What raters reward
Raters reward a warm, informal tone (not formal), one clear recommendation, and three developed reasons that fill the 90 seconds, plus smooth delivery. Talk to the person, not at the examiner.
Your time plan
How to structure it
Fill the [slots] with your own ideas, then adapt the frames; don't recite them.
Keep it informal, like talking to a friend. Being formal here loses marks.
Grammar Informal greeting + present perfect
- Hey [name], how's life? It's been an eternity since I last spoke with you.
- Listen, I heard that you were [going through the situation], and it's really not a huge deal, but I thought I'd share my input based on my own experiences.
Develop it with a result or example.
Grammar Cause and result (so, that way)
- Firstly, [reason], so [benefit].
- To begin with, [reason], which means [benefit].
Pick a fresh angle (money, time, wellbeing).
Grammar Addition (on top of that)
- Secondly, [a different reason], and that way [outcome].
- On top of that, [reason].
Three developed reasons is the target.
Grammar Addition
- Thirdly, [one more reason], which [benefit].
Reassure them, in a friendly tone.
Grammar Imperative / future
- Now, for your own sake, I really think you should take my suggestions into account.
- Let me know how it goes, and take care!
Delivery & exam-day toolkit
Your content is not scored; your English is. These delivery habits apply to every speaking task and protect a level 9 and up.
- Start speaking the moment the timer begins. Delaying is penalized, so open with a quick 'hi' if you need to.
- Aim to finish about five seconds early (55s on a 60-second task, 85s on a 90-second task); you always run longer than you plan.
- The first prompt is unscored. Speak through it anyway to warm up your voice, so you do not stumble on the scored tasks.
- People finish other sections at different times, so someone will be talking while you speak, and you do not get noise-canceling headphones.
- Practice with the news playing in the background (people talking, not music) so the real room feels normal.
- Drop 'um', 'you know', 'so', 'like', 'etc.' and 'and so on'. Say 'for example' instead of 'like'.
- Never say 'I don't know'; it reads as a lack of confidence.
- A short pause (under two seconds) reads as confidence, not a blank. Pause after a connector or before a difficult sound.
- Vary your pace: slower with pauses to emphasize a point, a little quicker through a list.
These carry their own marks.
- Raise your volume on adjectives; sound excited on good news, quieter and slower on bad news.
- Let each sentence fall at the end. A rising ending sounds like a question.
Never fill a gap with 'um'. Use a ready line while your next point forms.
- 'Another important point about [topic] is that …'
- 'It is worth understanding that …'
- 'Based on where things stand, it is clear that …'
- If nothing comes, apologize once and calmly ('sorry, I lost my point for a second') and move on; a calm recovery costs far less than flailing.
- If you slip, fix it and say 'sorry' or 'pardon me' once or twice. Native speakers do this, and the mark is recovered.
- Task 1 and friendly messages: warm, with a smile in your voice.
- Task 6 bad news: calm, lower, and apologetic.
- Task 7 opinions: passionate and firm.
- Task 5 persuading: enthusiastic, but never belittle the other option.
- Picture tasks (3, 4, 8): neutral is fine, except when you voice a feeling in the scene.
- Record yourself, play it back, and judge it like a rater. Note the single biggest weakness and fix just that on the next take. Run uncertain sentences through a grammar checker.
Useful vocabulary
Vocabulary is one of the four scored dimensions, so weave a few in (don't force all of them). Bookmark the ones you want to use — they show up in your saved library.
- it's been agesHey Sam, it's been ages since we caught up, so I wanted to check in on you.
- it's been an eternityIt's been an eternity since your last message, and I've really missed hearing from you.
- how's lifeHow's life treating you these days? I hope work isn't too hectic.
- I just heard thatI just heard that you're trying to decide whether to take the new job.
- if I were youIf I were you, I'd sleep on it for a night before saying yes.
- my advice would beMy advice would be to jot down a quick list of the pros and cons.
- for your own sakeFor your own sake, don't rush into a decision you might regret later.
- take my suggestions into accountPlease take my suggestions into account, though of course the final choice is yours.
- it's worthIt's worth asking about the salary and the hours before you say yes.
- let me know how it goesWhatever you decide in the end, let me know how it goes.
- take careTake care of yourself, and try not to stress about it too much.
- you've got thisHonestly, you've got this; I know you'll make the right call.
- keep me postedKeep me posted, and feel free to call me anytime you want to chat.
- cherishYou'll cherish these memories no matter which path you end up choosing.
- enhanceA short course like that could really enhance your chances of a promotion.
- a fantastic opportunityThis honestly sounds like a fantastic opportunity that you shouldn't pass up.
- make the most ofWhichever one you pick, make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
From the lesson
The full phrase bank from Task 1: Giving Advice. Bookmark whatever you'd actually use — everything you save shows up in your library.
Opening, naming the situation
8I heard you've been dealing with…
I know you've got a big decision to make about…
I've been in exactly the same position, so…
A little bird told me you're thinking about…
I've been meaning to call you about…
I gather things have been tricky with…
I completely understand why you're torn about this.
For what it's worth, I've been through this myself.
Introducing advice, rotate, never repeat
12Firstly, I'd…
The first thing I'd do is…
To start with, I'd…
My first bit of advice would be…
Secondly, I'd strongly recommend…
Another thing worth trying is…
On top of that, I'd…
The next thing I'd look at is…
The third thing I'd suggest is…
And finally, it might be worth…
Last but not least…
One more thing I'd throw in…
Softening the advice (keeps it friendly, not bossy)
7If I were in your shoes, I'd…
You might want to consider…
Have you thought about…?
It might be worth…
One option would be to…
I'd probably lean towards…
What worked for me was…
Attaching reasons, never leave advice bare
8…because otherwise you'll end up…
…which means you won't have to…
…and that way, you'd avoid…
The reason I say that is…
…since reason, and that tends to…
…given that…
…otherwise you risk…
…which would save you a huge amount of…
Adding weight to a point
4And honestly, this is the one I'd prioritize.
This is the bit most people skip, and it's the bit that matters.
I can't stress this one enough.
Even if you ignore everything else, do this.
Empathy lines (sprinkle for warmth)
4I know it's easier said than done.
I completely get why that feels overwhelming.
Don't be too hard on yourself about it.
Honestly, most people struggle with this.
Warm send-offs
6Give it a try and let me know how it goes.
Either way, I'm sure you'll figure it out.
Let me know if you want to talk it through properly.
Anyway, that's my two cents, do what feels right.
Fingers crossed it works out. Keep me posted.
Give me a shout if you want a hand with any of it.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Weighing both options instead of recommending one.
- Sounding formal ('I'm glad to talk to you again') instead of like a friend.
- Only two reasons, or three that repeat each other.
- Finishing well under 90 seconds with no development.
- Fillers (um, you know, so) and a flat, monotone tone.
Quick tips
- Keep it warm and informal, with a smile in your voice.
- Give three reasons: plan one in prep, improvise the rest.
- Show familiarity with the person so it sounds real.
- Use the full time and finish about 5 seconds early.
