Task 4: Making Predictions Template
The Template¶
Prep time: 30 seconds | Speaking time: 60 seconds | Blanks to fill: 5
Everything outside the brackets is memorized word for word. Scan the picture left to right and predict what each person will do next.
"In the next few minutes, I think a few things
are going to happen in this scene.
First, the [PERSON ON THE LEFT] is going to finish
[WHAT THEY'RE DOING]. Since they look quite tired,
they are probably going to take a short break soon.
Moving to the middle, the [PERSON IN THE MIDDLE]
will probably [NEXT ACTION]. Once they are done,
they will likely move on to something else.
As for the [PERSON ON THE RIGHT], they might
decide to take a rest. They may [DO SOMETHING],
or they might just continue what they're doing.
Finally, once everything is done, everyone will
likely gather together and call it a day."
Your 30-Second Prep¶
Scan the picture left to right and scribble:
1. left — who + what they're doing now
2. middle — who + what they'll do next
3. right — who + what they might do
That's it. The future tenses and transitions are already memorized.
What to Fill In¶
| Blank | Just say what you see |
|---|---|
[PERSON ON THE LEFT] |
the man on the left / the woman near the tree |
[WHAT THEY'RE DOING] |
chopping wood / planting crops / cooking |
[PERSON IN THE MIDDLE] |
the woman in the middle / the group of workers |
[NEXT ACTION] |
carry the boxes inside / clean up the area |
[PERSON ON THE RIGHT] |
the people on the right / the children nearby |
[DO SOMETHING] |
chat with the others / grab some food / head inside |
3 Future Tense Levels — Built In¶
The examiner wants to hear 3 different future forms. They're already baked into the template:
| Person | Certainty | Grammar | Template line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left | High (planned) | going to | "is going to finish..." |
| Middle | Medium (logical) | will | "will probably..." |
| Right | Low (uncertain) | might | "might decide to..." |
You don't need to think about grammar — just follow the template and all 3 levels come out automatically.
Universal Fillers When Stuck¶
If you can't think of specific actions, use these safe defaults:
| Blank | Safe default |
|---|---|
[WHAT THEY'RE DOING] |
what they're currently working on |
[NEXT ACTION] |
help the others with their task |
[DO SOMETHING] |
chat with the others |
| Closing | "gather together and call it a day" |
Example: Farm Scene¶
Picture: A farm with people doing various tasks — planting, chopping wood, riding horses.
30-second prep notepad:
1. left — two men planting crops
2. middle — man chopping wood
3. right — women on horseback
Full response:
"In the next few minutes, I think a few things are going to happen in this scene.
First, the two men on the left are going to finish planting the crops in that section. Since they look quite tired, they are probably going to take a short break soon.
Moving to the middle, the man chopping wood will probably chop a few more logs. Once they are done, they will likely move on to something else.
As for the women on horseback on the right, they might decide to take a rest. They may ride closer to the orchard to help with the apples, or they might just continue what they're doing.
Finally, once everything is done, everyone will likely gather together and call it a day."
Example: Restaurant Scene¶
Picture: A busy restaurant with staff serving food, a chef cooking, and customers eating.
30-second prep notepad:
1. left — chef cooking
2. middle — waiter carrying plates
3. right — customers eating
Full response:
"In the next few minutes, I think a few things are going to happen in this scene.
First, the chef on the left is going to finish preparing the current dish. Since they look quite tired, they are probably going to take a short break soon.
Moving to the middle, the waiter carrying plates will probably serve the food to the waiting customers. Once they are done, they will likely move on to something else.
As for the customers on the right, they might decide to take a rest. They may order dessert, or they might just continue what they're doing.
Finally, once everything is done, everyone will likely gather together and call it a day."
Same Scan as Task 3¶
Tasks 3 and 4 use the same picture and the same left-to-right scan:
| Task | What you do | Scan |
|---|---|---|
| Task 3: Describe | Say what you see | Left → Middle → Right |
| Task 4: Predict | Say what will happen next | Left → Middle → Right |
Delivery Tips — Sound Natural, Not Robotic¶
Pause with Purpose¶
| Bad pause | Good pause |
|---|---|
| "um... the man will..." | "Moving to the middle... (pause) ...the man will probably..." |
| "uh... finally..." | "Finally... (pause) ...once everything is done..." |
Emphasize Key Words¶
| Line | How to say it |
|---|---|
| "is going to finish" | Sound certain, confident |
| "will probably" | Sound logical, thoughtful |
| "might decide to" | Sound speculative, wondering |
| "everyone will likely gather together" | Warm, wrapping up |
The Secret: Smile While Speaking¶
The examiner can hear a smile in your voice. It makes the whole response sound warmer and more natural — even if you're reading from memory.
Memorization Checklist¶
Practice saying the template out loud until you can do it without looking:
- Opening: "In the next few minutes, I think a few things are going to happen in this scene."
- Left (going to): "First, the ___ is going to finish ___. Since they look quite tired, they are probably going to take a short break soon."
- Middle (will): "Moving to the middle, the ___ will probably ___. Once they are done, they will likely move on to something else."
- Right (might): "As for the ___ on the right, they might decide to take a rest. They may ___, or they might just continue what they're doing."
- Closing: "Finally, once everything is done, everyone will likely gather together and call it a day."