What Is Part 1?
Part 1 gives you a scenario where someone needs advice. You have 30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to respond. You must give clear, practical advice — not just say "I think you should..."
This is the FIRST speaking task, so your performance here sets your confidence for the rest. A strong Part 1 = calm energy for Parts 2–8.
The 3-Step Formula
Use this for every Part 1 response:
Step 1 — State the Advice (15 seconds): "If I were in your situation, I would strongly recommend [advice]. This is the best course of action because [one reason]."
Step 2 — Explain with Details (40 seconds): "First of all, [detail 1]. For example, [specific example]. In addition to that, [detail 2]. This would help you because [benefit]."
Step 3 — Wrap Up (15 seconds): "All things considered, I believe [advice] is the right choice. I'm confident that if you follow this approach, everything will work out well."
Left over: ~20 seconds buffer for natural pauses and elaboration.
This structure ensures you speak for the full 90 seconds without rambling or repeating yourself.
Killer Phrases for Giving Advice
Memorize these — rotate 5–6 per response:
Opening your advice: - "If I were in your shoes, I would..." - "My strongest recommendation would be to..." - "The best course of action, in my opinion, is to..." - "I would wholeheartedly suggest that you..."
Supporting your advice: - "The main reason I suggest this is..." - "What makes this option particularly appealing is..." - "This approach has several advantages, such as..." - "One significant benefit of this is..."
Adding more points: - "On top of that..." - "Another important factor to consider is..." - "Not only that, but also..." - "Furthermore, it's worth mentioning that..."
Closing: - "Taking everything into account..." - "I'm confident this will lead to a positive outcome." - "I genuinely believe this is the best path forward."
Using these phrases instead of "um" and "uh" instantly sounds more fluent.
The 30-Second Prep Sprint
You have 30 seconds to prepare. Use every second:
- Seconds 1–10: Read the scenario. Identify: WHO needs advice? WHAT's the problem? - Seconds 10–20: Decide your advice. Pick ONE clear recommendation. - Seconds 20–30: Think of 2 supporting reasons/examples.
Don't write full sentences during prep. Jot 3–4 keywords max: "recommend gym, health benefit, stress relief, 30 min/day"
These keywords trigger your response during the 90-second recording.