Producing (back-up) questions for A2 Key Speaking
In the first part of the A2 Key (and A2 Key for Schools) Speaking tests, candidates are asked questions on a theme. The examiner asks Wh- questions and also has back-up questions to support candidates if they don’t understand.
At the start, the examiner (interlocutor) will say : Now, let’s talk about and then the word for the topic: school./home./friends./weekends.
e.g. Now, let’s talk about school.
Then the interlocutor will ask each candidate two questions on the topic.
e.g. (candidate A)
- What subject do you like best?
- What clothes do you wear to school?
(candidate B):
- What time do you finish school?
- Where do you go after school?
The interlocutor has a back-up question for each of these questions.
Practising this in class
1. Put students into groups of 3. Give them a topic.
Topic suggestions:
- school
- home
- weekends
- holidays
- friends
- food
- free time
- sport
2. Ask them to write four questions for their topic, asking about the present, past experiences and future plans.
Each question should start with a different question word:
Question words
- What
- When
- Where
- Who
- How
- How often
- How much
- How many
3. Each group passes their four questions onto another group. They have to write back-up questions for each question. It would be a good idea to demonstrate this with students first.
Example:
Now, let’s talk about school.
What subject do you like best?
Back-up question: Do you like English?
What clothes do you wear to school?
Back-up question: Do you wear a uniform?
What time do you finish school?
Back-up question: Do you finish school at 3 o’clock?
Where do you go after school?
Back-up question: Do you go home after school?
4. Form new groups of 3 students, ideally mixing groups up so that they are speaking to different people. One person is the interlocutor. They ask each of the other two students two questions on the topics.
5. Change roles for another topic, with a different student becoming the interlocutor.
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