SkillsLab
Review Lab · work, advice & storytelling
Your level · You are here
Review Lab
A friendly check-in — not a test.
Practise the language from the last few lessons through short tasks and longer speaking turns. Aim to speak naturally, not perfectly — replay anything, skip nothing.
Get Talking · Section 1
5 minStart the conversation — no pressure
Which lesson from 11–16 was the most useful for your real life, and why?
Have you given anyone advice recently using something you learned in these lessons?
Which still feels shaky: Present Perfect vs past simple in interviews, the passive, advice modals, or reported requests?
Grammar review · Section 2
8–10 minMixed review — work talk, advice and reported requests
Match the strength of the advice to the situation: could = gentle suggestion, should = recommendation, 'd better = urgent warning.
- This lab combines the structures from Lessons 11–16 rather than teaching something new.
- (1) In interviews, use Present Perfect for experience without a specific time — 'I've managed a small team' — and past simple for a specific achievement — 'I led a project last year that increased sales by 20%.' (2) Use the passive when the process matters more than who did it — 'The course is assessed through two exams.' (3) Use advice modals with the right strength — 'You should', 'You could', 'You'd better' (stronger, use carefully).
- (4) Report a request politely — 'She asked me to send the report' / 'He told me not to be late.' The skill is choosing the right tool for the moment, not producing any single one perfectly.
- Describing general work experience → Present Perfect.
- Describing one specific achievement → past simple.
- Describing a process, not the person doing it → passive.
- Retelling what someone asked you to do → reported request.
| Direct request | Reported request |
|---|---|
| 'Send it by Friday.' | She asked me to send it by Friday. |
| 'Don't be late.' | He told me not to be late. |
I've worked in customer service for three years, and last year I was promoted to team leader.
New staff are trained during their first week.
You could try mentioning your other project in the interview.
She asked me to finish the report by Friday.
Memory tip
Interviews: general experience = Present Perfect, one story = past simple.
Natural English
Native speakers often soften advice with a question tag or hedge — 'You could try that, couldn't you?' — rather than giving a flat instruction.
Step 1 — Build the sentences yourself
Step 2 — Produce the form from memory
There isn't one "right" answer — write a natural version, then compare with the model.
Q1.Strongest of these three pieces of advice: (answer in a few words)
Step 3 — Check your choices
Challenge 1.Best sentence for general work experience:
Challenge 2.Correct passive sentence:
Challenge 3.Gentlest piece of advice:
Challenge 4.Correct reported request:
Vocabulary review · Section 3
5–7 minBring back your words
Take on a role
to accept a job or responsibility
In context
"She took on the role of manager last spring."
Now try it yourself
Name a role you'd like to take on one day.
Meet a deadline
to finish something on time
In context
"We just managed to meet the deadline."
Now try it yourself
Describe a deadline you recently met or missed.
Get promoted
to be given a higher position
In context
"He got promoted after two years."
Now try it yourself
Say who you know that has been promoted recently.
Weigh up the options
to think carefully about choices
In context
"Weigh up the options before deciding."
Now try it yourself
Describe a decision where you weighed up the options.
Follow up
to send a further message or take further action
In context
"I'll follow up with an email tomorrow."
Now try it yourself
Say when you last had to follow up with someone.
Be assigned to
to be officially given a task
In context
"I was assigned to the new project."
Now try it yourself
Say something you were once assigned to do.
Pick at least three words from above and use each one in a sentence about your real life. Say each one aloud before you write.
Ask your teacher (or a partner) a question that uses one of today's words. They reply using a different word.
Rank today's words from most to least useful for you this week. Defend your top choice.
Finish: "Honestly, I'd say…" using one of today's words.
Tip: aim to reuse at least two of these words later in the Speaking and Writing tasks.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minStress on modal verbs of advice
The strength of advice is carried partly by stress. 'You COULD try that' sounds like a light suggestion; 'You REALLY should try that' sounds like a firm recommendation; 'You'd BETTer try that' carries a warning. Practise the falling stress pattern on 'better' — it signals urgency.
- • You COULD try MENtioning it.
- • You REALly SHOULD apPLY.
- • You'd BETTer send it TOday.
- • She ASKED me to SEND the rePORT.
Reading challenge · Section 5
8–10 minWhat six lessons leave behind
By the end of Lessons 11 to 16, your English should be quietly doing several new things when the subject turns to work. You should be able to describe your overall experience with Present Perfect — 'I've worked in three different teams' — and then drop smoothly into past simple the moment you tell one specific story — 'Last year I redesigned our onboarding process.' Interviewers listen for exactly this shift, because it shows you can generalise and then prove it with an example.
You should also be comfortable with the passive when a process matters more than the person doing it. 'Applications are reviewed within two weeks' sounds professional and neutral; 'We review applications within two weeks' puts unnecessary focus on the speaker. Knowing when to hide the doer is a genuinely advanced skill, not a decoration.
Giving advice well means matching your language to how strongly you feel. 'You could' opens a door gently; 'you should' pushes a little harder; 'you'd better' warns of a real consequence if the advice is ignored. Learners often use 'should' for everything, which can sound bossier than intended.
Finally, retelling what someone asked you to do — reported requests — lets you talk naturally about instructions, favours and tasks without quoting word for word. 'She asked me to cover her shift' is far more natural in conversation than repeating the original words exactly.
Step 1 — Read for the overall picture: true or false?
Q1.The text says the passive is only a decoration with no real function.
Q2.The text says overusing 'should' can sound bossier than intended.
Step 2 — Find the evidence and answer
Challenge 1.According to the text, why do interviewers listen for the shift from Present Perfect to past simple?
Challenge 2.What does the text say the passive is useful for?
There isn't one "right" answer — write a natural version, then compare with the model.
Q1.What problem does the text suggest happens when learners overuse 'should'? (answer in a few words)
Q2.What can be inferred about reported requests from the text? (answer in a few words)
Listening challenge · Section 6
8–10 minA mock interview debrief
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Coach:So, how did the practice interview go?
Dan:Pretty well, I think. They asked about my experience, so I said I've managed small teams before, then gave an example from last year when I led a project that saved us time.
Coach:Good structure. Did they ask anything about the process at your last job?
Dan:Yeah, I explained that new clients are onboarded within a week — I used the passive there like we practised.
Coach:Nice. Anything you'd change?
Dan:Maybe. I think I should prepare a stronger example for teamwork questions. My manager once asked me to cover for a colleague at very short notice, and it went well, but I didn't mention it.
Coach:You could definitely use that one. It's specific and shows flexibility.
Dan:You're right. I'd better write it down before I forget the details.
Coach:Good idea. Anything else feel shaky?
Dan:Just the ending — I never know how to close the interview confidently.
Step 1 — Listen and notice the language
Step 2 — Listen again and complete the notes
Challenge 1.What example did Dan give when asked about his general management experience?
Challenge 2.How did Dan describe the process of onboarding new clients?
There isn't one "right" answer — write a natural version, then compare with the model.
Q1.Why does the coach say Dan's colleague-covering story would be a strong example? (answer in a few words)
Q2.What can be inferred about Dan's confidence by the end of the conversation? (answer in a few words)
Skills challenge · Section 7
5 minSpeaking — Cambridge B1 Preliminary / B2 First Part 1 (personal information & work)
Task
Answer 'Tell me about your work experience' for 60 seconds, moving from general Present Perfect statements to one specific past simple example, and give yourself one piece of advice out loud for next time.
Strategy
Structure the answer as: general claim (Present Perfect) → specific proof (past simple) → brief reflection (advice modal). This shows range and self-awareness in a single short turn.
Example
I've worked in retail for about two years now, mostly on the shop floor. Last winter I was asked to help train two new starters, which I really enjoyed. Looking back, I think I should have asked for more responsibility sooner — but it's given me a good example to talk about now.
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minQuick-fire practice
Step 1 — Retrieve it from memory first
Step 2 — Now check your choices
Challenge 1.I ___ worked in three different teams.
Challenge 2.New staff ___ trained during their first week.
Challenge 3.You ___ try mentioning your other project.
Challenge 4.She asked me ___ send the report.
Writing challenge · Section 9
5 minShow what you can do
Your task
Write 100 words describing your work or study experience. Include one Present Perfect sentence, one passive sentence, one piece of advice you'd give your past self, and one reported request.
Your answer
Your work saves automatically0 words
Show model answer
I've worked part-time in a café for almost a year now. Customers are usually served within a few minutes, even at busy times, which took a while to get used to. Looking back, I think I should have asked more questions in my first week instead of guessing. Last month my manager asked me to train a new colleague, and explaining the job to someone else actually helped me understand it better myself. If I could give my past self advice, I'd say: you'd better ask before you assume.
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minTalk it out
In pairs, roleplay a short interview. Interviewer asks about experience and a piece of advice the candidate once received; candidate answers using Present Perfect, past simple, and reports the advice.
Useful phrases
- • I've worked in… for…
- • Last year I…
- • New tasks are usually…
- • Someone once told me to…
- • You could try…
Speaking reflection & notes
Your work saves automatically0 words
Keep it going · Section 11
Take-homeExtend it at home
Record a 60-second answer about your work or study experience mixing Present Perfect and past simple.
Write a 100-word piece of advice for someone starting your job or course, using at least one modal of advice.
Homework notes
Your work saves automatically0 words
Checkpoint · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've reviewed
- Review = combine, not memorise.
- General experience = Present Perfect; one story = past simple.
- Match advice strength to the situation: could, should, 'd better.
Extra Practice
Need more practice?
Practise the grammar, vocabulary and speaking from this lesson.