Speaking — Individual Long Turn (Part 2) for the FCE Exam

Common failure modes

These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.

• !Describing each photo separately instead of comparing them throughout
• !Stopping before the 1 minute is up — leaving silence
• !Forgetting to answer the additional question at the end of the description

Study tips

• 1Use comparison language throughout: "In contrast to the first photo...", "Both photos show...", "While in the first photo..., in the second..."
• 2Practise speculating: "The people seem to be enjoying...", "It looks as though...", "I imagine they might be..."
• 3Time yourself: 1 minute is approximately 120–140 words at normal speaking speed.

Sample FCE Speaking — Individual Long Turn (Part 2) questions

These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real FCE questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.

1. 1

   You are shown two photos: one of people working in an office, one of people working outdoors. The examiner asks you to compare the photos and say what you think the people enjoy about their work. The best opening is:

   • A"Photo one is an office. Photo two is outside."
   • B"Both photographs show people at work, although the environments are very different. In the first photo, people are working in an office, whereas in the second, they appear to be working outside..."Correct
   • C"I see workers. They work in different places. One is inside and one is outside."
   • D"The first picture shows an office and the second shows outdoors."
   Why this answer?

   Option B opens with a comparative statement ("both show"), uses contrast structure ("although," "whereas"), and is written at a B2 level of complexity and vocabulary. Options A, C, and D describe rather than compare, use limited vocabulary, and do not demonstrate B2 language range.