Developing conversation skills can be a challenge for English learners. What do they need to do to speak and interact effectively in English, and what activities can support them in reaching this goal? Using an in-depth look at students’ performance in a Cambridge speaking test, expert ELT author and teacher trainer Adrian Doff identifies the skills required to succeed and shares the kinds of activities that can help learners to improve, including providing context, selecting appropriate language items, and enabling opportunities for practice and consolidation of conversation skills.