Speaking - Breakthrough (A1)
What Breakthrough Speaking tests
Speaking is a short one-to-one interview with an examiner, usually five to seven minutes. It moves through personal questions (name, age, family, school, likes), a picture task where you say what you can see, a find-the-differences or information-exchange task, and a few questions on a familiar topic. The examiner is trained to put young learners at ease and to give credit for what you attempt, so the worst strategy is silence.
Core rules
- Answer in a full short sentence. "Yes, I do." scores more than "Yes."; "I like football." more than "Football."
- Use picture language you have practised: There is a … / There are two … / He is playing … / on, in, under, behind, next to.
- When you compare two pictures, join them with but: "In this picture the boy is running, but in that picture he is sitting."
- If you did not hear, say "Sorry, can you repeat that, please?" - that is a language skill, not a failure.
- Speak clearly and finish your sentence; a quiet mumble loses marks even when the answer is right.
Worked example
Examiner: "Tell me about this picture." (a garden with two boys and a ball) Answer: "There are two boys in the garden. The small boy has a red ball. The tall boy is wearing a blue T-shirt. They are playing football." Reasoning: four complete sentences, each using a structure the examiner is listening for - there are, has, is wearing, are playing - plus a preposition of place and a colour. Naming objects alone ("ball, boy, garden") would earn far less.
Traps that cost marks
- One-word answers, or "I don't know" without any attempt.
- Mixing he and she, or is and are in there is/are.
- Describing every detail of the picture instead of answering the question asked.
- Replying in your own language or staying silent when you need a repetition.