker ("Well..."). Overall, the answer is extremely
cohesive.
What the candidate says is completely relevant.
The candidate's answer is clear. Each part connects naturally with the other.

Example #2

Interlocutor: How do you keep in touch with your friends?

Candidate: I like to describe myself as a digital native, so I mostly keep in touch with my
friends through social medial platforms such as Facebook. We also text all the time
although I'd say electronic communication is quite impersonal, if you know what I mean.
That's why we get together whenever the opportunity arises.

Comments:
The candidate makes extensive use of Present Simple ("I keep", "We text", "we get
together", which is a simple grammatical form.
At other times, the candidate employs more sophisticated forms such as collocations
("when the opportunity arises").
The vocabulary is varied and topic-specific: "digital native", "electronic
communication", "social media platforms", "we text".
The candidate explains in detail how he / she keeps in touch with friends. The
candidate mentions three communication channels: social media, texting and face-to-
face communication. What the candidate says is completely relevant to the question.
The candidate employs a range of linking words such as "so", "also", "such as",
"that's why". These, in combination with the discourse marker "If you know what I
mean", make the answer very cohesive.
The candidate's answer is coherent. Each part connects naturally with the other.