IELTS Speaking Part 1

Soups: 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 soups 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 like eating soup?

Yes, I'm quite fond of it, especially during the colder months. There's nothing quite like a hot bowl of soup to warm you up after a long day. Just last week, when it was pouring down with rain, I made a thick vegetable broth that really hit the spot.

2

What is your favourite type of soup?

I'd have to say creamy pumpkin soup. I really enjoy smooth, velvety textures, and it has a lovely natural sweetness. Whenever I visit my local café on a Sunday, I usually order a bowl served with a thick slice of sourdough bread for dipping.

3

How often do you make soup at home?

Probably once every couple of weeks. It's actually a great way to use up leftover veg from the fridge so nothing goes to waste. A few days ago, I threw together some leeks, potatoes, and garlic, and it turned out surprisingly well.

4

Did you eat much soup when you were a child?

Not really, to be honest. My parents used to cook it fairly often, but I was a bit of a fussy eater back then. I usually tried to avoid it, although I didn't mind simple tomato soup with toasted cheese on the side.

5

Do people in your country often eat soup?

Yes, definitely. It's a staple in our cuisine, particularly as a starter before the main course or as a light lunch. Clear chicken broth is really popular, especially when someone feels under the weather and needs a comforting meal.

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

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6 words

Useful vocabulary

  • hit the spot

    was completely satisfying

  • velvety

    having a smooth, rich texture

  • use up

    to finish all of something so none remains

  • fussy eater

    someone who dislikes many foods

  • staple

    a standard, essential item in a regular diet

  • under the weather

    feeling slightly unwell

  • →Use sensory adjectives like velvety or hearty to describe the texture and taste of food.
  • →Refer to specific ingredients and cooking routines to keep your answers concrete and natural.
  • →Contrast your past childhood tastes with your current preferences when answering past-habit questions.

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