In CAE Tips Speaking Part 2, we talk about how to go about answering part 2 of the Speaking test. This is a complex part of the test since you need to do several things at one time and you only have a minute to do it. Today we are looking at comparing and contrasting and you have 6 ways to effectively do it. Choose the ones you feel comfortable using and start practicing around the house! Start comparing the table and the chair, the window and the wall, the bed and the dresser, your sister and your friend, etc.
Compare: Both pictures show…
- 1. Both pictures show people who are enjoying diverse activities.
- 2. Both pictures seem to be taken in the countryside
Contrasting: Whereas X, Y…
- 1. Whereas the people are laughing in picture 1, they are seem to be quite sad in picture 2.
- 2. Whereas in picture 1 they are in a big city, in picture 2 they seem to be in a small village.
Contrasting: In X…, whereas in Y…
- 1. In the first picture it seems as though they are sharing a family meal, whereas in the second photo they appear to be having an intimate meal.
- 2. In the first photo they are enjoying a day at the park, whereas in the second one they are relaxing at home.
While X…, Y…
- 1. While we see a man who seems lonely and maybe worried in the first picture, we can see a man who is surrounded by family or friends in the second picture.
- 2. While the people in the second photo are probably participating in a race because they have trained and worked hard to get there, the children in the first photo seem to be playing games organized for that day only.
Contrasting: Conversely, picture 2…
- 1. The people in Picture one seem to b very worried about the situation. Conversely, in picture 2, they seem quite relaxed and actually enjoying their time together.
- 2. In the first photo, they appear to be in some traditional and cultural event. Conversely, in the second photo they are in some kind of circus.
Contrasting: Unlike X, Y
- Unlike the first photo, the second photo was probably taken professionally as it shows a couple getting married.
- Unlike the people in the first photo, those in the second seem to be enjoying the job that they are doing.
So, remember, you can never prepare everything you are going to say for a speaking test, since you really don’t know what they are going to ask you, but you can be prepared to use certain tools to show that you have a C1 level. Using these easy ways to compare and contrast will definitely be taken into consideration when you are being evaluated.
Now that you have read CAE Tips Speaking Part 2, have a look at CAE Tips Speaking: Agreeing, which shows great tips to use in Part 3 of the CAE exam.
