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A simple structure for any speaking answer

By Michael Ukwuma

Opening, reasons, example and closing: a frame you can use in seconds.

The frame

Start with a direct answer. Give two reasons. Add a short example. Finish with a closing sentence. This works for advice, opinions and persuasion tasks.

An example

Imagine the task asks what advice you would give to a friend who is nervous about a job interview. You might say: My main advice is to prepare well. First, research the company so you can answer with confidence. Second, practise common questions out loud. For example, when I prepared for my last interview, I recorded my answers and I noticed several mistakes. So with good preparation, you will feel much calmer.

Keep going

If you lose a word, do not stop. Use a simple replacement or describe the idea in other words. A smooth answer with simple words scores better than a halting answer with advanced words.

Key points

• Answer directly first.
• Two reasons and one example.
• Never stop talking to search for a perfect word.