Lesson 7, Task 1: Giving Advice

30 seconds to prepare · 90 seconds to speak

What this task asks you to do

You’re told that someone, a friend, a family member, a coworker, has a problem or a decision to make. Your job is to speak directly to that person and give them practical advice.

Two things make this task different from the rest:

1. It’s the longest answer on the test (90 seconds, tied with Task 7). That’s a lot of time to fill, and running dry at 55 seconds is the most common failure.
2. It’s the warmest. You’re talking to someone you know. Sounding like a consultant delivering a report is a scoring problem, not a strength.

How this task is scored

Raters are listening for three specific things here:

• Three developed suggestions. Two leaves you short of 90 seconds; three demonstrates range. Each one needs a reason attached, a bare suggestion counts as undeveloped.
• Informal, supportive register. This is the task where over-formal English actively costs you. “I look forward to your response” is a mistake here, not a flourish.
• Natural warmth in your voice. Flat delivery undercuts advice more than almost any other task type.

The SIGN-OFF frame

A five-part shape that fills 90 seconds without you having to think about structure:

That leaves ~5 seconds of slack, which is exactly what you want, so you finish just before the timer rather than getting cut off.

Step by step

1. Open by naming the situation (don’t stall). Start speaking immediately. Greet them, show you understand the problem, and signal that advice is coming.

“Hey Maria, I heard you’ve been having a rough time saving money lately. I’ve been through exactly the same thing, so let me share a few things that worked for me.”

2. Give each suggestion a reason or a consequence. This is the single biggest scoring lever. Never leave a suggestion bare.

❌ “First, you should make a budget.” ✅ “First, I’d sit down and map out a proper monthly budget, because until you can actually see where the money is disappearing, you’ll keep wondering why there’s nothing left at the end of the month.”

3. Sequence your points out loud. Firstly… Secondly… And the third thing I’d suggest… - this makes your structure audible to the rater. Vary the signposts; don’t use the identical word three times.

4. Close warmly and hand it back to them.

“Anyway, give a couple of those a try and let me know how it goes. I’m sure you’ll get on top of it.”

Model answer

Question: Your friend has been struggling to save any money each month. Give them some advice.

“Hey Maria, I heard you’ve been finding it tough to put anything aside lately, and honestly, I’ve been in exactly the same spot, so let me share a few things that genuinely helped me.

Firstly, I’d sit down and map out where your money actually goes each month. It sounds tedious, but until you can see it written down, you’ll keep wondering why there’s nothing left by the end of the month. Most people are genuinely shocked by how much disappears on small, forgettable purchases.

Secondly, I’d strongly recommend moving a fixed amount into a separate savings account the day you get paid, rather than waiting to see what’s left over. If the money never sits in your everyday account, you simply won’t spend it, and you’d be surprised how quickly it builds up.

The third thing I’d suggest is picking just one habit to cut back on instead of overhauling everything at once. Trying to change your whole lifestyle overnight usually collapses within a fortnight, whereas one small change tends to stick permanently.

Anyway, give a couple of those a shot and let me know how you get on. I’m confident you’ll turn it around.”

Why this scores well

• Three fully developed suggestions, each with a clear reason, no bare advice.
• Consistently informal and warm (“Hey Maria,” “give it a shot,” “I’ve been in exactly the same spot”) without slipping into slang.
• Complex sentences throughout: “until you can see it written down…,” “whereas one small change tends to stick…”
• Adverbs and adjectives doing real work: genuinely, strongly, simply, tedious, forgettable.
• Varied signposts: “Firstly,” “Secondly,” “The third thing I’d suggest”, not three identical openers.
• Lands a natural close inside the time.

The same answer at Level 6, and how to fix it

Here’s what a mid-level attempt at the same question sounds like. Read it before the diagnosis and try to mark it yourself.

“Hi Maria. I hear you have problem with money. So, um, I think you should make a budget. It is good. Also you can save money in bank. It is also good. And you should not buy many things, because it is bad. So that is my advice. Thank you.”

Rater’s diagnosis

Estimated level: 6.

The upgrade path

The pattern: every fix does the same three things, attaches a reason, lengthens the sentence with a subordinator, and upgrades a flat adjective.

Grammar watch-list for this task

Roughly two grammar mistakes in one response will cost you the 9. These are the four that appear most in advice answers:

Grade your own answer

Play back your recording and tick honestly. Anything unticked is your next rep.

• Three distinct suggestions, not two
• Every suggestion has a reason attached (because / that way / since)
• Informal, warm register throughout, no “Thank you,” no business English
• Three different signpost phrases
• At least two complex sentences
• At least three “-ly” adverbs
• Zero “um,” “so,” “you know”
• No word repeated more than twice
• Finished between 82 and 88 seconds
• Warm send-off that hands it back to them

8+ ticks = Level 9 territory. All 10 = you’re competing for 11–12.

Plug-and-play template

Memorize the skeleton, fill the blanks on test day. The bracketed parts change; everything else stays.

Template A, the standard (aim: Level 11–12)

“Hey [name], how have you been? I heard you’ve been [restate the situation], and honestly, I’ve been in a similar spot myself, so let me share a few things that genuinely helped.

Firstly, I’d [suggestion 1], because otherwise [negative consequence].

Secondly, I’d strongly recommend [suggestion 2]. That way, [benefit], and you won’t have to [avoided problem].

And the third thing I’d suggest is [suggestion 3], since [reason]. It sounds minor, but it tends to [positive effect].

Anyway, give a couple of those a try and let me know how it goes. I’m sure you’ll [positive outcome].”

Template B, the lighter variant (easier to deliver, aim: Level 10–11)

Use this if Template A feels like too much to hold under pressure.

“Hi [name]! I heard about [situation]. I thought I’d share what worked for me.

The first thing I’d do is [suggestion 1]. [Reason].

Another thing worth trying is [suggestion 2], which would [benefit].

And finally, it might be worth [suggestion 3]: [reason].

Anyway, hope some of that helps! Let me know how you get on.”

Three more sample answers

Same frame, different questions. Notice the structure never changes, only the content does. That’s the point of a template.

Sample 2, the job in another city

Question: your friend has been offered a better job in another city, but their family doesn’t want to move.

“Hey Tom, I heard about the offer, that’s a brilliant problem to have, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. Firstly, I’d sit down with Anna and actually separate what she’s worried about from what you’re worried about, because ‘we don’t want to move’ usually turns out to be three specific fears rather than one big refusal. Secondly, I’d ask the company whether they’d consider a trial period or partial remote arrangement, since a lot of employers would rather flex than lose a good hire. And thirdly, I’d visit for a weekend as a family before deciding anything, a place feels completely different when you’ve actually walked around it. Have a think and let me know. Whatever you choose, you’ll make it work.”

What this one shows: the reason attached to each point is a consequence, not just a restatement. “Because ‘we don’t want to move’ usually turns out to be three specific fears” is genuinely persuasive.

Sample 3, buying a first car

Question: your cousin wants to buy their first car but knows nothing about cars.

“Hi Leila! I heard you’re finally getting a car, exciting. Right, a few things. To start with, I’d set your absolute maximum budget before you look at a single listing, because dealers are remarkably good at showing you something four hundred dollars a month more than you planned. Another thing worth doing is paying a mechanic to inspect anything second-hand before you buy. It costs about a hundred dollars and it has saved people I know thousands. And finally, don’t rush it, take at least three cars for a proper test drive, since the one that looks best online is rarely the one that feels right to drive. Give me a shout if you want someone to come along. I’m happy to play bad cop.”

What this one shows: concrete numbers (“four hundred dollars a month,” “about a hundred dollars”) make advice feel authentic. They don’t have to be accurate.

Sample 4, going back to university at forty

Question: your sibling is considering leaving a secure job to study full-time.

“Hey Dan, I’ve been thinking about what you said, and honestly, I don’t think it’s as reckless as you’re worried it sounds. My first bit of advice would be to work out exactly how many months you could survive without an income, because that number turns a vague fear into a manageable plan. Secondly, I’d strongly recommend talking to two or three people who’ve actually done the same degree at our age, not the twenty-two-year-olds, since their experience won’t tell you much about yours. And the third thing I’d suggest is asking your employer about unpaid leave rather than resigning outright, given that plenty of companies will hold a role open if they value you. Anyway, think it over. For what it’s worth, I’d back you.”

What this one shows: a warmer, more supportive register for a sensitive topic, and a closing line that reassures rather than instructs.

Common mistakes

Your practice

Open one set on Celpora and put today’s lesson to work.

Practice Task 1: Giving Advice. 30s prep · 90s speaking · AI feedback on all four dimensions