1. Proficiency section Speaking test Part 3
Exam material
Proficiency section Speaking test Part 3
Prompt cards

2. Prompt Card (a) CHANGE AND STABILITY Is change always a good thing?
Test 1
social change
changes in personal life
technological developments
One of the following questions for Candidate B:
Is there something which you believe will never change?
What would you most like to change in your life?
What change in society would you most like to see?
Source: Proficiency Testbuilder 4th edition. Macmillan

3. What is generally regarded as a stable childhood?
Prompt Card (b) CHANGE AND STABILITY Is a certain amount of stability essential in life?
Test 1
childhood
work
society
One of the following questions for Candidate A:
What is generally regarded as a stable childhood?
Is there now more or less stability in people’s working lives?
Is society now more or less stable than it used to be?
Source: Proficiency Testbuilder 4th edition. Macmillan

4. What changes have happened recently in the place where you live?
Test 1
General questions for both candidates on the topic of change and stability
Describe a change which you think has particularly benefited you personally.
Describe a change which you think has been particularly bad for society.
What changes have happened recently in the place where you live?
Describe a situation which you think is particularly unstable.
Source: Proficiency Testbuilder 4th edition. Macmillan

5. Desire for superiority
Prompt Card (a) CONFLICT AND COOPERATION What are the most common causes of conflict?
Test 2
Greed / envy
Personal clashes
Desire for superiority
One of the following questions for Candidate B:
Describe an occasion when you were in conflict with someone else. What was the outcome?
Are you good at handling conflicts or do you try to avoid them?
What sort of people are you most likely to come into conflict within your life?
Source: Proficiency Testbuilder 4th edition. Macmillan

6. problem-solving between nations team games
Prompt Card (B) CONFLICT AND COOPERATION In what ways is cooperation essential?
Test 2
problem-solving
between nations
team games
One of the following questions for Candidate A:
Describe an occasion when cooperation had a positive effect on you.
Describe an experience you have had as a member of a team.
Is there something that you would be or have been unwilling to cooperate on?
Source: Proficiency Testbuilder 4th edition. Macmillan

7. Is it simply human nature for conflicts to arise?
Test 2
General questions for both candidates on the topic of conflict and cooperation
Is it simply human nature for conflicts to arise?
Describe a conflict which you think could have been avoided.
What typically makes people uncooperative?
Can people be taught to cooperate with others, and if so, how?
Source: Proficiency Testbuilder 4th edition. Macmillan

8. order rather than chaos in society. children / school
Prompt Card (a) RULES AND REGULATIONS In what ways is it important to have rules and regulations?
Test 3
order rather than chaos in society.
children / school
crime and punishment
One of the following questions for Candidate B:
Are you someone who is happy to conform or are you rebellious?
Is there a rule or law that you find particularly ridiculous?
Have you ever broken the rules when playing a game or sport? What happened as a result?
Source: Proficiency Testbuilder 4th edition. Macmillan

9. being reliable / unreliable
Prompt Card (b) RULES AND REGULATIONS What are your most important rules of personal behaviour?
Test 3
politeness / rudeness
honesty / dishonesty
being reliable / unreliable
One of the following questions for Candidate A:
Describe an occasion when you did not act according to your own rules of behaviour. What happened as a result?
Describe someone whose general behaviour you particularly disapprove of.
What kind of bad behaviour particularly annoys you?
Source: Proficiency Testbuilder 4th edition. Macmillan

10. Which laws are the most commonly broken ones in your society?
Test 3
General questions for both candidates on the topic of rules and regulations
Which laws are the most commonly broken ones in your society?
What is the common attitude towards the law and order authorities in your society?
If you could introduce one rule or law, what would it be?
Are ideas about personal behaviour changing in your society?
Source: Proficiency Testbuilder 4th edition. Macmillan

11. need to feel up-to-date commercial pressures
Prompt Card (a) FASHION AND YOUTH Why do so many people follow fashion?
Test 4
need to feel up-to-date
commercial pressures
how you look matters/ has always mattered
One of the following questions for Candidate B:
Describe a fashion in clothes that you particularly like or liked.
Describe a fashion in clothes that you particularly dislike or disliked.
To what extent do you and your friends follow fashion?
Source: Proficiency Testbuilder 4th edition. Macmillan

12. the media / films / music what older people have to offer
Prompt Card (b) FASHION AND YOUTH Is there too much emphasis on youth in modern life?
Test 4
the media / films / music
what older people have to offer
attitude in society to young and older people
One of the following questions for Candidate A:
Do people change as they get older, and if so, in what ways?
How much freedom do young people have in your society?
Describe an elderly person who you particularly admire.
Source: Proficiency Testbuilder 4th edition. Macmillan

13. How frequently do fashions in music change in your society?
Test 4
General questions for both candidates on the topic of fashion and youth
How frequently do fashions in music change in your society?
Is there anything that is fashionable now that you think you will consider ridiculous when you look back on it when you’re older?
Is anything that was fashionable in the past now fashionable with a different generation in your society?
Is it possible for older people to be fashionable?
Source: Proficiency Testbuilder 4th edition. Macmillan