📐 Templates & Sample Answers
Your reusable frames for Speaking Task 2, Email, and Academic Discussion — each with a worked, high-band sample. Learn the frame, then fill it with your own ideas.
🧠 A template is a skeleton, not a script. Memorize the moves and the connectors; never memorize whole sentences — graders penalize canned answers.
🎙 Speaking Task 2 — Take an Interview (45 seconds, no prep)
The template
- 0–5s · Bridge + direct answer "That's an interesting question. I'd say…" → state your answer in one clear sentence.
- 5–20s · Reason "The main reason is that…" → one strong, specific reason.
- 20–40s · Example "For instance, in my own experience…" → one concrete personal example.
- 40–45s · Conclusion "So overall, that's why…" → restate in a fresh way and stop cleanly.
Worked sample 115 words · ~45s
Prompt: "Think back to the last time you used your phone for something important — such as contacting someone, finding your way, making a payment, or translating. Why did you use it at that time? What did you like about how it worked for you?"
"That's a good question. The last time I used my phone for something really important was last week, when I had to find my way to a job interview in an unfamiliar part of the city. The main reason it mattered so much was that I was already running late and couldn't afford to get lost. So I opened a map app, typed in the address, and followed the voice directions turn by turn. What I liked most was that it re-routed me instantly when I missed a turn, which kept me calm instead of panicking. Thanks to that, I arrived five minutes early. So overall, that's why my phone was essential that day."
✅ Why it scores high: starts in under 2 seconds · one clear reason, one vivid example · a complex sentence ("when I had to…", "which kept me…") · a clean concluding signal · natural, not memorized.
✍️ Write an Email (7 minutes, 100–150 words)
The template
- Greeting Dear [Title + Name], (formal, named)
- Opening "I am writing to…" → one sentence stating your purpose.
- Point 1 Address the first bullet clearly.
- Point 2 Address the second bullet with a specific detail.
- Point 3 Address the third bullet (often the request).
- Close "Thank you for your time," / "I would be grateful for your help," + Best regards, [Name]
Worked sample 120 words
Prompt: report apartment maintenance issues to your landlord, Mr. Hill — (1) describe the issues, (2) explain how they affect your daily life, (3) request repairs soon.
Dear Mr. Hill,
I am writing to report several maintenance issues I discovered after moving into apartment 4B, none of which were mentioned in the lease.
First, the kitchen tap leaks continuously, and the bedroom radiator does not heat at all. In addition, one electrical socket in the living room sparks whenever it is used.
These problems are affecting my daily life significantly: the leak has raised my water bill, the cold bedroom makes it difficult to sleep, and I am genuinely worried the socket may be dangerous.
Would it be possible to have these repairs carried out as soon as possible? I would be very grateful for your help.
Best regards,
[Your name]
✅ Why it scores high: formal greeting + close · all three bullets covered and easy to find · soft request ("Would it be possible…") · full forms, no slang · tidy paragraphing.
💬 Academic Discussion (10 minutes, 120–150 words)
The template
- Position "From my perspective, …" → state your stance in one clear sentence.
- Connect + 1 "I agree with [name] that…, but I would add…" → reference a classmate and add something new.
- Reason "The deeper issue is…" / "This is largely because…"
- Example "For example, …" → one concrete illustration.
- Conclusion "Consequently, I believe…"
Worked sample 140 words
Prompt (Dr. Carter): Will online learning eventually replace in-person education? Alice: online offers flexibility. Ben: online lacks spontaneous interaction and peer collaboration.
From my perspective, online learning will complement traditional education rather than fully replace it. I agree with Alice that flexibility is a major benefit, but I would add a dimension neither classmate raised: the role of hands-on disciplines. Fields such as nursing, laboratory science, and the performing arts depend on physical practice and immediate, in-person correction that a screen cannot replicate. For example, a chemistry student can watch a titration online a hundred times, yet still struggle the first time they hold the equipment. Furthermore, while Ben rightly notes that spontaneous interaction matters, the deeper problem is assessment: practical competence is hard to verify remotely. Consequently, I believe universities will adopt a hybrid model — online tools for theory, and campus time reserved for skills that must be practised in person.
✅ Why it scores high: clear stance in sentence one · references both classmates and applies the "+1 rule" with a genuinely new angle (hands-on disciplines, assessment) · academic connectors · a specific example · 120–150 word sweet spot.