Speaking before 2028
Rehearse the 2025–2027 role-play and topic-conversation format with structured self-review.
Exam scope and assessment notes
All Spanish passages, prompts, model answers, listening scripts and tasks are original StudyForA materials, not Cambridge assessment content. Vocabulary is taught in context, but Cambridge's 2028 vocabulary spreadsheet has not been mapped word by word. Grammar groups have not had an item-by-item Spanish-specialist audit, and a Spanish-language specialist should review the original Spanish before publication is described as complete. Browser speech synthesis is not Cambridge audio and cannot guarantee a regional accent, natural pace or pronunciation. Speaking is rehearsal and self-review, not the supervised centre assessment or examiner interaction; writing is not Cambridge-marked. No complete timed specimen paper or 130-hour course is included. Check your exam year, entry option and centre arrangements with Cambridge and your school. A 2025–2027 Version 2 lesson is intended for that syllabus cycle; use the separately labelled format from 2028.
Before you begin
Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.
Quick readiness check
Which role-play response covers a request for an activity and its reason?
What you will learn
- Respond to everyday prompts with relevant information and understandable detail.
- Ask and answer follow-up questions on familiar topics.
- Express opinions, feelings, reasons and future plans.
- Review clarity, interaction, vocabulary and pronunciation without treating self-review as an official mark.
Use the preparation time strategically
The 2025–2027 speaking paper is about ten minutes: one role play and two topic conversations, with supervised preparation before the test. Follow your centre's current instructions for timing and conduct.
For a role-play prompt, cover each requested point in order: ask a question, give a time, explain a reason or state a preference. During a topic conversation, expand with a detail and a reason, then respond to the examiner's follow-up.
Keep rehearsal feedback honest
Record a short response and review whether it answers the prompt, uses comprehensible sentences and keeps the interaction going. A checklist supports practice; it cannot assign Cambridge speaking marks or recreate the examiner's questions.
The supervised preparation rules for this cycle do not include the note-taking change announced for exams from 2028. Do not bring rehearsal notes into a live exam unless your centre's current instructions permit them.
Sources for this lesson
Pause and explain
A prompt asks you to ask the price. What response completes that task?
Worked example
You are asked to arrange a visit to a sports centre. Ask its opening time, say which activity you prefer, give a reason and ask about the price.
Show the worked solution
- Ask one clear opening-time question.
- Name an activity and support the choice.
- Ask the price before ending the exchange.
Answer Example: «¿A qué hora abre el polideportivo? Prefiero nadar porque es relajante. ¿Cuánto cuesta la entrada?» This covers the requested points; adapt formality and vocabulary to the situation.
From guided practice to a new situation
Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.
Rehearse the sports-centre role play in the example in three sentences.
Give me a hint
Cover opening time, preference plus reason, and price.
Compare my reasoning
- Ask the opening time.
- State an activity and reason.
- Ask the price and listen for the answer.
Example: «¿A qué hora abre? Prefiero jugar al tenis porque me gusta el deporte al aire libre. ¿Cuánto cuesta una hora?»
Look for these in your work
- Asks a relevant question
- Explains a preference
- Asks about cost
Speak for about one minute about a school subject you like, a challenge and one way you practise. Then list one clear strength and one next step.
Give me a hint
Use a past or present example, «porque» and one future plan.
Compare my reasoning
- State the subject and opinion.
- Describe a real challenge and practice method.
- Record once and choose a specific improvement.
A useful review identifies whether the response included an opinion, a concrete example and a practice method. One next step might be adding a reason or slowing one unclear phrase. This is self-review, not a Cambridge mark.
Look for these in your work
- Answers the topic
- Uses a concrete detail
- Identifies a specific next step
Practise a two-topic conversation about leisure and future work. Ask yourself one follow-up question after each answer.
Give me a hint
Use a preference, a reason, a comparison and a future plan.
Compare my reasoning
- Answer a leisure question with a detail.
- Ask a related follow-up.
- Connect a career interest to a preparation step.
Possible response: «Me gusta el senderismo porque descubro lugares nuevos. ¿Qué actividades prefieres tú? En el futuro me interesa trabajar en turismo y quiero mejorar mis idiomas.»
Look for these in your work
- Gives a reason
- Maintains interaction with a question
- Links a goal to preparation
Plan, speak and review your response
Microphone recordings stay in this page and are not uploaded or graded.
Role-play and topic conversation rehearsal
Arrange an everyday activity, then discuss a familiar topic and explain an opinion.
Use about 1 minute to plan your practice response, then speak for about 120 seconds. This practice timer does not reproduce exam preparation rules.
The recording is not transcribed. This optional text and the audio both stay in the open page.
Review your recording
- Covered each requested point
- Used a relevant detail and reason
- Responded to a follow-up
- Reviewed intelligibility, not an official score
This self-review is not an official speaking mark. A teacher or examination centre must assess the speaking endorsement.
Common mistakes
- Answering with a memorised speech unrelated to the prompt
- Giving an opinion without a reason
- Forgetting to ask the requested role-play questions
- Treating a recording checklist as an examiner grade
What can you explain now?
What should you do when a speaking prompt asks for a reason?
Compare with the explanation
Give an opinion and connect it to «porque» plus a relevant detail
That makes the response complete and understandable.
After trying it yourself, choose your next review. This is your self-assessment.
Your review choice appears on Today. Sign in to sync it across devices.
Make it stick
Before leaving speaking before 2028, explain one idea from memory, answer the checkpoint and name one syllabus detail you still need to practise.
If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.