FCE Speaking Part 4: discussion questions
FCE Speaking Part 4 is a four-minute discussion in which the examiner asks you and your partner broader questions on the Part 3 topic. It is where you give and justify opinions, agree and disagree, and speculate about the topic.
- Length
- 4 minutes
- Led by
- The examiner
- Topic
- Follows Part 3
- Answer length
- ≈ 30–40 seconds
How FCE Speaking Part 4 works
Part 4 is the last part of the Speaking test and lasts about four minutes, or six for a group of three. The interlocutor asks questions connected to the topic of Part 3, but broader and more abstract. If Part 3 was about ways a town could get people outdoors, Part 4 might ask whether people spend less time outside than they used to, or who is responsible for keeping people healthy.
Questions may be addressed to one of you or to both, and the interlocutor often follows up with short prompts such as "What do you think?", "Do you agree?" or "And you?". You can respond to what your partner has said as well as to the examiner, and a good Part 4 often feels like a three-way conversation.
This part tests whether you can express and justify opinions, agree and disagree, and speculate about issues beyond your own daily life. Because it comes at the end, it is your last chance to show your range of language, and the examiners' marks cover the whole test, so a strong finish helps.
FCE Speaking Part 4 questions and a model answer
These questions follow the Part 3 task about getting people to spend more time outdoors. Answer each one aloud in 30 to 40 seconds, then open the model answer.
Examiner:
- Do you think people spend less time outdoors than they used to? Why?
- Some people say cars should be banned from city centres. What do you think?
- Is it the job of local councils or of individuals to keep people healthy?
- Do children today have enough freedom to play outside?
Show the answer and explanation
Model answer to question 2: "I can see why people suggest it, because the centre would be quieter and the air would be cleaner. In my city they closed one of the main shopping streets to traffic a few years ago, and at first the shopkeepers were furious, but now it's the busiest street in town. That said, I don't think a complete ban would work everywhere. Older people and people with disabilities still need to get around, so there would have to be really good public transport first. So I'd say yes, but gradually."
Why it works: it gives a view straight away, supports it with a real example, considers the other side (That said…) and ends with a clear conclusion, all in about 40 seconds. The language shows range without effort: a conditional, a contrast, a time sequence and some natural vocabulary (furious, get around, gradually).
Responding to your partner: if the examiner then asks your partner "Do you agree?", a good reply builds on what was said: "Partly. I agree about the air quality, but I think the bigger problem is that buses in my town stop running at ten o'clock, so people have no choice but to drive."
How to answer FCE Speaking Part 4 questions
- 01
Give your opinion clearly in your first sentence, so the examiner knows where you stand.
- 02
Support it with a reason and an example, from your own experience or from something you have read or heard.
- 03
Show that you can see the other side: "That said…", "On the other hand…", "Of course, some people would argue…".
- 04
Finish with a short conclusion so it is clear you have finished: "So overall, I'd say…".
- 05
When the examiner asks whether you agree with your partner, respond to what they actually said: agree and add, or disagree politely with a reason.
- 06
If you have no strong opinion, say what it depends on. That is still a developed answer.
Mistakes candidates make in FCE Speaking Part 4
"I don't know" and silence. Abstract questions are meant to make you think aloud. Speculate, give an example or explain what it depends on.
Very short answers. One sentence is too little for a Part 4 question. Aim for three to five sentences, about 30 to 40 seconds.
Repeating Part 3 word for word. Use the same topic, but take it further: the past, the future, society in general, other countries.
Ignoring your partner. Talking over them, or never reacting to what they say, misses an easy chance to show interaction.
FCE Speaking Part 4 questions by topic
Original practice questions of the kind asked in Part 4. Answer each in 30 to 40 seconds with an opinion, a reason, an example and a short conclusion.
- Technology: Has technology made people less patient? · Should young children have their own smartphones? · Will people still read printed books in twenty years?
- Environment: Is it more important for governments or individuals to protect the environment? · Should flying be more expensive? · Do people waste more than they used to?
- Work and education: Should schools teach practical skills like cooking and managing money? · Is it better to work for a large company or a small one? · Do exams show what students really know?
- Health and lifestyle: Why do some people find it hard to exercise regularly? · Should unhealthy food be taxed? · Do people worry too much about how they look?
- Travel and culture: Is it better to travel alone or with others? · Does tourism do more good than harm to small towns? · Is it important to learn about other cultures at school?
Phrases for giving and justifying opinions
- Giving an opinion: "In my view…", "I'd say that…", "Personally, I think…", "I'm convinced that…"
- Justifying: "The main reason is that…", "Take… for example.", "In my experience…"
- Balancing: "That said,…", "On the other hand,…", "Having said that,…", "It depends on…"
- Responding to your partner: "I agree with what Ken said about…, and…", "I see it slightly differently…", "That's a fair point, but…"
- Concluding: "So overall,…", "So I'd say yes, but…", "All in all,…"
Practise Part 4 in full FCE Speaking tests
Each FCE Speaking test on this site has its own Part 4. You answer recorded examiner prompts on your own, so there is no partner, and your recording gets an expert evaluation.
- Test 1: ‘Why do some people find it difficult to get to know their neighbours?’
- Test 2: ‘Why do people sometimes give up activities they used to enjoy?’
- Test 3: ‘Why are public parks important in towns?’
- Test 4: ‘What do people usually find difficult when they start at a new school?’
- Test 5: ‘What can a library offer that people cannot easily get at home?’
- Test 6: ‘Why do people sometimes find a familiar journey tiring?’
FCE Speaking Part 4 questions
How long is FCE Speaking Part 4?
About four minutes for a pair, or six minutes for a group of three. It is the last part of the 14-minute Speaking test.
Are FCE Speaking Part 4 questions related to Part 3?
Yes. They develop the same topic, but are broader and more abstract, for example about society, the future or other people rather than your own life.
Can I disagree with my partner in B2 Speaking Part 4?
Yes. Polite disagreement with a reason is good interaction. The examiner may even ask you directly whether you agree.
What if I don't have an opinion on a Part 4 question?
Say what it depends on, or think aloud about both sides. "It depends on the age of the child, really…" is a strong start to an answer.
Sources
- B2 First Handbook for Teachers (Cambridge University Press & Assessment), pages 70–71, 75, 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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