Estudio ingles B2 First – How to find similarities and differences

SPEAKING PAPER – PART 2 – B2 FIRST – HOW TO FIND SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES – P.L.A.C.E. strategy

Think about the following as a way of finding similarities and differences:

P – People

Who is in each picture?

What are they doing?

Are they alone or with others?

Are they young, old, or middle-aged?

L – Location

Where is the scene happening?

Is it indoors or outdoors?

Is it a public or private space?

Is it familiar or unusual?

A – Activity

What is happening?

Is it a leisure activity, work, travel, study, or something else?

Is it active or relaxing?

C – Conditions

What is the weather like?

Is it daytime or night-time?

Is it noisy, quiet, crowded, peaceful?

E – Emotions or Effects

What mood or feeling does each picture convey?

How do the people seem to feel?

Is it stressful, joyful, calm, exciting?

Try to mention at least three of these five areas when comparing pictures. 

USEFUL LANGUAGE TO FIND SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

Talking about similarities:

They are both...

They both have...

They are similar in that they both...

In one respect, they are both quite similar since...

Another similarity is...

They are alike in another way in that...

Talking about differences:

One aspect that is not quite the same is...

They also differ in that...

The biggest difference between them is that...

Another difference is...

And something else that is different is...

However, one aspect that is...

Model Answer (1)

In both pictures, we see people involved in some kind of activity. In the first picture, there is a young woman working on a laptop at home, while in the second picture, there are two people having a meeting in an office.

One similarity is that both pictures show people focused on a task. However, the first picture seems more relaxed and informal because the woman is alone and sitting on a sofa. In contrast, the second picture looks more professional, with the two people dressed formally and sitting at a desk.

The location is different too. The first one is clearly a private space, probably her living room, while the second one is a public or work environment. The lighting in both pictures suggests it is daytime, but the atmosphere is quite different. The first picture feels quiet and personal, while the second one seems more structured and possibly stressful.

Let’s see this model answer for the ones in Volume 1 – C1

Both pictures show people involved in football games. They are similar in that the players seem focused and active. However, one aspect that is not quite the same is the setting. The first picture shows a professional stadium, while the second one takes place in a park. Another difference is the number of people involved. The first game has a large crowd, while the second seems more casual and personal. They also differ in the atmosphere: one is competitive, the other is relaxed.

(a shorter version for the same set of pictures)

Both pictures show people enjoying football. They are similar in that they both involve active players and a sense of fun. However, one aspect that is different is the location. One is in a stadium, the other in a park. Another difference is the atmosphere: the first is competitive, while the second feels more relaxed and informal.

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