Hello and welcome to my podcast My Life and Other Funny Stories. My name is Dagmar Tomášková, I am an English tutor and coach and I created this podcast for English students who want to improve their oral comprehension. As always you can find the transcription of this episode and vocabulary list in the notes of the podcast. 

Today’s episode is packed with practical language for all of you preparing for the Cambridge exams—whether it’s PET, FCE, or CAE. These phrases will help you express your thoughts clearly, sound natural, and tackle the speaking and writing tasks with confidence.

I have prepared many students for their exams and they all passed with flying colours so if you need any help with preparation, I am here for you! Because it can be quite uncomfortable during the exams, I know it for myself. Sitting there, shaking nervously while someone is staring at you with a poker face, evaluating every word you are saying. It can get quite stressful.

Some of those expressions might seem very straightforward or just basic but trust me, it is really important to drill those words into your brain because as you are sitting there during the exam, it is really easy to forget about everything you have ever learned and just miss all of them. 

1. Expressing Opinions

The Cambridge exams often ask you to discuss your thoughts, preferences, and views, so expressing opinions is key! Let’s go over some phrases:

• For simple opinions, use:
  • “I think…” or “In my opinion…”
  • Example: “I think this article raises a very good point.”
• For FCE or CAE, try sounding more sophisticated:
  • “From my perspective…” or “As far as I’m concerned…”
  • Example: “As far as I’m concerned, traveling is one of the best ways to learn about the world.”
• For stronger opinions:
  • “I firmly believe…” or “I’m convinced that…”
  • Example: “I firmly believe that art should be accessible to everyone.”

I know it sometimes sounds a bit weird but just forget about how it sounds and say it because you will get extra points. Don’t just say “I think”, “I think” and “I think”. That’s boring!

2. Agreeing and Disagreeing

In the speaking exam, you’ll need to agree or disagree politely with your partner. Here are some ways to do it:

• To agree politely:
  • “I totally agree with you,” or “I see your point.”
  • Example: “I see your point about studying abroad being valuable.”
• Sometimes, your partner might say something that is okay but you don’t really vibe with that answer completely. In that case, it is a place for partial agreement (which is very useful for FCE and CAE levels):
  • “I agree up to a point, but…” or “That’s true, although…”
  • Example: “I agree up to a point, but there are also disadvantages to living in a big city.”
• And then, this doesn’t happen often, but there can be also a case where you disagree so here is how you do that politely:
  • “I’m not so sure about that…” or “I see it a bit differently.”
  • Example: “I’m not so sure about that; I think technology actually brings people closer together.”

Remember, showing flexibility in your opinions can really help you sound thoughtful and open-minded!

3. Phrases for Pair Work

The speaking exam includes pair tasks where you discuss topics with another candidate. So remember these phrases because they are very very useful. 

• Starting or introducing ideas:
  • “Shall we start with…?” or “How about we discuss…?”
  • Example: “Shall we start with the advantages of working abroad?”
• Giving suggestions:
  • “Why don’t we…?” or “We could try…”
  • Example: “Why don’t we talk about the effects of climate change first?”
• Asking for your partner’s opinion:
  • “What do you think?” or “Do you agree with that?”
  • Example: “What do you think about the importance of learning languages?”
• Summing up or concluding:
  • “To sum up…” or “So, we’ve decided that…”
  • Example: “To sum up, we both think technology has both positive and negative effects.”

Using these will make your conversation smoother and show the examiner that you can lead and respond in a discussion.

4. Useful Idioms to Boost Your Score

Using idioms carefully can add richness to your speech, especially in FCE and CAE exams. Here are some idioms that can fit naturally into many conversations:

• “A piece of cake” – to describe something easy.
  • “Learning English vocabulary is a piece of cake for me.”
• “On the same page” – when you and your partner agree.
  • “I’m glad we’re on the same page about this solution!”
• “Cost an arm and a leg” – for something very expensive.
  • “Living in the city center costs an arm and a leg.”
• “Break the ice” – to help people feel comfortable.
  • “We could start with an easy question to break the ice.”

5. Phrases for the Writing Tasks

Let’s not forget the writing part! For PET and FCE, simple linking words can really help, while CAE candidates should aim for more sophisticated conjunctions.

• For simple linking (PET level):
  • “Firstly…” / “Secondly…” / “Finally…”
  • Example: “Firstly, studying abroad is a great opportunity. Secondly, it’s a good challenge.”
• Advanced conjunctions (FCE and CAE levels):
  • “Moreover…,” “On the other hand…,” or “Nevertheless…”
  • Example: “Moreover, learning a language can improve memory. On the other hand, it requires a lot of time.”
• Formal expressions for letters and essays (especially for CAE):
  • “I would appreciate it if…” or “I look forward to hearing from you.”
  • Example: “I would appreciate it if you could provide more details about the program.”

I hope these phrases will help you feel prepared and confident for your Cambridge exams. If you’d like to practice any of these phrases or get feedback, feel free to message me on Instagram. I’d be happy to help!

Thank you so much for listening to this episode and don’t forget that you can find the transcription and vocabulary list in the notes. Please give it a five-star rating if you liked it and I will see you next time, bye-bye.