FCE Speaking Part 2: how to compare the photos and answer the question
In FCE Speaking Part 2 you get two photos and talk alone for one minute: compare them and answer the question printed above them. Then you answer a short question about your partner's photos in about 30 seconds. It is the long turn in our B2 First Speaking guide.
By Eleanor BennettLast updated:
What happens in Part 2
The interlocutor gives you two photos. Above them there is a question, for example Why might the people be doing these activities? The examiner reads the instructions aloud: you compare the photographs and say something about the question. You have about one minute, and you speak alone.
When you finish, the interlocutor asks your partner a short question about your photos, such as Which of these activities would you prefer? Your partner answers in about 30 seconds. Then the roles change: your partner gets a new pair of photos and talks for a minute, and you give the short answer afterwards. The whole part takes about four minutes.
In the exam the question is printed on the page, so you never need to remember it. Look at it while you speak.
What the examiner wants: comparing, not describing
The most common mistake in Part 2 is describing each photo in detail: 'In the first photo I can see a man. He is wearing a blue jacket. Behind him there is a tree…' This uses easy language and does not answer the task.
Instead, the examiners want to hear you:
- Compare the two situations: what is similar, what is different.
- Speculate: say what might be happening, how the people might feel, why they might be there. You do not know, so use might, could, probably, seems.
- Answer the printed question for both photos. This is the part many candidates forget.
- Keep going for a minute with organised, connected speech.
Speculating language is a great chance to show B2 grammar: modal verbs (they might have just finished), look as if, I imagine. You will find more on the FCE speaking phrases page.
Strategy, step by step
- 1
Read the question above the photos
Take two seconds to read it. It tells you what to focus on, for example feelings, reasons, difficulties or advantages.
- 2
Open with one quick comparison
'Both photos show people…, but in the first one…, whereas in the second…'. One sentence is enough to set up the comparison.
- 3
Develop the differences
Pick two or three clear differences (place, mood, purpose, number of people) and speculate about each using modals.
- 4
Answer the question for both photos
Spend at least half your minute on the printed question. This is where most of your ideas should go.
- 5
Finish with a short personal view
If you have time: 'Personally, I think the people in the second photo are having more fun, because…'. If the examiner says 'Thank you', stop.
- 6
Listen while your partner speaks
You will be asked a question about their photos. Listen, then answer in about 30 seconds with an opinion and one reason.
Common traps
Trap: Describing every detail of each photo.
Fix: Mention only what helps your comparison. Move to the question quickly.
Trap: Forgetting the question printed above the photos.
Fix: Look at it as you speak. Answer it for both photos.
Trap: Saying 'I can see…' again and again.
Fix: Vary it: 'It looks as if…', 'They seem to be…', 'This might be…'.
Trap: Stopping after 30 seconds.
Fix: Practise with a timer until a minute feels normal. If you finish early, add a personal opinion or another difference.
Trap: Giving a long answer to your partner's question.
Fix: The partner response is short: an answer, a reason, maybe an example. About 30 seconds.
Trap: Talking about a third photo or changing the topic.
Fix: Stay with your two photos and the question.
Worked example: planning a one-minute answer
The task
Imagine Photo A shows a family having a picnic in a busy city park on a sunny day, with children playing in the background. Photo B shows a young woman eating lunch alone at her desk in an office, looking at a laptop. The question above the photos is: Why might the people be eating in these places?
- 1.
Opening comparison: both photos show people having a meal, but the settings and the atmosphere are completely different.
- 2.
Difference 1, setting and mood: Photo A is outdoors and relaxed; Photo B is indoors and looks rushed.
- 3.
Question for Photo A: it might be a weekend or a holiday; they probably want to enjoy the weather and spend time together.
- 4.
Question for Photo B: she might have a deadline; perhaps her company doesn't have a canteen, or she wants to leave work early.
- 5.
Personal finish: which way of eating seems healthier or more enjoyable, and why.
Answer
Both of these photos show people having a meal, but the situations are really different. In the first one, a family is having a picnic in a park, and it looks like a warm, sunny day, so the atmosphere seems very relaxed. In the second photo, a young woman is eating at her desk, and she seems to be concentrating on her laptop rather than her food.
I imagine the family are eating outside because it's the weekend and they want to make the most of the good weather. It's also a cheap way to spend time together, and the children can run around while the parents relax. The woman, on the other hand, might have an important deadline, so she probably can't afford to take a proper break. Or perhaps there isn't anywhere nice to eat near her office.
Personally, I think the family are having a much better time. Eating in front of a screen isn't very healthy, and you don't really enjoy your food.
Sample 30-second partner response
Examiner: (To the partner) Where would you prefer to have lunch on a working day? Why?
I'd definitely prefer to go outside, even for twenty minutes. When I eat at my desk I end up checking emails the whole time, and by the afternoon I feel exhausted. A short walk to a park or a café helps me clear my head, so I think I actually work better afterwards.
Why it works
- Gives a clear preference in the first sentence.
- Supports it with a personal reason and a result ('so I think I actually work better').
- Uses natural phrases: 'end up', 'clear my head'.
- Is short: about 25 to 30 seconds, as the task requires.
Practice: Part 2 questions to use with any photos
These are the kinds of questions printed above Part 2 photos. Practise them with two contrasting photos from a magazine or news site, or use our FCE Speaking Part 2 pictures page, where every task is described in words.
Questions above the photos
- Why might the people have chosen to travel in these ways?
- What might the people be enjoying about these activities?
- How difficult might it be for the people to do these jobs?
- Why might the people be celebrating in these places?
- What might the people find stressful about these situations?
- Why might the people be learning in these different ways?
- How might the people be feeling at this moment?
- What are the advantages of shopping in these places?
Useful phrases for Part 2
| Use it to… | Phrases |
|---|---|
| Comparing |
|
| Speculating |
|
| Answering the question |
|
| Giving the partner response |
|
Frequently asked questions
How long do I speak in FCE Speaking Part 2?
About one minute for your own photos, and about 30 seconds when you answer the short question about your partner's photos.
Should I describe the photos?
Only briefly. The task is to compare them and answer the printed question. A few words of description to set up a comparison is fine; a long list of details is not.
What if I don't know a word for something in the photo?
Paraphrase it: 'a kind of tool for…', 'the thing people use to…'. You can also simply talk about a different detail. You choose what to mention.
What happens if I stop talking before the minute is up?
The interlocutor will wait a moment and then move on. You lose the chance to show more English, so practise with a timer until a full minute feels comfortable.
Can I talk about only one photo?
No. You need to compare both photos and answer the question about both. Talking about one photo only does not complete the task.