A Delivery Bike for the Courier Team

Speaking Task 5 · Comparing and Persuading. The candidate compares a cargo bike and a road bike for a downtown parcel courier team, chooses one, and persuades a co-worker that it is the better purchase.

Task 5 puts two options in front of you - two venues, two vehicles, two apartments - and asks you to choose one and persuade a named person that it is the better choice. It is one of only two tasks with a full 60 seconds of preparation, because there is genuinely more to read first.

A Delivery Bike for the Courier Team

The candidate compares a cargo bike and a road bike for a downtown parcel courier team, chooses one, and persuades a co-worker that it is the better purchase.

A New Bike for the Courier Team

You and a co-worker run a small parcel courier service in downtown Vancouver, and your team needs one new delivery bike for its daily routes. You find two suitable options. Using the pictures and information below, choose the option that you prefer. In the next section, you will need to persuade your co-worker that your choice is the better choice.

A heavy black cargo bicycle photographed from the side on a quiet city street in daylight, with a deep wooden box mounted low between the handlebars and the front wheel and a broad metal stand holding it upright.

The cargo bike

Price: 3,200 dollars
Front box holds a full day of parcels, about 120 stops
Slow through heavy traffic, but no return to the depot at midday
Lockable weatherproof box lid and a wide stand for loading

A slim silver road bicycle photographed from the side on a quiet city street in daylight, with dropped handlebars, narrow tires and two small canvas panniers clipped to a rack above the back wheel.

The road bike

Price: 1,400 dollars
Rear panniers hold about half a day of parcels, roughly 55 stops
Quick through heavy traffic, but one return to the depot at midday
Panniers fold flat and the frame is light enough to carry up stairs

Now, persuade your co-worker that your choice is the better choice.

3 sample responses

Choose the option you prefer to start preparing.

A New Bike for the Courier Team

Your attempts