IELTS Speaking Part 1

Suits: 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 suits 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 wear a suit?

Not very often, to be honest. I usually work from home in casual knitwear or T-shirts, so I only ever dig out my navy suit when there is a job interview or a formal dinner. It tends to stay tucked away in the wardrobe most of the year.

2

On what occasions do people in your country wear suits?

Most people dress up in suits for special events like weddings, graduations, and funerals. You also see business professionals, especially in banking or corporate law, wearing them every day at the office to look polished and project a serious image.

3

Do you prefer wearing formal or casual clothes?

I definitely lean towards casual attire. While putting on a sharp blazer can make you feel quite sophisticated, comfort is key for me day to day. I much prefer throwing on a pair of comfortable trousers and a relaxed jumper.

4

Have you ever bought a tailored suit?

Yes, just once. I had a two-piece suit custom-made for my brother's wedding a couple of years ago. The tailor took all my measurements to ensure a perfect fit, and although it was fairly pricey, the difference in quality was incredible.

5

Do you think people will still wear suits in the future?

I reckon they will, though probably less frequently. Workplaces are definitely becoming more relaxed with their dress codes, but suits will always have a place for grand ceremonies and state events where tradition and elegance matter.

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

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7 words

Useful vocabulary

  • tucked away

    stored neatly in a place where it is rarely seen

  • dress up

    put on formal or especially smart clothes

  • lean towards

    have a preference for a particular choice

  • attire

    clothes, especially of a particular or formal type

  • custom-made

    specially made for a particular person

  • dress code

    a set of rules about what clothes to wear

  • grand

    impressive, large, or socially important

  • →Use clothing-specific collocations like 'dress codes', 'tailored fit', and 'casual attire' to demonstrate vocabulary range.
  • →Do not worry if you rarely wear suits, give honest reasons why and describe what you prefer wearing instead.
  • →Keep answers natural by using conversational discourse markers like 'to be honest' or 'I reckon'.

Keep practising

More Part 1 topics

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