What this task asks
You see a scenario involving a difficult or uncomfortable situation — often a conflict, misunderstanding, or problem requiring immediate action. 30 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak. Respond as if you are actually in the situation, explaining what you would do and why.
The Response Structure
Acknowledge the difficulty briefly (5–10 seconds)
"This is clearly a challenging situation that needs to be handled carefully and immediately."
Immediate action — what you do right now (20–25 seconds)
"My first step would be to speak with the supervisor privately and factually — no accusations, no emotion. I would describe exactly what I observed, when it happened, and the specific impact it had. Keeping it factual protects me legally and keeps the conversation productive."
Follow-up action — what happens next (15–20 seconds)
"If the supervisor is unresponsive or dismissive, my next step would be to document everything in writing — an email to HR summarising what I observed and when I reported it. This creates a paper trail that becomes important if the situation escalates."
Long-term resolution (10–15 seconds)
"Beyond the immediate steps, I think it's important to follow up in two weeks to check whether the situation has been addressed. Difficult workplace situations rarely resolve themselves without someone actively tracking them."
Key Language for Difficult Situations
Acknowledging the difficulty:
- "This is clearly a challenging situation..."
- "It's not an easy position to be in, but..."
Describing immediate action:
- "My first step would be to..."
- "I would handle this by... because..."
Describing follow-up:
- "If that doesn't resolve it, my next step would be to..."
- "This creates a record that becomes important if..."
Closing with a long-term plan:
- "Beyond the immediate steps,..."
- "It's important to follow up on this to make sure..."
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):
- "This requires immediate action — my first step would be to [ACTION]."
- "This is clearly a challenging situation that needs to be handled carefully."
- "Before anything else, I would [ACTION] to address this directly."
Transition phrases (between points):
- "If that doesn't resolve it, the next step would be..."
- "Beyond that, I would also..."
- "On top of that, it's worth documenting..."
Closing sentences (choose one):
- "Throughout this, the priority is to document everything in writing so there's a clear record."
- "Whatever happens next, staying factual and proactive gives me the most control."
- "At the end of the day, following up consistently is what actually resolves situations like this."
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 | "This is a difficult situation." | "This is clearly a challenging situation that needs to be handled carefully and immediately." |
| Supporting detail | "I would talk to my supervisor about it." | "My first step would be to speak with the supervisor privately and factually — describing exactly what I observed and its impact." |
| Vocabulary | "If that doesn't work I will tell someone else." | "If the supervisor is unresponsive, my next step would be to document everything in writing, creating a paper trail in case it escalates." |
| Closing | "So that's what I would do." | "Beyond the immediate steps, I'd follow up in two weeks, since these situations rarely resolve without active tracking." |