English - B1 — Intermediate

Arranging Regular Garden Maintenance

You are a homeowner who has just moved into a new house with a large garden. You call a local gardening service to ask about arranging regul

Reporting a leak to the landlord

A tenant calls their landlord to report a water leak in their kitchen ceiling.

Talking about a film or TV show

You meet a friend at a café and they ask about a film or TV series you recently watched. You describe the plot, talk about the characters, a

Renting a Car at the Airport

You are at the car rental desk of an international airport and need to rent a car for your trip. You would like to ask about insurance, the

Swapping a work shift

A retail assistant needs to swap a shift with a colleague because of a personal appointment, and they're asking if it's possible.

Asking a pharmacist for advice

You have been feeling unwell for a couple of days, so you visit the pharmacy to explain your symptoms and ask for advice.

Reporting a Faulty Product

You're at an electrical goods shop, speaking with a customer service assistant about a kettle you bought last week that has stopped working.

Rescheduling a Doctor's Appointment

A learner calls their doctor's surgery to change an upcoming appointment to a different date and time.

Reporting a Missing Delivery

You call the customer service helpline of an online retailer because your parcel has not arrived, even though the tracking shows it was deli

Booking a guided tour

You are visiting a new city and call a tourism company to ask about a guided walking tour. You want to know if it's available on your prefer

Booking a restaurant for a special occasion

You need to call a restaurant to reserve a table for a special dinner with friends. You want to arrange a celebration with dietary requireme

Talking to a neighbour about late-night noise

It's Sunday morning. Your neighbour had a loud party last night that went on until 2am, disturbing your sleep. You've decided to politely ra

Booking a kennel for your pet

You are planning a short holiday and need to arrange care for your dog. You call a local kennels to ask about availability, prices, and what

Returning an overdue library book

You've just returned to the library after a long holiday and realise your borrowed book is now five days overdue.

Renting a self-storage unit

You need to store some belongings for a few months while you're between flats. You call a self-storage company to ask about available units,

Cancelling a gym membership

You call the reception desk of your local leisure centre to cancel your gym membership, as you've decided to exercise at home instead. You n

Joining a leisure centre gym

A learner visits their local leisure centre reception to ask about joining the gym. They want to know about membership options, prices, faci

Arranging a plumber to fix a leak

A homeowner calls a plumbing service to report a burst pipe under the sink and arranges for a plumber to visit and provide a quote.

Asking about a resident parking permit

You need to park near your flat, so you call your local council to ask about getting a resident parking permit.

Reporting slow broadband speeds

You've been experiencing very slow internet at home for the past few days. You call your internet service provider to report the problem and

Reporting a Lost Passport at the Consulate

A British tourist is abroad and has discovered their passport is missing. They call the British consulate to report it and ask about emergen

Reporting a faulty product under warranty

You bought a vacuum cleaner three months ago, but it's stopped working properly. You call the shop's customer service line to report the fau

Reporting a Pest Problem to the Letting Agent

You are a tenant in a rented flat and have discovered mice in the kitchen. You call the letting agent to report the problem and request pest

Reporting a lost item on the train

You boarded a train this morning and accidentally left your handbag on the seat. You are now calling the train company's lost property offic

Checking your electoral registration

You are calling your local council's electoral services department to check whether you are registered to vote, because you haven't received

Enquiring about evening classes

You are thinking of taking up a new hobby and would like to join an evening class at your local community centre. You call to ask about avai

Registering to Vote After Moving House

You have recently moved into a new flat and need to register to vote at your new address. You call your local council's electoral services d

Ringing an estate agent about a flat

You are looking for somewhere new to live. You call a local estate agent about a flat you saw advertised online, to ask about availability a

Requesting a council tax band review

You have recently moved into your flat and believe your council tax band is too high for the size of the property. You call the council tax

Reporting a Broken Streetlight to the Council

A streetlight near your home has stopped working, leaving the area very dark at night. You call the local council to report the fault and as

Appealing a parking fine

You are at the parking services office of your local council, speaking with an officer about a penalty charge notice you received for parkin

Reporting a stolen phone to the police

You are calling your local police station to report that your mobile phone was stolen yesterday evening while you were walking home.

Reporting a Fraudulent Bank Transaction

You are calling your bank's fraud department because you noticed an unfamiliar transaction on your online bank statement. You need to report

Reporting a delayed flight to the airline

Your flight was delayed by six hours this morning, so you call the airline's customer service to ask about the reason for the delay, whether

Enquiring about a nursery place

You are a parent calling a local nursery to ask about available places for your child. You want to know about availability, session times, c

Requesting a pet vaccination record from the vet

You need to travel abroad with your dog next month, so you're calling your veterinary practice to request a copy of your pet's vaccination r

Reporting a Missed Bin Collection

You put your wheelie bin out for collection yesterday morning, but when you came home from work, you noticed it hadn't been emptied. You cal

Calling the Passport Office to check your renewal

You applied to renew your British passport four weeks ago. You have a holiday abroad in three weeks and are worried it may not arrive in tim

Enquiring about music lessons

A learner calls a local music school to ask about available music lessons and to find out about prices, scheduling, and how to enrol.

Reporting a Lost Driving Licence to the DVLA

You have just discovered your driving licence is missing. You call the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to report it lost and requ

Discussing your child's progress with the class teacher

A parent visits their child's primary school to meet with the class teacher. They want to raise concerns about their child's progress and fi

Arranging a Bulky Waste Collection

You need to dispose of some large household items that are too big for your normal bin. You call your local council to arrange a bulky waste

Confirming a plumber's quote

You called a plumber about a leaking pipe under your bathroom sink last week and received a quote. You are now calling back to confirm the f

Calling the dentist about a treatment plan

You are calling your dental practice to follow up on a recent dental examination. You want to find out about the recommended treatment plan,

Reporting damp and mould to a letting agent

You are a tenant in a rented flat. You've noticed damp patches and black mould growing on the bathroom walls. You call the letting agent to

Requesting a Fit Note from the GP

You have been off work sick for over a week and need a medical fit note (statement of fitness for work) to give to your employer. You call y

Arranging a regular domestic cleaner

You have a busy schedule and would like help with housework. You call a local cleaning agency to enquire about arranging a regular domestic

Asking About Planning Permission for a Home Extension

You are a homeowner considering building an extension on your house. You call your local council's planning department to ask about the appl

Complaining about hotel room noise

You are a guest staying at a city centre hotel. Your room overlooks a main road where roadworks have started early this morning, making it i

Filing a home insurance claim

Your kitchen was damaged by a burst pipe last night. You are calling your home insurance provider to report the incident and start the claim

Enquiring about a funeral plan

You are calling a funeral plan provider to ask about arranging a prepaid funeral plan for yourself. You want to understand the options avail

Enquiring about paternity leave entitlements

You call the HR department of your company to ask about your entitlements for paternity leave ahead of the birth of your baby next month.

Following up on a job application

You applied for a job at a local company a week ago. You are now calling the company's HR department to check the status of your application

Checking your EHIC card validity

You are planning a trip to Europe next month. You call the NHS Overseas Healthcare Services helpline to check whether your European Health I

Reporting a collapsed drain

You are a homeowner who has noticed a large sinkhole forming over a drain in the road outside your property. You call your local council's h

Reporting a power cut to the electricity supplier

A severe storm has caused a power cut in your neighbourhood. Your home has no electricity, and your mobile phone battery is running low. You

Reporting poor service to a hotel manager

You recently stayed at a hotel and the service was unsatisfactory. You are now calling the hotel to speak with the manager about your experi

Checking your National Insurance number appointment

You recently applied for a National Insurance number so you can work in the UK. You are calling the Department for Work and Pensions to chec

Reporting a gas leak to the emergency line

You smell gas in your home early on a Saturday morning. You call the National Gas Emergency line to report the leak and arrange for an engin

Reporting a Home Heating Breakdown

Your home heating has stopped working overnight. You call a local heating engineer to report the problem and arrange for someone to visit an

Changing a University Module

You are a university student who wants to swap one of your modules before the new term starts. You call your personal tutor to explain your

Enquiring about a Blue Badge application

You have been experiencing difficulties walking long distances and would like to apply for a Blue Badge for parking closer to the places you

Calling HMRC about your tax code

You received a Notice of Coding from HMRC with your new tax code, but it looks different from last year and you don't understand it. You nee

Complaining to a dry cleaner's about a damaged garment

You took a favourite jacket to a local dry cleaner's last week. When you collected it, you noticed the jacket has been badly scorched by the

Calling about a package held at customs

You are expecting a parcel from abroad, but you have received a notification that it is being held at customs. You need to call the courier

Enquiring About a Young Person's Railcard

You are a learner who is eligible for a Young Person's Railcard but would like to know more before you buy one. You call the train company's

Querying your first energy bill

You've just moved into a new flat and received your first electricity and gas bill. The amount seems higher than you expected, so you call t

Asking Permission to Keep a Pet

You are a tenant in a rented flat and would like to get permission to keep a small dog. You call your letting agent to discuss this with the

Making a hotel room complaint

You have just arrived at your hotel after a long journey. When you get to your room, you discover the room type does not match your booking.

Calling the vet about a sick cat

Your pet cat, Luna, hasn't eaten for two days and seems very tired. You call the veterinary practice to describe Luna's symptoms and ask whe

Asking permission to install a satellite dish

You live in a rented flat and want to install a satellite dish on the outside wall. You call your landlord to ask whether this is allowed, w

Checking Recycling and Waste Collection Rules

You have recently moved into a new flat and are unsure about the local recycling and household waste collection rules. You call the council'

Requesting a TV licence refund

You have a TV licence but you no longer watch or record live television, so you are eligible for a refund. You call the TV Licence customer

Arranging a Funeral

You have recently lost a close relative. You call a local funeral directors to discuss the funeral arrangements and ask about options for th

Querying an Unexpected Utility Bill

You have received your quarterly electricity bill, but the amount is much higher than you expected. You call the energy supplier to query th

Applying for a Blue Badge

You have been experiencing difficulty walking long distances, so you call your local council's Blue Badge team to ask about applying for a p

Following up on a house offer

You recently made an offer on a flat you viewed, and you are now calling the estate agent to check whether the seller has responded and what

Querying a mobile phone contract end date

Your current mobile phone contract is ending soon, and you want to know exactly when it finishes so you can decide whether to renew or switc

Calling Citizens Advice about benefits after losing your job

You have recently lost your job and need to understand what state benefits you may be entitled to. You call the Citizens Advice Bureau to as

Discussing a phone contract upgrade

You are calling your mobile phone provider to discuss your current phone contract. You've had the same phone for two years and want to know

Booking an Eye Test at the High Street Optician's

You need to book an eye test at a high street optician's practice. You want to ask about the cost, available appointment times, and whether

Reporting an Abandoned Vehicle

A car has been left on your residential street for several weeks with no tax or number plates. You call your local council to report it.

Cancelling a package holiday

You booked a package holiday to Spain three months ago, but your circumstances have changed and you can no longer travel. You call the trave

Enquiring about a DBS check for a first job

You are a 17-year-old who has just been offered your first part-time job at a local supermarket. The employer has asked you to obtain a basi

Booking a hair and makeup appointment for a special occasion

You are calling a beauty salon to book hair and makeup services for a friend's wedding you are attending this weekend.

Booking an MOT test for your car

You own a car and its MOT certificate is due to expire soon. You call a local MOT test centre to book your vehicle in for its annual MOT tes

Discussing a phone contract renewal

You are calling your mobile phone provider because your current contract is coming to an end. You want to discuss the options for renewing y

Checking in for a flight

You are calling your airline's automated check-in line the day before your flight. You need to check in, select your seat, and confirm your

Calling a solicitor about a boundary dispute

A homeowner calls a solicitor's office to discuss a boundary dispute with their neighbour, seeking legal advice about a fence that was moved

Checking a Council Tax Reduction Application

You applied for a council tax reduction three weeks ago but haven't heard anything yet. You call your local council's council tax department

Registering a rescue pet with a vet

You've recently adopted a rabbit from a local animal rescue centre. You're calling a veterinary practice to register your new pet and ask ab

Enquiring about a train season ticket

You commute to work by train every weekday. You've been paying with a contactless bank card but wonder whether a season ticket might work ou

Applying to volunteer at a charity shop

You call the coordinator of a local charity shop to inquire about volunteering. You want to know what roles are available, what commitment i

Reporting Noise from Building Work

You have been disturbed by loud building work starting very early in the morning near your home for the past week. You call your local counc

Claiming Gift Aid tax relief on a charity donation

You made a charitable donation to a UK registered charity last month and would like to understand whether you are entitled to claim back tax

Arranging a Charity Furniture Collection

You have some good quality unwanted furniture at home. You call a local charity shop to ask whether they accept furniture donations and whet

Deferring a University Place

You have received a conditional offer from a university, but you would like to start your course a year later. You call the university's adm

Enquiring about Apprenticeship Employment Rights

You are a young person considering applying for an apprenticeship. You call the Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) helpli

Requesting a Birth Certificate Copy

You need a copy of your birth certificate for a passport application. You call the local Register Office to find out how to apply, what docu

Requesting a provisional driving licence

You have lost the counterpart part of your provisional driving licence. You need to call the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to r