Speaking
LanguageCert Academic Speaking: the four parts, timings and real samples
LanguageCert Academic Speaking's four parts: each one's length and task, what it assesses, who marks it, and LanguageCert's B1, B2 and C2 samples, in tables.
By Certyar1 November 20264 min read
Read this in PersianLanguageCert Academic Speaking takes about 14 minutes, has four parts and is face to face with an examiner (the interlocutor). This article goes through each part, from the official exam page, the handbook and LanguageCert's own Speaking video.
Speaking at a glance
| Part | Length | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2–3 min | A warm-up (your name, its spelling, your country), then up to five questions on different topics |
| 2 | About 3 min | Role plays with the interlocutor in academic situations |
| 3 | 4 min | Read a short text aloud (20 seconds to prepare) and answer questions on it |
| 4 | 5 min | One minute to prepare, two minutes' presentation on a topic, then questions |
What each part assesses
| Part | What it assesses |
|---|---|
| 1 | Giving opinions and ideas on a variety of topics, and personal opinions on contemporary issues |
| 2 | Communicating in real-life higher-education situations, with the right functional language and register |
| 3 | Reading aloud and answering questions |
| 4 | Preparing and giving a presentation on a topic or picture, and answering questions |
Part 1: warm-up and questions
The test starts with a warm-up: you give and spell your name and say your country. Then the interlocutor asks up to five questions on different topics, from academic life to current issues. Don't give one-word answers: give your view and add a reason or example.
Part 2: role plays
The interlocutor sets up a situation, such as talking to a lecturer or a librarian, and role-plays it with you. The handbook gives this part two role plays; LanguageCert's 2023 video says "two or three". You have to respond and also move the conversation on yourself: ask, suggest, request. Match your tone to the situation: more formal with a lecturer than with a classmate.
Part 3: reading aloud and questions
You have 20 seconds to read a short text, then read it aloud and answer some questions on it. Read at a natural pace, stress the key words and pause at full stops. If you don't know a word, keep going.
Part 4: the presentation
You get a topic, sometimes with a picture or a few points. You have one minute to prepare and two minutes to speak, then the interlocutor asks a few questions. In the minute, note three short points and build the talk as an introduction, those three points and a summary.
Who marks it
Every Speaking test is recorded. The interlocutor gives only Task Fulfilment and Communicative Effect, their general impression, which counts twice; a second examiner later marks coherence, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation from the recording. The details, with an example, are in how LanguageCert Academic is marked.
Real samples at three levels
LanguageCert has published three complete Academic Speaking tests. Watching them side by side shows the difference between levels better than any description:
| Candidate's level | Video |
|---|---|
| B1 | Speaking test sample, B1 |
| B2 | Speaking test sample, B2 |
| C2 | Speaking test sample, C2 |
How to prepare, part by part
| Part | What to practise |
|---|---|
| 1 | Practise spelling your name fluently, and have a view and a reason ready on common current topics. |
| 2 | Practise requests, suggestions, apologies and polite disagreement in both formal and friendly tones. |
| 3 | Read a short paragraph aloud every day and record yourself. |
| 4 | Practise against a timer: one minute to prepare, two minutes to speak, without stopping. |
Practising Speaking on Certyar
On Certyar there's no live interlocutor: you see each of the interlocutor's lines and record your reply. Your speech is then transcribed, and you get an estimated 0–8 band for each of the five criteria, the reason, and concrete fixes. The feedback comes from AI, not a LanguageCert examiner, and it judges pronunciation only approximately.
Certyar is an independent preparation site, not affiliated with LanguageCert. For the official details, see LanguageCert Academic's page.