Scratching a Borrowed Car

Speaking Task 6 · Dealing with a Difficult Situation. Speak for 60 seconds either telling a friend you scratched her car or asking a body shop about repairing it, choosing one option and handling it well.

Task 6 puts you between two people and asks you to choose which of them to speak to, then to speak to them directly. You get 60 seconds to prepare - one of only two tasks with a window that long - and 60 seconds to have the conversation.

Scratching a Borrowed Car

Speak for 60 seconds either telling a friend you scratched her car or asking a body shop about repairing it, choosing one option and handling it well.

Scenario: A Scratch on a Borrowed Car

A friend lent you her car for the weekend so that you could move a few boxes. While reversing out of a narrow parking space at a shopping centre, you scraped the rear bumper against a concrete post. The scratch is about twenty centimetres long and has gone through the paint, though nothing is dented and the car drives normally. Your friend is careful with the car and has told you before that she is saving to keep it in good condition.

You must decide who to speak to:

Option 1: Speak to your friend. Tell her what happened before she notices it herself, explain the circumstances, and offer a way to put things right.
Option 2: Speak to a body shop. Describe the damage to the manager, ask what the repair would involve and what it would cost, and explain why you need it done quickly and discreetly.

Choose one option and speak to that person.

Choose one of the two options and speak to that person. Explain what happened, give the details they need to know, and say clearly what you would like to do next.

You have 60 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.

3 sample responses

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Scenario: A Scratch on a Borrowed Car

Your attempts