Discussing Abstract and Unfamiliar Topics

At B2 you can discuss your job and your life. The next step is handling topics you haven't prepared: ethics, trends, hypotheticals — the kind of thing exams and real discussions throw at you.

Talking about trends and change

• There's been a growing tendency towards remote work.
• The number of applicants has risen sharply / fallen steadily.
• This is increasingly common.
• Attitudes have shifted considerably.

Useful pairs: rise / fall, increase / decrease, sharply / gradually / steadily.

Note the noun-verb split that catches people out: prices rose (verb, no object) but a rise in prices (noun). And trend takes towards: a trend towards shorter contracts.

Talking about cause and effect

• This has led to a shortage of housing.
• One consequence of this is...
• It's largely due to the cost of energy.
• This contributes to the problem, but isn't the only factor.
• The underlying cause is... · This is a symptom rather than a cause.

Hypotheticals and speculation

• If governments were to act now, the effect would be significant.
• It's conceivable that prices will stabilise.
• That would depend on how quickly it's implemented.
• In theory, yes — in practice, it's harder.
• Suppose the funding disappeared — what then?

Balancing an argument

Examiners and colleagues both value balance over certainty.

• On the one hand... on the other hand...
• While there are clear benefits, there are also risks.
• It depends largely on the context.
• To some extent, yes, but...

Generalising safely

Abstract discussion needs statements about groups, and unqualified ones are easy to knock down. These let you generalise without overclaiming:

• On the whole, people prefer… · By and large, this holds.
• As a rule, smaller firms are more flexible.
• There are exceptions, but the pattern is clear.
• This is typically the case in urban areas.

Structuring a longer answer

An unprepared topic is easier if you know the shape before you know the content:

1. Frame it. There are really two questions here — whether it works, and whether it's fair.
2. Take one side. On the practical side, the evidence is fairly strong…
3. Concede. That said, it clearly places a burden on…
4. Land. On balance, I'd say…

Announcing the structure buys you thinking time and makes a short answer sound considered rather than thin.

Paraphrasing: the survival skill

You will not always have the word. Fluent speakers talk around the gap rather than stopping.

• It's a kind of... — It's a kind of tax on imports.
• It's the thing you use to... — It's the thing you use to measure pressure.
• It's similar to X, but...
• I can't think of the word, but it's when...

This is not a failure. Hesitating and describing is far better than silence or switching languages.

Buying yourself time

• That's an interesting question.
• Let me think about that for a second.
• I suppose it depends on...

Native speakers use these constantly. They sound natural, not evasive.

Nobody expects expertise on the topic. An examiner asking about urban planning is not testing urban planning; they are testing whether you can structure an opinion, concede a point and speculate in English. Saying I don't know much about this, but I'd imagine… and then talking for a minute scores far better than accurate silence.

An unprepared question, handled

A: Should city centres be closed to cars?

B: That's an interesting question. There are two things there, really — whether it works, and whether it's fair. On the whole, the cities that have tried it have seen air quality improve. That said, it clearly disadvantages people who can't easily use public transport. On balance I'd support it, if the alternatives were in place first.

Time-buying opener, framing, a safe generalisation, a concession and a position — and no specialist knowledge anywhere in it.

Try it yourself

The quiz below covers trend language, balanced argument, and paraphrasing strategy.