FCE Speaking Part 2 Phrase Bank: 40+ Useful Expressions

Building on our comprehensive guide to FCE Speaking Part 2, we've created this essential phrase bank to elevate your performance in the long-turn photo task. In this section of the Cambridge B2 First exam, you have one minute to compare two photographs and answer an extra "why/how" question.

Examiners reward candidates for coherent structure, a range of grammar, and clear comparisons—so learning a solid set of sentence starters is the fastest way to sound organized and fluent. Below you'll find every useful phrase from the official reference hand-out in one tidy cheat-sheet, sorted by the job each phrase performs.

1. Opening the Description

Purpose	Ready-made phrase
Identify each photo	"The top picture shows…"
Summarise quickly	"Both pictures show…"
Point out contents	"This picture shows…, but that one…"

2. Locating People or Things

• "In one photo there are…" / "In the other photo there are…"
• "There are… in both photographs."
• "In the picture above it looks as if…" / "In the one below it looks like…"

3. Highlighting Similarities

• "They're both quite similar because they both show…"
• "In one respect the pictures are quite similar because…"
• "They're alike in another way, too."

4. Pointing Out Differences

• "One difference between the pictures is that…"
• "Another thing that's different is…"
• "Something else that's different is…"
• "The biggest difference between them is that this one…, but the other one…"

5. Comparing Degree

• "This one looks more … than that."
• "Doing … isn't as … as …."

6. Giving Personal Opinions or Speculation

• "In my opinion…"
• "I'd say that…"
• "I think…"
• "It seems to me…"
• "My view is that…"

How to Turn These Phrases Into a 60-Second Masterpiece

Follow this time-tested structure to organize your thoughts and deliver a coherent response:

1. 5 seconds – Overview
   "Both pictures show people travelling."
2. 10 seconds – First similarity
   "They're both quite similar because they both show outdoor activities."
3. 15 seconds – Key difference
   "One difference between the pictures is that the first happens in a forest, whereas the second is on a busy road."
4. 15 seconds – Reason / effect
   "This one looks more exciting than that because it's riskier."
5. 10 seconds – Personal reaction
   "In my opinion, I'd prefer the quieter forest trip."
6. 5 seconds – Link to task question
   "So people might choose each option for the level of adventure they want."

Practise with a timer until the flow feels automatic—and remember to reuse these phrases in every mock test so they become second nature on exam day.

Sample Full Response (60 seconds)

"Both pictures show people enjoying leisure activities outdoors. They're quite similar because both involve physical activity in natural settings. In one photo there are people hiking in a mountainous area, while in the other photo there are people relaxing at a beach. One difference between the pictures is that the mountain hikers seem to be engaged in a more strenuous activity, whereas the beach-goers appear to be relaxing. This one looks more challenging than that because climbing requires more physical effort. In my opinion, both activities offer different kinds of enjoyment - one provides adventure and accomplishment, while the other offers relaxation and peace. I think people might choose either option depending on whether they want active adventure or restful relaxation."

Quick Practice Plan

• Record three one-minute talks using photos from past papers.
• Tick off each phrase you manage to use.
• Transcribe & colour-code: similarities (green), differences (orange), opinions (blue).
• Repeat until every phrase above appears naturally in your speech.

To make this practice more effective, consider these additional tips:

Challenge	Solution
Running out of time	Practice with a visible timer; aim to reach the "key difference" by 30 seconds
Repetitive vocabulary	Prepare synonym lists for common photo topics (e.g., happy: delighted, pleased, content)
Forgetting the second question	Save 5-10 seconds at the end specifically to address it
Sounding mechanical	Vary your intonation; emphasize key comparison words

Common Photo Themes to Prepare For

FCE Speaking Part 2 photos typically feature these recurring themes. Prepare vocabulary for each:

• Leisure activities: indoor vs. outdoor, active vs. passive
• Learning environments: traditional classroom vs. online/practical learning
• Work settings: office-based vs. remote/outdoor work
• Travel & transportation: public vs. private, urban vs. rural
• Technology use: professional vs. personal, individual vs. shared
• Social interactions: small groups vs. large gatherings, formal vs. informal

Final Thoughts

Master this phrase-bank and you'll never be lost for words in FCE Speaking Part 2—or in future Cambridge C1 challenges! The key to success is consistent practice that makes these expressions an automatic part of your speaking repertoire.

For complete FCE Speaking preparation, be sure to review our comprehensive guides on all parts of the speaking test: FCE Speaking Part 1, FCE Speaking Part 2, FCE Speaking Part 3, and FCE Speaking Part 4.