Think about these questions, or answer them aloud.
In opinion tasks the examiner is listening for two things: a clear position and support. Many learners give a good opinion and then stop, or they talk around the topic for a minute without ever saying what they think.
A simple pattern keeps you on track. Call it O-R-E-C:
In a 60-second answer you can often fit two reasons, each with a short example. In a 45-second answer, one well-developed reason is usually better than three thin ones.
| Step | Instead of… | Try… |
|---|---|---|
| Opinion | I think… | Personally, I'd say… / As far as I'm concerned… / I'm fairly convinced that… |
| Partial agreement | Yes and no. | I agree up to a point, but… / I can see why people say that, but… |
| Polite disagreement | That's wrong. | I'm not totally convinced that… / I'd have to disagree with that, actually. |
| Reason | Because… | The main reason is that… / For one thing… / What I mean is… |
| Example | For example… | Take my sister, for instance… / A good example of this is… / I saw this first-hand when… |
| Conclude | That's all. | So, all in all, … / That's why I'd say… / So for me, the answer is clearly… |
Task: “Some people think companies should let employees choose their own working hours. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons and examples.” (45 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak.)
During the 45 seconds of preparation, the speaker only needs to plan a few key words: agree, office jobs / different energy times → brother / rush hour / not nurses. That is enough.
Match each phrase to its function. There is one extra function you do not need.
Question: “Is it a good idea for children to learn to cook at school?” Put the parts of the answer in a logical order.
You will not have preparation time. Answer the interviewer's question as if in a real conversation. Speak for about 45 seconds.
Interviewer: Thanks for taking part in our study about how people learn. Some universities now record all their lectures and put them online, so students don't have to attend in person. Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not?
No preparation time · 0:45 speaking
You have 45 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak. Use the O-R-E-C pattern and try to include two reasons.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “It is better to buy a few expensive, high-quality items than many cheap ones.” Give specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
45 s preparation · 1:00 speaking
Save words to review them later with flashcards.
“As far as I'm concerned, the new timetable is much better.”
“I agree with you up to a point, but the cost is a real problem.”
“I saw first-hand how stressful the job can be.”
“Flexible hours make it easier for parents to collect their children.”
“I try to avoid driving during the rush hour.”
“He crammed for the test the night before.”
“My cheap umbrella fell apart after one storm.”
“Millions of old phones end up in landfill.”
“Managing money is an important life skill.”
“Most shops close at six, but the supermarket is an exception.”
