Part 1 · Band 8

Are you a student or do you work?

Illustrative target band for this model answer · 64 words

AI-completed learning example

I am working now. I've been working since I was 21 after graduation. My first job was at the university as an international relations officer. I was there for two years, and after that, I got a personal job that I'm working at right now. I've been with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board. So, at the moment, I’m working rather than studying.

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

The ideas follow a clear sequence: your current status, when you began working, your first job, and your present employer. The final sentence answers the question directly, though it repeats the opening idea rather than adding a new detail. For practice, give this answer in 30 seconds, then use the remaining time to add one relevant detail about what you value in your work, without introducing facts that are not true.

Lexical Resource

The answer uses relevant career vocabulary, including “international relations officer” and “Office of the Narcotics Control Board,” which makes your work history specific. However, “a personal job” is unclear in this context, and “working at” is less natural for describing employment with an organisation. Next, practise collocations such as “get another job” and “work for an organisation,” choosing wording that matches your exact meaning.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

You use past simple for a completed period—“I was there for two years”—and present perfect for your continuing employment—“I've been with the Office.” These forms communicate the timeline effectively. The opening, “since I was 21 after graduation,” is awkwardly ordered, and “that I'm working at right now” is wordy. Practise combining the time reference as “after graduating, when I was 21” and simplifying the current-job clause.

Pronunciation

This text-only response cannot establish how you pronounce the words, so this is a practice guide, not an assessment of a recording. Try stressing the main content words in “international relations officer” and “Narcotics Control Board,” then group the opening into “I’ve been working / since I was 21 / after graduation.” Record yourself once, check that each phrase is easy to understand, and repeat any unclear word slowly.

A transcript shows language and organisation. Fluency, delivery and pronunciation require an audio recording; the synthetic voice demonstrates the text, not the original speaker.

  • Reorder the opening time reference so it is immediately clear that you started working after graduating at 21.
  • Replace “personal job” with a clear phrase such as “another job”; avoid guessing whether you mean permanent or full-time unless that is accurate.
  • Practise a 30-second version that gives your current status, your first role and its duration, and your current employer, ending without repeating the opening.

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Briefly state your current education status before describing what happens next.
  • Connect waiting for results with preparing university applications.
  • Name a possible major and, if you want to extend the answer, give a short reason for your interest.

Suggested structure

  1. Answer directly: say whether you are a student or work.
  2. Give a brief detail about your current education.
  3. Explain your immediate next step, such as waiting for results or applying.
  4. Name a major you are considering and close with your likely choice.
Useful vocabulary & examples
wait for my results
Expect to receive the outcome of an exam or course.

I'm waiting for my results while preparing to apply to universities.

prepare to apply to universities
Get ready to submit applications to universities.

I'm preparing to apply to universities.

be intrigued by
Feel curious and interested in something.

I'm especially intrigued by biotechnology.

a possible major
A university subject area you may choose to study.

Biotechnology is a possible major I'm considering.

Practise your answer →

Compare answers on this topic

Band 9

I am a student and I've just finished my Ontario Secondary School diploma. I'm currently waiting for my results while preparing to apply to universities. I've looked into majors...

Band 8

Currently, I'm a medical student at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Gua. I'm in my fifth year of medical school, specializing in general medicine. I'll be a physician...

Band 7

I'm actually a graduate of both high school and university. I've been working as a backend developer in a software company since the early 2000s. I've been there for quite a whi...

Band 6

Well, currently, I'm a medical practitioner. I work as a doctor, taking care of patients and providing for my family.

Band 5

I am a student at Forest Grace University, which is located on La Street. My school is about 5 kilometers away from where I live.

Band 4

Well, currently, I am still a student. I'm pursuing a bachelor's degree in Business Administration at National Taiwan University.