FCE Speaking Part 1: interview questions and sample answers
FCE Speaking Part 1 is a two-minute interview in which the examiner asks you and your partner questions about yourselves: where you live, what you enjoy and how you spend your time. You talk to the examiner, not to each other, and a short answer with a reason or an example works best.
- Length
- 2 minutes
- You talk to
- The examiner
- Answer length
- 2–3 sentences
- Speaking paper
- 20% of your score
How the FCE Speaking test Part 1 works
The Speaking test is taken face to face, normally in pairs, with two examiners. One, the interlocutor, asks the questions; the other, the assessor, listens and marks. Part 1 is the opening interview and lasts about two minutes, or three minutes in a group of three. The interlocutor usually starts by asking where you live, then asks each of you a few questions in turn about everyday topics: free time, work or study, holidays, likes and dislikes, special occasions, the media you use.
In Part 1 you talk only to the examiner, not to your partner. The questions are simple on purpose: this part shows that you can use everyday social language, and it gives you a couple of minutes to settle before the longer tasks.
How it is marked: there is no separate mark for Part 1. The assessor gives marks for Grammar and Vocabulary, Discourse Management, Pronunciation and Interactive Communication, and the interlocutor gives a Global Achievement mark, all based on your performance across the whole 14-minute test. You are marked on your own performance, not compared with your partner. The Speaking paper is worth 20% of your overall B2 First score.
FCE Speaking Part 1 questions with sample answers
Answer these questions aloud, as if the examiner were asking you, and time yourself. Then open the sample answers.
Examiner:
- Do you prefer spending your free time indoors or outdoors? Why?
- Tell us about a special occasion you celebrated recently.
- How do you usually find out what is happening in the news?
- Is there a skill you would like to learn in the future?
Show the answer and explanation
Sample answer to question 1: "Outdoors, definitely, at least when the weather allows it. I spend most of the week sitting in front of a screen, either at college or doing homework, so at the weekend I really need to get out. I usually go cycling along the river with a couple of friends. In winter it's harder to motivate myself, I have to admit, but even a short walk makes a difference to how I feel."
Why it works: it answers the question in the first word, then adds a reason, an example and a contrast. The language is natural B2 (at least when, I have to admit, makes a difference) and it takes about 20 seconds, which is the right length for Part 1.
Shorter sample answers to the others:
2. "My grandmother turned eighty last month, so the whole family got together at a restaurant by the sea. It was the first time we'd all been in one place for years, so it was quite emotional."
3. "Mostly on my phone, to be honest. I follow a couple of news apps, although I try to check more than one source, because headlines can be quite misleading."
4. "I'd love to learn to play the guitar properly. I taught myself a few chords when I was younger, but I've never had lessons, so I'm hoping to find a teacher next year."
How to answer B2 Speaking Part 1 questions
- 01
Answer the question directly in your first sentence. The examiner should know your answer within two seconds.
- 02
Add a reason, an example or a contrast. Two or three sentences, about 15 to 25 seconds, is the right length.
- 03
Use the tense the question needs, and let your range show naturally: a habit (I usually…), a past event (last month…), a plan (I'm hoping to…).
- 04
If you did not catch the question, ask: "Sorry, could you say that again?" Asking for repetition does not lose marks.
- 05
Look at the examiner and speak at a natural pace. This is a conversation, not a recitation.
- 06
Listen while your partner answers. You will often get similar questions, and it helps you to stay relaxed and engaged.
Mistakes candidates make in FCE Speaking Part 1
One-word answers. "Yes." "Football." These give the examiner nothing to assess. Always add at least one reason or detail.
Memorised speeches. Examiners recognise prepared answers, especially when they do not quite fit the question. Prepare topics and phrases, not scripts.
Stopping at "I don't know". If you have no strong view, say why or what it depends on: "I'm not sure, because I've never really thought about it, but probably…".
Talking to your partner. In Part 1 the examiner asks each of you questions in turn; the conversation with your partner comes later, in Part 3.
FCE Speaking Part 1 questions by topic
Practise with a timer: answer each question in 15 to 25 seconds. These are original questions in the style of the exam.
- Home and family: Do you live in a house or a flat? What do you like about it? · Who are you most similar to in your family? · Do you spend more time with family or friends at the weekend?
- Free time: What do you like doing in the evenings? · Have you taken up any new hobbies recently? · Do you prefer doing sport or watching it?
- Work and study: What do you enjoy most about your studies or job? · Do you prefer studying alone or with other people? · What job would you like to be doing in ten years' time?
- Travel and holidays: Where did you go on your last holiday? · Do you prefer holidays in the city or the countryside? · Is there a country you would really like to visit?
- Daily life and media: What kind of music do you listen to? · How much time do you spend on your phone each day? · Do you prefer reading books or watching films?
Useful phrases for extending your answers
- Giving a reason: "…mainly because…", "The reason is that…", "…which is why…"
- Giving an example: "For example, last weekend I…", "Something like…"
- Contrasting: "…but these days…", "I used to…, whereas now…", "Having said that,…"
- Hedging: "It depends on…", "Not really, to be honest…", "I suppose so, although…"
- Talking about the future: "I'm hoping to…", "I'd really like to…", "If I get the chance, I'll…"
Practise Part 1 in full FCE Speaking tests
Each FCE Speaking test on this site has its own Part 1. You answer recorded examiner prompts on your own, so there is no partner, and your recording gets an expert evaluation.
- Test 1: ‘What do you like most about the place where you live?’
- Test 2: ‘What do you most enjoy studying or learning about?’
- Test 3: ‘Which school subject have you found most useful?’
- Test 4: ‘Do you enjoy shopping for things you need?’
- Test 5: ‘What are you looking forward to in the next few months?’
- Test 6: ‘How do you usually find out about things happening nearby?’
FCE Speaking Part 1 questions
How long is FCE Speaking Part 1?
About two minutes for a pair, or three minutes for a group of three. The whole FCE Speaking test lasts 14 minutes for a pair.
How long should my answers be in B2 Speaking Part 1?
Two or three sentences, around 15 to 25 seconds. Long enough to give a reason or example, short enough for the examiner to ask everyone several questions.
Do I talk to my partner in FCE Speaking Part 1?
No. The examiner asks each of you questions in turn. You talk to your partner in Part 3.
Is Part 1 of the FCE Speaking test marked?
Not separately. The examiners mark your performance across the whole test, so Part 1 counts, but it is one part of the overall picture.
Sources
- B2 First Handbook for Teachers (Cambridge University Press & Assessment), pages 70–72, 79
- B2 First exam format (cambridgeenglish.org)
CambridgeMock is independent and not affiliated with Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Facts on this page are checked against the official documents above; the practice items and advice are our own.
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