Task 5 of the Oral Expression is about: weighing up alternatives and advising. Here’s how to respond to the situation correctly.
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Key takeaways
Task 5 tests whether you can weigh up two alternatives and give someone justified advice.
You name pros and cons of both options, weigh them up and recommend one at the end – with a justification.
What matters is a structured weighing up of both sides and a clear, justified piece of advice.
Grasp the two alternatives.
Name pros and cons of the first option.
Name pros and cons of the second option.
Weigh up which option prevails.
Give clear, justified advice (“An deiner Stelle würde ich …”).
A short example in the same format: the situation and a model answer.
Eine Freundin überlegt, ob sie im Wohnheim oder in einer WG wohnen soll. Wägen Sie ab und geben Sie ihr einen Rat.
Model answer:
Why? The answer weighs up both options with pros and cons and gives a clear, justified piece of advice – exactly what Task 5 expects.
Ein Freund kann nach dem Bachelor entweder direkt einen Master beginnen oder erst ein Praktikum machen. Er fragt dich um Rat.
Which sentence weighs up and advises?
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Weigh up both alternatives, not just one.
Recommend one option at the end with a justification.
Justify your advice with the pros and cons.
Use the speaking time to weigh up both options.
Weighing up alternatives and advising. Respond to the given situation and use the suitable phrases.
Only short preparation time. Quickly note keywords and a structure, then speak freely into the microphone.
No. The Oral Expression is computer-based – you speak alone into the microphone, and your answer is recorded.
Practice this speech act with various situations, ideally out loud and recorded. A Prepliq mock grades your speaking automatically.
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