Choose one of the topics below and try to find out how similar or different that thing is in general for you and your partner, and at least one similarity between you and at least one difference between you on that topic. Tick off the similarity and difference phrases below as you use them, trying to use different language each time.
Typical FCE Speaking Part One topics
Family
Hobbies
Free time
Work
Studies
Accommodation
Hometown
Foreign languages
Language studies
Likes and dislikes
Future plans
Arts and media (movies, TV, etc)
Technology (internet, etc)
Health and fitness
Travel
Holidays
Sports and exercise
Festivals and celebrations
Personality
Appearance
Useful phrases for talking about how similar or different you are
Overall,…
In general,…
absolutely identical
almost completely different
almost the same/ nearly the same
fairly similar
have a lot in common
have almost nothing in common
have nothing in common
have quite a lot in common
more or less the same
share a few features
share many features
share one or two features
share some features
very different
very similar
virtually identical
Useful phrases for talking about similarities
The main similarity…
The biggest similarity…
The most obvious similarity…
A striking similarity…
both
as well
too
and so…
neither/ not… either
have… in common
almost as… as….
(just) as… as…
share…
Like…,…
fairly similar
very similar
more or less the same
exactly the same
(absolutely) identical
Useful phrases for talking about differences
The main difference…
The biggest difference…
The most obvious difference…
A big difference…
A major difference…
A striking difference…
whereas
In (complete) contrast,…
not nearly as… as…
not quite as… as…
slightly/ a little/ a bit/ a little bit + …er/ more…
somewhat + …er/ more…
quite a lot + …er/ more…
much/ a lot/ a great deal/ far + …er/ more…
Compared to…,….
Comparing… (and…),….
fairly different
very different
almost completely different
completely different
but
Unlike…,…
Ask about any expressions above which you couldn’t understand or couldn’t use.
Typical FCE Speaking Part One questions
If you need to or your teacher tells you to, use questions from below to discuss the topics that you choose.
Are any of your friends particularly interested in…?
Are you interested in…?
Do any of your friends…?
Do you do anything to…?
Do you have the same…as your parents?
Do you like…?
Do you plan to…?
Do you prefer to…or…?
Do you spend a lot of time…?
Do you usually…?
Has… changed since you were younger?
How do you usually…?
How… are you?
Is there anything that you would really like to…in the future?
Tell us about the last time you…
Were you…when you were younger?
What is your favourite…?
What sort of…do you…?
What things… you when you were younger?
Would you describe yourself as…?
Would you prefer to…or…?
Would you say that you…?
Ask about any question stems above which you couldn’t make questions out of or couldn’t think of how to answer.
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Comparing language presentation
Without looking above for now, work together to write as many different things as you can in each gap below. All the gaps apart from one can take at least two different options. The same words can often go in more than once place below.
Useful phrases for talking about how similar or different you are
_________________________________________________________________ different
__________________________________________________________________ similar
________________________________________________________________ the same
_________________________________________________________________identical
have ____________________________________________________________ common
share ____________________________________________________________features
Useful phrases for talking about similarities
The ___________________________________________________________similarity…
_______________________________________________________________as…as….
Useful phrases for talking about differences
The __________________________________________________________difference…
A ______________________________________________________________difference
In ___________________________________________________________ contrast,…
not ___________________________________________________________ as… as…
__________________________________________________________ + …er/ more…
Use the mixed up extra words on the next page to help with the task above. Some words can be used in more than one place above.
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Useful words for making comparing/ contrasting phrases longer
Use the mixed up extra words below to help with the task on the previous page. Some words can be used in more than one place.
a bit
a few
a great deal
a little
a little bit
a lot
absolutely
almost
almost completely
almost nothing
big
biggest
exactly
fairly
far
just
main
major
many
most obvious
much
nearly
nothing
one or two
quite
quite a lot
slightly
some
somewhat
striking
very
virtually
Check your answers with the first worksheets. Note that other words in the gaps above might be possible, including the same words in other places.
Use similar language to compare and contrast Speaking Part Two photos and/ or the pictures of people in Unit 1 of Objective First.
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PDF for easy saving and printing: Find similarities and differences with your partner FCE Speaking Parts One and Two
Related pages
Comparing and contrasting page
FCE Speaking games, worksheets, videos and teaching tips page
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