Reported speech is common in IELTS Writing Task 2 (e.g. citing opinions) and Speaking Part 3 (e.g. describing past conversations). In this activity, you’ll practise using reported speech to summarise a job interview, including correct verb tense shifts and reporting question forms.
5. Summarising a Job Interview
After his job interview, Paul told his friend what had happened. He said the interviewer __________ (1) him about his previous experience and education. Paul explained that he __________ (2) at his last company for nearly five years.
He also mentioned that the interviewer asked, “Why do you want to leave your current job?” Paul said he __________ (3) for new challenges and a better work-life balance. Later, he said the interviewer had asked, “Can you start next month?” and Paul replied that he __________ (4) available from the 1st.
At the end of the interview, the company said they __________ (5) in touch within the week.
Check answers at the bottom of the page.
1.
(A) asks
(B) had asked
(C) was asking
(D) has asked
2.
(A) worked
(B) had worked
(C) has worked
(D) have worked
3.
(A) looks
(B) is looking
(C) was looking
(D) had looked
4.
(A) is
(B) would be
(C) was
(D) will be
5.
(A) are getting
(B) would get
(C) had got
(D) will get
Grammar Explanations
1. “had asked”
– Past perfect used for reported questions after a past reporting verb (“he said”).
2. “had worked”
– Past perfect to show Paul’s experience before the interview.
3. “was looking”
– Past continuous to report present continuous (“I’m looking”) in reported speech.
4. “would be”
– “Will” changes to “would” in reported future.
5. “would get”
– Future promise in reported form (“we’ll get in touch” → “they said they would get in touch”).
Correct Answers:
- (B) had asked
- (B) had worked
- (C) was looking
- (B) would be
- (B) would get
