C1 Advanced · Speaking
Free C1 Speaking practice tests
Cambridge C1 Advanced speaking practice with exam-style prompts - 10 tests. No account required.
Printable sample
C1 Speaking Practice Test 01
Download the complete Local Participation sample with all four parts, both Part 2 photo sets and the Part 3 task diagram.
Paper guide
C1 Speaking: format, scoring & how to train
Understand what Parts 1–4 require, how examiners assess performance, and how to build spoken fluency.
Parts
4
P1–P2–P3–P4
Marks
5 criteria
Speaking paper
Timing
15 min pair
focused practice
Pass
200+
Cambridge Scale
Cambridge C1 Advanced Speaking lasts ~15 minutes in a paired format across 4 parts: short interview questions (Part 1), 1-minute long turn based on pictures (Part 2), a 2-way collaborative discussion (Part 3), and a broader thematic discussion (Part 4).
Format & timing
Structure and time allocation for the four parts of Cambridge C1 Advanced Speaking.
Part 1·Interview
Short turns·shared criteria marks·~2 min
Part 2·Long turn (picture prompts)
1 min turn each·shared criteria marks·~4 min
Part 3·Collaborative task
Discussion + decision·shared criteria marks·~4 min
Part 4·Discussion
3-way discussion·shared criteria marks·~5 min
Total·Speaking paper
4 parts·5 criteria marks·~15 min pair
Practise with exam-style prompts on this hub to build confidence in organizing thoughts quickly under pressure.
How it is marked
Speaking performance is assessed holistically on Grammatical Resource, Lexical Resource, Discourse Management, Pronunciation, and Interactive Communication.
How to train C1 Speaking
Active turn-taking, cohesive connectors, and precise vocabulary boost your score.
- 101
Master functional phrases
Learn phrases for agreeing, polite disagreement, speculating, and initiating turn-taking.
Open practice grid - 202
Practise timed turns
Rehearse 1-minute responses without stopping or using long hesitations.
- 303
Record & self-assess
Listen back to check grammatical accuracy, pronunciation, and discourse flow.
Common C1 Speaking mistakes
Avoid these typical pitfalls during the C1 Advanced Speaking test.
Part 1
Over-memorised answers
Reciting prepared speeches rather than answering questions naturally.
Part 2
Describing pictures instead of answering questions
Simply describing what you see instead of speculating and answering the two key prompt questions.
Part 3
Monopolising the conversation
Dominating the talk time instead of inviting your partner to contribute.
Part 4
Short single-word answers
Giving brief answers without expanding with reasons or examples.
Study guides
Speaking strategies & technique guides
Practical guides for mastering each part of the C1 Speaking exam.
C2 Blog
More C1 Speaking strategy
Articles and tips for Cambridge C1 Speaking exam success.
FAQ
C1 Speaking
FAQ.
Clear answers about format, scoring, timing, and how to practise on this hub.
What is the format of Cambridge C1 Advanced Speaking?
C1 Advanced Speaking takes about 15 minutes for a pair of candidates across 4 parts: interview (Part 1, ~2 min), individual long turn with picture prompt (Part 2, ~4 min), collaborative task (Part 3, ~4 min), and discussion (Part 4, ~5 min).
How is C1 Speaking evaluated?
Candidates are assessed across five subscales: Grammatical Resource, Lexical Resource, Discourse Management, Pronunciation, and Interactive Communication.
What happens in Part 2 of C1 Speaking?
Each candidate speaks for 1 minute about a set of pictures, answering 2 specific questions, followed by a 30-second follow-up question for the partner.
How can I practise C1 Speaking online?
Practise speaking out loud to timed prompts, record your responses to check fluency and discourse markers, and review key functional phrases for turn-taking.