B2 First Speaking

B2 First Speaking can be challenging, especially when you have to think quickly, speak for a full minute or discuss ideas with someone you have never met.

Perhaps you know what you want to say, but you cannot find the right words. Or you start answering a question and suddenly run out of ideas.

The good news is that these are skills you can improve with practice.

In this section, you will find B2 First Speaking lessons, useful phrases, exam tips, practice activities and downloadable books to help you prepare for the Cambridge B2 First Speaking test.

Whether you’re studying independently or with a teacher, we’ll help you understand the four parts of the exam and become a more confident speaker.

What Is in the B2 First Speaking Test?

The Cambridge B2 First Speaking test has four parts and usually lasts about 14 minutes for two candidates or 20 minutes for a group of three.

There are two examiners. One asks questions and gives instructions, while the other listens and assesses your performance.

During the test, you will speak to the examiner, talk on your own and interact with another candidate.

Watch a Complete B2 First Speaking Test

Have you ever wondered what actually happens during the B2 First Speaking exam?
Before you start practising, watch this sample Speaking test from Cambridge English.

 B2 First Speaking Part 1: Interview

In Part 1, the examiner asks you questions about familiar topics such as your family, work, studies, free time, travel, hobbies and future plans.

For example:

  • What do you enjoy doing at weekends?
  • Would you prefer to live in a big city or a small town? Why?

The important thing is to give natural answers with enough detail.

Instead of saying:

  • I like travelling.

You could say:

  • I really enjoy travelling, especially when I get the chance to visit places I’ve never been to before. I think it’s a great way to learn about different cultures.

You don’t need to make every answer long. Just try to develop your ideas instead of giving one-word answers.

B2 First Speaking Part 2: Long Turn

In Part 2, the examiner gives you two photographs and asks you to compare them and answer a question.

You have one minute to speak without interruption.

After your partner speaks about their photographs, you will also answer a short question about them for about 30 seconds.

Many students make the mistake of describing everything they can see. However, the examiner wants you to compare the photographs and address the question, not simply describe them.

For example, you might say:

Both photographs show people learning something new. However, the students in the first picture are working together, whereas the woman in the second picture is studying alone. She might find it easier to concentrate, but the students working together can exchange ideas.

Practise comparing, speculating and explaining your ideas within the time limit.

B2 First Speaking Part 3: Collaborative Task

In Part 3, you work with another candidate.

The examiner gives you a question and several written prompts. You discuss the ideas together for two minutes. You then have one minute to make a decision together.

This part is not about giving a long speech or proving that your opinion is better.

You need to show that you can communicate with another person.

This means:

  • Expressing your opinions clearly
  • Asking your partner what they think
  • Agreeing and disagreeing politely
  • Responding to your partner’s ideas
  • Making suggestions
  • Working towards a decision

For example:

  • I think learning a foreign language is particularly useful for travelling. What do you think?

Your partner might reply:

  • That’s true, but I’d say it’s even more important for finding a good job.

A successful discussion involves both people. Remember to listen as well as speak.

B2 First Speaking Part 4: Discussion

In Part 4, the examiner asks further questions connected to the topic in Part 3.

The discussion lasts approximately four minutes.

The questions are more general, and you need to explain your opinions, give reasons and sometimes consider different points of view.

For example:

  • Do you think people will travel more or less in the future?

You could answer:

  • I think people will probably travel more because international travel is becoming more accessible. However, rising costs and environmental concerns might encourage some people to travel less frequently.

Notice how this answer gives an opinion, explains it and considers another possibility.

That’s exactly the kind of answer you should practise developing.

B2 First Speaking Lessons

Now that you understand the exam format, you can start preparing for each part.

These lessons provide practical explanations, useful language, examples and activities to help you develop your speaking skills.

You don’t have to study everything at once. Start with the part you find most difficult and practise it until you feel more comfortable.

B2 First Speaking Practice Books

Understanding the exam is important, but you also need opportunities to put what you’ve learnt into practice.

You might feel confident when answering questions at home, but the experience can be quite different when you have to speak under exam conditions.

To help you prepare, we’ve created two B2 First Speaking resources.

Free B2 First Speaking Practice Handbook

Start your preparation with our free speaking handbook.

If you’re preparing for B2 First and would like some extra practice, our free handbook is a good place to begin.

It introduces you to speaking practice and gives you a chance to work on your communication skills before moving on to complete practice tests.

You can use it when studying independently or working with a teacher.

Download the Free B2 First Speaking Handbook →

B2 First Speaking Skills Builder – 10 Practice Tests

Ready to take your speaking practice further?

Our B2 First Speaking Skills Builder contains 10 exam-style speaking practice tests covering the four parts of the B2 First Speaking paper.

Use the tests to practise:

  • Answering personal questions in Part 1
  • Comparing photographs and speaking for one minute in Part 2
  • Discussing ideas and making decisions with a partner in Part 3
  • Expressing opinions and developing longer answers in Part 4

The book is designed for students who want regular, structured practice and a better understanding of what they need to do during the Speaking test.

You can use the activities with a teacher, a study partner or for independent speaking practice.

Rather than memorising answers, focus on becoming more comfortable with unfamiliar questions and expressing your ideas clearly.

Explore B2 First Speaking Skills Builder – 10 Practice Tests →

b2 first speaking ebook

How to Improve Your B2 First Speaking

Many learners believe that speaking better English means learning more difficult vocabulary.

Although vocabulary is important, speaking successfully also involves organising your ideas, responding naturally and expressing yourself clearly.

Here are some practical ways to improve.

1. Practise Speaking Aloud

Reading an answer silently is not the same as saying it aloud.

Choose a speaking question, give yourself a few seconds to think and then answer it without writing anything down.

Even five or ten minutes of regular speaking practice can make a difference.

2. Learn to Develop Your Answers

Short answers don’t always give you enough opportunity to demonstrate your English.

When appropriate, try to add a reason, an explanation or an example.

For example:

  • I prefer working from home.

You could develop this into:

  • I prefer working from home because I can concentrate better. I also save time because I don’t have to travel to work every day.

The second answer communicates much more.

3. Record Yourself

Recording your answers is one of the simplest ways to notice what you need to improve.

Listen for long pauses, repeated expressions and places where your ideas aren’t clear.

You might discover that you use I think too frequently or that you often forget to explain your opinions.

Choose one thing to improve in your next recording.

4. Practise with a Partner

Parts 3 and 4 involve interaction, so try to practise with another person whenever possible.

Don’t concentrate only on what you’re going to say next. Listen to your partner and respond to their ideas.

Useful questions include:

  • What do you think about that?
  • Would you agree with me?
  • Shall we consider another option?

5. Don’t Memorise Complete Answers

Memorising long answers is rarely a good preparation strategy.

The questions you receive in the exam may be different from the ones you’ve practised.

Instead, learn useful expressions and practise adapting them to different topics.

For example, One advantage of this might be… can be used when discussing travel, work, education, technology and many other subjects.

6. Practise Under Exam Conditions

Set a timer when practising Speaking Part 2 and aim to speak for one minute.

For Part 3, practise discussing ideas and reaching a decision within the allotted time.

This will help you become more familiar with the pace of the test.

Useful Phrases for B2 First Speaking

You don’t need hundreds of complicated expressions to do well in the Speaking exam.

A smaller collection of useful phrases that you can use naturally is much more valuable.

Here are some expressions worth practising.

Giving Your Opinion

  • I think that…
  • Personally, I believe…
  • As far as I’m concerned…
  • I’d say that…
  • From my point of view…

Agreeing with Someone

  • I agree with you.
  • That’s a good point.
  • Yes, I see what you mean.
  • I completely agree.
  • That’s exactly what I was thinking.

Disagreeing Politely

  • I’m not sure I agree.
  • I see your point, but…
  • That may be true, but…
  • I’m not convinced that…
  • I think it depends on the situation.

Comparing Photographs

  • Both photographs show…
  • In the first photograph…, whereas in the second…
  • One important difference is that…
  • While the first picture shows…, the second…
  • The people in both photographs seem to be…

Speculating

  • They might be…
  • It looks as if…
  • Perhaps they’re…
  • They seem to be…
  • One possible explanation is that…

Developing Your Ideas

  • The main reason is that…
  • For example…
  • Another thing to consider is…
  • This could be because…
  • One advantage of this is…

Asking Your Partner for Their Opinion

  • What do you think?
  • Do you agree?
  • How do you feel about that?
  • Shall we move on to the next idea?
  • Which option do you think would be best?

Try choosing two or three expressions each week and using them in your speaking practice. The aim is to make them part of your active vocabulary.

Final Tips for B2 First Speaking Success

You don’t need to speak perfect English to do well in B2 First Speaking.

However, you do need to show that you can use a suitable range of vocabulary and grammar, organise your ideas, speak intelligibly and interact with another person.

If you make a mistake, don’t panic. Correct yourself if necessary and continue speaking.

Most importantly, practise regularly. Don’t wait until the week before your exam to start speaking aloud.

Use the lessons on this page, practise with our free B2 First Speaking Handbook and, when you’re ready, work through the 10 Speaking Practice Tests.

The more familiar you become with the tasks, the more confidently you’ll be able to approach them.

Preparing for the Rest of the B2 First Exam?

Speaking is only one part of B2 First. You’ll also need strong grammar, vocabulary and reading skills to succeed in Reading and Use of English.

If you’d like structured exam practice, take a look at our B2 First Reading & Use of English Complete Collection.

The collection helps you develop the grammar, vocabulary, cloze, sentence transformation and reading skills you need for the exam.

Explore the B2 First Reading & Use of English Complete Collection →

b2 first reading and use of english ebook

Continue Preparing for B2 First

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For more Cambridge English preparation resources, practice books and downloadable workbooks, visit our English Ebook Bookshop.