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Variant 2

Describe Photos

Two friends working on a school communication project — one typing on a phone, one writing a letter by hand at a wooden desk
Task 4 · Communication
Describe · Compare · Give Your Opinion
All variants
Task 4 — School Project

Imagine that you and your friend are doing a school project "Communication". You have found some photos to illustrate it but for technical reasons you cannot send them now. Leave a voice message to your friend explaining your choice of the photos and sharing some ideas about the project. In 2.5 minutes be ready to:

  • Explain the choice of the illustrations for the project by briefly describing them and noting the differences
  • Mention the advantages (1–2) of the two ways of communicating with people
  • Mention the disadvantages (1–2) of the two ways of communicating with people
  • Express your opinion on the subject of the project — say which way of communicating with people you prefer and why

You will speak for not more than 3 minutes (12–15 sentences). You have to talk continuously.

Photos for the task
Close-up of hands holding a smartphone and typing a text message
Photo 1
Fountain pen resting on handwritten cursive letter on aged paper
Photo 2
Build Your Speech
1
Describe the photos & note the differences
Briefly describe what you see in each photo, then point out the key difference between the two ways of communicating shown.
In the first photo I can see 
The second photo shows 
The main difference is that 
Both photos are connected by 
2
Advantages of both ways
Mention 1–2 benefits for each way of communicating.
One advantage of texting is that it 
As for handwritten letters, a clear benefit is that they 
3
Disadvantages of both ways
Mention 1–2 drawbacks for each way of communicating.
A drawback of texting is that it 
On the other hand, handwritten letters 
4
Your opinion & preference
Say which way of communicating you personally prefer and explain why.
Personally, I would choose 
…because 
To sum up, I think that 
Phrase Bank
Useful Phrases
Describing
In the foreground / background… It looks like… / It seems to be… The photo was taken indoors / outdoors I can also notice…
Comparing
Unlike the first photo, the second one… While Photo 1 shows…, Photo 2 depicts… Another difference is that…
Pros & Cons
It is worth mentioning that… … tends to be much more… What is more, … However, it should be noted that…
Opinion
As for me, I would choose… In my opinion, … is a better choice since… I strongly believe that…
Vocabulary
Key Words for This Topic
to communicate
общаться, передавать информацию
We communicate differently depending on the situation.
instant messaging
мгновенные сообщения
Instant messaging has replaced phone calls for many people.
handwritten letter
письмо, написанное от руки
Receiving a handwritten letter always feels special.
to convey emotions
передавать эмоции
It is harder to convey emotions in a short text message.
convenient
удобный, практичный
Texting is very convenient when you are on the go.
time-consuming
требующий много времени
Writing a letter by hand can be time-consuming.
impersonal
безличный, холодный
Short texts can feel impersonal compared to a letter.
to keep in touch
поддерживать связь
Social media helps us keep in touch with friends abroad.
a sense of connection
ощущение близости / связи
A handwritten note creates a strong sense of connection.
digital communication
цифровое общение
Digital communication has transformed modern relationships.
misunderstanding
недопонимание
Texts can easily lead to misunderstanding without tone.
to express oneself
выражать себя, свои мысли
A letter allows you to express yourself more fully.
Exam Conditions

School project "Communication". Leave a voice message: describe both photos, note differences, mention advantages and disadvantages of each way of communicating, give your opinion.

2:30 preparation → 3:00 speaking. 12–15 sentences, no stops.

Close-up of hands holding a smartphone and typing a text message
Photo 1
Fountain pen resting on handwritten cursive letter on aged paper
Photo 2
Preparation
2:30
Press Start — exam conditions
Exam Phases
1
Preparation
Study the photos and plan your monologue
2:30
2
Speaking
Talk continuously — no pauses, no stopping
3:00
Examiner's Checklist
Described both photos — briefly and clearly
Noted the differences between the two ways of communicating
Mentioned 1–2 advantages for each way of communicating
Mentioned 1–2 disadvantages for each way of communicating
Expressed and justified a personal preference
Spoke within 3 minutes without long pauses

Exam Complete!

Check the boxes above — did you hit every criterion? If not, go back to Practice and refine.