Part 1 · Band 7

are you good at memorizing things?

Source-reported band score · 174 words

Sample answer

I could say that I'm really bad at memorizing things. And if I can self-diagnose myself, I would say that I have a short-term memory. Like, for instance, if somebody just taught me something, like, if it's about economics, I can just forget about it. All of the things that were said to me. And this happens quite often, especially when I try to learn new concepts or facts. I find that my mind tends to wander, and I struggle to focus on the information being presented. Even when I take notes, I often look back and realize that I don't remember writing them down. This makes studying for exams particularly challenging, as I have to rely heavily on revision and repetition to retain any information. To combat this, I have started using various techniques, such as flashcards and mnemonic devices, which help me remember key points better. However, I still feel that memorization does not come naturally to me, and I wish I could improve my ability to retain information for longer periods.

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

The response follows a clear path: it describes difficulty remembering, gives examples involving new information and exams, then explains strategies and a wish to improve. The move from “Even when I take notes” to “To combat this” helps the answer develop rather than merely list problems. For practice, give this answer in 60 seconds, aiming for one connected example in each stage and a brief pause between the stages.

Lexical Resource

Vocabulary is varied and relevant: “mnemonic devices,” “revision and repetition,” and “retain information” express topic-specific strategies and difficulty. “Like” occurs repeatedly in the opening, and “forget about it” is less precise than the later “retain information”; this creates some looseness rather than a lack of range. Reduce fillers and choose a precise verb for each point, such as “forget” for the difficulty and “retain” for the goal.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

The response uses a useful range of clauses, as in “especially when I try to learn new concepts or facts,” and “Even when I take notes.” However, “All of the things that were said to me” is a sentence fragment, while “if I can self-diagnose myself” is redundant. Practise joining dependent ideas to a complete sentence and review conditional phrasing; reading the answer aloud can help you spot fragments.

Pronunciation

This is a text-only response, so pronunciation cannot be assessed and this practice guide is not an assessment of a recording. Practise word stress in “memorizing” and “mnemonic devices,” then group the final idea as “I wish I could improve / my ability to retain information / for longer periods.” Record yourself saying those phrases, check a dictionary audio model for stress, and replay the recording to check that the thought groups are clear.

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

  • Replace the repeated opening fillers “Like” with a single signpost such as “For example,” then give the economics example in one complete sentence.
  • Use a simple three-part sequence when answering: describe the difficulty, give a personal example, and explain what you do to manage it.
  • Practise the answer once in 60 seconds and once in 45 seconds; keep the main points in both versions and check that every sentence is complete.

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Explain whether you are good at memorizing things and give one reason, such as being able to recall information accurately.
  • Give a specific example of spatial memory, such as remembering where information appeared on a page while studying.
  • Mention a practical technique—such as acronyms, rhymes, or repetition—and say how it helps you retain material.

Suggested structure

  1. Answer the question directly with yes or no.
  2. Give one brief reason for your answer.
  3. Add a concrete example from studying or everyday life.
  4. Mention one or two memory techniques and finish with their benefit.
Useful vocabulary & examples
spatial memory
The ability to remember where things are or where information was located.

My spatial memory helps me remember where a detail appeared on the page.

mnemonic device
A method, such as an acronym or rhyme, that helps you remember information.

I use a mnemonic device to help me remember a list of facts.

retrieve information
To bring stored information back to mind.

Picturing the page helps me retrieve information during an exam.

retain material
To keep learned information in your memory.

Reviewing my notes several times helps me retain the material.

Practise your answer →

Compare answers on this topic

Band 9

I could certainly say yes to these questions. I excel at memorizing things as I believe I possess a sort of photographic memory that enables me to recall information accurately....

Band 8

Honestly, I don't consider myself very good at memorizing things. Many people have told me I have a goldfish memory, meaning I struggle to remember things, especially numbers an...

Band 7

That is actually a good question. I would say that I'm not that good at memorizing things, but not actually bad. I think I am at an intermediate level of memorizing things. Why?...

Band 6

I used to have a sharp memory. However, as I get older, I tend to forget things sometimes. So to help myself remember things, I set up alarms for important events and tasks on m...

Band 5

It's a tough question for me. Generally, I think I'm good at memorizing things, but it depends on situations or scenes. For example, some coordinates or names, I'm really bad at...

Band 4

Yes. I'm great at memorizing things. Like, I remember birthdays, I-verses, and special occasions in my life.