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Speaking Task 5 — Comparing and Persuading

You get extra prep time to choose between two options and persuade someone. Learn the compare-then-persuade structure with CLB 7, 9 and 11 answers.

6 min read
Key strategies
  • 1.You get longer prep (about 60 seconds) because you must first study two options, then pick one and persuade a specific person.
  • 2.Structure: state your choice → give 2 strong reasons with detail → briefly knock down the other option → urge them to agree.
  • 3.Speak TO the person named in the prompt ('I really think we should go with...'). Persuasion is personal.
  • 4.Comparatives are key: cheaper, more convenient, better value, closer than the other one.
  • 5.Commit fully to one option — a wishy-washy answer is not persuasive.

The task

In Task 5 you are shown two options (often two products, places, or plans) and asked to choose one and persuade a specific person — a friend, family member, or colleague. You get a longer prep window (about 60 seconds) to read both options, then about 60 seconds to speak. This task rewards clear comparison plus genuine persuasion.

A structure that wins

  1. State your choice plainly: "I really think we should go with Option A."
  2. Reason 1 + detail — your strongest point, backed up.
  3. Reason 2 + detail — a different angle.
  4. Knock down the other option briefly: "Option B might look cheaper, but…"
  5. Call to agree: "So let's book Option A — I'm sure you'll be glad we did."

Use comparatives and persuasion language

  • Comparatives: cheaper, closer, more comfortable, better value, far more convenient.
  • Persuasion phrases: "Trust me on this," "The way I see it," "It just makes more sense to…"

Speak to the person

This is not a neutral essay — it's you convincing someone. Address them directly and warmly. That personal tone is part of what's scored.

Common mistakes

  • Describing both options equally without committing — not persuasive.
  • Forgetting the other option — a quick rebuttal makes your case stronger.
  • No direct address — talk to the person, not about the decision.

Sample answers by CLB level

See what each band looks like — and what lifts an answer to the next level.

CLB 7 — Clear, committed
Prompt

Persuade a friend to choose between two weekend trips: (A) a cabin in the mountains, or (B) a city hotel.

Model answer
Hey, I really think we should choose the cabin in the mountains for our weekend.

First, the cabin is cheaper than the city hotel, so we can save some money. Second, it is very quiet and relaxing there. We can sit outside, see the trees, and breathe fresh air. After a hard week at work, this is exactly what we need.

I know the city hotel sounds fun, with shopping and restaurants. But the city is always busy and noisy, and we are busy every day already. The mountains will help us rest much better.

So let's book the cabin. Trust me, it will be a great and peaceful weekend for both of us.
Why this is CLB 7: Commits to one option, gives two clear reasons, rebuts the other choice, and ends with a direct call to agree. Correct comparatives. Strong CLB 7.
CLB 9 — Persuasive, natural
Prompt

Persuade a friend to choose between two weekend trips: (A) a cabin in the mountains, or (B) a city hotel.

Model answer
Okay, hear me out — I'm completely sold on the mountain cabin for this weekend.

For one thing, it's noticeably cheaper than that city hotel, which means we'd have extra cash to actually enjoy ourselves. But honestly, the real selling point is the peace and quiet. We've both been run off our feet at work, and a couple of days surrounded by nothing but trees and fresh air is exactly the reset we need.

I get that the city hotel looks tempting with all the restaurants and shopping. The thing is, the city is loud and packed, and that's pretty much what our weekdays already feel like. The cabin gives us something genuinely different.

So let's just go for it and book the cabin — I promise you'll thank me by Sunday night.
Why this is CLB 9: Warm, direct persuasion ('hear me out', 'run off our feet'), developed reasons, a fair rebuttal, and a confident close. Natural and convincing.
CLB 11 — Compelling, polished
Prompt

Persuade a friend to choose between two weekend trips: (A) a cabin in the mountains, or (B) a city hotel.

Model answer
Right, let me make the case, because I genuinely think the mountain cabin is the one to book.

Start with the practical side: it comes in clearly cheaper than the city hotel, so we'd pocket the difference and still have a better time. But the clincher for me is what the cabin actually offers — proper stillness. We've both been absolutely buried at work, and forty-eight hours with nothing but pine trees, a wood stove, and zero notifications is precisely the kind of reset we're crying out for.

Now, I'll grant you the city hotel has its appeal — the restaurants, the buzz, the shopping. But that buzz is exactly what we wade through Monday to Friday; another dose of it isn't really a break. The cabin gives us a genuine change of pace.

So my vote's firmly in — let's lock in the cabin. I'd put money on you calling it the best decision we've made all month.
Why this is CLB 11: Highly persuasive and idiomatic ('the clincher', 'crying out for', 'I'll grant you'), with a tight structure and a memorable close. Effortless command of register.

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