Speaking Task 6
Dealing with a Difficult Situation
In Speaking Task 6 you are put in an awkward situation and you have to explain your decision to somebody. You get 60 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.
There is no right answer here. The marker is listening for a decision stated clearly, a real reason underneath it, and a tone that stays kind to everyone involved. Below are both sides of the same situation, so you can see that the shape holds either way.
Which choice?
Pick the one closest to your own question.
The hard part is respecting the other view without letting go of your own.
A question like this
This is the format you will see on test day.
You overheard your boss say your coworker Tina will be fired if she doesn't improve. David thinks you should stay out of it. Talk to David and explain why you've decided to warn Tina.
The template
Everything in black is written for you. Tap each blue blank and type one detail from your own question.
This is the I'll tell her version. Need a different one?
State your decision
Hey , I've been thinking about the Tina situation, and .
How to use this template
A band-10 answer, one line at a time, and the reason each line scores.
Lines you can borrow
Natural phrasing for this kind of email, grouped by what it is doing.
Check before you finish
Six things to read your own answer against before you submit it.
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- All five lines of the template, with blanks you fill in
- A band-10 answer, line by line, and why each one scores
- Ready-made phrases for this kind of email
- The check-before-you-finish list