C2 Proficiency
10 Practice Speaking
Tests
By Christopher Walker
www.closelyobserved.com
All content, including photographs, copyright Christopher Walker 2018. The test
structure itself belongs to Cambridge Assessment. This product is licenced to the
person who originally paid for their copy.
Test One
– What do you enjoy about learning English?
– What kind of work would suit you best?
– How good are you at organising your free
time?
– If you could take up a new sport, what would
it be?
– Do you enjoy attending sporting events?
– Could you describe your home to me?
1. Magazine article - tourism
Look at 2 and 4 and talk together about the different aspects of
tourism the photos show.
1 3
2 4
1. Magazine article - tourism
Talk about the effects that tourism has on places popular with
tourists, and then decide which photo to use for an article on the
theme of tourism.
1 3
2 4
Prompt Card 1a
Who can help young people prepare for
their future lives?
• Parents
• Peers
• Educators
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• Do you think that young people should always do what their parents
recommend?
• Do you believe that educators have a professional duty to help young
people prepare for their future lives?
Prompt Card 1b
How can we decide what to do in our
future careers?
• Work experience
• Conversations with family members
• Watching documentary films
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• How can people make the most of work experience?
• What questions is it important to ask when you want to learn
more about a job?
1. Preparing for the Future
• Do you think that schools do enough to Prompts to
prepare young people for their future lives?
encourage the
• How good do you think family members are at
other candidate to
offering advice for the future?
speak:
• Some people say that it’s impossible to know
• What do you
what you want to do with your life when you’re
only eighteen. What do you think? think?
• Does it get easier to plan for the future as you • Do you agree?
get older? • And you?
• Some people hold firm to their plans for the
future, while others prefer to remain flexible
and react to events as they occur. Do you think
one approach is better than the other?
Test Two
– How much do you enjoy studying?
– Have you got a preferred career in mind?
– Do you have enough free time to keep up with all
your hobbies?
– Would you describe yourself as a sporty person?
– Do you think it’s worth paying a lot of money to
attend a sporting event?
– Could you describe your city to me?
2. Magazine article - logistics
Look at 3 and 4 and talk together about how these pictures are
connected to the idea of transporting goods.
1 3
2 4
2. Magazine article - logistics
Talk about why efficient logistics are important in today’s world, and
then decide which picture should illustrate your article on global
logistics.
1 3
2 4
Prompt Card 2a
How can we preserve knowledge most
effectively?
• In books
• Online
• By passing ideas down from generation
to generation
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• Do you think that there are too many books being published
these days?
• What effect would losing access to the internet have on
people looking for knowledge and information?
Prompt Card 2b
Why do people seek out new knowledge?
• Personal satisfaction
• Career development
• To learn about the world
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• Do you think that too many students these days study just to
pass tests, and not to accumulate knowledge?
• How important do you think it is to be curious about the
world?
2. Knowledge
• Do you think that people are becoming too reliant
Prompts to
on the internet for their information on different
topics? encourage the
• Would you say it’s better to know a lot about one other candidate to
subject, or to know something about a large speak:
number of subjects? • What do you
• Some people believe that the unexamined life is think?
not worth living, and that we must question • Do you agree?
everything that we see and hear. Do you agree
with this standpoint?
• And you?
• How important is it to you to share the knowledge
you have gained with those around you?
• Is there ever a good reason to withhold knowledge
or information from somebody?
Test Three
– How easy do you find it to learn new words in
English?
– Are there any jobs that you feel would not be a
good fit for you?
– Do you like to keep busy or do you prefer to have
plenty of spare time?
– How important is it to you to be physically active?
– Have you ever attended a concert or an opera?
– Could you describe your family for me?
3. Magazine article – interpersonal communication
Look at 2 and 4 and talk together about why communication between
these people might or might not be important.
1 3
2 4
3. Magazine article – interpersonal communication
Talk about the benefits of interpersonal communication, and decide
which of these photographs best shows the importance of being able
to talk to those around us.
1 3
2 4
Prompt Card 3a
What should we consider when we are
thinking about moving house?
• The area
• The cost of moving
• Changes to daily routine
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• How long do you think it takes for people to get used to their new
living conditions after they move house?
• Do you think that moving house is an experience that affects children
or adults more?
Prompt Card 3b
When is it the right time to consider a
new career?
• Unrewarding work
• Prospects of promotion
• Workplace conditions
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• Do you think it’s still reasonable to expect to have a job for
life?
• What else should people who are thinking of a career change
consider?
3. Changes
• Why do some people accept change in Prompts to
their lives, but others fight against it? encourage the
• Can you learn how to manage change other candidate to
better? speak:
• What are the biggest changes that • What do you
young people might face in their lives? think?
• Do you agree?
• How big a change do you think • And you?
retirement represents?
• If life changes are causing you a
problem, who is the best person to turn
to for advice?
Test Four
– Do you think English grammar is difficult to deal with?
– Do you see yourself ever starting your own business?
– Do you ever have problems organising your time?
– Have you ever thought about trying an extreme sport?
– Would you ever travel to a foreign country to watch a
sporting event?
– Could you describe your daily routine to me?
4. Magazine article - photography
Look at 1 and 2 and talk together about why you think the people are
taking these photos.
1 3
2 4
4. Magazine article - photography
Talk about the modern uses of photography and photographs, and
then decide which picture best shows how the camera fits into
modern society.
1 3
2 4
Prompt Card 4a
Who are the best innovators today?
• Entrepreneurs
• Technology companies
• Scientists
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• Do you think that all technological advances are beneficial to
society?
• How important is it that new inventions and discoveries are
regulated by the government?
Prompt Card 4b
How has technology affected those who
work in the creative industries?
• New cameras
• Means of publishing work
• Copyright control
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• Do you think that modern movies are too reliant on computer
generated effects?
• How important do you think copyright management is for
artistic work shared on the internet?
4. Innovation
• Do new technologies make you think more Prompts to
positively about the future? encourage the
• How can schools teach students to be better other candidate to
innovators?
speak:
• Some people think that conservatism is a • What do you
reaction against innovation, and that with
think?
every new technology, more people begin to
• Do you agree?
turn against technology itself. Do you think
that is true? • And you?
• How can we ensure that new technology is
used for the good of society?
• Do you think that one day we will reach the
end of technological innovation?
Test Five
– If you could learn a new language, what would it be?
– Do you think it’s more important to earn a lot of money
from your work, or take great satisfaction from what you
do?
– Do you think that you have good time management skills?
– Have you ever suffered an injury while playing sport?
– How far from your home town would you have to travel to
see an important sporting event?
– Could you describe your route to work or school to me?
5. Magazine article – spending time alone
Look at 2 and 3 and talk together about how the people might be
feeling.
1 3
2 4
5. Magazine article – spending time alone
Talk about why people spend time alone, and then decide which
photograph best illustrates your article on the benefits of spending
time alone.
1 3
2 4
Prompt Card 5a
What can we do to keep our bodies
healthy?
• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Sleep
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• Do you think good nutrition is more important than getting
enough exercise?
• Why do you think some people struggle to get a good night’s
sleep?
Prompt Card 5b
What can help to make sportspeople more
successful?
• A good trainer or coach
• Financial support
• Education
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• Do you think the government should offer financial support to
the country’s sportspeople?
• What character attributes do you think the best trainers
possess?
5. Healthy Living
• Why do some people find it difficult to lead a Prompts to
healthy life?
encourage the
• To what extent is exercise important in our other candidate to
daily lives?
speak:
• What do you think the biggest differences are • What do you
between sportspeople and regular people?
think?
• Would you say that the government plays an • Do you agree?
important role in the development of
• And you?
successful sportspeople?
• Do you think that sportspeople provide a
good role model for those of us trying to live a
healthy life?
Test Six
– What would you say is the hardest thing about learning
English?
– How important do you think it is for your co-workers to
like you?
– Do you prefer to spend time alone, or in the company of
other people?
– Do you play sports at the weekend, or during the week?
– Would you ever consider going out to socialise on a
weekday?
– Could you tell me about a book you read recently?
6. Magazine article - danger
Look at 2 and 4 and talk together about why you think people take
these risks.
1 2 4
3
Talk about the way we perceive danger, and
6. Magazine decide which photograph best shows our
article - danger attitude to danger in the world around us.
1 2 4
3
Prompt Card 6a
What impact do tourists have on the
places they visit?
• Pollution
• Antisocial behaviour
• Cultural exchange
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• Do you think that some areas should be closed to tourists?
• Would you say that the drawbacks of tourism outweigh the
benefits?
Prompt Card 6b
What motivates people to travel?
• Discovering a new culture
• Sightseeing
• A break from the norm
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• Do you think more people should have a holiday in their own
country rather than abroad?
• What do you think the difference is between a traveller and a
holiday-maker?
6. Tourism
• What responsibilities do tourists have Prompts to
towards the places that they visit? encourage the
• Would you say that there are now too other candidate to
many people visiting major landmarks speak:
every year? • What do you
• How has tourism changed over the years? think?
• Do you think that virtual tourism will ever • Do you agree?
become successful? • And you?
• Some people think that the only way to
learn about yourself is to visit foreign
cultures. Would you agree?
Test Seven
– What advice would you give to somebody who wanted
to learn English?
– How do you make decisions about your career?
– Is there anybody who you can turn to for support when
you have a problem?
– Do you like to play sports with your friends, or with
people you haven’t met before?
– Are you more of an indoor or outdoor person?
– Could you tell me about a film you particularly
enjoyed?
7. Magazine article - information
Look at 3 and 4 and talk together about the kind of information
presented in the pictures.
1 3
2 4
7. Magazine article - information
Talk about how information is communicated, and decide which
picture shows the most effective means of communication
information. 3
1
2 4
Prompt Card 7a
To what extent should we accept those
around us?
• Religion
• Family background
• Political opinions
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• How important do you think it is to be friends with people who offer
different opinions to your own?
• Do you think people spend enough time considering the points of
views of others?
Prompt Card 7b
What can people do to expand their social
circle?
• Clubs & Societies
• Further education
• Sports
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• What might be difficult about making new friends after you
leave school?
• Do you think it’s a good thing to have the same friends at fifty
that you had when you were fifteen?
7. Understanding Others
• What can happen if you surround yourself with Prompts to
people who have the same background and
point of view as you?
encourage the
• Do you think it is necessary for everybody to
other candidate to
agree about some things? speak:
• Do you think that there should be laws that • What do you
protect freedom of religion? think?
• How important is the government in making • Do you agree?
sure that members of society treat each other • And you?
fairly?
• Some people believe that we are all naturally
different from each other, but others feel that all
humans have something in common. What do
you think?
Test Eight
– Who was your best teacher, and what made them better
than the others?
– How important is it to you that you find a job that makes
use of the skills you’ve gained?
– Are you good at giving advice to people?
– How do you decide which hobbies to concentrate on in your
free time?
– When you go to an event like a concert, what’s more
important to you – the atmosphere, or what you’re there to
see?
– Could you tell me about the kind of music you listen to?
8. Magazine article – history around us
Look at 1 and 3 and talk together about how people might feel when
they live so close to history.
1 3
2 4
8. Magazine article – history around us
Talk about our attitudes towards history, and then decide which
picture best shows how history might be taken for granted.
1 3
2 4
Prompt Card 8a
What annoyances do we face on a daily
basis, and how big are their impact on
our lives?
• Traffic
• Noise
• Bureaucracy
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• Do you have to fill in much paperwork on a daily basis? How do you
feel about it?
• How important is it for the local government to introduce measures
aimed at reducing traffic?
Prompt Card 8b
How much can we control the world
around us?
• Workplace conditions
• The weather
• The people around us
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• Do you think it is always necessary to be polite to other
people?
• How important do you think it is for your workplace to be
aesthetically appealing?
8. Annoyances
• Some people think that the best thing to do Prompts to
when something goes wrong is to simply ‘grin
and bear it.’ Do you think this is the right
encourage the
approach? other candidate to
• What negative effects can the things that annoy speak:
us have on our health? • What do you
• What do you think people should do when they think?
find something too stressful? • Do you agree?
• How important do you think it is to have • And you?
somebody to share our problems with?
• Why do some people think it is important to
control what goes on around them, while others
seem content to simply let things happen?
Test Nine
– What kind of student would you say you are?
– Would you prefer to have one job for the rest of your life,
or to move from position to position?
– If you could choose, would you prefer to have more free
time, or a slightly higher salary?
– To what extent would you say keeping healthy is
important to you?
– Have you ever been to an event like a concert that
turned out to be a major disappointment?
– Could you tell me about a holiday you’ve been on?
9. Magazine article – less than perfect
Look at 2 and 3 and talk together about how these situations are less
than ideal.
1 3
2 4
9. Magazine article – less than perfect
Talk about how these different aspects of our lives do not always
measure up to our expectations, and then decide which picture best
demonstrates the disappointment we might feel as a result.
1 3
2 4
Prompt Card 9a
What do you think are the best ways of
motivating people to do something?
• Money
• Acclaim
• A shared vision
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• Do you think that dull, repetitive jobs should be better paid than
those that offer good job satisfaction?
• How difficult do you think it is to convince other people to do things
for you?
Prompt Card 9b
What makes a good leader?
• Communication skills
• Strength of character
• Flexibility
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• Do you think political leaders should listen to what the
citizens of a country think about every topic?
• How important do you think it is to lead by example?
9. Motivation
• Why do some students at school suffer from a Prompts to
lack of motivation?
encourage the
• Statistical studies suggest that as many as other candidate to
twenty percent of people dislike their jobs.
speak:
Why do you think that might be?
• What do you
• How much of a difference do you think it can
make if you work for somebody who can
think?
motivate you well? • Do you agree?
• Is money ever sufficient motivation to make • And you?
you want to do something?
• Some people say that if you want to learn
something, you must be motivated from
within yourself. Do you agree?
Test Ten
– What do you think is the hardest thing about using English?
– Would you ever like to work abroad?
– Do you think that your work or your studies take up too
much of your time?
– When you begin a new hobby, how invested in it are you at
the start?
– Do you think your city would be capable of hosting part of a
major sporting event, like the football World Cup?
– Could you tell me about a country you’d like to visit in the
future?
10. Magazine article – difficult conditions
Look at 1 and 3 and talk together about how the conditions in the
photograph might be making life more difficult for the people there.
1 3
2 4
10. Magazine article – difficult conditions
Talk about the personal qualities we might need to overcome these difficult
conditions. Then choose the picture that best represents society’s ability to
deal with difficult conditions.
1 3
2 4
Prompt Card 10a
What sacrifices do you think the best
musicians must make for their craft?
• Hobbies
• Friends
• Education
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• Do you think that young people who show exceptional talent
with a musical instrument should be exempt from their
normal studies?
• What other sacrifices might musicians have to make in
Prompt Card 10b
What can different people do to help
those with talent make the most of their
skills and abilities?
• Educators
• Family
• The general public
Follow-up question: choose one of the following:
• How important do you think it is for the general public to
show their appreciation of people with talent?
• Do you think it takes more talent to be a great musician, or to
be a great writer?
10. Talent
• Some people say that when it comes to talent,
Prompts to
you’re either born with it or you aren’t. Would you
agree? encourage the
• How important do you think hard work is for other candidate to
people looking to develop their talent? speak:
• Would you say that all forms of talent are • What do you
appreciated equally? Or do you think that we think?
reserve our acclaim for talented individuals in a • Do you agree?
limited number of fields?
• And you?
• Are there any ways in which having talent can
prove to be a bad thing?
• Some people think that it is wrong for those with
talent to ‘sell out’ and make money from their
abilities. What do you think?
By the same author…
Sixty-Six Little
Lessons
A set of ready-made
lessons on a wide variety
of topics, perfect for use
with 1-2-1 or small group
lessons.
