Part 1 · Band 4

Do you have many friends?

Source-reported band score · 49 words

Sample answer

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 it from here, the men will rally on them.

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

The ideas begin with a direct answer and develop through a current count, a past high point, and a supportive attitude. The final sentence, “I can take it from here, the men will rally on them,” is difficult to connect to the question, so the response loses focus. Practise a 20-second answer using this sequence: answer, one detail about the number, and one reason you value your friends.

Lexical Resource

The answer uses relevant basic vocabulary, including “friends,” “help,” and “a lot,” and the numbers make the response specific. However, the vocabulary is repetitive, and “the men will rally on them” is unclear and does not fit the topic as written. Next, add one precise detail about what you enjoy doing with friends, and check that every phrase clearly refers to the question.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

Most sentences use straightforward, understandable structures, such as “I've had as many as 20 friends in the past.” The final sentence joins two independent clauses with a comma, creating a comma splice. You also use a direct address in “I like all of you, my friends,” which sounds unusual in this context. Practise separating complete ideas with a full stop or joining them with a suitable conjunction.

Pronunciation

Pronunciation cannot be assessed from this text, and this practice guide is not an assessment of a recording. Practise the word stress in “friends” and “help,” and group “more than 10 friends” as one thought group. Record yourself reading the answer, then check whether each phrase is easy to understand and whether you pause between complete ideas; adjust the wording if the last sentence remains unclear.

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

Lead with a clear response, such as saying whether you consider more than 10 friends to be many.
Use the past figure of 20 as a brief comparison, then add one specific reason you value your friends.
Review the final sentence: make its connection to the question clear, and separate its complete clauses with a full stop or a conjunction.

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

Begin with a direct answer about your past social circle.
Explain how the number of acquaintances has changed over time.
Give your view on whether that change is bad.
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 →

Learning Tools

Do you have many friends?

Sample answer

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

Lexical Resource

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

Pronunciation

Plan your answer

Ideas to explore

Suggested structure

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