How to manage your time on B2 First Speaking part 2

What is expected of you?

You are given two pictures and you have to compare or contrast them and answer a question for about a minute. Sounds easy, right?

However, some students find it challenging not to go over or under the time limit. So with a little organisational strategy we can solve this.

How do I organise my answer and manage my time?

DON’Ts

30 seconds each picture and I am done! WRONG!!! If only it were so easy. The problem with this strategy is often you might not stop on time and overextend talking about the first picture and don’t leave enough time for the second. Even worse, totally forget about the question.

DOs

The key is to talk about BOTH pictures at the same time. REMEMBER: these are not pictures, they are TOPICS that you need to discuss in the context of the question. There is no need of describing the picture in detail as long as you can understand what topic it represents. Then, it will be easier for you to answer the question and to mention both pictures in the time given.

How exactly do I structure my answer?

1 sentence BRIEFLY describing what you can see.

2 sentences/ideas answering the question, trying to include both topics or quickly alternate between them.

Notice the linking words and how comparison and contrast is expressed.

EXAMPLE:

DESCRIPTION/INTRODUCTION In the first picture I can see people on motorbikes and what looks like motor taxis or tuk tuks while in the other one I can see a person in his own car, driving somewhere. He might be going to work. People in both pictures might be going to work.

IDEA 1 So why they might be using this kind of transport? The first one looks like a very busy street, a market of some kind. Motorbikes are much easier to go through or to park whereas the second person might be going to work and he might have a parking space there. So parking is not an issue and the city might not be as busy as the first one.

IDEA 2 Another reason might be the distance. If you go on a shorter distance you might prefer a motorbike while if you are going to drive longer a car is OK.

If video is your preferred way of learning here is a short clip I made on the topic.

Worksheet

If you need a task to practise with and useful phrases, get my B2 First Speaking worksheet.

Good luck on your exams!

Gaby

Need more info on this part? Read my other post on B2 First Speaking part 2 – the pictures