B2 First Speaking Part 2: how to compare two photos in one minute

In B2 First Speaking Part 2 you get two photos, a question printed above them and one minute to talk without interruption. Most candidates who lose marks here don't lose them on grammar. They spend 50 seconds describing the first photo and never get to the question.

This guide is about that one minute: what to say, in what order, and what to cut. The format comes from Cambridge English's B2 First format page.

What the task actually asks for

The examiner hands you two photos and says something like: "Here are your photographs. They show people spending time outdoors. I'd like you to compare the photographs, and say why you think the people have chosen to spend their free time in these ways."

So there are two jobs:

1. Compare the photos (not describe each one).
2. Answer the question printed above them.

The question is where most of the marks are. Comparing is the way in, not the destination. After your minute, your partner gets a short follow-up question about your photos and answers it in about 30 seconds. Then you swap.

A 4-step plan for one minute

1. One sentence on what they have in common (about 5 seconds).
2. Two or three differences (about 20 seconds).
3. Answer the question for photo one and photo two, with a guess and a reason for each (about 30 seconds).
4. A short personal or final remark, if time is left.

You will rarely get through step 4, and that's fine. If the examiner says "Thank you" while you're in step 3, you've used your minute well.

A sample answer

Imagine the two photos show a family having a picnic in a park and a man climbing a rock face alone. The question is: "Why have the people chosen to spend their free time in these ways?"

Both photos show people spending their free time outdoors, but the situations are very different. In the first one, a family is relaxing together in a park, whereas in the second one, a man is climbing a steep rock on his own. The first activity looks calm and sociable, while the second looks physically demanding and probably a bit dangerous.

I think the family have chosen a picnic because it's an easy way to spend time together. Nobody needs special skills, and the kids can play while the parents talk. The climber, on the other hand, has probably chosen this because he wants a challenge. Maybe he has a stressful job, and climbing is the one thing that makes him forget about it. Personally, I'd go for the picnic, because I'm not a fan of heights.

That's about 150 words, which is roughly one minute at a calm pace for a B2 speaker. Notice what is missing: no list of what's in the background, no colours of clothes, no counting people.

Phrases for comparing

• "Both photos show… but…"
• "In the first photo…, whereas in the second…"
• "The main difference is that…"
• "Unlike the people in the first picture, the man in the second…"
• "…, while…"

Phrases for guessing

You can't know why people in a photo do something, so the task expects you to speculate. This is also where B2 grammar shows.

• "They might / could be… because…"
• "It looks as if they have just…"
• "I'd imagine that…"
• "He's probably doing this because…"
• "It's hard to tell, but maybe…"

Mistakes that cost marks

• Describing instead of comparing. "In the first picture there is a family. They are sitting on a blanket. There is a tree…" uses up your minute on something the task never asked for.
• Forgetting the question. Glance at it before you start. It's printed above the photos for a reason.
• Talking about only one photo. Both need an answer to the question.
• Long silences when a word is missing. "I don't know the word, but it's the rope that keeps him safe" is fine. Paraphrasing is a skill the examiners want to hear.
• Using "and" for everything. "Whereas", "while", "on the other hand" and "that's why" connect ideas, and how you organise your speech is part of the marking.

The 30-second follow-up

When your partner finishes their minute, the examiner asks you a short question about their photos, such as "Which of these places would you prefer to visit?" Answer it directly, give one reason and one example. Don't start a second long turn.

I'd prefer the market, actually. I love trying street food, and last summer in Lisbon I spent a whole afternoon at one.

How to practise

• Use any two photos on your phone. Set a timer for one minute and speak.
• Record yourself. Check two things only: did you answer the question for both photos, and how many seconds did you spend describing?
• Write a question above each pair before you start, the way the exam does. It forces you to answer something rather than describe.

If you are also preparing for Parts 3 and 4, read about how to disagree politely in English. The same phrases work with your exam partner.