Part 1 · Band 8

Are you a student or do you work?

Source-reported band score · 45 words

Sample answer

I'm not a student. I work as a freelancer, um, an industrial designer, and I run my own business. I've been able to use my skills to offer my services to clients while also pursuing my own interests. It's a really fulfilling job for me.

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

The answer develops in a clear sequence: you state that you are not a student, identify your work and business, then explain what you value about the job. The link from “use my skills” to “pursuing my own interests” gives the response a personal reason rather than leaving it as a list. For practice, give this answer twice in 20 seconds: first as written, then with one concise example of an interest you pursue.

Lexical Resource

Your vocabulary is precise for this question: “freelancer,” “industrial designer,” and “clients” establish your professional context, while “pursuing my own interests” and “fulfilling” express motivation. The wording is natural, though much of it is familiar and general rather than especially varied. As an optional refinement, replace “offer my services to clients” with a more direct phrase such as “work with clients,” while keeping the focus on your own business.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

You use several accurate structures in a short response, including the present perfect in “I've been able to use my skills,” the infinitive “to offer,” and the contrast introduced by “while also pursuing.” These choices let you connect work and personal interests without awkward sentence patterns. To extend your range, practise combining the opening job details into one sentence, while keeping the answer easy to follow.

Pronunciation

This is a text-only response, so pronunciation cannot be assessed; this practice guide is not an assessment of a recording. Practise the word stress in “industrial designer” (in-DUS-tri-al de-SIGN-er) and “freelancer” (FREE-lancer). Try the thought groups “I work as a freelancer / an industrial designer / and I run my own business.” Record yourself saying the answer, then check that each phrase is clear and the key job words are stressed.

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

  • Practise delivering the answer in about 20 seconds, keeping the order of job status, profession, business, and personal motivation.
  • Try one concise alternative to “offer my services to clients,” such as “work with clients,” and choose the phrasing that feels most natural to say.
  • Record the answer and check that “industrial designer” and “freelancer” are easy to understand and stand out as key information.

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

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 aft...

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.