🏠 Insurance English: Damage Assessment – B1

English for Insurance Professionals | Intermediate

Section 1 – Vocabulary

Match each term (1–10) with the correct definition (A–J).

Section 2 – Reading in Context

Read the email from the claims department. Then answer the questions below.

Dear Mrs Ahmed,

I am writing to confirm receipt of your claim following the escape of water at your property on the fourteenth of June.

We have appointed an assessor who will contact you within three working days to arrange a convenient time to visit. During the visit, they will inspect all affected areas and define the scope of the loss — that is, exactly what is included within your claim.

In the meantime, please photograph all affected areas before moving or cleaning anything. Please also retain any receipts or invoices as evidence to support your claim. You should also take reasonable steps to mitigate any further damage — for example, by moving furniture away from wet areas or placing towels to prevent water spreading.

Once the assessor has established the proximate cause of the damage and submitted their report, we will write to you with the outcome of our assessment. Our aim is to reinstate your property to its pre-loss condition as quickly as possible.

If liability is confirmed, we will progress towards a settlement promptly and keep you informed at every stage.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions in the meantime.

Yours sincerely,
Claims Department

Section 3 – Language Focus

The email uses formal professional language. For each informal phrase below, select its formal equivalent from the email.

The informal version is shown in italics. Choose the correct formal version from the dropdown.

Section 4 – Conversation Practice

Complete the conversation between the claims handler and Mrs Ahmed. Choose the correct word or phrase for each gap.

Section 5 – Error Correction

The email below was written by a trainee claims handler. It contains six errors — wrong vocabulary, wrong register, or unprofessional phrasing. Read the email carefully. For each of the six numbered boxes below, type the incorrect word or phrase exactly as it appears in the email. If you identify it correctly, a correction option will appear.

Dear Mrs Ahmed,

Thank you for getting in touch about the flood at your house. We have sent an inspector to come and look at the damage.

They will visit within three working days and work out what broke and how bad the damage is. After that, they will write a list of everything that needs fixing.

In the meantime, please take a few snaps of the damage and keep your receipts. Also, try your best to stop the damage getting any worse.

Once we know whose mistake it was, we will sort out the money side of things and get your home back to how it was.

Feel free to give us a ring if you need anything.

Kind regards,
Claims Team

Find the errors

There are 6 errors. For each one, type the incorrect word or phrase exactly as it appears in the email above, then click Check. If correct, a correction option will appear.

Section 6 – Listening

Listen to the assessor calling Mrs Ahmed to arrange the visit. Then answer the questions below.

🎧 Listen to the conversation

Press Play to listen.
Assessor: Good morning, Mrs Ahmed. My name is James Reeves. I am the assessor appointed by your insurance company.

Mrs Ahmed: Oh, hello. I was expecting your call.

Assessor: I am calling to arrange a convenient time to carry out the assessment of the damage at your property.

Mrs Ahmed: Of course. When would suit you?

Assessor: I have availability on Wednesday morning. Would ten o'clock work for you?

Mrs Ahmed: Yes, Wednesday at ten is fine.

Assessor: Perfect. During the visit I will inspect all affected areas and produce a detailed written report for the claims team.

Mrs Ahmed: Is there anything I should do before you arrive?

Assessor: Please do not move or clean any of the damaged areas before my visit. It is important that I see everything as it is.

Mrs Ahmed: Understood. What will happen after your visit?

Assessor: The report will help establish the proximate cause and define the scope of the loss. The claims team will then write to you with the outcome.

Mrs Ahmed: How long will that take?

Assessor: Usually within five to seven working days of my report being submitted. I will see you at ten o'clock on Wednesday. Thank you, Mrs Ahmed.

Part A – Comprehension Questions

Part B – Listen and Fill the Gap

Each sentence is from the conversation. One word or phrase is missing. Listen and type it.

🏆 Your Scores

SectionScoreOut of
1 – Vocabulary Matching10
2 – Reading Comprehension5
3 – Language Focus8
4 – Conversation Practice10
5 – Error Correction6
6a – Listening: Comprehension5
6b – Listening: Gap Fill5
Total49

Complete all sections to see your total score.