Information-gap problem solving: Pairwork

Information-gap activities are a useful way to get students asking questions. Each partner knows something the other does not, so they need to listen carefully to find out the details. Encourage them to react to the answers and build a picture of the situation before deciding what to do.

The situations include fictional problems and dilemmas. One partner reveals only the opening, while the other asks questions to find out the private backstory. Both then compare possible actions and agree a next step.

Learners need to ask enough questions to understand the situation. Be careful not to solve the problem too quickly or give advice without the relevant information.

Keep the interaction natural. Students can imagine they are speaking to a friend, and swap roles so both get practice asking and explaining.

For more B2 speaking practice, try our problem-solving scenarios, discussion questions and gerunds and infinitives conversation practice.

The Materials

This activity contains three sets with six information-gap scenarios for B2 pairwork. Cut each sheet in half and give partners their private cards. They plan fictional backstories, reveal only the opening and use questions to discover the details. Compare two possible actions, agree a next step and then swap roles.

LEVEL: B2 speaking

SKILLS: Asking for further information, giving opinions, giving advice

TOPIC: Everyday problems and dilemmas

TIME: 30 minutes

PREPARATION: One copy of each worksheet, cut in half for each pair of students