English - C1 — Advanced

Discussing a colleague's career crossroads

Your close colleague Matt has just received a lucrative job offer from a rival firm. He's asked to meet you at the pub after work because he

Asking for More Time on a Deadline

A junior colleague needs to request a deadline extension from their line manager for an urgent project deliverable.

Challenging an incorrect phone bill

You call the customer services helpline for your mobile network provider to query a charge on your latest bill that you believe is incorrect

Negotiating contract terms

You are a project manager calling a client to renegotiate the terms of a contract that is due to expire next month. The client has been prof

Explaining a Gap in Employment During an Interview

You are being interviewed for a senior marketing role. The interviewer has noticed a two-year gap on your CV and asks about it directly, wit

Addressing a town planning meeting

You are a resident attending a local council meeting to raise formal objections to a proposed housing development near a protected green spa

Requesting a sabbatical from your line manager

You have arranged a formal meeting with your line manager to request a three-month sabbatical from work to pursue a personal project. You ne

Negotiating a Hybrid Working Request

You've arranged a one-to-one meeting with your line manager to discuss transitioning to a hybrid working model, combining two days remote wi

Requesting an unpaid sabbatical

You are a mid-level manager seeking to take a three-month unpaid sabbatical to work on a research fellowship abroad. You have a meeting with

Negotiating a pay rise

You're a senior marketing manager at a mid-sized agency having your annual review. You've consistently exceeded targets and believe you're u

Requesting Flexible Working Arrangements

You are an employee meeting with your line manager to formally request a change to your working pattern, specifically transitioning to a hyb

Lodging a hotel noise complaint

You are a hotel guest experiencing chronic noise disturbance from adjacent rooms. You have already reported this twice to reception with no

Requesting a Departmental Transfer

You have arranged a meeting with your line manager to formally request a transfer from your current department to a different team within th

Giving constructive feedback on a colleague's draft

You're a senior team member. Your colleague Priya has asked you to review her draft report before she submits it to the board tomorrow. You

Requesting a character reference from a former manager

You are a candidate who has reached the final stage of interviews for a senior role. You need to arrange a reference from your former line m

Mediating a Team Conflict

You are a senior team lead mediating a conversation between two colleagues, Priya and Daniel, who have had ongoing friction due to their dif

Escalating a warranty claim for a faulty laptop

Your laptop, purchased eight months ago, has developed a persistent screen fault. After two unsuccessful repair attempts at a high-street el

Mediating a Friendship Crisis

Two of your closest friends, Priya and Chloe, have had a spectacular falling out after a misunderstanding at a dinner party. Both have asked

Appealing a parking fine at tribunal

You are appealing a £130 parking fine at a council tribunal. You believe the signage was inadequate and you have photographic evidence showi

Championing a Colleague for Promotion

You are a team lead meeting with your department director to advocate for your high-performing team member, Priya, to be put forward for a s

Appealing a rejected insurance claim

You are a policyholder calling your insurance provider to formally appeal against the rejection of a claim for a damaged item. You have new

Contesting an academic misconduct allegation

You are a final-year university student accused of plagiarism in a research essay. You have arranged a formal meeting with the academic inte

Managing an angry client after a product failure

You are a senior account manager who has just received a frantic call from Sarah, a long-standing client whose company's annual report—produ

Requesting a formal HR meeting about a workplace concern

You have recently witnessed behaviour in your team that you believe constitutes a breach of the company's own workplace conduct policy. You

Navigating a UK Spouse Visa Interview

You are attending an immigration interview at a UK visa application centre. A caseworker will ask probing questions to verify the genuinenes

Requesting the return of borrowed specialist equipment

A colleague is leaving the company and has taken home a piece of expensive specialist equipment you lent them for a project. You've discover

Navigating a heated book club debate

You're a regular member of a monthly book club. Tonight's book has sparked strong opinions — some members find its themes deeply uncomfortab

Explaining an Emergency Medical Absence to Your Manager

You need to inform your line manager that a sudden health issue means you'll need to take immediate leave, and discuss arrangements for cove

Requesting a Reference Letter from a Former Mentor

You are a recent graduate arranging a video call with Dr. Harrison, your former university supervisor, to ask them to provide a professional

Proposing a new team initiative

You are a mid-level analyst who has identified a gap in your team's current workflow. You have arranged a meeting with your line manager to

Pitching Corporate Charity Sponsorship

You are a team coordinator who has secured a meeting with your department head to pitch for the company to become the main sponsor of a loca

Navigating a Redundancy Consultation

You are attending a formal consultation meeting with your HR manager following a company restructuring announcement. Your role is at risk, a

Resigning from a job to pursue a new venture

You are having a face-to-face meeting with your direct line manager to hand in your resignation. You are leaving to launch your own consulta

Negotiating authorship credit on a shared paper

You are a postdoctoral researcher meeting with your PhD supervisor, Professor James, to discuss the authorship order on a paper you've co-wr

Requesting a change of PhD supervisor

You are a doctoral student meeting with your programme director to formally request a change of supervisor. The relationship has become prof

Proposing a Job Share Arrangement to Your Line Manager

You are meeting with your line manager, James, to formally propose transitioning to a job share arrangement with your colleague Sarah. You w

Resigning from a Job with Professional Boundaries

You are a marketing analyst who has just accepted a new role at another firm. You have arranged a meeting with your line manager, Helena, to

Discussing medication side effects with a specialist

You are meeting with your consultant psychiatrist to review your ADHD medication. You've been experiencing some unwanted side effects and ne

Requesting an employment bridging letter for a mortgage

You have an informal catch-up with your line manager about a mortgage offer you've received. Your current employer needs to provide a bridgi

Reconnecting with an estranged friend

You are at a close friend's wedding. During the reception, you find yourself seated next to Alex, a former best friend with whom you had a f

Requesting Compassionate Leave

You call your line manager, David, to inform him that your grandmother has passed away, and to formally request a week of compassionate leav

Discussing a Parent's Driving Ability

You're meeting your elderly father for Sunday lunch. Over the past few months, you've noticed concerning changes in his driving — near-misse

Navigating a Settlement Agreement Discussion

You are attending a formal meeting with your HR Business Partner to discuss a settlement agreement proposal following a mutual agreement to

Attending a Parent-Teacher Meeting About Your Child's Progress

You are a parent attending a scheduled meeting with your child's Year 4 class teacher, Mrs. Hargreaves, at a UK primary school. You've come

Consulting a professional declutterer about a parent's hoarding

You have arranged for Jo, a certified professional organiser and declutterer, to visit your elderly father's home. His late wife's belonging

Requesting TOIL After Compulsory Weekend Work

You are a marketing specialist. Your company has scheduled a mandatory all-day Saturday strategy retreat after the rota was already publishe

Civil Parking Penalty Adjudication

You are participating in a telephone hearing with an independent adjudicator from POPLA (the Parking on Private Land Appeals service), conte

Consulting a Solicitor About Estate Planning

You are visiting a solicitor for your first-ever appointment to discuss making a will and setting up a lasting power of attorney. You have a

Navigating an Exit Interview

You are a senior analyst attending a structured exit interview with your HR business partner, James, during your final week at the company.

Giving a guarded employment reference

You are a former line manager receiving an unexpected call from a reference-checking agency about Priya, a former employee who left under a

Discussing a colleague's unexpected departure

Your colleague James is currently on annual leave. A senior manager pulls you aside and asks whether you've heard anything about his plans,

Discussing memory concerns with your GP

You visit your GP to discuss concerns about recent memory lapses that have been affecting your work and daily life. You need to describe you

Raising a Formal Concern at Your Child's School

You have arranged a formal meeting with the headteacher at your child's primary school to raise concerns about their academic progress and r

Requesting a Rent Reduction During Financial Hardship

You are a tenant who has been renting a flat for three years with an excellent track record. Due to recent unexpected financial difficulties

Discussing dietary modifications with a nutrition specialist

You are attending an appointment with Dr. Okoye, a specialist dietician at a hospital clinic, to discuss adapting your diet following a rece

Escalating a faulty goods complaint to a store manager

You are a customer in an electrical retailer, requesting to speak with the store manager after two repair attempts have failed to resolve a

Discussing a pet's quality of life with a vet

Your beloved fifteen-year-old Labrador, Buster, has been showing signs of declining health. You have an appointment with your veterinary sur

Negotiating a flat lease renewal

You've arranged a meeting with your private landlord, Mr. Hughes, to discuss renewing your tenancy agreement for another two years. You want

Discussing a Care Needs Assessment with an Elderly Parent

Your father, recently widowed, is living alone in the family home. Following a minor fall last week, you gently raise the idea of arranging

Discussing Pet Euthanasia Options with a Vet

Your beloved 14-year-old cat, Whiskers, has been diagnosed with late-stage kidney disease. You're meeting with your vet, Dr. Patel, to discu

Negotiating a Car Insurance Claim After an Accident

You are on a telephone call with your insurance claims handler, Sarah, following a road traffic incident last week. You believe the damage t

Requesting Flight Delay Compensation

Your return flight was delayed by seven hours due to an earlier mechanical issue. The airline offered no explanation at the gate and rebooke

Exploring Gene Therapy Options with a Specialist

You are attending an initial consultation with a genetic counsellor at a specialist clinic to learn about an experimental gene therapy treat

Requesting a Deadline Extension Due to Mental Health Difficulties

You are a second-year university student. You have an essay deadline tomorrow but have been experiencing worsening mental health symptoms th

Discussing an HMRC Self-Assessment Investigation with Your Accountant

You are a self-employed graphic designer who has received a formal letter from HMRC regarding your last three years of self-assessment retur

Requesting a Mental Health Referral from Your GP

You visit your GP to discuss persistent anxiety symptoms that have been affecting your work and daily life for several months. You would lik

Negotiating an Overpayment Recovery Plan with HR

You receive a letter from your HR department informing you that a payroll error has resulted in a £1,400 overpayment over the past two month

Discussing Promotion Readiness with Your Line Manager

You've arranged a one-to-one meeting with your line manager, Catherine, to have an honest conversation about whether you're ready to be put

Claiming Flight Compensation After a Missed Connection

You arrive at Heathrow to discover your inbound flight from Edinburgh was delayed by three hours, causing you to miss your connecting flight

Negotiating a garden fence replacement with a neighbour

A longstanding boundary dispute has come to a head — your neighbour Kevin has removed the shared fence without consulting you and now expect

Seeking a second opinion on a dental treatment plan

You are attending a routine NHS dental appointment. The dentist has recommended a crown for your upper left molar, but a private practice de

Addressing a Garden Boundary Dispute with a Neighbour

You are a homeowner who has discovered that your neighbour's newly built conservatory extends approximately 30 centimetres onto your propert

Arranging a Social Care Needs Assessment

You are a recently discharged hospital patient who has been referred for a social care needs assessment. You call Adult Social Services to d

Raising a friend's relationship concerns

You're meeting your close friend Zara for coffee after she's been dating someone for several months. You've noticed she's become increasingl

Arranging a Civil Partnership Registration

You are meeting with a registrar at your local register office to finalise the arrangements for your civil partnership registration ceremony

Updating Your Passport After a Legal Name Change

You are at a passport office enquiry desk, seeking guidance on how to update the name and gender marker on your passport following a legal n

Seeking Listed Building Consent Guidance

You are a homeowner who has recently purchased a Victorian terrace with Grade II listed status. You have arranged a pre-application meeting

Requesting an Environmental Health Noise Investigation

You are a homeowner who has endured months of persistent noise nuisance from a neighbouring commercial premises. Having exhausted informal r

Requesting an industry award nomination

You are a mid-level UX designer who has been nominated by a colleague for a prestigious industry award. You have arranged a video call with

Arranging Shared Parental Leave with HR

You are a expectant father meeting with your HR Business Partner, Rachel, to discuss your entitlement to Shared Parental Leave (ShPL) and to

Applying for a Blue Badge Parking Permit

You are on a scheduled video call with a caseworker from your local council's Blue Badge team. You are applying for a parking permit due to

Requesting a Mandatory Reconsideration of ESA

You have recently received a decision letter informing you that your Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claim has been denied following

Planning Ahead with a Solicitor

You are meeting with your solicitor, Ms. Thornton, to discuss putting legal arrangements in place for the future. You want to cover your wil

Appealing a Rejected Parking Permit Decision

You are a resident who has applied for a resident's parking permit for a controlled zone near your home. Your application has been rejected

Negotiating research publication rights with an industry partner

You are a postdoctoral researcher who has secured a collaborative research grant with a pharmaceutical company. Before signing the agreement

Discussing a workplace pension transfer with an advisor

You are attending a scheduled consultation with a financial adviser from your workplace's pension provider. You've been considering transfer

Contesting a botched tailoring job

You are a customer who paid £350 for a rush alterations job on a suit at an independent tailors. The sleeves are uneven, the lining has been

Challenging a taxi fare overcharge

You are a passenger in a licensed London taxi. Upon arrival at your destination, the driver insists on a fare significantly higher than the

Seeking advice on staging a gambling addiction intervention

You contact GamCare, the UK's leading gambling support charity, seeking guidance on how to stage a family intervention for your brother, who

Questioning a Medical Diagnosis

You have an appointment with your specialist, Dr. Okonkwo, to discuss why a treatment you began three months ago hasn't produced the expecte

Reviewing Workplace Adjustments with Occupational Health

You are attending a scheduled review meeting with Dr. Simmons, an Occupational Health adviser, to evaluate how well your current workplace a

Approaching a friend about gambling addiction

You meet your friend Alex at a café after not seeing him for a few weeks. You're increasingly worried because mutual friends have mentioned

Contesting a school transport decision

You are a parent attending a video call with the school transport coordinator at your local council. Your child's free bus pass has been wit

Requesting religious observance leave

You are a software developer who needs to request time off for a significant religious festival. You arrange a brief one-to-one with your li

Consulting a Solicitor About a Cohabitation Agreement

You are meeting with Ms. Thornton, a specialist family solicitor, to discuss drawing up a cohabitation agreement with your long-term partner

Pre-planning a funeral with a director

You are visiting a local funeral directors to begin pre-planning your own funeral arrangements. You want to discuss your wishes with their p

A wine tasting at a boutique vineyard

You're attending an intimate guided wine tasting at a small English vineyard. The sommelier, James, is a knowledgeable and articulate host w

Commissioning a Bespoke Suit at a Savile Row Tailor

You visit a historic Savile Row tailoring house to commission your first bespoke suit. You meet with Edward, the head cutter, to discuss clo

Clarifying cryptocurrency tax obligations with your accountant

You are a self-employed graphic designer who began investing in cryptocurrency last year. Your accountant, Margaret, has flagged several tra

Delivering Difficult Post-Show Feedback

You are the artistic director of a regional theatre. The opening night of a new production was underwhelming, and you need to have an honest