1. You shouldn't give short unresponsive answers to questions.
Examiner: Do you think it's better to study in a library or at home?
Candidate: At home.
Candidate: At home. You are more comfortable there, although there are also more distractions.

2. You should avoid short yes/no answers to closed questions.
Examiner: Do you find English a hard language?
Candidate: Yes.
Candidate: Yes, the grammar is very different from my language and that can be difficult for me.

1. Ask for clarification if there's something you haven't understood clearly. Five seconds doing this is better than two minutes lost through an answer to the wrong question.

2. Learn to navigate your way around a photograph very ably - over here, down there, above the..., to the right of...., in the top right corner, etc.

3. You should learn to talk for 30 seconds, talk for a minute, etc and have a clear idea what that feels like.

1. You should use the time when you are not talking to THINK. You need to listen to what the other candidate is saying, as you may be asked to comment on it, but you can also organise your own thoughts. This is not the time to stare at the wall or think about what you'll have for dinner!

2. You should try, if possible, to get some practice speaking with the partner you'll sit the exam with. This is not always possible, but a benefit if the opportunity exists.

3. You should make some effort to make the collaborative task sound 'natural', not an exchange of memorised snippets of language. This should include: agreement, disagreement, explanation, clarification, questions, etc.