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MET Speaking Task 5 gives you 90 seconds to persuade a decision-maker (such as a library director, department manager, or dean) to adopt a change or reconsider a plan. Use a respectful, professional tone and explain how your proposal solves their concern too.
A 4-step 90-second persuasion framework
| Time | Step | Example phrasing |
|---|---|---|
| 0–15s | Polite opening & clear request | “Thanks for taking a moment to speak with me. I’d like to suggest that we reconsider…” |
| 15–45s | First practical benefit + example | “The main reason is that… For instance, during exam week…” |
| 45–72s | Address the authority’s concern | “I understand that budget and staffing are a concern, so we could trial…” |
| 72–90s | Constructive next step | “If we test this for one month and review feedback, we can see whether it works for everyone.” |
Original MET Speaking Task 5 practice prompts
Prompt 1 · Extending evening library hours
Prompt: Your university library director plans to close the building at 7:00 p.m. on weekdays to reduce utility costs. Persuade the director to keep one reading room open until 10:00 p.m. (90 seconds). Sample response: “Good afternoon, Director. I understand the library needs to lower utility costs this semester, and I appreciate how carefully you are managing the budget. However, I would like to ask if we could keep just the ground-floor reading room open until ten o’clock on weeknights. Many students work part-time until six or share crowded apartments where it is difficult to concentrate. To keep costs low, we could close the upper floors at seven as planned and staff the ground-floor room with a single student assistant for a four-week trial.”
Explore this resource →Prompt 2 · Keeping a quiet study lounge in the office
Prompt: Your office manager wants to convert the quiet reading room into an extra games and social lounge. Persuade the manager to keep part of the space for quiet focus work (90 seconds). Focus note: Support team morale while explaining why staff on tight deadlines need a phone-free quiet zone.
Explore this resource →Questions, answered
How is Speaking Task 5 different from Task 4?
Both are 90-second Stage 2 tasks, but Task 4 asks you to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of a policy or situation, whereas Task 5 asks you to speak directly to an authority figure and persuade them to take a specific action.