Language, when you need it

very united and supportive

"We're a close-knit family — we eat together every Sunday."

have a good relationship with

"I get on really well with my brother."

have an argument

"They fell out over money."

start a journey

"We set off at dawn to beat the traffic."

short stay between flights

"We had a 4-hour stopover in Doha."

away from popular places

"We stayed in a tiny village off the beaten track."

the latest time something can be finished

"Sorry, I can't chat — I have a deadline today."

ask formally for a job/course

"I applied for three jobs last week."

an exam or course you've passed

"You need a teaching qualification."

enter a system with your details

"I can't log in to my email."

copy a file from the internet

"I downloaded the app last night."

time spent on a device

"I'm trying to cut down on screen time."

use materials again

"We recycle paper, plastic and glass."

designed to be used once

"Many cafés have banned single-use cups."

amount of CO₂ a person/thing produces

"Cycling reduces your carbon footprint."

start a new hobby

"I took up photography last summer."

be very interested in

"She's really into K-pop."

stop doing something

"I gave up coffee last month."

an activity you do at school after lessons

"Which after-school club would you choose? Why?"

'At the moment I'm preparing for an exam.'

"Say one thing you're doing 'at the moment'."

'I'm based in Edinburgh.'

"Say where YOU are based in one sentence."

the short rest between lessons

"What do you usually do at break time?"

the way into a place

"Arrange to meet someone at an entrance — say exactly which one."

'I've been living here for about three years.'

"Say how long you've been studying English using 'for about…'."

time when you are not working or studying

"Name two things you do in your free time."

almost never

"Say one thing you hardly ever do."

school work you do at home

"How long does your homework usually take?"

'I'm in year 10 at St Mary's.'

"Say what year/grade you are in AND your school."

'I'm really into photography.'

"Name ONE thing you're really into right now."

before the time something happens

"How far in advance do you plan your weekends?"

the area around your home

"Say one good and one bad thing about your neighbourhood."

not late

"Are you usually on time? Say why or why not."

'I'm originally from Lima.'

"Say where you are originally from + where you live now."

where you wait for a train

"Ask which platform your train leaves from."

a ticket there and back

"Ask for a return ticket to your nearest city."

the things you normally do each day

"Describe your morning routine in three steps."

a visit organised by your school

"Describe the best school trip you've been on."

a friendly way of accepting an idea

"Reply to 'Shall we meet at eight?' using this phrase."

'I study Tourism at a college in Madrid.'

"Tell a partner what you study/do AND where."

the plan of your school lessons

"What's the first lesson on your timetable on Mondays?"

to plan and organise something

"What was the last thing you arranged with a friend?"

to arrive later than planned

"Describe a time your bus or train was delayed."

to reserve something in advance

"What was the last thing you booked online?"

to take something or someone with you

"What would you bring along to a picnic?"

to travel to work or school regularly

"How long do you commute each day?"

to have a good relationship with someone

"Who do you get on with best in your family? Why?"

to tell someone

"Finish: 'Let me know if…'"

to take care of someone or something

"Who looks after your home when you travel?"

to feel happy about something in the future

"What are you looking forward to this month?"

to answer a message

"How quickly do you reply to messages? Say why."

to give an idea for someone to consider

"Suggest a good place to meet in your town."

to change one thing for another

"Suggest swapping a day or a time with a friend."

used when giving bad news politely

"Say no to an invitation using 'unfortunately'."

an evening spent at home / away from home socialising

"Do you prefer a night in or a night out? Why?"

'Absolutely — and the best bit was the boat trip.'

"Agree with a partner about a school trip using 'absolutely'."

exactly at that time in the story

"Use 'at that moment' to link two events in a story."

an uncomfortable pause when nobody is speaking

"How do you fill an awkward silence?"

after a long time, finally

"Tell a partner something that eventually happened to you."

PET S4 — the official 'bounce back'. PET examiners explicitly listen for this.

'I'd much rather go to the coast than a city.'

"Compare two trip ideas using 'I'd much rather…'."

PET S4 preference structure. 'I'd rather watch films than play sports.'

finally, as the last result of a situation

"Tell a short story ending with 'in the end'."

PET S4 — perfect when the question is 'Do you prefer X or Y?'. 'It depends on the weather.'

'It was kind of scary but kind of fun.'

"Describe a school activity using 'kind of'."

polite, informal conversation about unimportant things

"Name one topic you always use for small talk."

quickly and unexpectedly

"Finish: 'Suddenly, the lights…'"

'To be honest, I prefer Maths to English.'

"Say something honest about your school using 'to be honest'."

'The best bit was when we hiked to the waterfall.'

"Name 'the best bit' of a recent school day or trip."

PET S4 — signals 'I'm about to explain'. Used to extend a turn instead of stopping.

PET S4 — signals genuine personal opinion. Lifts organisation score.

to introduce a topic in a conversation

"What's a topic you'd never bring up with a stranger?"

to suddenly start laughing loudly

"Describe a time someone burst out laughing."

to meet and talk after not seeing someone for a while

"Who would you like to catch up with soon?"

to start talking about something different

"Why might someone change the subject during a chat?"

to relax, informal

"What do you do to chill out after a stressful day?"

to have a friendly relationship with someone

"Who do you get on well with at work or school?"

to walk or run for exercise or relaxation

"How often do you go for a walk or run?"

to walk or skateboard for fun or exercise

"How often do you go for a skate or a walk?"

to ride a skateboard for fun

"Have you ever tried skateboarding? Would you like to?"

to spend relaxed time together

"Where do you usually hang out with friends?"

to share similar interests or experiences

"Do you and your best friend have a lot in common?"

to stay in good physical condition

"What do you do to keep fit?"

to continue communicating with someone regularly

"How do you keep in touch with old friends?"

to see or realise something

"Say something unusual you once noticed on the street."

a small, fast version of football with five players a side

"Have you ever played five-a-side? Would you like to?"

to become aware of something

"Complete: 'I suddenly realised that…'"

to watch a movie or several episodes of a show

"What was the last film or box set you watched?"

PET S4 opener — buys 1 second of thinking time and signals an opinion. Use INSTEAD of silence.

'I love camping trips — what about you?'

"End your next answer with 'What about you?'"

suddenly, with no sign beforehand

"Use 'without warning' in a sentence about the weather."

an obvious advantage

"Name a clear benefit of learning a language."

an increasing amount of (people, things)

"Complete: 'A growing number of teenagers...'"

not as good as expected

"Tell your partner about something disappointing you experienced."

highlights one important case

'I love art — for example, last week we painted murals.'

"Give one school-life example of something you like, using 'for example'."

introduces a specific example

annoying because you can't do or achieve something

"What's the most frustrating thing about learning English?"

softens or balances a previous statement

used to express an opinion you found hard to avoid

"Finish: 'I couldn't help but feel that...'"

'I'd say definitely PE on a Friday.'

"State a strong opinion using 'I'd say definitely…'."

causing admiration because of size, skill or quality

"Describe something impressive you've seen recently."

'In my opinion, homework should be optional at weekends.'

"Give your opinion about a school rule using 'in my opinion'."

in my opinion

"In your view, what's the best way to relax after school?"

a way of introducing an opinion less directly

"Use this phrase to give your opinion about social media."

'Let me think… probably science club.'

"Buy thinking time with 'let me think…'."

after considering everything, overall

"Use 'on balance' to sum up your opinion on a topic of your choice."

used to introduce a contrasting idea

"Complete: 'I like studying alone. On the other hand, ...'"

considering everything, in general

"Overall, how was your last week?"

'Personally, I prefer working in pairs.'

"Personalise an opinion using 'personally'."

sensible and useful in real life

"Name something practical you own."

in a way that causes surprise

"Complete: 'Surprisingly, my exam results were...'"

introduces your most important reason

to support someone's opinion

"Who backs you up when you disagree with someone?"

introduces a frank, personal opinion

to mention something in a discussion

"What's something you'd bring up if planning a class trip?"

to agree by both sides giving something up

"Give an example of a compromise you've made recently."

to make someone believe something

"What would convince you to try a new hobby?"

to say something reasonable or valid

"Tell your partner an opinion, then respond 'You have a point, but...'."

to finally decide something, often after discussion

"How long does your family usually take to reach a decision about holidays?"

to give a short conclusion

"Use 'to sum up' to finish an opinion about your favourite subject."

to think carefully about advantages and disadvantages

"What do you weigh up before buying something expensive?"

the thing that impressed or affected me the most

"What struck you most about your last holiday?"

in general — softens a strong opinion

"Use it to describe school so far this term."

to really like / be interested in

"What music or game are you really into right now?"

to have a good relationship with them

"Who do you get on with best in your class?"

to start doing it regularly

"What's a hobby you'd like to take up this school year?"

a result of an action or situation

"Give an example of a positive consequence of studying regularly."

an important word that carries the main meaning

"What's the key word in the sentence 'The concert was cancelled due to rain'?"

'Our teacher set the class a challenge.'

"Describe a challenge you've done in or out of school."

a specific fact in the text

"Give one specific detail about your morning."

'I hadn't read a real book for ages.'

"Say something you haven't done 'for ages'."

imagined; not necessarily true or likely

"Describe a imagined situation: what would you do if you could travel anywhere?"

not connected to the point being discussed

"Give an example of an irrelevant detail in a story."

what the whole text is mostly about

"Say the main idea of the last article you read."

'I felt I was missing out on the group chat.'

"Say one thing you'd hate to miss out on at school."

having both positive and negative feelings about something

"Have you ever had mixed feelings about a decision?"

'I noticed I was listening more in class.'

"Say one good thing you'd 'notice' if you used your phone less."

what the writer thinks or feels

"Share one opinion you have about exams."

why the text was written

"Why might a school write a parents' email?"

likely to actually happen; practical

"Give a realistic goal you have for next month."

'My phone was shrinking my world.'

"Use 'shrinking' or 'growing' about your free time."

extra information that explains or illustrates the main idea

"Give a supporting detail about your school or workplace."

a wrong option that looks correct

"Why do exams use tempting wrong answers?"

to imagine being in someone else's situation

"If you were in your teacher's shoes, what would you change?"

to not expect something

"Tell me about a time you were taken by surprise."

to be a good use of time, money or effort despite difficulty

"Give an example of something difficult that was worth it in the end."

to reject a possible answer because it's wrong

"How do you eliminate wrong options in a multiple-choice test?"

to form a picture or idea of something in your mind

"Imagine you had an extra free day this week — what would you do?"

to ask someone questions to get information, often for radio or a job

"Have you ever been interviewed? What for?"

to think about a past experience

"When you look back on last year, what stands out?"

to choose between options

"What's a difficult decision you've had to make recently?"

to feel sorry about a past action or decision

"Is there anything you regret doing recently?"

to say the same thing in different words

"Reword: 'I'm exhausted.'"

to search quickly for a specific fact

"What do you scan for when reading a bus timetable?"

to read quickly for a general idea

"When do you skim a text instead of reading every word?"

to write down key words while listening or reading

"Do you take notes in your lessons? How?"

to come first in a contest

"What would you do if you won a school competition?"

to receive a large amount of money from a lottery game

"What would you do if you won the lottery?"

not probable; improbable

"Name something unlikely to happen to you this year."

a part of a road or park set aside for cyclists

"Is there a bike path near where you live?"

tools used for painting

"Which is easier to use, a brush or a roller?"

a person who buys something from a shop or seller

"What makes a customer come back to the same shop?"

a first payment showing you intend to pay the rest later

"Why might an activity ask for a deposit?"

a hard hat worn to protect the head, e.g. when cycling

"Why is it important to wear a helmet when cycling?"

a large picture painted directly on a wall

"Have you ever seen or painted a mural?"

a form parents sign to allow a student to take part

"What information does a permission slip usually need?"

a code used to identify a booking or order

"Why is it useful to keep a reference number safe?"

money given back after a cancellation or return

"Have you ever asked for a refund? What happened?"

a small table or stand where things are sold

"Have you ever bought something from a market stall?"

the place where an event happens

"What's a good venue for a birthday party?"

not too expensive; within your budget

"Is it easy to find affordable places to eat near you?"

clothing worn over the front of your body to protect it while cooking or working

"Do you or your family ever wear an apron at home?"

just starting / having done something for a long time

"Are you a beginner or experienced at any sport?"

the maximum number of people/things something can hold

"Do you know the capacity of any hall or venue near you?"

the tools or items needed for an activity

"What equipment do you need for your favourite hobby?"

able to change easily; not fixed

"Why might someone need flexible working hours?"

fruit and vegetables that were recently picked

"Do you prefer buying fresh produce at a market or a supermarket?"

the main idea

"Give the general meaning of your morning in one sentence."

further away, at the back of a photo or scene

"Describe something in the background of the room you're in now."

closer to the viewer, at the front of a photo or scene

"What's usually in the foreground of a family photo?"

a coloured liquid used to decorate a surface, or the act of using it

"What colour paint would you choose for a school mural?"

something that is needed or demanded

"What's the main requirement for your dream job?"

right or appropriate for a purpose

"What kind of holiday is suitable for a family with young children?"

to reserve something before you need it

"Do you usually book restaurants in advance?"

to arrange to have something in advance

"Have you ever had to book a place in advance for a class or event?"

to cut food into pieces

"What's the last thing you chopped or sliced while cooking?"

to plan how something will look

"Have you ever helped design something for your school?"

to have as a part of something

"What should a good travel package include?"

to look for important words quickly

"Pick 2 keywords from the question 'What time does the museum open?'"

to like one thing more than another

"Do you prefer studying alone or in a group? Why?"

to need something as a condition

"What does a good language course require, in your opinion?"

search for one piece of info

"Scan your phone for today's date — out loud."

to look or feel like something is true, without being certain

"Look at a classmate — what do they seem to be feeling today?"

to style your name for something

"Have you ever had to sign up for a club in advance?"

read fast to get the general meaning

"Skim a news headline now — say the topic in 5 words."

to jump over something

"What do you skip when you read in English?"

to put your name on an official list

"Have you ever had to style for a course online?"

to measure how heavy something is

"When was the last time you saw someone weigh food in a shop?"

the sentence that tells you what a paragraph is about

"Where is the topic sentence usually placed?"

a list used to check something has been done correctly

"What would you put on a checklist for a good article?"

a piece of information that helps you find an answer

"What's the biggest clue you look for in a gapped text?"

an interesting opening line that grabs the reader's attention

"Write one hook sentence for an article about free time."

a suggestion about what should be done

"Give one recommendation for students who want to improve their English."

a first, unfinished version of a piece of writing

"Do you usually write a rough draft before a final version?"

shows a consequence

"Finish: 'It rained all day. As a result…'"

logical and easy to follow

"What makes a piece of writing feel clear and well-linked to you?"

staying the same, not contradicting itself

"Give an example of consistent behaviour from someone you know."

used to show something happens even though there was an obstacle

"Complete: 'It was freezing outside. Despite this, ____.'"

introduces an example

"Give an example with 'For instance…'"

used to explain why something happens, referring back

"Complete: 'The road was closed. For this reason, ____.'"

shows a contrast

"Finish: 'I love coffee. However…'"

adds more information

"Add a fact about your town with 'In addition…'"

at the same time, elsewhere

"Use 'meanwhile' about two friends doing different things."

used to show that one thing is like another already mentioned

"Compare two hobbies using 'similarly'."

refers back to something already named

"What is 'such a problem' referring to in your life right now?"

to explain or add detail to a point

"Give one idea and one sentence that develops it further."

to reduce the number of possible answers

"How do you narrow down your choices in a difficult question?"

to check a text carefully for mistakes before finishing

"What kind of mistakes do you usually find when you proofread?"

to search a text quickly for specific information

"What would you scan a bus timetable for?"

to check and improve your own writing before finishing

"Name one thing you always check when you self-edit."

having to do something in a limited amount of time

"How do you stay calm under time pressure in an exam?"

a piece of paper proving you paid for something

"When did you last ask for a receipt?"

used to correct or change what was just said

"Say a sentence where you change your plan using 'actually'."

to reach a place (at a building, in a city/country)

"What time did you arrive at work/school today?"

a polite way to ask for something

"Ask politely for a glass of water using this phrase."

to need or rely on something/someone

"What does your weekend plan depend on?"

Not 'make homework'.

"Make 2 sentences with 'do' + a school noun."

try as hard as you can

"When do you 'do your best'?"

to complete school work at home

"When do you usually do your homework?"

tired and annoyed by

"What are you fed up with this week?"

to have a good relationship with someone

"Who do you get on with best in your family?"

skilled / not skilled at something

"What are you good at and what are you bad at?"

used to politely refuse or give bad news

"Politely refuse an invitation using 'I'm afraid…'."

in place of something else

"Name something you did instead of your original plan."

wanting to know more about something

"What are you interested in outside school or work?"

used to introduce a surprising fact learned later

"Tell a short story using 'it turns out'."

very interested in

"What are you keen on at the moment?"

to feel happy about something that will happen

"What are you looking forward to this month?"

decide something

"Tell me one decision you made this week."

'I missed two lessons because of football.'

"Say one lesson you'd hate to miss."

used to say you have reconsidered

"Use 'on second thoughts' in a sentence about food or travel."

'I try to pay attention in Maths.'

"Say which lesson you find it hardest to 'pay attention' in."

instead of, showing preference

"Say what you'd choose rather than something else."

to have no more of something left

"What have you recently run out of?"

used to offer to do something

"Offer to help a friend carry their shopping."

rest briefly

"When do you usually take a break?"

to do something that might go wrong

"Would you take a risk to get a better job? Why?"

Not 'do an exam' in PET.

"Use 'take' + 3 different exam-related nouns."

used to accept an offer politely

"Accept an offer of a lift home using this phrase."

to be going to do something very soon

"What are you about to do after this lesson?"

to arrange a table in advance at a restaurant

"Have you ever had to book a table for a special occasion?"

to decide something different from before

"When did you last change your mind about a plan?"

to ask for food, drink or goods formally

"Describe the last time you placed an order online."

a polite way to offer help

"Offer to book a table for a friend using this phrase."

a very polite request, followed by -ing

"Ask a classmate politely to lend you a pen."

one of the pieces of information you must include in a task

"In Writing Part 1, how many content points do you usually need to cover?"

a small, careless grammar mistake

"What's a grammar slip you often make?"

earlier than expected

"Tell me one thing you've already done today."

in spite of the fact that

"Finish: 'Although I'm tired,…'"

provided that; on condition that

"Finish: 'You can borrow it as long as…'"

in addition to

"Finish: 'As well as English, I can speak…'"

staying the same throughout, not changing without reason

"Why is it important to be consistent with tenses in a story?"

because of, caused by

"Finish: 'The match was cancelled due to…'"

despite the fact that (+ clause)

"Finish: 'Even though it was late,…'"

speaking smoothly and naturally, without too many pauses

"What helps you improve your fluency in English?"

during a length of time

"Finish: 'I've studied English for…'"

despite; without being affected by

"Finish: 'In spite of the rain, we…'"

the level of formality expected for a piece of writing

"Is an email to a friend usually formal or informal?"

in place of

"Finish: 'Instead of driving, I…'"

from a point in time until now

"Finish: 'I've lived here since…'"

with the purpose that; in order that

"Finish: 'I got up early so that I could…'"

a short phrase used to fix a slip smoothly

"Use 'sorry, I mean' to correct this sentence: 'He live in Rome.'"

a comparative pattern showing two things increasing together

"Finish: 'The more I practise, the more…'"

when the verb form matches the subject correctly

"Give an example sentence where the subject and verb agree."

to add something to a partner's point in a discussion

"Give a phrase you could use to build on your partner's idea."

to check something again to be sure

"What do you always double-check before submitting homework?"

to write a first, rough version of a text

"Do you usually draft an email before writing the final version?"

to forget what you were going to say

"What do you do when you lose your train of thought while speaking?"

to fix your own mistake while speaking, without help

"Give an example of self-correcting a mistake out loud."

of whom (possession)

"Ask a 'whose' question about your classmate."

up to now (in questions/negatives)

"What haven't you done yet today?"

worried or nervous about something that might happen

"Do exams make you anxious? Why or why not?"

according to what people say

"Tell us something with 'Apparently…'"

how someone feels about something

"Describe your attitude to Monday mornings."

a person who regularly travels to work or school

"Are you or is someone in your family a commuter?"

help given to people buying goods or services

"What makes good customer service, in your opinion?"

made to happen later than planned

"When was the last time your journey was delayed?"

extremely pleased

"What news would make you feel delighted?"

feeling awkward or ashamed

"Describe a time you felt embarrassed."

annoyed because you cannot achieve something

"What kind of situation makes you feel frustrated?"

a glass building for growing plants

"Have you ever visited a garden centre with a greenhouse?"

studying together with classmates

"Do you find group study helpful or distracting?"

a table used for quiet study, often shared

"Do you prefer studying at a library table or at home?"

you don't mind either way

"Name something you're not bothered about."

a job that mostly happens outside, not in an office

"Would you like an outdoor job? Why or why not?"

your own fastest or best result ever achieved

"Have you ever beaten your personal best at something?"

a line of people waiting for something

"Describe the longest queue you've ever waited in."

an area where silence or low noise is expected

"Why are quiet zones useful in a library?"

feeling glad that a difficult situation has ended

"When were you last relieved about something?"

not wanting to do something

"Describe something you feel reluctant to do."

the marked path where races are run

"Describe what you might see on a school running track."

a person who is on your team

"Describe a good teammate you have had."

(machine/vehicle) stop working; or to become very upset

"Use 'break down' in a sentence about a car in a story."

to suddenly start crying or laughing

"Write a climax sentence using 'burst into tears'."

to reach someone who is ahead of you

"Use 'catch up with' in a chase scene sentence."

to shout encouragement to support someone

"Have you ever cheered a friend on during a race?"

to stop trying

"Write a sentence where a character almost gives up."

to give a small clue

"Hint to your partner that you'd like a coffee — without asking for one."

to suggest without saying directly

"What does 'I'm not really hungry' imply at a dinner party?"

to check your surroundings, often nervously

"Write a sentence where a character looks around nervously."

to study material again before a test

"How do you usually revise for exams?"

to leave quickly, especially to escape

"In a story, who might run off and why?"

to arrive, often unexpectedly

"Write a sentence where a surprising character turns up."

to give plants water so they grow

"How often do you water plants at home?"

to find a solution or understand something

"Use 'work out' in a sentence about solving a mystery."

the feeling behind the words

"What tone do parents use when they say your full name?"

not certain that something is true

"What kind of adverts make you feel unsure?"

something that takes your attention away from listening

"What's your biggest distraction during a listening test?"

when a speaker changes what they just said

"Give an example of a self-correction you might hear in a shop."

a wrong option written to look tempting

"How can you spot a tempting wrong answer in a multiple-choice question?"

your most likely answer when unsure

"When is a best guess better than a blank?"

comments given after a rehearsal to help you improve

"What kind of final feedback would help you most right now?"

look back over your answers

"How many minutes do you keep for review?"

to feel gradually more sure of your ability

"What has helped build your confidence most this course?"

to hear and understand something correctly

"What kind of detail is hardest to catch first time?"

to write the missing word or number in a form

"What do you do if you can't fill in a gap the first time you hear it?"

to mark an item to come back to

"When do you flag an item in an exam?"

to finish speaking or writing within the time given

"How do you keep to time in a one-minute photo description?"

to not answer a question

"Why is it never a good idea to leave a gap blank in PET?"

to save minutes at the end for copying answers

"Why must you never skip the transfer time?"

to hear something incorrectly

"What's something you've misheard in English recently?"

to keep an even speed

"Demonstrate 'pacing yourself' — count to 6 evenly."

to not have enough time left to finish

"What do you do if you're running out of time in Part 6?"

to practise the whole format from start to finish

"Why is it useful to run through the full Speaking test before the real exam?"

the three reading speeds

"Match each speed to a Reading part."

to write roughly the number of words asked for

"What happens if you write far too many or too few words?"

to copy your answers onto the official answer sheet

"Why must you leave time to transfer your answers?"

to stop paying attention without noticing

"When are you most likely to zone out during a long recording?"

the part you score lowest in

"Which is your weak Reading part right now?"