B2 First Speaking Part 3: How to Discuss, Agree and Make a Decision

B2 First Speaking Part 3 is often the part of the speaking exam where students feel most nervous. Why? Because you are not speaking alone. You have to discuss a topic with another candidate, listen to their ideas, respond naturally, and reach a decision together.

That sounds like a lot, doesn’t it?

But the good news is this: you do not need perfect English to do well in this part of the exam. What you need is the ability to keep the conversation going.

In this lesson, you will learn how to discuss ideas, ask your partner’s opinion, agree, disagree politely, compare options, and make a final decision in B2 First Speaking Part 3.

What is B2 First Speaking Part 3?

In B2 First Speaking Part 3, the examiner gives you and your partner a task with a question and several prompts. You discuss the prompts together for about two minutes. After that, the examiner asks you to make a decision together.

The full B2 First Speaking test has four parts and takes about 14 minutes for two candidates. Part 3 is called the collaborative task because you must work with your partner, not simply give your own speech.

In this part of the exam, you need to show that you can:

• express your opinion
• ask your partner what they think
• agree and disagree politely
• give reasons
• compare different ideas
• suggest possibilities
• reach a decision together

The key word is together. Speaking Part 3 is not a monologue. It is a conversation.

What Examiners Want to Hear

Many students think they need to use very complicated vocabulary to impress the examiner. Advanced vocabulary is useful, of course, but interaction is more important in this part of the exam.

The examiner wants to see that you can communicate naturally with another person.

You should show that you can:

• listen to your partner
• respond to what your partner says
• invite your partner to speak
• develop the discussion
• move the conversation forward
• help reach a decision

A good candidate does not dominate the conversation. A good candidate helps the conversation flow.

Think of it like tennis. You do not keep the ball forever. You hit it, your partner hits it back, and the game continues. If you keep the ball in your pocket, the match becomes rather dull.

How to Start the Discussion

At the beginning of Part 3, many students freeze because they do not know how to begin. You only need a simple phrase.

Useful phrases to start

• Shall we start with this one?
• Would you like to begin?
• Let’s look at this option first.
• Maybe we could start by discussing this idea.
• What do you think about this one?

How to Ask Your Partner’s Opinion

In B2 First Speaking Part 3, you should not only talk about your own ideas. You also need to involve your partner.

Useful phrases for asking opinions

• What do you think?
• How do you feel about this idea?
• Do you think this would be useful?
• Would you agree with that?
• What about this option?
• Do you see it the same way?

How to Give Your Opinion

You do not need to say I think every time. Try to use a variety of natural phrases.

Useful phrases for giving opinions

• I think this would be useful because…
• In my opinion, this is one of the best options.
• I’d say this could help students because…
• It seems to me that this would be quite effective.
• Personally, I think this is more practical than the others.
• I’m not sure this would work very well because…

How to Agree Naturally

Do not simply say yes or I agree again and again. That sounds limited. Try to agree and add something.

Useful phrases for agreeing

• I agree with you.
• That’s true.
• Yes, I see your point.
• I was thinking the same thing.
• Exactly.
• That’s a good point, especially because…
• I agree up to a point.

How to Disagree Politely

You do not have to agree with everything your partner says. In fact, polite disagreement can make the discussion sound more natural and interesting.

The important thing is to disagree respectfully.

Useful phrases for disagreeing politely

• I see what you mean, but…
• That’s a good point, although…
• I’m not sure I completely agree.
• I understand your point, but I think…
• Maybe, but we should also consider…
• I agree in some ways, but…
• I’d probably choose a different option because…

How to Compare Options

In Part 3, you usually need to discuss several options. Comparing them helps you sound more organised.

Useful phrases for comparing ideas

• This option is more practical than the others.
• This would be easier to organise.
• This might be more expensive.
• This idea would help more students.
• This is probably less useful because…
• Compared with the other options, this seems more realistic.
• Both ideas are useful, but this one may have a bigger impact.

How to Speculate

Speculation is very useful in B2 First Speaking Part 3 because you often discuss possible results.

Useful phrases for speculating

• This could help students because…
• This might encourage people to…
• This may be useful for students who…
• It would probably make a difference because…
• Some students might feel…
• It could be difficult to organise because…
• There is a chance that…

How to Keep the Conversation Going

Sometimes there is an awkward silence in Speaking Part 3. Do not panic. Use a phrase to move the discussion forward.

Useful phrases

• Shall we move on to the next idea?
• What about this option?
• We haven’t talked about this one yet.
• Maybe we should compare these two ideas.
• Let’s look at another possibility.
• Do you think this would be better or worse than the first option?

How to Make the Final Decision

After the discussion, the examiner will ask you to make a decision together. Do not make the decision too quickly. Briefly compare the best options, then agree.

Useful phrases for reaching a decision

• So, which option should we choose?
• I think we both agree that…
• Shall we choose this one?
• Overall, this seems to be the best option.
• I’d choose this because…
• What do you think should be our final choice?
• So, shall we go with this one?

Sample B2 First Speaking Part 3 task

Here is a typical-style practice task.

A school wants to help students feel less stressed. Here are some ideas they are considering. Talk together about how useful these ideas would be. Then decide which two ideas would help students the most.

Ideas:

• less homework
• more sports activities
• a quiet study room
• better school lunches
• lessons about mental health

Model answer

Candidate A: Shall we start with less homework? I think students would definitely like this idea because many of them feel tired after school.

Candidate B: Yes, I agree. Less homework could reduce stress, but I’m not sure it is the best solution. Students still need practice, especially before exams.

Candidate A: That’s true. Maybe a quiet study room would be more useful because students could finish some of their work at school.

Candidate B: I like that idea. Some students may not have a peaceful place to study at home, so a quiet room could really help them concentrate.

Candidate A: What about more sports activities? Do you think that would help?

Candidate B: Yes, I think sport is a good way to relax. It could help students forget about their worries for a while. However, not everyone enjoys sport.

Candidate A: I see what you mean. Lessons about mental health might help more students because everyone feels stressed sometimes.

Candidate B: Exactly. If students learn how to deal with stress, they may feel more confident. I think this is one of the best ideas.

Candidate A: What about better school lunches?

Candidate B: They would be useful because healthy food can give students more energy. But compared with mental health lessons, I don’t think this would reduce stress as much.

Candidate A: I agree. So, for the final decision, shall we choose lessons about mental health and a quiet study room?

Candidate B: Yes, I think those two would help the most because they are practical and useful for many students.

Why this is a good answer

This answer works well because the candidates:

• discuss all the options
• ask each other questions
• agree and disagree politely
• give reasons for their opinions
• compare the ideas
• reach a decision together

They do not use extremely complicated English, but they communicate clearly and naturally. That is exactly what you should aim for.

Common Mistakes in B2 First Speaking Part 3

1. Speaking too much

Some students talk for too long and do not give their partner a chance to speak.

Instead of giving a long speech, say your idea clearly and then ask:

What do you think?

2. Saying too little

Other students only say:

• Yes.
• I agree.
• Maybe.
• I don’t know.

This is not enough. Always try to add a reason.

Weak answer:

• I agree.

Better answer:

• I agree because this would help students feel more relaxed before exams.

3. Ignoring your partner

Speaking Part 3 is a conversation, so you must respond to your partner’s ideas.

Good phrases:

• That’s a good point.
• I hadn’t thought of that.
• Yes, and another reason is…
• I see what you mean, but…

4. Making the decision too quickly

Do not choose the final answer after ten seconds. Discuss the options first. Then make your decision.

5. Trying to sound too advanced

Some students memorise long, unnatural phrases. This can sound strange.

Avoid phrases like:

• I am in complete and utter concurrence with your aforementioned statement.

Nobody talks like that. Not even people in very serious offices with very serious carpets.

Use natural English instead:

• I agree with you, especially because…

Practice Tasks for B2 First Speaking Part 3

Use these tasks with a partner. Discuss the ideas first, then make a decision together.

Final Tips for B2 First Speaking Part 3

The best way to succeed in B2 First Speaking Part 3 is to be a good conversation partner. You do not need to win the discussion. You do not need to prove that your idea is the best. You need to communicate, listen, respond, and help your partner reach a decision.

Remember these five golden rules:

1. Give your opinion clearly.
2. Always give a reason.
3. Ask your partner what they think.
4. Agree and disagree politely.
5. Make the final decision together.

B2 First Speaking Part 3 becomes much easier when you stop thinking of it as a test of perfect English and start seeing it as a natural discussion. Keep the conversation moving, support your partner, and use simple but effective phrases.

That is how you sound confident, natural and ready for the exam.

Related posts:

How to Talk About Photos in B2 First Speaking Part 2 

Functional Language for Speaking Exams 

Phrasal Verbs for Discussions in English 

Collocations for B2 First Writing and Speaking 

How to Write an Essay for B2 First (FCE) 

B2 First Exam Tips: 10 Common FCE Mistakes to Avoid 

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FAQ: B2 First Speaking Part 3

How long is B2 First Speaking Part 3?
In pairs, candidates discuss the prompts for about two minutes. Then they have about one minute to make a decision together. Cambridge’s official format says candidates discuss the written prompts and then make a decision about the topic.

Do I have to agree with my partner?
No. You can disagree, but you should do it politely and give a reason.

What is the most important skill in Speaking Part 3?
Interaction. You should listen, respond, ask questions, and help move the discussion forward.