IELTS Speaking Part 1

Dinner: 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 6 questions about dinner 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.
  • 6 questions
  • 6 Band 8 answers
  • 4 to 5 minutes

6 answers

Sample answers

1

What time do you usually have dinner?

I usually sit down for dinner around half past seven in the evening. That gives me enough time to get back from work, unwind a bit, and whip up something quick like a vegetable stir-fry before it gets too late.

2

Who do you usually eat dinner with?

Most weeknights, I have dinner with my flatmate. We often take turns cooking or just share whatever we’ve made, though on weekends I prefer catching up with my parents or meeting a few close friends for a meal.

3

What is your favourite thing to eat for dinner?

To be honest, I’m a huge fan of homemade pasta, especially anything with a rich tomato and garlic sauce. It’s pure comfort food for me, and I find the whole process of making it quite therapeutic after a hectic day.

4

Do you prefer eating dinner at home or eating out?

I definitely lean towards eating at home. Eating out at restaurants is a nice treat once in a while, but dining at home is far more relaxing, not to mention a lot healthier and easier on the wallet.

5

Did you eat dinner together with your family when you were a child?

Yes, almost every single night. My parents were quite strict about everyone sitting around the dining table together. It was essentially our daily routine to catch up and talk about how our day at school went.

6

Would you like to learn how to cook more dinner dishes in the future?

I certainly would. I have a fairly limited repertoire at the moment, so I’d love to master a few traditional curry recipes or learn how to bake fresh bread to go alongside evening meals.

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

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7 words

Useful vocabulary

  • whip up

    prepare or cook something very quickly

  • take turns

    alternate doing an action with another person

  • comfort food

    food that provides a feeling of well-being or nostalgia

  • therapeutic

    helping someone to relax or feel calm

  • lean towards

    have a tendency to prefer a particular option

  • easier on the wallet

    less expensive or cheaper to afford

  • repertoire

    the range of skills or dishes someone can produce

  • →Use natural discourse markers and phrasal verbs rather than overly formal transition words.
  • →Contrast your current eating habits with your childhood routines to showcase past tense control.
  • →Avoid reciting ingredient lists and instead explain why you enjoy certain meals or settings.

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