Part 1 · Band 8

Do you work or are you a student?

Source-reported band score · 20 words

Sample answer

Currently, I'm employed as an English teacher at a tutoring center in a small province, which I find incredibly rewarding.

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

The answer moves logically from your current status (“Currently”) to your role and workplace, then ends with your opinion that the work is “incredibly rewarding.” That gives the response a clear beginning and finish, though it develops the idea only briefly. Practise speaking it for 15 seconds, then add one truthful reason for finding the job rewarding while keeping the same sequence. Fluency cannot be assessed from text alone.

Lexical Resource

The wording is precise and natural: “employed as an English teacher” identifies your role, while “tutoring center” gives a clear workplace and “incredibly rewarding” conveys a strong positive view. The vocabulary is effective, though the short answer offers little variety or elaboration. As an optional refinement, you could use a simpler verb such as “work” and add one specific, truthful reason for your positive evaluation.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

The sentence is grammatically controlled, combining the main clause with the relative clause “which I find incredibly rewarding.” The present-tense structure suits a question about your current situation, and the punctuation makes the relationship between ideas clear. Because this is a single sentence, it provides limited evidence of range across different structures. For practice, extend the answer with a second sentence explaining your view, while checking subject–verb agreement.

Pronunciation

Pronunciation cannot be assessed from the supplied text, and this practice guide is not an assessment of a recording. Practise the word stress in “English teacher” and “incredibly rewarding,” then group the answer into thought units: “Currently, I'm employed as an English teacher / at a tutoring center in a small province / which I find incredibly rewarding.” Record yourself, listen back, and check that the key words are clear and easy to identify.

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

  • Keep the direct opening, then add one short, truthful reason for finding your teaching work rewarding.
  • Practise delivering the response in about 15 seconds, using the same role–workplace–opinion sequence.
  • Record the phrase “incredibly rewarding” and check that both words are clear and that the main stress falls naturally on “rewarding.”

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

  1. Answer directly by stating whether you currently work or study.
  2. Give the relevant background and time reference.
  3. Explain what you are doing at present.
  4. 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.

Practise your answer →

Compare answers on this topic

Band 9

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...

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.