Adjectives that name the quality
“Good” and “nice” say very little. Name the quality, then add a fact that proves it. British English usually says “It’s good value”, without “a”.
- reliable (works without frequent problems): “The courier is reliable: every order arrived on time.”
- user-friendly (easy to use): “The booking site is user-friendly: customers can change a date in two clicks.”
- good value (worth the price): “At forty euros, the repair plan is good value.”
- high quality (made to a very good standard): “These headphones are high quality. They still sound clear after four years.”
How strong? very, quite, pretty, extremely
Degree words go before the adjective. “Very” and “really” make it stronger; “extremely” is stronger still. “Quite” and “pretty” mean “fairly”, and “pretty” is informal, so keep it out of written reports. In British English, “quite good” usually means fairly good, not very good. “Totally” means completely: “totally different”. Watch the article: “a very reliable courier”, but “an extremely reliable courier”.
- “The medical scanner must be extremely reliable.”
- “The new expenses app is quite user-friendly.”
- “The basic support package is pretty good value.”
The past simple for test results
A finished test takes the past simple. Regular verbs add -ed: tested, lasted, preferred. Questions use “Did” and negatives “didn’t”, followed by the base verb. Common irregular report verbs: found, chose, took part.
The -ed ending adds a syllable only after a t or d sound: test-ed, last-ed, but not in “preferred” or “asked”. For advice, switch to the present: “Nineteen preferred Model B, so we recommend it.”
- “We tested two models.” – a finished action
- “Model B lasted longer.” – regular -ed
- “Did users prefer it?” – did + base verb
- “They didn’t test the price.” – didn’t + base verb
A result, a limit and a recommendation
A good spoken report answers the obvious questions first: who took part, what they preferred and why, and what the test can’t show. Listen, then report a test from your own work in the same order.
Maya We tested two chargers with twenty-four staff volunteers.
Owen What did the research show?
Maya Nineteen preferred Model B because it lasted longer.
Owen Were there any limits?
Maya Yes. It was an internal test, not a market study.
Owen Then let's recommend B and state that limitation.
Showing interest in a colleague’s results
Short reactions keep the speaker talking. Let your voice rise on “Really?”; said flat, it can sound bored. Then ask about the evidence.
- “Really?”
- “That sounds useful.”
- “How did the users respond?”
- “What happened next?”
- “Were there any limits?”
A five-part test report
Keep numbers exact: “four hours longer” compares the models; it is not the battery life. Staff volunteers are not customers, so the limit goes into the decision.
- Situation: “Our product team tested two portable chargers with 24 staff volunteers.”
- Key facts: “Model A was lighter and easier to use. Model B lasted four hours longer, and 19 volunteers preferred it.”
- Decision or result: “We recommend Model B for business travellers. This was an internal test, not a market study.”
- Owner: one named person, not “the team”.
- Next step and deadline: “Run a small customer trial of Model B by the end of May, before the launch.”
Common mistakes
These weaken a report:
- “Did users preferred it?” After “did”, use the base verb: “Did users prefer it?”
- “They didn’t tested the price.” Same rule: “They didn’t test the price.”
- “The price is cheap.” Say “The price is low” or “It’s good value”; “cheap” can suggest poor quality.
- “Customers prefer Model B.” Your evidence came from staff: “Nineteen of our twenty-four volunteers preferred Model B.”
A 10-minute daily practice routine
Goal: report a small test or choice in one minute, out loud.
- 2 minutes: describe a product you used this week with two adjectives, a degree word and a reason.
- 3 minutes: say a past simple statement, question and negative about a recent change at work.
- 2 minutes: play the conversation above and repeat each line.
- 3 minutes: give a five-part spoken report on a test or decision from your work.
What comes next
Next, use the same order for people and plans: sharing urgent calls, then a visitor schedule with several hosts. At B1, a project update separates finished work, pending approval and next actions.