Academic English 2 – Speaking

The Academic English 2 – Speaking exam has two candidates engaged in three activities.
The first activity is a conversation between an examiner and each candidate (covering
personal information and personal experience). The second is a conversation between
the candidates. Here candidates are given pictures to comment on and to use in a task
they perform together. The third activity involves each candidate providing a long re-
sponse to a written question. A sample of the exam is provided below:

Part 1 (3 min.)
The examiner asks each candidate one or two questions for short answers that cover
personal information and personal experience, for example,

 What kind of accommodation do you live in? Do you like it? Why or why not?
 What are your majors? Do you now feel it was wise to have chosen this major/ these
majors? Why or why not?
 Where would you like to live and work after you graduate? Please talk about it.
 Do you feel Szeged is an enjoyable place for young people to live in? Please say a
few words about that.
 Could you describe your study routine? Where do you study? Do you need
background noise while you study like a TV or radio on?
 Do you enjoy reading for pleasure? What sorts of books do you like reading?

Part 2 (4 min.)
The candidates are given one set of pictures with a common theme, such as Bringing up
Children. First, each candidate is asked to comment on one or more of the pictures. Then
both candidates must work together to solve a problem or make a joint decision about the
pictures.

For example, the candidates are given a set of pictures with the caption Bringing up Children
(see picture sheet). First, each candidate is asked: Which picture do you think most effective-
ly captures the idea of bringing up children?

Then both candidates are given a task that they need to do together: You are helping a
political party prepare a campaign on the importance of family in your society. Agree on one
picture that would be most effective in this campaign and give your reasons.

Part 3 (12 min.)

First, one of the candidates is given a question in writing for a long response of approx. 3
minutes. The other candidate then comments on that response for 1-2 minutes by agree-
ing, disagreeing or adding ideas. Then they switch. The second candidate is given a differ- ent
question in writing for a 3-minute-long response, and the other candidate comments on it
for 1-2 minutes. Examples of questions are:

 What function do zoos really serve?

 How can museums attract more visitors?
 What purpose does reading literary works serve?
 What makes a successful teacher?
 Whose responsibility is it to care for the environment?
 How does one decide if art is good?
 Why is talking about politics often upsetting to people?
 How positive a phenomenon is nationalism?
 Bringing up children