Every briefing at level 3 has the same structure.
You have 15 minutes to prepare it and take notes which you can use while you speak.
The briefing should take 3-4 minutes and the timing is crucial.
Its aim is to present two possible solutions to a problem, describe their advantages and disadvantages and recommend one of them.
Let’s look at a briefing topic as you get it at the exam.
Unknown perpetrators broke into your base last night as the monitoring system was out of service. You have been tasked with delivering a briefing on two possible solutions to this problem, describing their advantages and disadvantages. Recommend one of them and justify your choice.
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repairing the old monitoring system
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buying a new monitoring system
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other
So what is the structure of every briefing? There are a few parts we can distinguish:
THE STRUCTURE OF A BRIEFING
INTRODUCTION
present yourself (name, function)
state the purpose of your briefing
signal the agenda
MAIN BODY
describe solution 1 with its advantages (2-3) and disadvantages (2-3)
describe solution 2 with its advantages (2-3) and disadvantages (2-3)
CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION
recommend one of the solutions and justify your choice
QUESTIONS
ask for questions
What should you remember about?
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Please notice that there are three suggested solutions in the exam question:
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solution 1
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solution 2
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other
‘Other’ means that you can invent your own solution to accompany one of the two offered on the card.
You are required to describe only two of them and recommend one.
Never describe three solutions or a mixed solution made up of the other two.
Never recommend a mixed solution.
2. When you make notes, don’t write the full text, only bullet points. Reading is not allowed at the exam and is penalised.
3. Remember to structure your briefing and signal each time you begin a new section in the structure. It will make life easier for the person listening to you and will make your briefing better organised.
4. Don’t make the introduction too long. The most important is the content of the arguments you provide to describe solutions.
To structure your briefing use the expressions that signal the beginning of a new idea.
The following BRIEFING LAYOUT is an example of how it could be done.
