Aptis for Teachers: Speaking Test 3 with Sample B2 Answers
This Aptis for Teachers Test is the supplementary version of Aptis for Teachers: Speaking Practice Test 3. It’s complete with B2-level responses, which will help you improve your own answers and give you more ideas. This time we’ve highlighted structures and teaching vocabulary.
Remember to try on your own first with the mock-exam video version before reading the B2 script. Think about the content of what you want to say, then watch this video and try to use some of the same structures in your own responses.
Before we start, let’s just recap on what you have to do in the speaking component of the test.
In Part One you have to give personal information in response to three separate questions.
Part Two consists of describing a photo, then expressing an opinion and providing reasons and explanations in response to two loosely related questions.
In Part Three you have to describe and compare two photos and provide reasons and explanations in response to two more loosely related questions.
Part Four consists of discussing personal experience and giving your opinion on an abstract topic..
So here’s the video of the Aptis for Teachers test with sample B2 answers. You’ll find the full script below, with the grammatical structures and teaching lexis highlighted. We’ve included a reminder of the timing, and you should always try to speak for the full amount of time.
It’s important to remember that these are prepared model answers read out by native speakers. We’ve fitted in as much as we can so as to give you as many ideas as we can. But as your responses in the test will nearly all be spontaneous, you’re not expected to be able to give such full answers. We say nearly all, because in Part Four they give you one minute to plan what you’re going to say.
Aptis for Teachers Test 3 with Sample B2 Answers: Script
Part One
30 seconds per answer.
What do you like about your job?
Well, the thing I’ve found most rewarding is working with teenagers and seeing how their characters develop over the years. I enjoy the challenge too. But I’d have to say that the real bonus is the holidays – having a long summer break is fantastic, and I’m sure all my colleagues would agree that we need it!
Highlighted structures
I’ve found … over the years – present perfect
I’d have to say / they would agree – second conditional
having – gerund noun
What did you do in your last lesson?
Let me think … I explained what ‘false friends’ were, as we’ve been studying a lot of vocabulary recently and a few examples had come up in class. So I told them about one of my own mistakes. I once said I was ‘embarazada’, not realising it doesn’t mean ‘embarrassed’ in Spanish – it actually means ‘pregnant’!
Highlighted structures
I explained what … were – indirect speech
we’ve been studying – present perfect continuous
had come up – past perfect (phrasal verb)
*False friends are words that look or sound the same as words in the learner’s first language, but in fact are different in meaning. You often find them in tests. We’ll soon be publishing a post on these.
Tell me about a teacher you didn’t like
To tell the truth, I couldn’t stand any of the teachers at secondary school. I always had the impression that they weren’t interested in educating us – they were just intent on getting through the day. There was one teacher I especially despised, as he used to hit the kids with a belt. Just as well that’s not allowed any more!
Highlighted structures
couldn’t stand / despised – hated
interested in educating / intent on getting – adjective + preposition + verb + ing
that’s not allowed – passive voice
Part Two
45 seconds per answer.
Describe this picture.
There are five children sitting in a line and looking at mobile phones or gaming devices. They could be playing the same game. They’re wearing old-fashioned costumes, which makes a strange contrast with the modern technology! One boy’s dressed as an admiral, and the other looks as if he’s from a royal court. Two of the girls are in ankle-length dresses, and the third is in tartan – it might be a school uniform, so maybe they’re in a school play – perhaps it’s a dress rehearsal.
Highlighted structures
might be / could be – modal verbs of speculation
which makes – relative clause
he looks as if he’s from a royal court – look like + clause (or + noun)
What type of games do children in your country play?
Well, I’d say that video games are probably the most popular type nowadays, especially among older children … all my teenage students seem to be addicted to screens! But during the school break, you can still see children playing active games like football or skipping. And traditional games like hide-and-seek, hopscotch and rock, paper, scissors are still popular. Most younger kids also play make-believe games, like ‘teachers and students’ or ‘doctors and nurses’.
Highlighted children’s games
In British English we call the activity you can see in this video ‘skipping‘. Americans call it ‘jumping rope’.
Here’s how to play hide and seek.
This video shows how to play hopscotch.
And this one explains the game rock, scissors, paper.
Make-believe games involve taking on an imaginary character and/or situation.
How have children’s games changed in the last fifty years?
I think they’ve changed a lot in general, especially since I was a child. These days you hardly ever see children playing in the street, but we were always playing sporty games outside. The other main change is who they play with. At home we used to play cards and board games with all the family together, but nowadays children often play online games alone in their rooms. Well, I say alone – in fact they’re usually connected with kids from all over the world … so that’s different!
Highlighted structures
they’ve changed – present perfect for changes
we were always playing – past continuous
used to play – past habits
Part Three
45 seconds per answer.
Tell me what you see in these two pictures
Both pictures show women teaching, but the types of classes are very different. The first photo shows a typical primary classroom with quite a lot of students, whereas the second looks like a one-to-one class with a tutor and a teenager or young adult. Maybe it’s an adult education course. The tutor’s sitting next to the student, giving her individual attention and probably helping with her writing, while the primary teacher’s standing at an interactive whiteboard and talking to the whole class.
Highlighted structures
whereas / while – contrasting connectors
looks like a one-to-one class – looks like + noun or noun phrase
maybe / probably – alternatives to ‘it could be / it might be’
What would it be like to be a teacher in these two classes?
Teaching the large group would be more tiring because students nearly always have different educational needs. You’d need a tight lesson-plan, as it may be too challenging for some, and too easy for others, so you’d have to consider what extra activities you could give fast finishers. For a one-to-one tutor, it depends how well you get on with the student. If they’re keen, friendly and hardworking, the time flies. But if they’re bored, unfriendly and lazy, the lesson seems to last forever!
Highlighted teaching lexis
different educational needs – this could apply to level or behavioural needs
tight lesson-plan – a well thought-out plan that covers all possibilities
one-to-one tutor – a teacher who works with only one student
How important is it to keep classes small?
It’s really important, for several reasons. Firstly, there’s more opportunity for student-teacher interaction in a small class. Interacting with the teacher can really help students feel better in class, especially younger learners who are new to school. What’s more, having smaller classes allows us to concentrate more on the material we’re teaching and less on classroom management. And with a large class, it’s much harder to give students individual attention and keep track of their progress.
Highlighted teaching lexis
student-teacher interaction – how students and teachers relate to each other
classroom management – keeping order and discipline in class
keep track of – observe and remember, monitor
Part Four
One minute to think & take notes,two minutes to answer all three questions.
Tell me about a time when you observed or were observed by another teacher.
How did you feel about it?
How important is other colleagues’ advice?
I clearly remember the first time I was observed. It was when I was doing the practical part of my teacher-training course. The classroom was tiny, and there were 20 students, the course tutor, and six other trainees. Everyone had been really supportive throughout the course, which gave me some confidence. I’d spent ages preparing the class, even though I only had to do a 15-minute slot, but I was still so nervous that when I wrote on the board my hand was shaking, I was sweating and I nearly lost my voice! Luckily it all went well in the end.
It’s very important to take notice of your colleagues’ advice, especially when you’re a novice teacher without much experience. I used to work in a school that had a mentoring scheme where they paired you up with an experienced teacher. You’d go and watch each other teach every fortnight, and then meet straight after the class to discuss how the lesson had gone. She gave me lots of tips about lesson-planning and classroom management, especially about how to deal with disruptive students. I’d had some problems with teenage classes when I started teaching, so that really helped. Now I try to pass her advice on to other new teachers.
Highlighted teaching lexis
trainee /treɪˈniː/ – someone who is being taught to do a particular job by a trainer. Other common ‘er/ee’ endings are: examiner/examinee, interviewer/interviewee, employer/employee
a 15-minute slot – you can divide a class into short slots. Notice that there’s no plural ‘s’ on minute, as this is a compound adjective
mentoring scheme – organised sessions with more experienced colleagues
disruptive students – those who behave badly and interrupt the lesson
After you’ve watched this Aptis for Teachers Test
Make sure you’ve watched both Aptis for Teachers: Speaking Practice Test 1 and the supplementary version with advice and sample B2 answers.
And Aptis for Teachers Practice Test 2 and its supplementary version with sample B2 answers.
Practise for the Core Test with Aptis for Teachers: Grammar Practice Test 1 and Aptis for Teachers: Vocabulary Practice Test 1.
You’ll find all our other free practice materials in the Guide to the Posts.