IELTS Speaking Part 1

Online videos: 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 online videos 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 watch videos online?

Yes, pretty much every single day, to be honest. I usually stick something on while I'm cooking dinner in the evening or having my breakfast. It's just a great way to unwind after a long day at work, even if it's only for ten or fifteen minutes.

2

What kind of videos do you usually enjoy watching?

I'm really keen on cooking tutorials and DIY home improvement guides. If a tap starts leaking in my flat, I'd rather watch someone fix it step by step than call a plumber straight away. It's incredibly practical and quite satisfying to watch.

3

Did you watch many online videos when you were younger?

Not really, because our household internet connection back then was dreadfully slow and video platforms weren't anywhere near as common. We mainly watched traditional television or rented films on disc at the weekend instead of streaming anything on a computer.

4

Do you prefer watching short clips or longer videos?

It depends on my mood, really. If I'm waiting in a queue or on the bus, short bite-sized clips are ideal for passing the time. But when I'm relaxing on the sofa at home, I definitely prefer in-depth mini-documentaries that I can really sink my teeth into.

5

Have you ever thought about making your own videos online?

The thought has crossed my mind once or twice, especially regarding travel journals. But to be frank, the whole editing process seems incredibly time-consuming, and I'm a bit camera-shy, so I'm quite happy to just remain a viewer for now.

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

  • unwind

    to relax after a period of work or tension

  • step by step

    progressing gradually through a series of stages

  • bite-sized

    small and easy to consume quickly

  • passing the time

    doing something to make time go by faster

  • in-depth

    thorough, detailed, and comprehensive

  • sink my teeth into

    to become fully engaged with something substantial

  • camera-shy

    feeling nervous or uncomfortable when being filmed

  • →Describe video platforms generically rather than relying on specific brand names.
  • →Use variety in your language by distinguishing between short clips, tutorials, and full-length documentaries.
  • →Contrast your past and present media habits to demonstrate control of different tenses naturally.

Keep practising

More Part 1 topics

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