CAE Speaking Part 1: interview questions and sample answers
CAE Speaking Part 1 is a two-minute interview: the examiner asks each of you questions about yourself, your life and your opinions. It is short, but it sets the tone for the whole test.
- Time
- 2 min
- Talk to
- The interlocutor
- Group of 3
- 3 min
- Whole test
- 15 min
What happens in CAE Speaking Part 1
The C1 Speaking test is taken face to face, normally in pairs, with two examiners. It lasts 15 minutes for a pair, or 23 minutes for a group of three. The interlocutor runs the test and asks the questions; the assessor sits apart, listens and marks. The format is the same whether you take the rest of the exam on paper or on computer.
Part 1 lasts about 2 minutes (3 minutes for a group of three). The interlocutor begins with simple questions such as where you live or what you do, and then asks each of you one or more questions on wider topics: free time, work and study, travel, family, the people and experiences that have influenced you, and your plans. You answer the interlocutor, not your partner. The aim is to show general social language: answering naturally, giving reasons and examples, and sounding like yourself.
The examiners mark your performance across the whole test, not part by part, and each candidate is marked individually. Part 1 is your first chance to show range and fluency, and a confident start makes the longer parts easier.
CAE Speaking Part 1 questions and sample answers
Three questions of the kind the interlocutor asks after the opening, each with a strong C1 answer of about 20–30 seconds.
Examiner: How important is it for you to have a routine?
Candidate: More than I'd like to admit, actually. I've always seen myself as quite spontaneous, but when I started working from home I realised I fall apart without some kind of structure. So now I keep a few fixed points, a run before work and lunch away from my desk, and the rest of the day can be as flexible as it likes.
Examiner: If you could spend a year working in another country, where would you choose?
Candidate: Probably Japan. I've always been fascinated by the way cities like Tokyo manage to be enormous and yet incredibly orderly. I suspect a year there would also force me to slow down and pay attention to detail, which isn't exactly my strong point.
Examiner: Who has had the most influence on the career you've chosen?
Candidate: I'd have to say my chemistry teacher at secondary school. She had a knack for turning every experiment into a mystery to be solved, and I think that's what made me want to go into research. Funnily enough, I didn't even like science until I ended up in her class.
Show the answer and explanation
Why these answers work
- They answer the question at once, then extend it. Each answer gives a direct response in the first few words, then one or two sentences of reason, example or contrast. Nothing is padded.
- They show range without sounding rehearsed. More than I'd like to admit, I fall apart without, a knack for, funnily enough and isn't exactly my strong point are natural C1 language, used where they fit the meaning.
- They vary the grammar. A second conditional idea (a year there would force me), a present perfect for experience, a past simple story and a non-defining clause, all in short turns.
- They are the right length. About 20–30 seconds each. Long enough to show what you can do, short enough for the interlocutor to keep to time.
How to do well in CAE Speaking Part 1
- 01
Answer the question you were asked in your first sentence, then add one or two sentences: a reason, an example or a contrast. That is the right size for Part 1.
- 02
Show range naturally. A conditional, a modal, a precise adjective or an idiomatic phrase will be noticed, but only if it fits the meaning. Forced phrases sound memorised.
- 03
Use the opening questions to settle your nerves. Speak at a natural pace, look at the interlocutor and let your voice warm up.
- 04
If you do not understand a question, ask: Sorry, could you say that again? This is normal and is not penalised. Answering a question you misheard is worse.
- 05
Practise with a timer on questions about your routine, work or studies, travel, influences and plans, but practise ideas, not scripts. Examiners recognise prepared speeches immediately.
Mistakes that cost marks
One-word or one-sentence answers. Yes, I like it gives the assessor nothing to mark. Always extend.
Memorised speeches that only loosely answer the question. They sound unnatural and do not show you can respond to what was asked.
Talking for too long. The interlocutor has to keep to time and will stop you. A minute-long answer in Part 1 leaves less time for your partner and looks like poor judgement of the task.
Turning to your partner. In Part 1 you answer the interlocutor. Your conversation with your partner comes in Part 3.
CAE Speaking Part 1 questions to practise
These original questions cover the kinds of topic that come up after the opening. Answer each in 20–30 seconds, recording yourself if you can.
- What do you find most satisfying about the work or studies you do now?
- How has the way you spend your free time changed over the last few years?
- Is there a skill you would like to learn if you had more time?
- What is the best piece of advice anyone has given you?
- How do you usually keep in touch with friends who live far away?
- Do you prefer to plan trips carefully or decide things as you go?
- Where do you see yourself living in ten years' time?
- What kind of things make you lose track of time?
How the CAE Speaking test is marked
The assessor gives marks on five analytical criteria, and the interlocutor gives one overall mark. Marks cover the whole test, and the raw total is 75.
| Criterion | Given by | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Grammatical Resource | Assessor | Range and control of simple and complex grammar |
| Lexical Resource | Assessor | Range and precision of vocabulary, including less common words and expressions |
| Discourse Management | Assessor | Extended, relevant and well-organised contributions |
| Pronunciation | Assessor | Intonation, stress and individual sounds; how easy you are to understand |
| Interactive Communication | Assessor | Starting, responding to and developing the conversation, and working towards a decision |
| Global Achievement | Interlocutor | Overall effectiveness across the test |
Practise Part 1 in full CAE Speaking tests
Each CAE 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 enjoy about the area where you live?’
- Test 2: ‘What do you currently spend most of your time doing?’
- Test 3: ‘What do you find most interesting about your work or studies?’
- Test 4: ‘Which public place do you use most often?’
- Test 5: ‘What is your usual way of keeping in touch with people?’
- Test 6: ‘What do you enjoy doing independently?’
CAE Speaking Part 1: questions
How long is CAE Speaking Part 1?
About 2 minutes for a pair of candidates, or 3 minutes for a group of three. The whole Speaking test lasts 15 minutes for a pair and 23 minutes for a group of three.
What kind of questions are asked in CAE Speaking Part 1?
It opens with simple questions about where you live or what you do, then moves to wider personal questions on topics such as free time, work or study, travel, influences and future plans.
How long should my answers be in C1 Speaking Part 1?
About 20 to 30 seconds: answer directly, then add a reason, an example or a contrast. Longer answers eat into the time the interlocutor has for both of you.
Is CAE Speaking Part 1 marked?
Yes. The examiners assess your performance across the whole test, including Part 1, so a fluent, natural start counts.
Sources
- C1 Advanced Handbook for Teachers (Cambridge University Press & Assessment), pages 74–76, 83
- C1 Advanced 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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