# What is the PREP method? Definition and example answer

The PREP method is a four-part way to give a clear answer: Point (your answer), Reason (why), Example (proof) and Point again (restate it). It suits short answers in meetings, interviews and impromptu speaking, and a full PREP answer usually takes 30 to 60 seconds.

By the Speaking Coach team at Sodhera Intelligence. Updated 2026-10-22. Source: https://www.orecci.com/speaking-coach/glossary/prep-method/

## The four parts

| Part | What you say | Length |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Point** | Your answer, in one sentence | About 5 seconds |
| **Reason** | Why you think so | One or two sentences |
| **Example** | A specific case, number or story that proves it | Two or three sentences |
| **Point** | The answer again, often with a next step | One sentence |

The repeat at the end isn't wasted. Listeners who drifted during the example get the answer a second time, and it tells everyone you've finished.

## A compact example

Example: in a meeting, your manager asks, "Should we keep the Friday stand-up?" Made-up details.

> **Point:** "I'd drop the Friday stand-up."

> **Reason:** "By Friday most of the week's work is done, so it repeats what we already said on Thursday."

> **Example:** "I checked the last four Fridays' notes, and three of them had no new blockers at all."

> **Point:** "So let's drop Friday and use that 15 minutes for the weekly demo instead."

About 70 words, roughly 30 seconds.

## When to use it

- Opinion questions in meetings: "What do you think?"
- Interview questions that aren't stories: "What makes a good manager?"
- [Impromptu speeches](/speaking-coach/glossary/impromptu-speech/) and table topics
- Any time you're tempted to think out loud

For behavioral "tell me about a time" questions, a story structure such as [CAR](/speaking-coach/glossary/car-method/) or STAR fits better. For more practice ideas, see the [PREP method guide](/speaking-coach/guides/prep-method/).

## Questions people ask

### What does PREP stand for?

Point, Reason, Example, Point.

### Can I give more than one reason?

Yes, but two is usually the maximum for a short answer. Give one example per reason.

### What if I don't have an example ready?

Use a quick hypothetical ("Say a customer calls on Friday…") or a general observation, then return to your point.

### Is PREP good for interviews?

Yes, for opinion and "how would you" questions. Use a story structure for questions about past experience.

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