Sample answer
I graduated from school last year, and at the moment, I'm taking a year to explore different career options. I've been working on some short-term projects and part-time jobs to gain experience before deciding what to do next.
Part 1 · Band 9
Do you work or are you a student?
Source-reported band score · 38 words
Answer analysis
Fluency & Coherence
The ideas progress clearly from your recent situation (“graduated from school last year”) to what you are doing now and why (“to gain experience before deciding what to do next”). This gives the answer a natural beginning, development and endpoint. Text alone cannot establish spoken fluency. Practise by answering the question in 30 seconds, recording yourself, and checking that you keep this sequence without adding unrelated details.
Lexical Resource
Your word choices are precise and relevant: “explore different career options,” “short-term projects” and “gain experience” communicate your situation efficiently. The expressions also avoid unnecessary repetition. One optional refinement is to use a more natural verb with “part-time jobs,” since “working on” fits projects more readily than jobs. Practise pairing verbs and nouns in phrases such as “take on a job” and “work on a project.”
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
The answer uses accurate sentence structures to connect your past and present: “I graduated from school last year” contrasts naturally with “at the moment, I'm taking a year.” The present perfect continuous in “I've been working” also suits an activity continuing during this period. There is no clear grammatical error to correct. For extra variety, you could separate the opening into shorter sentences while keeping the time relationships clear.
Pronunciation
Pronunciation cannot be assessed from this text, and this practice guide is not an assessment of a recording. Practise the word stress in “career options,” “short-term projects” and “gain experience,” keeping the main stress clear in each phrase. Mark thought groups as: “I've been working on some short-term projects / and part-time jobs / to gain experience.” Record the answer, then check that each phrase is easy to follow.
A transcript shows language and organisation. Fluency, delivery and pronunciation require an audio recording; the synthetic voice demonstrates the text, not the original speaker.
- Answer the work-or-study question directly in your first sentence, then give the reason for your current situation.
- Keep the clear past-to-present timeline, using one time marker such as “last year” and one such as “at the moment.”
- Practise natural verb–noun combinations: say “work on a project” and “take a part-time job.”
Plan your answer
Try your own response before reading the samples.
Ideas to explore
- Briefly explain when you finished school to establish your timeline.
- Describe your current plan to explore career options.
- Give a reason for taking on projects and jobs, such as gaining experience before making a decision.
Suggested structure
- Answer directly by stating whether you currently work or study.
- Give the relevant background and time reference.
- Explain what you are doing at present.
- End with the purpose of those activities or your next decision.
Useful vocabulary & examples
- explore career options
- consider different possible types of work before choosing a direction
I'm taking a year to explore different career options.
- short-term project
- a piece of work intended to last for a limited period
I've been working on some short-term projects.
- gain experience
- develop practical knowledge or skills by doing work
I'm taking part-time jobs to gain experience.
- decide what to do next
- choose the next action or direction
I'm gaining experience before deciding what to do next.
Compare answers on this topic
Band 9
I am currently a student at Tashkent State University, where I am pursuing a degree in English language and literature. I am particularly interested in American literature, and...
Band 8
Well, currently, I am working as a math teacher at a secondary school called Alicia. I have been working there for 2 years, and I was a volunteer in my 1st year. Additionally, I...
Band 7
Yes, both. I'm studying and working at my university. It is a great chance to improve my future career. After graduation, I'm going to study abroad.
Band 6
Well, I'm a student at the university, and this is my 3rd year at this place. Also, I have a part-time job as a teacher at a vocational school. I'm still working this term at th...
Band 5
Well, I'm studying at school currently in 9th grade. I have subjects like English and events. Also, I help my father in a market in my free time.
Band 4
For now, I'm still a very school student. But sometimes during my own vacation, I work a part-time job. So I do work and study.