Part 1 · · 18 samples

Do you work or are you a student?

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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.

Sample answers

Band 6 sample

50 words · Source-reported band

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 these places as a teacher, and my students are between ten and eighteen years old.

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Band 6 sample

25 words · Source-reported band

I work as a lunch monitor at an Elementary School. It's very rewarding. I've been doing it for almost 4 years, and it's very rewarding.

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Band 6 sample

18 words · Source-reported band

I'm a third-year finance student. I'm a junior at the University of Economics and my major is finance.

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