ECPE (Michigan C2) Practice Tests

Task 1 — Article

You have 45 minutes to complete ONE of the two writing tasks. Both tasks share the same three sources. Read the sources carefully, choose Task 1 or Task 2, and write your response. Include at least one piece of information from the sources to support your response. There is no word limit; strong responses usually run to 300–600 words.

Task 2 — Essay

You have 45 minutes to complete ONE of the two writing tasks. Both tasks share the same three sources. Read the sources carefully, choose Task 1 or Task 2, and write your response. Include at least one piece of information from the sources to support your response. There is no word limit; strong responses usually run to 300–600 words.

Part 1 — Question 1

You will hear short conversations. After each conversation, you will hear a question. Choose the best answer from the four choices. Each conversation is played only once.

1. What can be inferred about the man? (A) He has already decided to turn the transfer down. (B) His hesitation is mainly about his partner. (C) He thinks the pay increase is too small to matter. (D) He missed the deadline to apply for the transfer.

Part 1 — Question 2

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What will the woman probably do? (A) Wait a little longer before escalating the matter (B) Report the problem to the homeowners' association today (C) Hire an arborist to deal with the tree herself (D) Have the damaged driveway repaired at her own cost

Part 1 — Question 3

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. How does the man feel about the professor's comment? (A) He is relieved that few changes are needed. (B) He thinks the professor misread his argument. (C) He is flattered by the professor's praise. (D) He suspects it is a veiled criticism.

Part 1 — Question 4

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What is the second man's concern? (A) The lodge will be too expensive for the company's budget. (B) Fewer people may attend if the retreat is far away. (C) Organizing carpools will take too much time. (D) The downtown venue may already be booked.

Part 1 — Question 5

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What does the woman decide to do? (A) Postpone her weekend trip (B) Order the part from another supplier (C) Wait until Tuesday to pick up her car (D) Borrow a temporary car from the shop

Part 1 — Question 6

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What does the woman intend to do? (A) Speak to Graham about his remark herself (B) Ask the man to talk to Graham for her (C) Apologize to the client for the delay (D) Change the way her team organizes its work

Part 1 — Question 7

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What is the woman's attitude toward the planned connection? (A) She trusts the agent's judgment about it. (B) She thinks changing terminals is unnecessary. (C) She resents not being consulted about it. (D) She doubts it leaves enough time.

Part 1 — Question 8

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What does the woman realize? (A) She exaggerated her qualifications. (B) She understated her own experience. (C) She was asked an unfair question. (D) She lacks the experience required.

Part 1 — Question 9

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What does the woman advise the man to do? (A) Wash the dishes himself this time (B) Raise the issue without being aggressive (C) Avoid mentioning it at the house meeting (D) Confront Kyle about it right away

Part 1 — Question 10

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What does the man finally suggest? (A) Making a reservation that can be canceled (B) Deciding where to eat once the show is over (C) Asking Dan to choose the restaurant (D) Skipping dinner if the show runs late

Part 1 — Question 11

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What does the man decide to do? (A) Wait a year before applying (B) Apply for a less competitive fellowship (C) Apply for the fellowship despite the odds (D) Encourage the woman to apply instead

Part 1 — Question 12

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What does the man want the woman to do? (A) Cancel the contract with the vendor (B) Contact the two other suppliers (C) Hint to the vendor that they have competition (D) Give the vendor more time without saying anything

Part 1 — Question 13

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What does the man imply about their mother? (A) She dislikes large family gatherings. (B) She would prefer to spend the day with her grandchildren. (C) She will be offended by any celebration. (D) Her stated wishes may not reflect her real ones.

Part 1 — Question 14

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What does the woman think they should do? (A) Patch the roof for this winter (B) Ask another contractor for a quote (C) Pay for a full replacement now (D) Put off the decision until next year

Part 1 — Question 15

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What will probably happen? (A) The man will present the figures with the women present. (B) The analyst will present the budget model to the board herself. (C) The director will postpone the board presentation. (D) The man will ask the board to review the model.

Part 1 — Question 16

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What does the man imply? (A) He found the ending disappointing. (B) He hasn't watched the final episodes. (C) He ended up enjoying the series. (D) He thinks the series was far too long.

Part 1 — Question 17

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. Why does the professor give the student more time? (A) She appreciates his candor. (B) He has had a genuine emergency. (C) She gives all students extensions. (D) He began the assignment early.

Part 1 — Question 18

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What does the man suggest about the listing? (A) It gives the wrong location for the house. (B) Its wording probably hides some drawbacks. (C) It overstates the quality of the neighborhood. (D) It was written by an inexperienced agent.

Part 1 — Question 19

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What will the woman most likely do? (A) Schedule the full two-week orientation (B) Organize software training for the analyst (C) Postpone the analyst's start date (D) Arrange only the compliance training

Part 1 — Question 20

Listen to the conversation and answer the question.

1. What is the woman worried about? (A) The new rent will be too high. (B) The man will lose his deposit. (C) The landlord has lied to the man. (D) The man may have acted too soon.

Part 2 — Talk 1 (Questions 21–26)

You will hear three short talks. Each talk is played only once. After each talk, answer six questions. Choose the best answer from the four choices. You may take notes.

1. Why does the speaker mention the bell tower? (A) To point out the oldest part of the building (B) To show how the owners controlled workers' time (C) To explain why workers needed to buy their own clocks (D) To show visitors where the tour will finish
2. What does the speaker imply about the workers' complaints about the bell? (A) They may have been justified. (B) They were greatly exaggerated. (C) They led the owners to change the schedule. (D) They were never written down.
3. What is the speaker's attitude toward the mill's present appearance? (A) She is concerned it may mislead visitors. (B) She is proud that it matches the original. (C) She thinks the flower boxes should go. (D) She regards it as unimportant to the tour.
4. What does the speaker say about the weave room? (A) All twelve restored looms will be switched on. (B) Far fewer looms will operate than in the past. (C) Visitors will be allowed to operate a loom. (D) She will explain the machines while they run.
5. What will the visitors probably do next? (A) Go up to the second floor (B) Go down to the wheel pit (C) Visit the gift shop (D) Look through the viewing window
6. Why does the speaker mention the gift shop? (A) To let visitors know that the tour will end there (B) To announce a special discount on woven cloth (C) To explain how the museum recruits volunteers (D) To note that purchases help maintain the machines

Part 2 — Talk 2 (Questions 27–32)

Listen to the talk. It is played only once. Then answer six questions.

1. Why does the professor mention last week's session on longitude? (A) To review material that will appear on an exam (B) To correct a mistake she made in that session (C) To signal that today's lecture will show why it mattered (D) To introduce the two chapters assigned for this week's reading
2. According to the professor, what was true of railroad stations around 1870? (A) They all followed the local time kept by the city. (B) They kept one time agreed on nationally. (C) They seldom displayed clocks at all. (D) One station might show several different times.
3. What is the professor's attitude toward the "standard story" of 1883? (A) She thinks it is entirely false. (B) She regards it as the most reliable account. (C) She finds it irrelevant to the course. (D) She considers it an oversimplification.
4. Why does the professor mention that standard time became federal law only in 1918? (A) To show that the railroads opposed the law (B) To explain why the time zones were redrawn (C) To suggest that resistance to it was considerable (D) To argue that Congress acted too hastily
5. Why has the professor assigned two conflicting chapters? (A) So students can decide which of the two authors is correct (B) So students will examine how each author uses evidence (C) Because no single book covers the whole topic (D) To prepare students for a debate in class
6. What will the professor probably talk about next? (A) The methods navigators used to measure longitude at sea (B) The passage of the federal law in 1918 (C) The meeting where railroad managers set the zones (D) The ways newspapers reacted to railroad time

Part 2 — Talk 3 (Questions 33–38)

Listen to the talk. It is played only once. Then answer six questions.

1. What is the main purpose of the talk? (A) To report the full results of a staff survey (B) To announce new deadlines for client projects (C) To introduce a trial change to meeting practices (D) To respond to complaints about pay and conditions
2. Why does the speaker mention an employee's comment about working "between six and eight p.m."? (A) To praise employees for their commitment to the firm's clients (B) To illustrate the problem the policy is meant to solve (C) To announce changes to the office's hours (D) To warn staff against staying late
3. What does the speaker ask employees to do about client calls? (A) Refuse any client call that is scheduled before twelve o'clock (B) Move client calls to Friday mornings (C) Suggest an afternoon time before accepting a morning one (D) Let project leads handle client calls
4. What is the speaker's attitude toward the project leads' concern? (A) He accepts it is valid but cannot yet answer it. (B) He dismisses it as resistance to change. (C) He is sure the problem will not arise. (D) He feels it justifies postponing the pilot.
5. What can be inferred about the Friday client reviews? (A) They will be dropped during the pilot. (B) The speaker is reluctant to disrupt them. (C) They produce most staff complaints. (D) They will be moved to the afternoon.
6. Why does the speaker ask for questions to be sent by email? (A) He jokes that more meeting time would break the rule. (B) He has to leave for a client call. (C) Rosa will be collecting all feedback. (D) He expects to get too many questions to answer in person.

Part 3 — Recording 1 (Questions 39–44)

You will hear two radio segments with several speakers. Each segment is played twice. After the second playing, answer six questions. Choose the best answer from the three choices. You may take notes.

1. Why does the presenter mention that downtown areas stay warm after sunset? (A) To argue that the wider climate is not really a factor at all (B) To explain the problem that cool roofs are meant to address (C) To introduce a debate about energy use at night
2. What does Frank Mulligan say about his building? (A) The coating reduced the cost of cooling its offices. (B) The roof now stays below one hundred degrees. (C) The city paid for the roof to be coated.
3. What is Dr. Holloway's main concern? (A) Evidence that cool roofs fail to cool buildings (B) A sharp drop in regional rainfall (C) Regulations that ignore differences between cities
4. According to Dr. Holloway, why might a white roof achieve little in a cold city? (A) Summer savings may be canceled out by winter heating costs. (B) Snow cover prevents the roof from reflecting enough sunlight. (C) Cold cities rarely experience summer heat waves.
5. What does the reporter say about Eastfield? (A) It has repealed its rule on commercial roofs. (B) It may redirect support to older housing in hot areas. (C) It is waiting for regional climate models before taking action.
6. What point does the reporter make at the end? (A) Most building owners distrust scientific findings. (B) The regional costs are likely to outweigh the local benefits. (C) The benefits of cool roofs are more visible than any costs.

Part 3 — Recording 2 (Questions 45–50)

Listen to the radio segment. It is played twice. Then answer six questions.

1. What change does the director consider most significant? (A) Attendance nearly doubled within the first year. (B) More school groups now visit on weekdays. (C) Visitors now come more often and for shorter visits.
2. According to Dr. Barrow, where does most of the increase in attendance come from? (A) People who previously could not afford tickets (B) Families bringing children for the first time (C) People who were already museum visitors
3. What does Dr. Barrow suggest about dropping admission fees? (A) It does not in itself remove the main obstacles to access. (B) It is unnecessary if a museum is well funded. (C) It causes financial losses that museums can never fully recover.
4. Why does the director describe the first-year survey results as "sobering"? (A) Attendance dropped after an early increase. (B) The makeup of the audience had hardly changed. (C) Running costs were higher than expected.
5. What is Dr. Barrow's attitude toward the rise in shop and café spending? (A) He finds it noteworthy but not dependable. (B) He doubts that the data are accurate. (C) He sees it as the strongest case for free entry.
6. What is implied by Dr. Barrow's comment about keeping one free day a week? (A) It would attract the widest possible range of new visitors. (B) It would take the museum back to where many museums began. (C) It is the best long-term solution to funding.

Grammar

Grammar. Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence. Mark your answer on the answer sheet.

1. _______ the committee approved the budget last spring, the renovation would be finished by now. (A) Had (B) Should (C) Were (D) Did
2. It was only when the results were replicated _______ take the hypothesis seriously. (A) that other laboratories began to (B) did other laboratories begin to (C) other laboratories began to (D) when other laboratories began to
3. Scarcely _______ the podium when the microphone cut out. (A) the speaker had reached (B) had the speaker reached (C) was the speaker reached (D) the speaker reaching
4. It is essential that every applicant _______ a portfolio in person before the end of the month. (A) submit (B) submits (C) submitted (D) has submitted
5. _______ the renovations and a shortage of staff, the museum had little choice but to postpone the exhibition. (A) Given that (B) Owing (C) What with (D) In spite of
6. Were it not for the generosity of a few private donors, the observatory _______ decades ago. (A) would close (B) had closed (C) will have closed (D) would have closed
7. _______ there may be some truth in the rumor, the board has no intention of commenting on it. (A) Despite (B) However (C) Even so (D) While
8. _______ in a hurry, the report contained several errors that later proved costly. (A) Having written (B) Writing (C) To have written (D) Having been written
9. Martin said he would finish the analysis by Monday, and I fully expect him _______. (A) to (B) to do (C) so (D) it
10. The two candidates, neither of _______ had any experience in public office, debated for over two hours. (A) who (B) them (C) whom (D) which
11. The package _______ delivered to the wrong address; the tracking record shows it was signed for by someone called Harris, and nobody here has that name. (A) must have been (B) should have been (C) can’t have been (D) needn’t have been
12. _______ that the two surveys, conducted a decade apart, produced almost identical results. (A) It is striking (B) What is striking (C) Striking is (D) This is striking
13. So _______ that the organizers had to open a second hall. (A) the demand was great (B) great was the demand (C) great the demand was (D) was the demand great
14. The proposal, _______ its merits, was rejected because it arrived after the deadline. (A) however (B) whichever (C) whether (D) whatever
15. Not until the final chapter _______ the narrator’s true identity. (A) does the reader discover (B) the reader discovers (C) discovers the reader (D) the reader does discover
16. I’d sooner you _______ the matter with anyone outside the department for now. (A) don’t discuss (B) didn’t discuss (C) wouldn’t discuss (D) won’t discuss

Cloze — Passage 1

Cloze. Read the passage. For each numbered gap, choose the word or phrase that best fills the gap, both grammatically and in meaning.

1. Gap 1 (A) Despite (B) Regardless of (C) Instead of (D) Given
2. Gap 2 (A) marked (B) markedly (C) marking (D) remarkable
3. Gap 3 (A) muster (B) master (C) mastermind (D) mentor
4. Gap 4 (A) what (B) whose (C) where (D) that
5. Gap 5 (A) considered (B) considering (C) to consider (D) having considered
6. Gap 6 (A) held (B) gained (C) gave (D) prepared
7. Gap 7 (A) readily (B) readable (C) ready (D) readiness
8. Gap 8 (A) went out of business (B) went public (C) went into overdrive (D) went on strike
9. Gap 9 (A) By contrast (B) Otherwise (C) Above all (D) Instead
10. Gap 10 (A) a lesson that was quickly forgotten once the bicycle boom ended (B) a lesson that the automobile would soon teach on a far greater scale (C) which explains why so few people ride bicycles anywhere today (D) although it never became popular among women riders

Cloze — Passage 2

Cloze. Read the passage. For each numbered gap, choose the word or phrase that best fills the gap, both grammatically and in meaning.

1. Gap 1 (A) in contrast to (B) in place of (C) in response to (D) in charge of
2. Gap 2 (A) even though (B) so that (C) as long as (D) in case
3. Gap 3 (A) presumed (B) established (C) disputed (D) overlooked
4. Gap 4 (A) nimble (B) flimsy (C) dainty (D) cumbersome
5. Gap 5 (A) owing to (B) with regard to (C) according to (D) on behalf of
6. Gap 6 (A) how easily the early cans could be opened by hand (B) how rarely ordinary households used cans in those early years (C) how quickly the new technology was embraced by home cooks across the country (D) how cheaply a bayonet could be produced at the time
7. Gap 7 (A) doubted (B) mistrusted (C) questioned (D) viewed
8. Gap 8 (A) canned food became a fixture (B) canned food did become a fixture (C) did canned food become a fixture (D) had canned food become a fixture
9. Gap 9 (A) transformed (B) transmitted (C) transpired (D) transferred
10. Gap 10 (A) Because of its impact (B) Owing to this impact (C) For all its impact (D) Due to its impact

Vocabulary

Vocabulary. Choose the word or phrase that most appropriately completes each sentence. Mark your answer on the answer sheet.

1. The new policy is intended to _______ the worst effects of the price increase on low-income families. (A) militate (B) mediate (C) meditate (D) mitigate
2. Her _______ remarks at the meeting, though brief, left no one in any doubt about her opposition to the plan. (A) tenuous (B) tentative (C) trenchant (D) tepid
3. After months of negotiations, the two firms finally _______ a deal that satisfied both sets of shareholders. (A) ironed over (B) hammered out (C) knocked back (D) wound down
4. The documentary gives an _______ account of life aboard a fishing trawler, sparing viewers none of the hardships. (A) unkempt (B) unwieldy (C) unvarnished (D) unfounded
5. The river _______ as it approaches the delta, splitting into dozens of narrow channels. (A) peters out (B) bottoms out (C) wears out (D) fans out
6. The manager was _______ about the delays, refusing to give reporters any details. (A) cagey (B) canny (C) catty (D) cocky
7. Rival companies were quick to _______ on the error, launching advertisements that mocked the faulty product. (A) capitalize (B) capitulate (C) speculate (D) collaborate
8. The professor’s lecture was so _______ that several students lost track of the argument within minutes. (A) cogent (B) lucid (C) convoluted (D) succinct
9. Years of neglect had left the old mill in a _______ state, with half its roof missing. (A) depleted (B) deprecated (C) dilapidated (D) desiccated
10. The two witnesses’ accounts _______ in almost every detail, which convinced investigators that both were reliable. (A) collided (B) collated (C) tallied (D) conflated
11. The committee’s report was little more than a _______ of platitudes, offering no concrete proposals. (A) legacy (B) litany (C) lineage (D) liability
12. She took the criticism in _______, calmly noting the points she agreed with. (A) stride (B) step (C) pace (D) gait
13. The firm’s once-healthy cash reserves have _______ over the past year, leaving it barely able to pay its suppliers. (A) swindled (B) kindled (C) dwindled (D) rekindled
14. The negotiations reached an _______, with neither side willing to make any further concessions. (A) impetus (B) impasse (C) imprint (D) impulse
15. The novelist has a _______ for inventing characters who are strange yet entirely believable. (A) knock (B) knack (C) nook (D) notch
16. Local birdwatchers have _______ the plan to drain the marsh, warning that it would destroy a vital nesting site. (A) decried (B) descried (C) derived (D) deferred

Reading — Passage 1: Choice overload

Reading. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow. Choose the best answer according to the passage.

1. What is the main purpose of the passage? (A) to argue that consumers would be better off if stores offered far fewer products (B) to explain why shoppers are attracted to large displays (C) to criticize economists for ignoring psychological research (D) to show how later research has qualified an influential finding
2. Why does the author mention twenty varieties of jam in paragraph 1? (A) to describe the design of a well-known experiment (B) to show that shoppers dislike large assortments (C) to suggest that jam is especially difficult to choose (D) to illustrate an assumption that was once widely held
3. In paragraph 3, what does “this nagging counterfactual” refer to? (A) the mental effort needed to compare many items (B) the idea that a rejected item might have been better (C) the promise that a perfect match must exist somewhere in the range (D) the decision to postpone buying anything
4. According to the passage, when is choice overload most likely to occur? (A) when products are arranged into clear and consistent categories (B) when people have no firm preferences before choosing (C) when the products on offer are expensive (D) when shoppers are given free samples to try
5. What does the author imply about the popular belief that “choice is bad for us”? (A) It was invented by retailers to justify smaller ranges. (B) It has been confirmed by the pooled review of studies. (C) It is no longer accepted by most members of the public. (D) It spread before the evidence had been fully examined.
6. Which statement would the author most likely agree with? (A) Simply offering fewer options may not be the right response. (B) Choice overload has turned out to be entirely imaginary. (C) Large assortments always reduce customers’ satisfaction. (D) The original studies on choice were deliberately misleading.

Reading — Passage 2: Restoring old paintings

Reading. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow. Choose the best answer according to the passage.

1. What is the author’s primary purpose in the passage? (A) to describe the chemical processes by which pigments age (B) to defend the modern practice of removing yellowed varnish from old paintings (C) to explore why decisions about restoring paintings are contested (D) to explain how professional conservators are trained
2. In paragraph 2, what does the author suggest by saying that the first position “sounds unanswerable”? (A) It has never been seriously debated by experts in the field of conservation. (B) It seems convincing at first but rests on doubtful assumptions. (C) It is impossible to put into practice with modern techniques. (D) It has been rejected by most conservators working today.
3. According to the passage, why might a cleaning remove part of the artist’s own work? (A) Restorers often use solvents that dissolve original paint. (B) Pigments darken when they come into contact with solvents. (C) Artists often painted over earlier versions of their pictures. (D) Final glazes can look very similar to discolored varnish.
4. Why does the author mention a statue coated in soot? (A) to present an objection to preserving a work’s aged appearance (B) to show that marble sculptures are far easier to restore than oil paintings (C) to support the cautious approach to cleaning paintings (D) to give an example of a restoration that went badly wrong
5. What can be inferred about the principle of reversibility? (A) It was abandoned by most conservators in recent decades. (B) It requires damaged areas to be imaginatively reconstructed. (C) It offers little protection when a painting is cleaned. (D) It has ensured that disputes over cleaning are now rare.
6. The author would most likely agree with which of the following statements? (A) The golden tone of the old masters was fully intended by the artists. (B) Restorers should always try to return a work to its original state. (C) Conservation is essentially a technical matter of applied chemistry. (D) Leaving a painting untouched is itself a decision with consequences.

Reading — Passage 3: Loss leaders

Reading. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow. Choose the best answer according to the passage.

1. Why did the author write this passage? (A) to warn shoppers against being misled by supermarket discounts (B) to argue that selling below cost should be prohibited by law (C) to explain how and why retailers sell some products below cost (D) to compare the prices charged by large and small grocers
2. According to the passage, why should a loss leader be a product that is hard to stockpile? (A) so that the store does not run out of the discounted item (B) so that competitors cannot easily copy the promotion (C) so that customers keep coming back and buying other goods (D) so that customers notice the lower price more quickly
3. Why does the author mention an obscure brand of mustard? (A) to give an example of an especially successful loss leader in practice (B) to show that specialty goods have unusually high margins (C) to explain why stores limit how much customers may buy (D) to illustrate a discount that customers would hardly notice
4. In paragraph 4, what does the phrase “somewhat uncharitably” suggest about the term “cherry pickers”? (A) It is used mainly by charities that help low-income families. (B) It is a rather unflattering way of describing these shoppers. (C) It shows that these shoppers are often rude to store staff. (D) It suggests that stores are unwilling to serve these shoppers.
5. What can be inferred about the small grocer described in paragraph 5? (A) Its prices overall may be no higher than those of its larger rival. (B) It sells milk at a loss in order to attract new customers from its rivals. (C) It is protected by laws that restrict selling below cost. (D) Most of its regular customers are so-called cherry pickers.
6. Which of the following views would the author probably support? (A) Loss leaders are essentially a form of generosity toward shoppers. (B) Whether a discount is profitable depends on what else customers buy. (C) Laws against selling below cost are fairly simple to enforce in practice. (D) Frequent discounts make customers more loyal to a product.

Stage 1 — Introductions

Stage 1 — Introductions. Examiner 1 will ask you a couple of short questions so that you and your partner can get to know each other. Answer naturally in two or three sentences. This stage is not scored.

1. Hello, and welcome. Let’s start with some introductions. Could you tell us a little about yourself—where you’re from and what you’re doing at the moment? Example: Sure. I’m originally from a small coastal town, but I moved to the city about four years ago to study civil engineering, and I’m now in my final year. When I’m not buried in coursework, I volunteer with a group that teaches basic coding to teenagers, which I find surprisingly rewarding.
2. Thank you. And what’s something you’ve learned recently—in or out of school—that you’ve found really worthwhile? Example: Oddly enough, it was learning to cook properly. Last summer I finally took a short course, and it taught me far more than recipes: planning, patience, and not panicking when things go wrong. It’s become my way of switching off after a long day.

Stage 2 — Summarize your options and recommend one

Stage 2 — Summarize and recommend. You and your partner are on a committee. Each of you has a card with two different options. Read your card silently. Do NOT read the bullet points aloud: explain your two options to your partner in your own words, then say which of your two options you recommend and why. Your partner will then present their options. You have about 2 minutes.

1. Now let’s begin the task. You are both members of the student committee choosing a guest speaker for this year’s graduation. Each of you has information about two possible speakers. Please tell your partner about your two options in your own words, and say which one you would recommend. Let’s start with you. Example: Right, so I’ve got two very different people on my card. The first is Dr. Rachel Moore, a marine biologist who, interestingly, graduated from Harborview herself back in 2006. She now runs a research team that’s cleaning up the ocean off the Pacific coast, so she’d have a genuinely inspiring story to tell. She’s free on the date, she’d charge four thousand dollars plus her travel, and she’d illustrate her twenty-minute talk with photographs on the big screen. She’s even offered to stay for the reception and chat with graduates. The one reservation I’d have is that she isn’t a natural performer—a local paper described her last speech as rather dry.My second option is Daniel Ortiz, the tech entrepreneur who set up an app-design company when he was only twenty-four. He’s got well over a million followers online, he’s apparently very lively and funny, and he’d livestream the ceremony, which would be great publicity for the college. But there are some serious catches. At twelve thousand dollars he’s well beyond our ten-thousand-dollar budget, he’d insist on speaking first because he has to leave early, and he can’t confirm he’s coming until a week before the ceremony—which, frankly, is a big risk.So, on balance, I’d recommend Dr. Moore. She’s affordable, reliable, and she’s one of us—a Harborview graduate who’s gone on to do meaningful work. And I think the photos would go a long way toward making up for her delivery. What about your two?

Stage 3 — Negotiate with your partner

Stage 3 — Negotiate. Now discuss all four options with your partner. Respond to what your partner says, compare the options, make concessions where appropriate, and work together to reach ONE final choice. Speak for up to 60 seconds each time.

1. So, looking at all four, I think we can probably rule out Daniel Ortiz, can’t we? Twelve thousand dollars is over our budget. But I know he’d bring a lot of attention. What do you think? Example: Yes, I’m with you on that. The livestream is tempting, I’ll admit—it would put Harborview in front of an enormous audience. But he’s two thousand dollars over budget, and even if we found the money, the fact that he won’t commit until a week beforehand is a deal-breaker. If he pulled out at the last minute, we’d be left scrambling for a replacement with no time to prepare. And insisting on speaking first and then leaving early sends the wrong message on a day that’s supposed to be about the graduates. So let’s cross him off.
2. Okay. What about Grace Whitfield, then? An Olympic medalist is a big name, and she’d present the awards. Isn’t she a good compromise between your choice and mine? Example: I can see why she looks like a compromise—she’s well known, she’s within budget, and her theme of learning from failure is actually very fitting. But I’m a bit uneasy about the fact that she’s given the same speech at several other colleges. Graduates today will look her up, and if they find the same talk online, it could come across as a bit of a routine appearance rather than something for Harborview specifically. Also, at eight thousand dollars she’s roughly double what Dr. Moore would cost, and she has no connection to the college. So I’d lean toward leaving her out, unless you feel strongly about it.
3. Right, so it’s between Rachel Moore and Professor Grant. I still feel Professor Grant would mean more to students—he’s actually taught a lot of us. Can you convince me otherwise, or should we go with him? Example: It’s a tough call, and honestly, I think Professor Grant deserves to be honored. But I’d argue that a graduation speech should look forward, not only back. Dr. Moore sat where our graduates are sitting now, and she’s gone on to lead real scientific work—that’s precisely the message we want them to leave with. Her photos should keep the audience engaged even if her delivery isn’t polished. And even after her travel costs, we’d have more than half the budget left over. What if we chose Dr. Moore as the speaker and asked the president to arrange a special farewell for Professor Grant at the reception? That way we get an inspiring alumna and we still give him the send-off he deserves. Would you be happy with that?

Stage 4 — Present your decision

Stage 4 — Present your decision. Examiner 2 now plays the person in authority. Present the option you and your partner chose, explain clearly why it is the best choice, and say why you rejected the others. You have about 2 minutes.

1. Hello. I’m the president of the college. I understand your committee has reached a decision about our graduation speaker. Who have you chosen, and why? Example: Good afternoon. After weighing up all four candidates, our committee would like to recommend Dr. Rachel Moore, the marine biologist, as this year’s graduation speaker.There are three main reasons. First, she is one of our own: she graduated from Harborview in 2006 and now leads an ocean-cleanup research team on the Pacific coast. For students who may be wondering what a community-college degree can lead to, she is living proof. Second, she is reliable and affordable. She has confirmed she’s available on the date, and her fee of four thousand dollars plus travel leaves a substantial part of our budget unspent. Third, she has offered to stay for the reception and talk to graduates, which turns a speech into a real connection.We did consider the alternatives seriously. Daniel Ortiz would certainly have brought publicity through his livestream, but his fee is above our ten-thousand-dollar limit, and he couldn’t guarantee his attendance until a week beforehand—a risk we weren’t prepared to take. Grace Whitfield is an impressive figure, but she has delivered the same speech at several other colleges, and we felt Harborview graduates deserved something written for them. Professor Grant was the hardest to set aside: he means a great deal to many of us. However, we felt his farewell deserved its own moment rather than being combined with the graduation address.We’re aware Dr. Moore isn’t known as the most dynamic speaker, but her talk will be built around photographs of her team’s work, and we’d be happy to help her tailor it to our audience. We also suggest using part of the remaining budget to hold a short tribute to Professor Grant at the reception. We think this combination gives the day both inspiration and warmth.

Stage 5 — Justify and defend your decision

Stage 5 — Justify and defend. Examiner 2 will challenge your decision. Defend your choice with reasons, acknowledge valid concerns, and suggest solutions where needed. Answer each question in 45–60 seconds.

1. But Dr. Moore’s last speech was described as dry. Graduation is a long ceremony. Aren’t you worried that the audience will simply lose interest? Example: It’s a fair concern, and we did discuss it. But I’d make two points. First, a speech doesn’t need to be a comedy routine to hold an audience—it needs to be authentic, and a Harborview graduate describing how she ended up leading ocean research is inherently compelling. Second, her talk is only twenty minutes and it’s built around photographs, which will do a lot of the work for her. If you think it would help, the committee could meet her beforehand to suggest a few personal stories about her time here. That would make it feel much more like a conversation with the graduates.
2. Professor Grant would speak for free and he knows the students personally. Why should the college spend four thousand dollars when it doesn’t have to? Example: I understand the appeal of saving money, especially when budgets are tight. But I don’t think cost should be the deciding factor here. The ceremony is also a public face of the college—families are there, and a speaker with a record of achievement beyond Harborview says something about what our degrees can lead to. Professor Grant’s speech would be moving, but it would largely speak to those who were in his classes. Four thousand dollars is well under our budget, and, frankly, we feel Professor Grant deserves his own farewell rather than sharing the stage with the graduation itself.
3. Daniel Ortiz could have put our college in front of more than a million people. Isn’t attracting future students more important than one ceremony? Example: Publicity matters, of course, and I don’t want to underestimate it. But I think we have to be realistic about what a livestream would achieve. Most of his followers are interested in him, not in a community college, and a brief viewing wouldn’t necessarily translate into enrollments. Meanwhile, the risks are very concrete: he’s over budget, he can’t confirm until a week before, and he wants to leave straight after speaking. Graduation is the one day that belongs to our students; if we rearranged it around a celebrity who might not turn up, I think we’d be sending exactly the wrong message to future students as well.