The Last Word
Speaking skill

Finding & Accessing Information

How you say you find things out matters as much as what you say - a vague source or a missing judgement about reliability makes an answer sound thin. Here's how to sound like someone who actually thinks about where their information comes from.

This is the quick-fix version — see the full guide →
Common mistake

Naming a Specific Source, Not a Vague One

"Why isn't 'I watch the news' a good enough answer to 'How do you find out about X?'"

It only tells the examiner what you do, not how or how often - name a specific source, use a natural verb phrase for accessing it, and add a frequency detail so it sounds like a real habit.

Why this works
— Name a specific source, not a vague category Swapping 'the news' for something concrete like 'newsstands', 'blogs' or 'events listings' shows a wider vocabulary and sounds far more like a genuine answer.
— Use a natural verb phrase for how you access it Native speakers rarely say 'I use the Internet' - they say 'I surf the Internet' or 'I browse through websites', which sounds much more fluent.
— Add when or how often you do it A frequency detail turns a flat statement into something that sounds like a genuine daily habit rather than a fact.
Weak
I watch the news.
Upgraded
I usually surf the Internet every morning to check the latest current affairs, and I also browse through a couple of blogs to see different opinions on the same story.
Weak
I use my phone to check things.
Upgraded
I mostly browse through news apps and websites on my phone, and I check them a few times a day just to stay on top of what's going on.
Weak
I read books about history.
Upgraded
I usually browse through history magazines and documentaries, and I also find things out by word of mouth - my grandfather tells me stories about events he actually lived through.
Common mistake

Judging How Reliable Your Source Is

"How do I answer a question about how reliable a source is, without just saying 'it's good'?"

Naming a source isn't enough on its own - add a short judgement about how trustworthy, biased, or well-respected it is, so the examiner hears you evaluating information, not just listing where it comes from.

Why this works
— Add a trust judgement about the source Words like 'objective', 'well-respected', or 'biased' show you can evaluate information critically, not just describe where you get it from.
— Contrast a reliable source with a less reliable one Mentioning one source you trust and one you're more careful with makes the answer sound balanced and thoughtful rather than one-sided.
Weak
I get the news from social media, it's good.
Upgraded
I get a lot of my news from social media, but I try to stay careful because a lot of it is quite biased - I usually check a well-respected newspaper as well to get a more objective view.
Weak
I read articles online, they're accurate.
Upgraded
I read a lot of articles online, but some blogs are pretty one-sided, so I usually cross-check with a source that's well-respected and known for being fairly objective.
Weak
I learn about history from documentaries, they're true.
Upgraded
I learn a lot of history from documentaries, though some of them can be a bit biased depending on who made them, so I also read well-respected historians to get a more objective picture.
Common mistake

Covering Both Sides When Asked to Compare

"How do I answer 'Compare using the Internet and going to a library to find information' without just talking about one of them?"

A compare question needs both sides - say something about each option, then add a clear contrast between them, instead of just describing the one you prefer.

Why this works
— Say something about each option before contrasting Give the examiner at least one sentence about each option (the Internet and the library) so it's clear you understood it's a comparison, not a single description.
— Use a clear contrast word or phrase Words like 'whereas' or 'on the other hand' signal directly that you are weighing two things against each other.
Weak
I just use the Internet, it's faster.
Upgraded
The Internet is much faster - you can surf a few websites and find an answer in seconds - whereas going to a library takes longer, though the books there are often more well-respected and carefully checked.
Weak
I prefer books from the library.
Upgraded
Books from the library are usually well-respected and carefully edited, whereas browsing through websites is quicker, but you have to be more careful, since a lot of the information online can be pretty biased.
Weak
I just watch documentaries about history.
Upgraded
Documentaries are a great way to get an overview quickly, whereas reading a well-respected history book usually gives you a much more objective, detailed picture, even if it takes longer.
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