What this task asks
You are shown two options and must compare them and persuade a friend, family member, or colleague to choose one. 30 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak. Take a clear position — hedging loses marks.
The Persuasion Structure
Opening — State your recommendation immediately (5–10 seconds)
Do not spend time on a long introduction. Choose a side and state it.
"If I'm being honest, I think Option A is clearly the better choice for your situation, and here's why."
Argument 1 — Your strongest reason (20–25 seconds)
"The most important factor here is the location. Option A is within walking distance of the subway, which saves you approximately 45 minutes of commuting each day. Over a year, that's equivalent to more than 270 hours — roughly 11 full days — reclaimed from commuting alone. That time compounds."
Address the weakness of your choice / strength of Option B (15 seconds)
Acknowledge the trade-off. This makes you sound balanced and credible.
"I know Option B has a lower monthly cost, which I understand is a real consideration. But when you factor in the commuting costs — transit pass, or fuel if you drive — the price difference becomes much smaller than it first appears."
Restate and close (10 seconds)
"Ultimately, the quality of your daily commute affects everything — your energy, your mood, your productivity. Option A gives you that, and for that reason I'd strongly recommend it."
Key Persuasion Language
Taking a firm position:
- "If I'm being honest, I think..." / "There's really no contest here — ..."
- "My clear recommendation is..."
Building your strongest argument:
- "The most important factor here is..."
- "This matters because..." / "Over time, this adds up to..."
Acknowledging the trade-off:
- "I understand that... is a real consideration, but..."
- "While Option B does offer..., this is outweighed by..."
Closing with conviction:
- "Ultimately,..." / "For that reason, I'd strongly recommend..."
- "When you weigh everything together, the choice is clear."
Plug-and-Play Sentence Starters
Memorise these. On exam day, your opening, transitions, and closing should be automatic — so your mental energy goes entirely into the content.
Opening sentences (choose one):
- "My clear recommendation is [OPTION] — and I want to explain why I think the evidence strongly supports this."
- "If I'm being honest, I think [OPTION] is clearly the better choice, and here's why."
- "There's really no contest here — [OPTION] is the stronger choice for your situation."
Transition phrases (between points):
- "The case against [OTHER OPTION] is..."
- "I know [OTHER OPTION] has its advantages, but..."
- "Beyond that, there's another reason worth considering..."
Closing sentences (choose one):
- "Taking everything into account, [OPTION] is the stronger choice for your specific situation."
- "Whatever else you weigh, [OPTION] gives you the better outcome."
- "At the end of the day, [RESTATE RECOMMENDATION] — that's the choice I'd make."
CLB 6 vs CLB 8 — Same Idea, Different Level
See exactly what the examiner is comparing your response against.
| Criterion | CLB 6 response | CLB 8 response |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | "I think Option A is better." | "If I'm being honest, I think Option A is clearly the better choice for your situation, and here's why." |
| Supporting detail | "It is closer to the subway so it's more convenient." | "Option A is within walking distance of the subway, saving roughly 45 minutes of commuting daily — more than 270 hours a year." |
| Vocabulary | "Option B is cheaper but not as good." | "I understand Option B's lower cost is a real consideration, but the gap narrows once commuting costs are factored in." |
| Closing | "So I would choose Option A." | "Ultimately, the quality of your daily commute affects everything — energy, mood, and productivity — so I'd strongly recommend Option A." |