IELTS Speaking Part 1

Excitement: 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 excitement 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

What kinds of things make you feel excited?

I'd say travelling to new places gives me the biggest thrill. Just the idea of exploring an unfamiliar city or trying different street food gets my adrenaline going. For instance, before my trip to Italy last year, I could barely sleep the night before.

2

Do you often feel excited about things in your daily life?

Not every single day, to be honest, but small things can definitely spark some joy. It might be something simple like meeting up with close mates on a Friday evening or booking tickets for a live gig. Those little milestones keep my routine from feeling mundane.

3

What did you find exciting when you were a child?

As a kid, birthdays and festive holidays were huge for me. I used to get utterly thrilled about unwrapping presents or going to theme parks with my family. My absolute favourite thing was riding the tallest roller coaster at our local fair.

4

Do you think people get less excited about things as they grow older?

I suppose so, yes. When you're an adult, you're usually bogged down with everyday responsibilities like bills and work deadlines, so you tend to be a bit more grounded. That said, adults still look forward to major milestones, like buying a flat or going on holiday.

5

Is there anything exciting you are looking forward to in the near future?

Definitely. I'm actually planning a hiking trip to the Lake District next month with a couple of friends. We're hoping to camp out under the stars for a weekend, which should be a fantastic break from my usual nine-to-five routine.

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

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7 words

Useful vocabulary

  • thrill

    a sudden feeling of great excitement or pleasure

  • gets my adrenaline going

    makes someone feel energetic, alert, and excited

  • live gig

    a live musical performance or concert

  • mundane

    dull, ordinary, or lacking excitement

  • utterly thrilled

    extremely pleased and excited

  • bogged down

    overwhelmed or prevented from making progress by heavy tasks

  • grounded

    sensible, realistic, and emotionally stable

  • →Use varied descriptive phrases like 'gives me a thrill' to avoid overusing the word 'excited'.
  • →Include small, relatable examples to back up your points without giving overly long answers.
  • →Make sure to adjust your tenses clearly when moving between childhood memories and future plans.

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More Part 1 topics

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