Purpose

1. Examiners ask several questions about the same topics.

2. Candidate:

   • 5 chances to show the ability.

   • Give opinions - expand the answers.

   • Discuss topics.

Topics

1. Health

2. Extreme Sports

3. Borrowing

4. Performance

5. Jobs

6. News

Question Types and Samples

1. Comparison.

   • Are houses nowadays the same as houses 30 years ago in your country?

2. Prediction.

   • What will houses be like in the future?

3. Evaluating (advantages vs disadvantages).

   • What are disadvantages of air travel?

4. Analyzing (problems vs solutions).

   • What problems are associated with globalization?

5. Reasoning.

   • Why do so many people want to be famous?

Template 1: A.R.E.A

Questions:

1. Do you think ...?

2. What do you think about ...?

3. How can we solve this problem?

4. Should we ...?

Answers:

1. A = Answer.

4. • Yes, I do believe that S + V.

   • I would say that S + V.

   • From my point of view, S + V.

   • From my perspective, it depends on S + V.

2. R = Reason.

4. • This is (simply) because S + V.

   • As a matter of fact, S + V.

   • This is due to the fact that S + V.

   • The reasons behind this are S + V.

   • A is the reason why B happens.

   • A is responsible for B.

   • A leads to B.

   • One explanation for this is that S + V.

3. E = Example.

4. • For example, S + V.

   • For instance, S + V.

   • Looking at A, you can see that S + V.

   • To be more specific.

   • To be clearer, A is a good example of this.

   • Take A as an example.

   • One notable example is that S + V.

   • ... like/ such as + N/ gerund.

4. A = Alternatives (if not, without) or Concession (Having said that, that said, mind you).

4. • Whether A, it is totally B.

   • Despite its advantage, A also has several drawbacks, such as ...

   • On the other hand, there are many other measures that can be taken into consideration such as/ like + N/ gerund.

   • However, S + V.

   • A can bring certain benefits/ drawbacks to B if / when S + V.

   • Alternatively, S + V.

Template 2: Many ideas

Questions:

1. What kinds of ...?

2. What are the advantages/ disadvantages/ problems/ solutions ...?

3. What makes a good painting/ a good doctor ...?

Answers:

1. Answer the question

   • As far as I am concerned 

   • Personally, I think/ reckon on/ suppose

   • In my eyes/ view/ opinion,

   • To my mind/ To the best of my knowledge,

   • Based on my experience, 

2. Show the listing sign

   • There are several/ a few/ a number of/ loads of 

   • There is a myriad of/ plenty of/ a plethora of 

   • Ways/ actions/ qualities/ characteristics/ personalities that people should

3. Firstly,

   • Well, first of all/ first off/ to kick off/ for starters,

   • At the outset,

4. Secondly,

   • Another thing is

   • What's more,

   • Moreover, 

   • Furthermore,

   • In addition to this,

5. Finally,

   • Not to mention the fact that 

   • I nearly forgot to mention the fact that

   • Above all,

   • On top of that,

   • Last but not least,

Template 3: It depends

Questions:

• Is it better to ...?

• Do you think ...?

• Which is better, ...?

• What ...?

Answers:

1. It depends,

   • It depends on ...

   • It varies from ...

   • It differs significantly between ... and ...

   • It differs in what kind of ...

2. On the one hand, if ...

   • When it comes to ..., ...

   • Regarding ..., ...

   • Talking about ..., ...

   • Speaking of ..., ...

   • As for ..., ...

   • With regard to ..., ...

   • With respect to ..., ...

3. On the other hand, if ...

   • Conversely, 

   • But if ...

Template 4: I've got mixed feelings about it

Questions:

• Is it better to ...?

• Do you think ...?

• Which is better, ...?

• What ...?

• Should ...?

• Is it good ...?

Answers:

1. I'm on the fence,

   • Well, I'm on the fence about this.

   • I'm in two minds about this.

   • I've got mixed feelings about this.

   • At first glance/ sight, ... Might you/ That said, ...

   • It's a mixture of both things.

2. On the one hand,

   • I suppose ...

3. On the other hand/ At the same time,

   • But then again it might be better to ...

4. At the end of the day,

   • All in all/ Overall, ...

   • To wind up, ...

   • To put it in a nutshell/ In a nutshell, ...

   • At the end of the day, ...

   • It boils down to one/ two things.

Repeat Questions

1. Could you say that again?

2. Could you repeat the question?

3. Could you explain what you mean?

Postpone Answering

1. I have to admit that I don't know much about ..., so it's really difficult for me to give the exact answer to this question. However, I would say that ...

2. This is a very interesting/ intriguing question to me. 

3. Well now, let me see.

4. That's a question.

5. I haven't thought about that.

6. Just a minute.

Start with your Opinion

1. To be honest, I agree with...

2. There are a lot of reasons but I think ... are the most noticeable.

Pause with the sound "Uh..."

Do Research

1. BBC news/ learning English.

2. The conversation.

3. TeD talks.