Part 1 · Band 5

Do you have many friends?

Source-reported band score · 31 words

Sample answer

I have more than 10 friends, and I'm not sure if I should say this, but I have maybe 20 friends. I like all of my friends. Then I next play...

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

The answer moves from a direct response (“I have more than 10 friends”) to a more precise estimate (“maybe 20”), then adds a positive feeling about the friends. The unfinished “Then I next play...” interrupts that development, so the listener does not get a complete final idea. Practise speaking for 20 seconds: give the number, add one detail, and finish with a complete thought. Fluency cannot be scored from text alone.

Lexical Resource

The answer uses clear, relevant everyday vocabulary, especially “friends” and “I like all of my friends.” However, the short response repeats the same idea about the number of friends, and the final “play” phrase does not reveal the intended activity. Try giving the estimate once (“maybe 20”) and adding one accurate detail about what friendship means to you, using a phrase such as “get along well.”

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

The complete clauses “I have more than 10 friends” and “I like all of my friends” are grammatically clear, and the answer uses a coordinated sentence to connect ideas. The ending, “Then I next play...,” is incomplete, while “Then” and “next” make the transition repetitive. Practise replacing that ending with one complete sentence, and use either “then” or “next,” not both. The short sample limits how much grammar can be judged.

Pronunciation

Pronunciation cannot be assessed from this text; this practice guide is not an assessment of a recording. Practise the word stress in “twenty” and “friends,” and group the opening into thought units: “I have more than 10 friends / maybe 20.” Record yourself saying the answer, then listen back and check whether each number and the final word in each thought group are easy to identify. Adjust and record it once more.

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

  • State the estimate once: say “more than 10—maybe 20” rather than repeating the full phrase about having friends.
  • Add one truthful supporting detail, such as what you appreciate about your friends or an activity you actually do together.
  • Finish the final thought as a complete sentence; rehearse the answer for 20 seconds and check that it has a clear ending.

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Contrast having many acquaintances in the past with having fewer now.
  • Explain that a smaller social circle does not necessarily feel like a negative change.
  • Describe lasting closeness as the quality that makes someone a true friend.

Suggested structure

  1. Begin with a direct answer about your past social circle.
  2. Explain how the number of acquaintances has changed over time.
  3. Give your view on whether that change is bad.
  4. End with the reason: the people who stayed close are your true friends.
Useful vocabulary & examples
a lot of acquaintances
many people you know but may not be close to

I used to have a lot of acquaintances from different parts of my life.

diminish over time
become smaller or less numerous gradually

The number of people I see regularly has diminished over time.

stay close to someone
continue to have a strong relationship with someone

A few friends have stayed close to me over the years.

true friends
people regarded as genuinely close and dependable friends

I value the true friends who have remained part of my life.

Practise your answer →

Compare answers on this topic

Band 9

I used to have a lot of acquaintances whom I frequently hung out with. However, that number has diminished over the years. Nevertheless, I don't think this is inherently bad. On...

Band 8

I have a few close friends rather than many. I prefer quality over quantity because true friends are the ones who support and understand me.

Band 7

Yes. I have a few close friends that I obviously love spending time with. They are like family to me, always. Therefore, through the good times and the bad weather, we are a gro...

Band 6

I have more than 10 friends, and I'm not sure if I should say this many. However, I had more than 30 friends in my neighborhood. I like all of my friends, and if I need help I c...

Band 5

I have more than 10 friends, and I'm not sure if I should say this, but I have more than 50 friends in my neighborhood. I like all of my friends. If I need help, I can seek them...

Band 4

I have more than 10 friends, and I'm not sure if that's a lot. I've had as many as 20 friends in the past. I like all of you, my friends, and I'm always here to help. I can take...