Part 1 · Band 7

are you good at memorizing things?

Source-reported band score · 161 words

Sample answer

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? Because right now I am just a student and students need to read a lot of books for the university, which means I have to remember a lot of information. I often use various techniques to help me, such as making notes and summarizing key points. This helps me to retain the information better. However, I sometimes struggle with long texts or complex concepts. I find that breaking down the material into smaller parts makes it easier to remember. Additionally, I try to review the material regularly, which reinforces my memory. In conclusion, while I am not exceptional at memorizing things, I have developed strategies that assist me in my studies. I believe with more practice and the right techniques, I can improve my memorization skills even further.

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

Your ideas follow a clear sequence: you assess your ability, explain the demands of being a student, describe strategies, and mention difficulties. For example, “I often use various techniques” leads naturally into specific methods. The response becomes somewhat essay-like at “In conclusion,” and repeats the overall assessment. Practise giving this answer in 45 seconds, keeping the same sequence but ending with one brief sentence about how you hope to improve.

Lexical Resource

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “retain the information,” “breaking down the material,” and “reinforces my memory.” These phrases help explain your strategies rather than simply listing them. Some wording is less idiomatic, particularly “an intermediate level of memorizing things” and “books for the university.” Practise a few natural collocations for studying and memory, then use them to express the same ideas more concisely.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

You show a useful range of sentence forms, including the reason clause in “Because right now I am just a student” and the relative clause in “which means I have to remember a lot of information.” Most sentences are easy to follow, and there is no clear pattern of grammatical errors. Some phrasing is awkward rather than incorrect. For a smoother spoken answer, connect the reason directly to the previous sentence and practise adding clauses without making sentences too long.

Pronunciation

This is text-only, so pronunciation cannot be assessed and this practice guide is not an assessment of a recording. Practise the word stress in “memorizing,” “information,” and “regularly.” Group the answer into thought units, for example: “I often use various techniques / to help me / such as making notes.” Record a spoken attempt, check whether each key word is clear and the thought groups are easy to follow, then record it again.

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 “for the university” with “for university” or “for my university studies” when explaining why you read.
  • Use one concise self-assessment, such as “I'm somewhere in the middle,” rather than repeating that you are not exceptionally good.
  • Practise this answer in 45 seconds: give your assessment, one reason, two strategies, and one difficulty or future goal.

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

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...

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.