CAE Speaking Test 4: clear communication, small spaces and shared facilities
CAE Speaking Test 4 is a free C1 Advanced Speaking practice test in four parts, with recorded examiner prompts and 6 photos. You compare clear communication and creative uses of limited space, then discuss what makes shared facilities accessible and welcoming. The Part 3 question is “How might these features make a shared facility accessible and welcoming?”
- Free, no sign-up to start
- Solo practice with recorded examiner prompts
- Estimated Cambridge English Scale score
What is in CAE Speaking Test 4
| Part | Task | Exam time | In this test |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interview | 2 min | 8 questions (6 asked), from “Where are you from?” |
| 2 | Long turn | 4 min | 3 photos each: people trying to communicate clearly in different situations; people finding creative uses for limited space |
| 3 | Collaborative task | 4 min | How might these features make a shared facility accessible and welcoming? |
| 4 | Discussion | 5 min | 6 questions (5 asked), from “Why might people hesitate to use a facility that is open to everyone?” |
Solo practice: you answer recorded examiner prompts. The real test is face to face with two examiners, usually in pairs.
Part 1: interview
- Where are you from?
- Which public place do you use most often?
- What do you enjoy learning through practical experience?
- Do you prefer a clear explanation before starting a task or learning as you go? Why?
- What makes a place feel welcoming to you?
- How do you decide which activities deserve most of your time?
- Has a practical skill changed the way you approach everyday tasks? extra
- What would you most like to make easier in your daily routine? extra
Part 2: long turn
Candidate A (you)
Photos of people trying to communicate clearly in different situations.
What challenges might the people face when communicating?
How might they know whether they have been understood?
Partner question: In which situation would it be most important to check understanding immediately? Why?
Candidate B
Photos of people finding creative uses for limited space.
What problems might the people be trying to solve?
How effective might their solutions be?
Partner question: Which of these solutions do you think would make the greatest difference to everyday life? Why?
Part 3: collaborative task
How might these features make a shared facility accessible and welcoming?
- clear information
- affordable charges
- flexible opening times
- helpful staff
- comfortable spaces to meet
Now you have about a minute to decide which feature should receive attention first when very few people use a facility.
Part 4: discussion
- Why might people hesitate to use a facility that is open to everyone?
- Should shared facilities try to meet everyone’s needs or focus on particular groups? Why?
- How important is a building’s appearance compared with the service provided inside?
- Who should be consulted before changes are made to a shared public space?
- Can an online service create the same sense of welcome as a place people visit? Why?
- How could a community find out whether its facilities are reaching the people who need them most? extra
Marking and review notes
CAE Speaking marking
Grammatical Resource, Lexical Resource, Discourse Management, Pronunciation, Interactive Communication and Global Achievement: 75 marks. Our expert evaluation gives an estimate from your recordings.
From our review
Our reviewer noted that “a shared facility” in Part 3 gives no example. Decide quickly what kind of place you mean, such as a library or a community centre.
More CAE Speaking tests
CAE Speaking practice tests · CAE Mock Test 4 · Updated 15 November 2026
Ready for CAE Speaking Test 4?
15 minutes in the exam; the solo practice is a little shorter. Free, no sign-up to start: you give an email address when you submit, and we email you when your expert evaluation is ready to view.