IELTS Speaking Part 1

Curiosity: 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 curiosity 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

Would you consider yourself a curious person?

I'd definitely say so. I've always had an inquisitive mind, especially when it comes to understanding how everyday gadgets work or why people behave the way they do. Just last week, I spent a whole evening reading about how underground metro systems are designed.

2

What kind of things are you most curious about?

Mostly science and world history, I suppose. I find it fascinating to learn about ancient civilisations and how people lived centuries ago. Whenever I travel somewhere new, like my trip to York last autumn, I always delve into the local history straight away.

3

Were you curious about a lot of things as a child?

Oh, absolutely. My parents used to tell me that I drove them mad with endless questions. I was particularly obsessed with nature, so I'd spend hours in the back garden turning over rocks to observe whatever creepy-crawlies were hiding underneath.

4

What do you do when you want to find something out?

Normally, I just look it up on my mobile phone right away. If it's something a bit more complex, though, I tend to fall down a rabbit hole and watch mini-documentaries on video-sharing platforms until I really get the hang of it.

5

Do you think people get less curious as they grow older?

Perhaps a little, yeah. Life gets busier, so people often get bogged down with work and daily routines, leaving less time to explore new interests. Having said that, my grandfather took up astronomy in his seventies, so it really depends on the individual.

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

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7 words

Useful vocabulary

  • inquisitive mind

    a strong desire to learn and investigate things

  • delve into

    to examine something thoroughly or search for information

  • drove them mad

    annoyed or irritated someone very much

  • creepy-crawlies

    small insects, spiders, or worms

  • fall down a rabbit hole

    to get deeply absorbed in following connected topics

  • get the hang of

    to understand how to do or grasp something

  • bogged down

    prevented from making progress by burdens or routines

  • →Avoid simply saying you are curious by mentioning specific subjects that spark your interest.
  • →Use natural phrasal verbs like 'look up' or 'delve into' to show flexible vocabulary.
  • →Contrast your childhood curiosity with your adult habits to show good grammatical range.

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