IELTS Speaking Part 1

Breakfast: questions and Band 8 answers

The examiner asks three to five short questions on two or three everyday topics in the first four to five minutes. Here are 5 questions about breakfast written by BandLadder in the examiner's style, each with a Band 8 sample answer. Aim for two or three sentences each: answer, reason, one detail.
  • 5 questions
  • 5 Band 8 answers
  • 4 to 5 minutes

5 answers

Sample answers

1

Do you usually eat breakfast in the morning?

Yes, almost every day. I'm definitely a morning person, so I struggle to function if I skip it. Usually, I'll have a bowl of porridge with some fresh fruit and a strong cup of black tea before I head out the door.

2

What kind of food do you like to have for breakfast?

To be honest, it depends on how much time I have. On weekdays, I tend to stick to something light and quick, like wholemeal toast with peanut butter. But at the weekend, I love whipping up scrambled eggs on sourdough with some grilled tomatoes.

3

Do you prefer having breakfast at home or eating out?

I'd say I generally prefer eating at home because it fits into my morning routine much better, and it's cheaper. Having said that, meeting a friend at a local café on a Sunday morning for a leisurely brunch is always a lovely treat.

4

Did you eat the same things for breakfast when you were a child?

Not really, no. When I was little, my parents used to give me sugary cereals with cold milk, which I absolutely loved back then. Nowadays, I try to steer clear of overly sweet things first thing in the morning and choose healthier options instead.

5

Do you think having breakfast is important?

I think so, definitely. It sets you up for the day and gives you the energy you need to concentrate at work or university. Whenever I've rushed out on an empty stomach, I've ended up feeling sluggish by mid-morning.

Details are invented. Use the shape, not the sentences: examiners mark memorised answers down.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary

  • struggle to function

    to find it hard to think or work properly

  • whip up

    to prepare something to eat very quickly

  • leisurely

    done in a relaxed and unhurried way

  • steer clear of

    to deliberately avoid something

  • first thing

    early in the morning before doing anything else

  • set you up for

    to prepare you well for what follows

  • on an empty stomach

    without having eaten any food beforehand

  • sluggish

    lacking energy and feeling slow

  • →Contrast your weekday routine with your weekend habits to naturally demonstrate a wider range of grammar and vocabulary.
  • →Use everyday idiomatic expressions like 'on an empty stomach' rather than overly formal academic phrases.
  • →Answer the question directly before adding a concrete detail about what you actually eat or drink.

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More Part 1 topics

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