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Password Workforce Speaking
Password Speaking has five sections with one or more speaking tasks (questions) in each, simply answered by speaking into the microphone.
There is about the same amount of time available to prepare answers as there is to speak. You have 20 minutes to complete the test.
Notes can be made to help prepare answers.

Section 1

In section 1 test-takers are asked to say their name and date of birth and read a short passage into the microphone.

Section 2

There are five simple questions to answer in section 2.  Test-takers have 20 seconds to answer each question.

EXAMPLE 1

Where do you live?

Answer:  I live in London next to Hyde Park.

EXAMPLE 2

What is the weather like today?

Answer:  It’s warm and sunny.

Section 3

There are three scenarios in section 3. Test-takers have 45 seconds to answer each question.

EXAMPLE 1

You are feeling ill. You go to the pharmacy (chemist).
You walk up to the pharmacist.

Talk to the pharmacist:

  • Ask for help.
  • Explain the problem.
  • Ask for advice.

Answer: Hello, could you help me please? I’m not feeling very well. Last night I started to feel hot and I woke up this morning with a fever and a headache. What do you think I should do? Do you have any medicine for a fever?

EXAMPLE 2

You are at your friend’s birthday party.
You have forgotten to bring a present. Your friend says ‘Hello’.

What do you say?

  • Congratulate your friend.
  • Apologise.
  • Explain why.

Answer: Hi Julie. Happy birthday! I’m really sorry but I’ve forgotten to bring your present. I bought a present for you, but earlier today, I went to visit my sister and I left it at her house. I’ll give it to you next week.

Section 4

In section 4, test-takers are asked to make a comparison.

EXAMPLE

Learning to play a sport or learning to play a musical instrument. Which one is more difficult?

Answer: I think that learning a musical instrument is more difficult because you have to learn and practise a lot just to play a simple song. When you start learning a sport it doesn’t take long to be able to play, even if you’re not very good. Although you need a high level of skill to play professionally, most people just want to have fun. For example, after an hour or so, most people can play football or hit a tennis ball to each other. However, if you want to play a simple song on the guitar or piano it takes longer to learn where the notes are on the instrument and how to play it. Another reason why it’s harder is that you have to learn to read music.

Section 5

There is one question in section 5. Test-takers have 2 minutes to answer the question.

EXAMPLE

Talk about the information in the graph/chart/diagram.

  • What is the situation shown in the graph/chart/diagram?
  • Why is this happening?
  • What do you think will happen in the future?

Level of education in adults over 15 in Canada (in %)

Answer: The graph shows the different levels of education that adults over 15 years old have in Canada. The information is shown in percentages and includes different types of education, from high school diploma to university degree, as well as adults who have no high school diploma. The chart clearly shows that in Canada, the level of education has been rising over the last fifteen years. Since 1990, the percentage of adults with no high school diploma has fallen from 40% to just over 15%. In contrast, the number of adults with diplomas and degrees has increased. The largest increase has been in university degrees. The number has almost doubled from 10% in 1990 to about 18% in 2014. In my opinion, these trends will continue in the future because the education systems of many countries are constantly improving, especially in countries such as Canada. Also, more people can afford higher education and this will probably continue to be true in the future. One last reason is that technology will continue to increase the number of ways to study so there will be more courses available for students. 

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