IELTS Speaking Part 1

Daydreaming: 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 daydreaming 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 often daydream?

Yes, quite a lot, especially when I'm doing repetitive chores like folding laundry or washing dishes. My mind just tends to wander off. Just yesterday, while queuing at the supermarket, I completely lost track of time thinking about where I'd like to go on holiday next.

2

When do you usually find yourself daydreaming?

It mostly happens during quiet moments on my daily commute. When I'm sitting on the train staring out of the window, I often drift off into my own world instead of staring at my mobile phone. It is a really nice way to unwind after work.

3

What kind of things do you daydream about?

Usually, it is about future plans or creative ideas. I often picture myself living in a quiet cottage by the coast or starting a small business. Occasionally, I also replay past conversations and think about what witty things I should have said instead.

4

Did you daydream much when you were a child?

Oh, definitely. I was constantly getting told off by my primary school teachers for staring into space during maths lessons. I used to imagine all sorts of wild adventures, like discovering hidden treasure in the school garden or exploring distant planets.

5

Do you think daydreaming is a waste of time?

Not at all, to be honest. While you shouldn't let it distract you from urgent deadlines, it can actually boost creativity and relieve stress. Giving your brain a brief mental break often helps you come up with fresh solutions to tricky problems.

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

Answer out loud and get a band

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7 words

Useful vocabulary

  • wander off

    to start thinking about something else

  • lost track of time

    failed to notice how much time had passed

  • commute

    a regular journey between home and work

  • drift off

    to gradually lose focus or enter a relaxed state

  • unwind

    to relax after a busy or stressful period

  • getting told off

    being reprimanded or scolded for doing something wrong

  • staring into space

    looking blankly in one direction without focusing

  • →Use natural phrasal verbs like 'drift off' or 'wander off' when talking about your train of thought.
  • →Keep your examples relatable by mentioning everyday situations like commuting or doing household chores.
  • →Avoid treating daydreaming purely as a bad habit; mention how it helps you relax or think creatively.

Keep practising

More Part 1 topics

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