IELTS Speaking Part 1

Homework: 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 homework 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

Did you get a lot of homework when you were at school?

Yes, quite a bit, especially during secondary school. We usually had two or three assignments every evening, which took a couple of hours. I remember often having to finish my maths worksheets at the dining table right after dinner.

2

How did you feel about doing homework as a child?

To be honest, I dreaded it most of the time. Like any kid, I would have much rather been playing outside or watching cartoons. I often tried to put it off until Sunday night, which always caused a bit of panic.

3

What kind of homework did you find the hardest?

I really struggled with extended writing tasks, like history essays. It was tricky to structure long arguments, whereas subjects like science felt far more straightforward because there was usually just one right answer.

4

Do you prefer to study alone or with other people?

Definitely on my own. I get distracted easily, so having friends around usually turns study time into a social chat. When I am by myself in a quiet room, I can get into the zone and finish things much faster.

5

Do you think children nowadays have too much homework?

I suppose so, yes. From what I have seen with my younger cousins, they seem weighed down with projects and revision even on weekends. It feels like they have less downtime to just relax and pursue hobbies.

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

Answer out loud and get a band

The AI examiner asks Part 1 questions like these, listens, and scores fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation, with the words that cost you.

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7 words

Useful vocabulary

  • dreaded

    felt very anxious or unhappy about something upcoming

  • put it off

    delayed doing something until a later time

  • extended writing

    longer written work such as essays or reports

  • straightforward

    simple and easy to understand or complete

  • get into the zone

    become fully focused and absorbed in an activity

  • weighed down

    burdened by a heavy load of work or responsibilities

  • downtime

    free time spent resting and not working

  • →Use accurate past tense forms when discussing your childhood school experiences.
  • →Incorporate common study-related phrasal verbs naturally to boost your lexical resource.
  • →Give a clear reason and a quick concrete example rather than just a one-word answer.

Keep practising

More Part 1 topics

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