Practice Question

Your friend has been offered a job in another city with a higher salary, but it means leaving behind family and friends. Give your friend advice on whether they should take the job.

Response Structure

Sample Response

I'd tell my friend that a higher salary alone isn't a strong enough reason to move. It's worth weighing what the extra income actually buys against what gets left behind, since being far from family can be harder than it sounds once the excitement of a new job fades. That said, if the new city genuinely opens doors, better growth, a stronger industry network, it might be worth it as long as there's a plan to stay connected with family, regular visits, calls, maybe even helping them relocate later. In the end, I'd encourage my friend to picture life a year from now under each option before deciding, not just the first few months.

Practice Question

Talk about a time when you helped someone in need. Maybe you helped a stranger, a friend, or a family member. What did you do, why did you help, and how did it make you feel?

Response Structure

Sample Response

A few months ago, an elderly neighbor was struggling to carry groceries up three flights of stairs after her elevator broke down. I happened to be walking in right behind her, so I offered to carry the heavier bags up for her. It wasn't a big gesture, but she was clearly relieved, and we ended up talking for a few minutes on her doorstep. What stuck with me afterward wasn't the task itself, it was realizing how often small moments like that get overlooked simply because nobody happens to be around at the right time. It left me a bit more attentive to those situations since then.

Practice Question

Describe the picture below to someone who cannot see it.

Response Structure

Sample Response

The picture shows a busy indoor gym. In the foreground, a man in a green tank top is lifting a dumbbell in front of a large mirror, with a rack of weights beside him. In the centre, a woman in workout gear is running on a treadmill, and a television mounted nearby is playing what looks like a news broadcast. On the right side, an older man holding a clipboard appears to be observing, possibly a trainer checking in on members. Toward the back, there are more machines and mats lined up along the wall. Overall, the gym feels active and well used, with people at different stages of their workout.

Practice Question

Look at the same gym picture again and predict what might happen next.

Response Structure

Sample Response

Judging by the picture, the woman on the treadmill looks like she's partway through a steady run, so she'll probably keep going for another stretch before slowing down to cool off. The man lifting weights seems focused on his set, so he'll likely finish his reps and move on to a different machine next. Since the man with the clipboard appears to be observing rather than working out himself, there's a good chance he's about to approach one of them, maybe to offer guidance or check on their form. Overall, the gym will probably stay just as active for a while yet.

Practice Question

You and your friend are both looking to buy a new smartwatch. You've each picked a different option. Compare the two and convince your friend that your choice is the better buy.

Response Structure

Sample Response

I picked the fitness-focused smartwatch at around $150, mainly because it tracks heart rate and sleep well and lasts close to a week on a single charge. Your pick, the premium model at $350, definitely looks sleeker and handles calls and apps more smoothly, but the battery only lasts a day or two, which means charging it constantly. If what matters most to you is daily reliability and not overspending on features you might not use often, I really think the $150 option makes more sense. The premium watch is nice to look at, but I'd rather have a week of battery life than a slightly fancier screen.

Practice Question

You borrowed money from your friend Alex to cover an emergency and promised to repay him this week. You now don't have enough to pay him back in full.

Response Structure

Sample Response

Hey Alex, I wanted to be upfront with you before the week is up. Something unexpected came up on my end, and I'm not able to repay the full amount right now the way I'd promised. I can cover about half today, and I'd like to pay the rest within the next two weeks if that works for you. I know I gave you my word, so I really appreciate your patience here, and I'll make sure this doesn't happen again going forward.

Practice Question

Do you think social media use should be limited for teenagers?

Response Structure

Sample Response

I do think some limits make sense for teenagers, though I wouldn't go as far as banning it outright. Spending hours scrolling can eat into time better spent on schoolwork, sleep, or actual face-to-face friendships, and younger teens especially aren't always equipped to handle things like comparison culture or online conflict. At the same time, social media isn't all bad, it helps teens stay connected and can even build useful skills like communication or creativity. So rather than strict limits, I'd lean toward guided use, parents staying involved and having open conversations rather than just setting a timer and walking away.

Practice Question

You found an unusual, brightly patterned umbrella left behind on a park bench. Call the parks department's lost and found and describe it. Ask if anyone has reported it missing.

Response Structure

Sample Response

Hi, I'm calling because I found an umbrella on a bench near the east entrance of the park this afternoon and wanted to check if anyone reported it missing. It's quite hard to miss, actually, it has a swirling, multicolored pattern with an unusual curved wooden handle, definitely not something you'd see every day. I picked it up around 3pm and I'm happy to drop it off or hold onto it until someone comes looking. Has anyone called in about a lost umbrella recently?