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FCE Speaking Part 4 questions: 60 discussion questions by theme

Here are 60 original FCE Speaking Part 4 questions, grouped by theme, with sample answers that show how to give and extend an opinion. Practise answering in four to six sentences and react to your partner. For the strategy, read Speaking Part 4 in our B2 First Speaking guide.

By Eleanor BennettLast updated:

How to use these questions

In Part 4 the examiner asks wider questions connected to the Part 3 topic. These questions are more abstract than in Part 1: they ask about people in general, society and the future. They are our own original questions in the exam style, grouped by theme so you can practise one theme after a Part 3 task on the same subject.

For each question, use this simple structure:

  1. Opinion: say what you think in the first sentence.
  2. Reason: explain why.
  3. Example or consequence: give a real example or say what would happen.
  4. Other side (optional): show you can see another view.
  5. Hand over: 'What do you think?'

With a partner, one person asks a question, the other answers, and then the first person reacts with 'I agree, and…' or 'I see it differently, because…'. This is the interaction the examiners want to hear.

Part 4 questions by theme

Sixty original discussion questions. Aim for 30 to 60 seconds per answer.

Education and learning

  • Should students be able to choose all their own subjects at school?
  • Is it better to learn practical skills or academic subjects?
  • Do you think homework is necessary?
  • Will online learning ever replace traditional schools?
  • Should university be free for everyone?
  • Is it ever too late to start learning something new?
  • What makes a good teacher, in your opinion?

Work and careers

  • Is it more important to have a job you enjoy or a job that pays well?
  • Should young people be encouraged to start their own businesses?
  • Do you think a four-day working week is a good idea?
  • Why do some people change careers later in life?
  • Is it better to work for a large company or a small one?
  • How has technology changed the way people work?
  • Should everyone do some unpaid work experience before getting a job?

Technology and the internet

  • Do people rely too much on their smartphones?
  • Should children under twelve be allowed to use social media?
  • Has the internet made people more or less sociable?
  • Do you think artificial intelligence will create more jobs than it removes?
  • Is it possible to have real friendships online?
  • Should schools teach students how to spot false information online?
  • Why do some people decide to stop using social media?

Environment and nature

  • Whose responsibility is it to protect the environment: individuals or governments?
  • Should cars be banned from city centres?
  • Is it fair to make flying more expensive to protect the environment?
  • Do young people care more about the environment than older people?
  • How can towns encourage people to recycle more?
  • Is it important for children to spend time in nature?
  • Would you be willing to pay more for products that are better for the planet?

Health and lifestyle

  • Why do so many people find it hard to eat healthily?
  • Should unhealthy food be more expensive?
  • Is stress a bigger problem now than it was in the past?
  • Do people today get enough sleep?
  • Should companies give their employees time to exercise during the day?
  • Is it the government's job to make people live healthier lives?

Family, friends and society

  • Is it better for young adults to live with their parents or on their own?
  • Do people have less free time than they used to?
  • How important is it to have a close group of friends?
  • Should older people and young people spend more time together?
  • Why do some people prefer to live alone?
  • Is it harder to make friends as an adult?
  • Do you think people are kinder to strangers in small towns than in cities?

Travel and tourism

  • Is tourism always good for a place?
  • Do you think travelling makes people more open-minded?
  • Should popular cities limit the number of tourists?
  • Is it better to explore your own country before travelling abroad?
  • Why do some people always go back to the same holiday destination?
  • Will people travel more or less in the future?

Culture, media and entertainment

  • Do celebrities have a responsibility to be good role models?
  • Is it still worth going to the cinema?
  • Should museums and galleries be free to enter?
  • Do people read fewer books than in the past? Why?
  • Are traditional celebrations becoming less important?
  • Should the arts be as important as science at school?
  • Why are talent shows so popular?

Money and shopping

  • Should children get pocket money, or should they earn it?
  • Do people buy too many things they don't need?
  • Is online shopping bad for town centres?
  • Why do people care so much about brands?
  • Should young people learn how to save money at school?
  • Is it better to rent or to buy a home?

Sample answer: work

Examiner: Is it more important to have a job you enjoy or a job that pays well?

For me, enjoying your job is more important, at least up to a point. You spend so many hours at work that if you hate it, it affects the rest of your life too. My uncle earns a lot as an accountant, but he's always stressed and he never seems happy. Having said that, you obviously need enough money to live comfortably, so the ideal is a job you like that also pays a reasonable salary. What about you?

Why it works

  • Clear opinion in the first sentence, with a sensible limit ('up to a point').
  • A realistic personal example supports the general point.
  • 'Having said that' introduces a balanced counter-point.
  • Hands the turn to the partner at the end.

Sample answer: environment

Examiner: Should cars be banned from city centres?

I think they should be limited rather than completely banned. If you remove cars from the very centre, the air gets cleaner and the streets become much nicer for walking and cycling. Several cities have done this with pedestrian zones, and the shops there are often busier than before. But people who are disabled or elderly still need to get around, and so do delivery vans, so there would have to be exceptions.

Why it works

  • Offers a nuanced opinion ('limited rather than completely banned').
  • Uses a first conditional to explain a consequence.
  • Shows awareness of other people's needs, which naturally extends the answer.
  • Precise vocabulary: 'pedestrian zones', 'exceptions', 'get around'.

Sample answer: reacting to your partner

Examiner: Interlocutor to B, after A has answered: 'Do you agree that people rely too much on their smartphones?'

Yes, mostly. Like you said, people check their phones all the time without even noticing. But I'd add that it's not always a bad thing. I use mine for banking, maps and studying, so in a way it makes life easier. The problem is when you can't put it down, for example at dinner with friends. I think it's more about having good habits than using it less.

Why it works

  • Refers directly to the partner's answer ('Like you said').
  • Adds a new angle instead of repeating ('But I'd add that…').
  • Ends with a thoughtful conclusion that develops the discussion.

Common mistakes with Part 4 questions

  • Trap: Only talking about your own life.

    Fix: Start with people in general, then use your own experience as one example.

  • Trap: Giving a yes/no answer and stopping.

    Fix: Always add a reason and an example. Use the five-step structure above.

  • Trap: Using 'I think' at the start of every sentence.

    Fix: Vary it: 'In my view', 'I'd say', 'As far as I'm concerned', 'I'm fairly sure that'.

  • Trap: Not listening to your partner's answer.

    Fix: You may be asked whether you agree. Listen and be ready to react.

Frequently asked questions

Are these the real FCE Speaking Part 4 questions?

No. They are original questions written by our teachers in the style of the exam. The themes are typical, so they are excellent practice for the real test.

How long should my Part 4 answers be?

About 30 to 60 seconds, or four to six sentences. That gives you time to give an opinion, a reason and an example without taking over the discussion.

What themes come up in Part 4?

The questions develop the Part 3 topic, so they can be about almost anything general: education, work, technology, the environment, health, family, travel, culture and money are all common.

What if I disagree with my partner?

Say so politely and explain why: 'I see what you mean, but I think…'. Polite disagreement is a natural part of a good discussion.

How can I sound more natural in Part 4?

Use real examples from your life or your country, vary your opinion phrases, and refer to what your partner said. Avoid memorised paragraphs.