In this section, you listen to two students doing the collaborative task together. They are discussing plans for a new shopping centre and you can learn some useful expressions used during similar conversations. You also listen to the students answering questions about shopping in general and you practise answering the questions yourself.

1 Understanding the collaborative task

Listen to an examiner giving instructions and decide whether the following statements are true or false.

After you have clicked 'Check', look at the 'comment' for an explanation of each answer.

2 Completing the task: the shopping centre

Listen to Olga and Mike discussing plans for a shopping centre. Which of these shops do they mention during their discussion? Choose 'yes' or 'no'.

3 The shops

Listen to the extract again and label the plan according to what Olga and Mike decided. Match the type of shop to the correct number.

Map of shopping centre

4 Useful expressions

During their discussion, Mike and Olga used a number of words and phrases to help the discussion along. Drag each of these words and phrases to the correct box depending on its function.

5 Part 4: follow on questions

After the discussion, the examiner asks Olga and Mike some general questions about shopping. Listen and decide whether the following statements are true or false.

After you have clicked 'Check', look at the 'comment' for an explanation of each answer.

6 The questions about shopping

How did Olga and Mike answer the questions about shopping? Answer the questions below by choosing true or false.

After you have clicked 'Check', read the 'comment' for an explanation of each answer.

Exam advice
In part 3 of the speaking paper, the examiner asks you and the other candidate to discuss a task together. It is very important that you understand exactly what the examiner wants you to talk about, so pay close attention here to what he/she says and don't be afraid to ask the examiner to repeat the instructions.
The language you may need here is that of giving your opinion, agreeing and disagreeing with someone - look at activity 4 again for more ideas. You can be better prepared for this part of the paper if you know some expressions that help you do these things e.g. for giving your opinion: "I think..."; "I believe..."; "In my opinion...".
To prepare for the exam, write down some expressions you can use under the headings in activity 4 and remember to try to use this language at appropriate times during the exam.

Exam practice
Part 3 is a collaborative task so you really need someone else to help you do it.
In part 4, the examiner asks more general questions about shopping - try to answer them and to give an expanded answer. If you record yourself, you can listen to yourself afterwards and see if there are any words or expressions you need to help you express yourself better.

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