Aptis ESOL for Teachers: Speaking Practice Test 1
This is the first in a special series of Aptis for Teachers Speaking Practice Tests. The tests are the same in format as the Aptis General, but the content is different. The Aptis for Teachers Test relates specifically to teachers. In other words, the questions are set in an educational context. They deal with themes and scenarios that teachers come across every day.
This mock-exam video will give you practice in answering the test questions within the time-limits. To help you, we’ve included exam tips, useful language and ideas further on in this post.
In any oral language exam or test you need to show the examiner how much language you know and how many different structures and vocabulary you can use.
You don’t have much time to do that, as the exam is only 12 minutes long. So in order to get a good grade, you’ll need lots of timed practice. This series of videos with exam-style pictures and exam timings will help you prepare for your Aptis for Teachers Speaking Test.
Tips, useful language & ideas to help you improve your answers
Practise your answers several times with these mock-exam videos to try to improve your fluency. We recommend you watch this video and give your own answers first, then read the tips below to give you more ideas.
The more practice tests you do, the more you’ll see that many questions are similar and you’ll start to understand them better. As we explained above, the content of the questions should be familiar to you because of the educational context.
In the real exam you can stop the recording when you finish your answer, but you should always try to give full answers and speak as much as you can in the time they give you.
Don’t worry too much about making mistakes, because there isn’t much time; just keep going! In later posts, we’ll give you more help on how to do this.
Aptis ESOL for Teachers: Speaking Practice Test 1
Part One
TIP: Always give full answers to the questions, and try to use as many different structures and expressions as possible. 30 seconds is longer than you think!
Please tell me about your favourite teacher.
IDEAS & VOCABULARY: Say why you like/liked them, what makes/made them special for you. Use postive adjectives like patient / friendly / inventive.
What kind of lessons do students like?
IDEAS & VOCABULARY: Talk about the the importance of motivating students and getting them involved. Use adjectives like interactive / participative / interesting.
Please tell me about your first experience teaching.
USEFUL LANGUAGE: Use a variety of past forms, such as used to + infinitive, would + infinitive as well as past simple. Use past continuous for contrast (what the students were doing when you arrived, etc). Use past perfect to talk about what you’d done beforehand to prepare, etc.
Part Two:
TIP: Make sure you answer the specific questions they ask – don’t just talk generally about the topic.
Describe this picture.
USEFUL LANGUAGE: This photo shows … / in the background / in the foreground / look like + noun / look + adjective / look as if + clause / might be / could be / must be …
How are foreign languages normally taught in your country?
VOCABULARY: age-group / class size / language facilities /IT / methodology …
Do you think all students should have to learn a foreign language? Why? Why not?
USEFUL LANGUAGE: Use a variety of modal verbs (should, ought to, etc). Say what you think: in my opinion / if you ask me / personally, I believe / to my mind. Give reasons: that’s why / because / for those reasons …
Part Three:
TIP: The examiners are looking for the language of making comparisons, giving reasons and expressing opinions here.
Tell me what you see in these two pictures.
USEFUL LANGUAGE: The first photo shows …, whereas/while in the second photo … / in the background/foreground / look like + noun / look + adjective / look as if + clause / might be / could be / must be
How has teaching and learning changed over time?
USEFUL LANGUAGE: Use used to + infinitive / would + infinitive to talk about the past. Use present perfect to talk about changes. Use complex comparatives like far more / much less …
How do you think classes will change in the future?
USEFUL EXPRESSIONS: Say what you think: in my opinion / I think / on one hand … on the other hand. Use will + infinitive for predictions, and the 1st conditional to talk about possible changes.
Part Four:
TIP: Definitely use the minute they give you to make quick notes. Divide the paper into the 3 question headings to make sure you answer each part.
Tell me about a special occasion in your childhood.
USEFUL LANGUAGE: Use past simple to describe that occasion, but contrast it with habits (used to + infinitive / would + infinitive). Use past perfect to talk about what had led up to it.
How did you feel about it?
USEFUL EXPRESSIONS: Use colourful adjectives like excited /delighted / over the moon …
Do you think children have enough time to play?
USEFUL LANGUAGE: Say what you think: in my opinion / if you ask me / personally, I believe / to my mind, etc. Use modal verbs (should, ought to, etc).
Now try the video again, using these tips to help you improve your answers. We hope you’ll notice the difference!
Follow-up
To improve your answers even more, now go to Aptis for Teachers: Speaking PT1 Advice & B2 Answers.
Further practice
This post will give you more ideas: Top tips for your Aptis test.
Don’t miss the next video in the series: Aptis for Teachers: Speaking Practice Test 2.
If you want to practise your grammar, try Aptis for Teachers: Grammar Practice Test 1.
And to practise your vocabulary, try Aptis for Teachers: Vocabulary Practice Test 1