Part 1 · Band 8

do you like watching tv

Source-reported band score · 48 words

Sample answer

Well, in general, I used to have a strong position on watching TV. However, these days I consider it a waste of time and prefer doing other activities such as reading books or exercising, which can contribute to the development of my mental and physical state. Thank you.

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

The answer develops in a clear sequence: “I used to have a strong position” introduces a past view, “these days” contrasts it with your current opinion, and you finish with alternatives. The main limitation is that the opening does not directly answer whether you like TV now. For practice, give this answer in 20 seconds, beginning with a direct response, then listen back and check that the past-to-present contrast is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource

The vocabulary communicates your view clearly, especially “a waste of time” and the alternatives “reading books or exercising.” “Contribute to the development of my mental and physical state” is understandable but wordy and less natural than a concise collocation such as “benefit my mental and physical well-being.” Practise replacing long abstract phrases with common, precise expressions while keeping the same meaning.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

You use a range of structures, including the contrast between “I used to have” and “these days I consider,” followed by a relative clause beginning “which can contribute.” The relationships between ideas are clear. The final clause is lengthy, however, and its pronoun reference is slightly less direct than it could be. Try dividing the thought or naming the activities again to make the sentence easier to process.

Pronunciation

This is a practice guide, not an assessment of a recording. Practise word stress in “watching TV,” “waste of time,” and “physical state”; make the main content words prominent rather than giving every word equal weight. Try these thought groups: “These days / I consider it a waste of time / and prefer other activities.” Record yourself saying the answer, then check that each group is easy to understand.

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

  • Start with a direct answer, such as “Not really,” so your current view is immediately clear.
  • Replace “contribute to the development of my mental and physical state” with a shorter expression such as “benefit my well-being.”
  • Practise delivering the past-to-present contrast in one breath group, then give your two alternatives clearly.

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Contrast a former view of watching TV with how you feel about it now.
  • Explain what you prefer doing instead, such as reading or exercising.
  • Give a brief reason for your preference, such as the activities’ mental or physical benefits.

Suggested structure

  1. Answer directly whether you like watching TV.
  2. Mention your past view if it helps explain a change.
  3. Contrast it with your current opinion using “but these days.”
  4. Name your preferred alternatives and give one concise reason.
Useful vocabulary & examples
see something as a waste of time
think an activity is not worth the time it takes

These days, I see watching TV as a waste of time.

have strong opinions about
feel firmly or strongly about a subject

I used to have strong opinions about watching TV.

mental and physical well-being
a person’s overall mental and bodily health

Reading and exercise can support my mental and physical well-being.

Practise your answer →

Compare answers on this topic

Band 8

Yes, I enjoy watching TV, especially in the evening, because it helps me unwind and boosts my mood. I love watching TV shows with my siblings, as it is interesting for us since...

Band 7

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Band 6

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Band 5

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Band 4

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Band 8

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