C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3 tests more than your ability to express an opinion. You need to listen carefully, respond to another person, develop ideas, invite your partner to speak and work together towards a decision.
For many candidates, this is one of the most demanding parts of the Speaking paper. You cannot prepare a speech in advance, and you do not know what your partner will say. However, once you understand the structure and learn how to manage the conversation, C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3 becomes much easier. This collaborative task is part of the Cambridge C1 Advanced exam, and it tests how effectively you can communicate and cooperate with another candidate. You can also explore all my C1 Advanced Speaking lessons for help with every part of the Speaking paper.
In this guide, you will learn:
- what happens in C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3
- how the discussion and decision-making stages work
- what the examiners assess
- how to begin and develop the conversation
- useful phrases for agreeing, disagreeing and negotiating
- how to deal with a quiet or dominant partner
- common mistakes to avoid
- how to practise with realistic exam-style tasks
What Happens in C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3?
C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3 is called the collaborative task because you complete it with another candidate.
The examiner gives you spoken instructions and places a task sheet in front of you. The sheet contains:
- one central question
- five written prompts connected to the question
You have approximately 15 seconds to read the task before you begin speaking.
For a pair of candidates, the speaking itself has two stages:
| Discussion | Discuss the central question using the prompts | About 2 minutes |
| Decision | Discuss a second question and reach a decision | About 1 minute |
The whole part takes approximately four minutes when the examiner’s instructions and preparation time are included. Groups of three receive additional speaking time.
The purpose is not simply to mention all five prompts. You need to have a genuine discussion in which you exchange, justify, evaluate and develop ideas.
The Two Stages of C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3
Stage 1: The Discussion
During the first stage, you discuss the central question for approximately two minutes.
For example, the task might ask:
- How might these experiences help young people prepare for working life?
The written prompts could be:
- doing voluntary work
- having a part-time job
- travelling independently
- playing a team sport
- taking an online course
You should use the prompts as starting points for discussion. You might explain what skills people could develop, compare different experiences or consider possible advantages and disadvantages.
You do not need to discuss the prompts in a particular order.
You are also not required to cover every prompt. Cambridge advises candidates to develop several ideas meaningfully rather than rush through all five superficially.
Stage 2: The Decision
After approximately two minutes, the examiner stops the discussion and gives you a second question.
For example:
- Now you have about a minute to decide which two experiences provide the best preparation for working life.
You then discuss the options again and try to reach an agreement with your partner.
This stage tests your ability to:
- compare the strongest options
- express preferences
- respond to different opinions
- negotiate
- compromise
- work towards a conclusion
There is no objectively correct answer. You are assessed on the language and interaction you use while making the decision, not on which option you finally choose.
You will not be penalised merely because you and your partner fail to reach a final agreement. Nevertheless, you should make a genuine effort to work towards one.
What Does the Examiner Assess?
Your performance is assessed throughout the complete Speaking test rather than through a separate mark for each individual part.
The examiners consider:
Grammatical Resource
Can you use a range of grammatical structures accurately and appropriately?
For example:
- If young people took on part-time work, they would probably become more independent.
- Volunteering may be particularly valuable for those who have had little practical experience.
Lexical Resource
Can you use varied, precise and appropriate vocabulary?
Instead of repeating good, you might use:
- beneficial
- worthwhile
- practical
- effective
- valuable
- rewarding
- relevant
Discourse Management
Can you organise and develop your ideas coherently?
A strong contribution usually contains:
- an opinion
- a reason
- an explanation or example
- a connection to the wider question
Pronunciation
Can the listener understand you easily?
You do not need a British accent. You need clear pronunciation, appropriate stress and intonation, and speech that is easy to follow.
Interactive Communication
Can you begin, maintain and develop a conversation with another person?
This is particularly important in C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3. You need to respond appropriately, involve your partner and negotiate towards an outcome without depending on the examiner to manage the conversation for you.
The examiner is not looking for the most intelligent or original ideas in the room. You are being assessed on how effectively you communicate those ideas in English.
How to Use the 15 Seconds of Preparation Time
Fifteen seconds may not sound like much, but it is enough to understand the task and prepare your opening.
Do not try to invent detailed arguments for all five prompts. Instead:
- Read the central question carefully.
- Identify the topic and the exact focus.
- Scan the five prompts.
- Choose one prompt you could discuss first.
- Prepare one opening sentence.
Suppose the central question is:
- How might these measures reduce traffic in city centres?
Before speaking, think:
- What exactly are we discussing? Reducing traffic.
- Which option is easiest to begin with? Improving public transport.
- What could I say? Better public transport may encourage commuters to leave their cars at home.
This gives you a calm and relevant beginning.
How to Approach C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3
A successful discussion does not need a rigid script. Nevertheless, the following structure can help you manage the task naturally.
Step 1: Begin with One Prompt
Start by choosing one option and relating it directly to the question.
Perhaps we could begin with improving public transport. I imagine that would have the most immediate effect because commuters would have a practical alternative to driving.
Avoid simply reading the prompt aloud:
- Improving public transport. What do you think?
That does not show much language or develop the discussion.
Step 2: Invite Your Partner to Respond
After introducing your idea, bring your partner into the conversation.
- What’s your view on that?
- Would you agree?
- Do you think that would be effective?
A collaborative discussion should sound like a conversation, not two separate speeches delivered across the same table.
Step 3: Respond and Add Something New
Do not merely say:
- Yes, I agree.
Add a reason, qualification, example or contrasting point:
- I agree to some extent, particularly in larger cities. However, it may be less effective in areas where public transport is already overcrowded.
This shows that you have listened and can develop the idea.
Step 4: Compare the Prompts
As the discussion develops, connect different options:
- Compared with introducing congestion charges, improving public transport might be more acceptable to the public.
- Both measures could reduce traffic, although one encourages people to change their behaviour while the other puts pressure on them to do so.
Comparisons make the discussion more analytical and help you demonstrate a wider range of language.
Step 5: Keep the Conversation Moving
When you have developed one idea sufficiently, move naturally to another.
- Shall we consider flexible working hours as well?
- Another measure worth discussing is creating more cycle lanes.
- That brings us to the question of whether people need practical alternatives to driving.
Step 6: Change Strategy During the Decision Stage
When the examiner gives you the second question, stop exploring every possibility. You now need to compare the strongest options and work towards a choice.
A useful decision-stage structure is:
- suggest a strong candidate
- ask for your partner’s view
- compare it with another option
- compromise where necessary
- confirm the final choice
Useful Phrases for C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3
You do not need to memorise every expression below. Choose a manageable selection and practise using it naturally.
Starting the Discussion
- Perhaps we could begin with …
- Shall we start by considering …?
- The first one that stands out to me is …
- One option worth discussing is …
- I think a useful starting point would be …
- Why don’t we begin with …?
Introducing an Opinion
- As far as I’m concerned, …
- It seems to me that …
- I would argue that …
- My initial reaction is that …
- I tend to think that …
- From my perspective, …
- I’m inclined to believe that …
At C1 level, it is useful to show different degrees of certainty:
- I’m convinced that this would be effective.
- I suspect this might have a limited impact.
- There is a strong possibility that people would resist the change.
Giving Reasons
- The main reason is that …
- This is largely because …
- One explanation for this is that …
- What makes this particularly effective is …
- The advantage of this approach is that …
- This could be beneficial in the sense that …
- The underlying issue is that …
Developing an Idea
- What I mean by that is …
- To put it another way, …
- This could result in …
- The wider benefit would be …
- A good example of this would be …
- This is especially relevant when …
- Not only would this …, but it would also …
- In the longer term, this might …
Speculating
- This might encourage people to …
- It could potentially lead to …
- People may be more likely to …
- I imagine that …
- It is possible that …
- There is a chance that …
- This would probably depend on …
- It may well be the case that …
Evaluating an Option
- This seems like a practical solution because …
- I’m not sure how realistic that would be.
- Its effectiveness would depend largely on …
- The main advantage would be …
- One possible drawback is …
- This could be highly beneficial, provided that …
- It sounds convincing in theory, but …
- I wonder whether the benefits would outweigh the disadvantages.
Asking for Your Partner’s Opinion
- What’s your view on that?
- How do you see it?
- Would you agree with that?
- Do you think that would be effective?
- What do you make of this option?
- How significant do you think this would be?
- Would you say the same applies to …?
- Which aspect do you think matters most?
Try to vary these expressions. Repeating What do you think? after every sentence can sound mechanical.
Agreeing
- I completely agree.
- That’s a very good point.
- I was thinking along similar lines.
- I think you’re absolutely right about that.
- That makes sense, particularly because …
- I couldn’t agree more.
- I think we’re broadly in agreement there.
Partly Agreeing
Partial agreement is extremely useful because it allows the discussion to continue.
- I agree up to a point, but …
- That’s true to some extent, although …
- I can see what you mean. Having said that, …
- There is certainly some truth in that, but …
- I would agree in principle, provided that …
- That may be the case, although we should also consider …
- I take your point, but I’m not entirely convinced that …
Disagreeing Politely
- I’m not sure I see it in quite the same way.
- I see your point, but I would argue that …
- I’m not entirely convinced by that.
- That’s a fair point. However, …
- I wonder whether that might be overstating the case.
- I would be slightly more cautious about that.
- Perhaps, although another way of looking at it is …
- I think I’d place more emphasis on …
The aim is not to avoid disagreement. A natural disagreement can help you demonstrate flexibility, reasoning and negotiation.
Moving to Another Prompt
- Shall we move on to …?
- What about …?
- Perhaps we should also consider …
- Another option worth looking at is …
- That leads quite naturally to …
- We haven’t considered … yet.
- How does that compare with …?
- Shall we look at this from another angle?
Interrupting Politely
Sometimes you need to enter the conversation before your partner completes a very long contribution.
- Sorry to interrupt, but …
- Could I just add something there?
- May I come in at this point?
- If I could just pick up on what you said …
- Before we move on, could I add …?
- That’s interesting. I’d just like to say …
Use these expressions only when necessary. Interrupting constantly will not create a collaborative discussion.
Giving Yourself Time to Think
- That’s an interesting point.
- Let me think about that for a moment.
- I haven’t considered that before, but …
- My first thought would be …
- It’s difficult to say, although …
- There are several ways of looking at this.
- Off the top of my head, I’d say …
A short thinking phrase is perfectly natural. However, do not fill half your answer with well, you know and let me see.
Beginning the Decision Stage
- So, which options should we choose?
- We seem to agree that … is one of the strongest possibilities.
- Shall we try to narrow it down?
- Of the options we’ve discussed, which seems most effective?
- I think we can probably rule out …
- We need to decide which two would have the greatest impact.
- Perhaps our strongest candidates are … and …
Comparing Options During the Decision Stage
- I think this would be more effective than …
- Of the two, I’d be more inclined to choose …
- This seems slightly more practical, whereas …
- Both have advantages, but …
- If we had to prioritise one, I would choose …
- This might have a wider impact than …
- In the short term, … would be effective, but in the long term, … might be more valuable.
Negotiating and Compromising
- I’d be happy to choose that as one of the two.
- I’m willing to agree on …, but I’m less certain about …
- Perhaps we could settle on …
- I can go along with that.
- Shall we include … and leave out …?
- I see why you favour that option, so perhaps …
- We may have to agree to differ on that one.
- As a compromise, we could choose …
Confirming the Decision
- So, are we agreed on … and …?
- It sounds as though we’ve reached a decision.
- Shall we say that these are our final choices?
- I think we can agree that these would be the most effective.
- So, our final decision would be …
- Yes, I think we’re both happy with those two.
Model C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3 Task
Discussion question
How might these experiences help young people prepare for working life?
Prompts:
- doing voluntary work
- having a part-time job
- travelling independently
- playing a team sport
- taking an online course
Decision question
Which two experiences provide the best preparation for working life?
Model Discussion
Discussion Stage
Candidate A: Perhaps we could begin with having a part-time job. To my mind, that would give young people direct experience of the workplace. They would have to be punctual, follow instructions and communicate with both colleagues and customers. Would you agree?
Candidate B: Yes, absolutely. I also think it would teach them to take responsibility for their own money. Having said that, the value of the experience might depend on the job itself. Some part-time positions can be fairly repetitive and may not offer many opportunities to develop.
Candidate A: That’s true, although even repetitive work could teach someone to remain reliable and professional. What do you make of voluntary work?
Candidate B: I’d say that could be equally valuable, particularly because volunteers often work with people from different backgrounds. It might help young people become more empathetic as well as improve their communication skills.
Candidate A: I agree. It could also show initiative, since they are choosing to give up their time without being paid. On the other hand, do you think travelling independently would be as relevant to working life?
Candidate B: Perhaps not directly, but it could make people more resourceful. When travelling alone, you have to solve unexpected problems, organise your time and make decisions without relying on someone else.
Candidate A: That’s a good point. Those skills would certainly be useful in many jobs. I’m less convinced about taking an online course, though. It may provide knowledge, but it doesn’t necessarily develop interpersonal skills.
Candidate B: I see what you mean, but completing a course independently could demonstrate self-discipline. It would also be particularly useful if the course taught practical digital skills.
Candidate A: Yes, that’s fair. We haven’t considered team sports yet. I suppose the obvious benefit is learning how to cooperate with others.
Candidate B: Exactly. It could teach people to support their colleagues and work towards a shared goal. However, I’m not sure it prepares them for the pressures and responsibilities of an actual workplace as effectively as a part-time job would.
Decision Stage
Candidate A: So, we need to decide which two provide the best preparation. I think a part-time job has to be one of them because it gives people genuine workplace experience.
Candidate B: I completely agree. For the second one, I’d be inclined to choose voluntary work because it develops communication skills and shows initiative.
Candidate A: That would certainly be a strong choice. I was considering travelling independently because of the problem-solving involved, but perhaps voluntary work is more directly connected to working with other people.
Candidate B: That’s what I was thinking. Travel develops independence, but voluntary work combines responsibility, teamwork and communication.
Candidate A: In that case, shall we choose having a part-time job and doing voluntary work?
Candidate B: Yes, I think those two would provide the most balanced preparation.
Why Is This a Strong Performance?
The candidates do not deliver separate prepared speeches. They respond directly to one another and develop the same ideas together.
They also:
- relate each prompt to the central question
- explain and justify their opinions
- invite one another to contribute
- agree and disagree naturally
- compare different options
- use speculative language
- acknowledge each other’s arguments
- move the discussion forward
- negotiate during the decision stage
- confirm a final choice
Notice that neither candidate tries to impress the examiner with unnecessarily obscure vocabulary. Their language is advanced because it is flexible, precise and appropriate.
Common C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3 Mistakes
1. Giving Long Individual Speeches
Part 3 is not another long turn. If you speak for a full minute without involving your partner, you are not demonstrating effective collaboration.
A better pattern is:
opinion → reason → invitation to respond
For example:
- Voluntary work could be particularly valuable because it develops both practical and interpersonal skills. What’s your view?
2. Asking Your Partner to Do All the Work
Questions are important, but do not continually say:
- What do you think?
- And this one?
- What about that one?
You must contribute and develop your own ideas before inviting your partner to respond.
3. Agreeing Without Developing the Idea
Weak:
- Yes, I agree.
Stronger:
- I agree, particularly because young people would gain experience of dealing with real responsibilities. They might also become more confident when communicating with adults.
4. Rushing Through All Five Prompts
Mentioning every prompt is not the main objective. It is better to discuss several options meaningfully than to produce five undeveloped sentences.
Do not treat the task like a shopping list:
- A part-time job is useful. Volunteering is good. Travelling is helpful. Sport is important. Online courses are practical.
Develop and connect your points instead.
5. Forgetting the Central Question
Candidates sometimes talk generally about a prompt but fail to connect it to the question.
Suppose the question asks how certain activities could reduce stress.
Do not merely say:
- Exercise is enjoyable and many people do it every week.
Connect it to the task:
- Regular exercise could reduce stress because it gives people an opportunity to switch off from work and release physical tension.
6. Starting the Decision Too Early
Use the first two minutes to explore and evaluate the options. Do not spend most of the discussion trying to agree on the final answer before the examiner gives you the decision question.
The second question may ask you to choose according to a different criterion.
7. Continuing the First Discussion During the Decision Stage
Once the examiner asks you to decide, change your approach. Compare the strongest options and begin narrowing them down.
You have only about one minute, so this is not the time to introduce five completely new arguments.
8. Forcing Memorised Phrases into Every Sentence
Useful expressions can improve fluency, but they should support the discussion rather than take it over.
A conversation such as this sounds unnatural:
- As far as I’m concerned …
- I couldn’t agree more …
- Having said that …
- Be that as it may …
- When all is said and done …
Choose expressions that fit the moment. The examiner wants to hear communication, not a parade of idioms dressed in their Sunday best.
9. Trying to Use Extremely Complicated Vocabulary
You do not receive extra marks for using a rare word incorrectly.
Clear and precise:
- This could make public transport more accessible.
Unnecessarily complicated:
- This could facilitate the ubiquitous utilisation of metropolitan transportation infrastructure.
At C1 level, sophistication comes from control and flexibility, not from making every sentence sound as though it escaped from a government report.
10. Ignoring Your Partner
Listen while your partner is speaking. Their idea gives you something to agree with, question, develop or contrast.
Looking only at the task sheet and waiting for your next turn can make the discussion feel disconnected.
What Should You Do If Your Partner Is Very Quiet?
Encourage them without handing over complete responsibility.
You could say:
- How do you see this option?
- Would you say this is more practical than the previous one?
- Which of these do you think would have the greatest effect?
- Do you agree that this could be difficult to introduce?
- Perhaps you could say a little more about that.
If your partner gives a very short answer, develop the idea yourself and then ask a more specific question.
I agree that it could be expensive. Do you think the long-term benefits might justify the initial cost?
What Should You Do If Your Partner Dominates?
Enter politely but confidently:
- Could I just add something there?
- That’s an interesting point. I see it slightly differently.
- Before we move on, I’d like to comment on that.
- If I could pick up on what you said about …
- Perhaps we should also consider …
Do not compete by speaking more loudly. Manage the interaction calmly.
What Should You Do If You Disagree Completely?
You do not need to pretend to agree.
A useful pattern is:
- recognise the other person’s idea
- state your disagreement politely
- explain why
- suggest another perspective
For example:
I understand why you see it that way, but I’m not entirely convinced. The measure might work in wealthy areas, whereas people on lower incomes could find it difficult to adapt. Perhaps a more affordable solution would be improving public services.
What If You Cannot Remember a Word?
Do not stop speaking. Paraphrase it.
Suppose you forget the word commuter. You could say:
people who travel between home and work every day
If you forget affordable, say:
not too expensive for ordinary people
Paraphrasing is an important communication skill and can demonstrate flexibility.
Free C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3 Workbook
Would you like more guided practice? Download the free C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3 Workbook, which includes a concise lesson, useful-phrase exercises, model discussions, guided collaborative tasks, timed exam practice and self-assessment checklists.
Use it for independent study, private lessons or classroom speaking practice.
Download C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3 ebook in PDF here
Use it for independent study, private lessons or classroom speaking practice.
How to Practise C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3
The best practice is timed practice with another person.
Follow this routine:
- Allow yourselves 15 seconds to read the task.
- Discuss the central question for two minutes.
- Give yourselves a new decision question.
- Negotiate for one minute.
- Record the discussion.
- Listen again and evaluate your performance.
- Repeat the same task and try to improve it.
When listening to the recording, do not focus only on grammar mistakes. Ask:
- Did we respond directly to each other?
- Did we develop our ideas?
- Did both people contribute?
- Did we use the prompts naturally?
- Did we compare different options?
- Did we move towards a decision?
- Did we repeat the same phrases?
- Were our explanations clear?
Repeating the same task is particularly useful. The first attempt reveals the problems; the second gives you an opportunity to repair them.
C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3 Self-Assessment Checklist
After completing a practice task, check the statements that are true.
Completing the Task
- I understood the central question.
- I related my comments directly to the question.
- I discussed several prompts meaningfully.
- I adjusted my approach during the decision stage.
- I helped work towards a final choice.
Developing Ideas
- I explained the reasons for my opinions.
- I gave examples or possible consequences.
- I compared different prompts.
- I used speculative and evaluative language.
- I avoided very short, undeveloped answers.
Interaction
- I listened to my partner.
- I responded to what my partner said.
- I invited my partner to contribute.
- I agreed and disagreed appropriately.
- I did not dominate the conversation.
- I helped keep the discussion moving.
Language
- I used a range of vocabulary.
- I avoided repeating the same expressions.
- I used both simple and complex grammatical structures.
- My pronunciation was clear.
- I paraphrased when I could not remember a word.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3?
For two candidates, the main speaking time is approximately three minutes: a two-minute discussion followed by a one-minute decision-making task. The complete part takes about four minutes when the instructions and preparation time are included.
Do we have to discuss all five prompts?
No. You should engage with the task fully, but there is no requirement to discuss every prompt. A well-developed discussion of several options is better than mentioning all five without explanation.
Do we have to agree?
You should try to negotiate towards a decision, but you are not automatically penalised if you fail to reach complete agreement. The examiners assess how you communicate and collaborate.
Can I ask my partner questions?
Yes. Inviting your partner to contribute is an important part of interactive communication. However, you must also express and develop your own ideas.
Can I interrupt my partner?
You may interrupt politely when necessary, particularly if you need to contribute or move the discussion forward. Avoid interrupting repeatedly or speaking over your partner.
What happens if my partner speaks much better than I do?
Candidates are assessed on their own individual performance, not by comparison with each other. Concentrate on responding, developing your ideas and communicating as effectively as you can.
Should I memorise useful phrases?
Learn a selection of flexible expressions, but practise adapting them to different topics. Memorised language should help you communicate naturally rather than make your answers sound rehearsed.
Final Tips for C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3
Remember that C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3 is a conversation, not a competition.
A strong candidate:
- listens as well as speaks
- develops rather than merely states ideas
- responds rather than waits
- disagrees without becoming confrontational
- invites rather than interrogates
- compares rather than lists
- negotiates rather than insists
You do not need perfect grammar, brilliant ideas or instant agreement. You need to show that you can communicate confidently and flexibly with another person.
Practise the phrase groups gradually, record yourself regularly and learn to build on what your partner says. With enough practice, C1 Advanced Speaking Part 3 will begin to feel less like an unpredictable exam task and more like what it is supposed to be: a thoughtful discussion between two capable English speakers.
Related posts:
- C1 Advanced Lessons
- C1 Advanced Writing
- C1 Advanced Speaking
- C1 Advanced Use of English
- C1 Advanced Grammar
- C1 Advanced Vocabulary
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