IELTS Speaking Part 1

Sunrises: 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 sunrises 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 wake up early enough to see the sunrise?

Not very often, to be honest. I am definitely more of a night owl, so I tend to sleep in whenever I can. That said, during the summer, the light sometimes creeps through my bedroom blinds around five in the morning and wakes me up naturally.

2

Where is the best place to watch the sunrise in your area?

There is a scenic hill just on the edge of my town that overlooks a wide valley. If you hike up there before dawn, you get an uninterrupted view of the sun coming up over the horizon, which is absolutely breathtaking on a clear day.

3

Do you prefer watching the sunrise or the sunset?

I would say I lean towards sunsets, mostly because they are much more convenient. Sunrises are lovely, but they require a painfully early start, whereas a sunset is a relaxing way to wind down after a busy day, especially while sitting by the river with a hot drink.

4

Did you ever watch the sunrise when you were younger?

Yes, occasionally. My family used to go on camping holidays near the coast, and my dad would wake my brother and me up at the crack of dawn. We would sit on the chilly beach wrapped in blankets, waiting for the first rays of light.

5

Would you like to travel somewhere just to see the sunrise?

I certainly would. I have always fancied climbing Mount Fuji in Japan to catch the dawn from the summit. It would be physically exhausting, I suppose, but watching the morning mist clear from above the clouds must be an unforgettable experience.

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

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6 words

Useful vocabulary

  • night owl

    someone who prefers to stay up late at night

  • sleep in

    to stay in bed later than usual in the morning

  • uninterrupted view

    a clear sightline without any obstacles blocking it

  • wind down

    to relax gradually after a period of activity

  • at the crack of dawn

    very early in the morning, as daylight first appears

  • summit

    the highest point or top of a mountain

  • →Be honest about your sleep habits instead of pretending to be an early riser.
  • →Use descriptive language to evoke the atmosphere, such as lighting, temperature, or scenery.
  • →Contrast sunrise with sunset smoothly using linking words like 'whereas' or 'on the other hand'.

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