Part 1 · Band 9

Do you work or study?

Source-reported band score · 22 words

Sample answer

I am currently a student focusing on my studies at school, but I am also exploring my career options for future work.

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

Your answer follows a clear sequence: you identify yourself as a student, explain your current focus, then add that you are exploring future career options. The final idea extends the response without changing its focus. To develop it naturally in speech, practise a 20-second response using this same sequence, then add one brief detail about what you are considering—only if it is true for you.

Lexical Resource

The answer uses appropriate, natural phrases such as “focusing on my studies” and “exploring my career options.” These communicate the topic clearly, and “exploring” adds a useful sense of active consideration. The vocabulary is nevertheless quite general, with no specific example of what career options means for you. As a next step, add one accurate detail or a related phrase such as “possible career paths.”

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

The sentence is grammatically controlled: “I am currently a student” is followed by the -ing phrase “focusing on my studies,” and “but” clearly connects the contrast with exploring work options. There is no clear grammatical error in this short sample. To demonstrate a little more range while staying conversational, try separating the two ideas into two sentences and linking them with “At the same time.”

Pronunciation

A pronunciation band cannot be estimated from text, and this practice guide is not an assessment of a recording. Practise the word stress in “currently” (CUR-rent-ly) and “exploring” (ex-PLO-ring), then group the answer into thought units: “I am currently a student / focusing on my studies at school / but I am also exploring my career options for future work.” Record yourself once, listen back, and check that each phrase 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.

  • Practise the answer aloud in a 20-second limit, keeping the sequence: student status, present study focus, future work plans.
  • Add one truthful detail about the career options you are exploring, such as a subject area or a kind of work, if you are comfortable sharing it.
  • Record the answer and check whether “currently,” “focusing,” and “exploring” are clear; then repeat it with pauses between the main thought groups.

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Give your current status and where you study or work: you are a student researcher at NIAB.
  • Briefly describe your research focus: crop germplasm and marker-assisted approaches.
  • Add a personal view and a future direction: the work is rewarding, and you see yourself growing in the field.

Suggested structure

  1. Answer the work-or-study question directly.
  2. Name your institution or workplace.
  3. Describe your research area in one concise sentence.
  4. Add how you feel about the work.
  5. Finish with a relevant future plan.
Useful vocabulary & examples
student researcher
A student who carries out research as part of their studies.

I’m a student researcher at NIAB.

marker-assisted approaches
Methods that use genetic markers to support research or selection in crops.

I work on crop germplasm using marker-assisted approaches.

challenging and rewarding
Difficult in some ways but satisfying or worthwhile.

I find my research both challenging and rewarding.

grow in this field
To develop skills or progress in a particular area of work or study.

I can see myself continuing to grow in this field.

Practise your answer →

Compare answers on this topic

Band 9

I am currently a student focusing on my studies at school, but I am also exploring career options for my future work.

Band 8

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Band 7

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Band 6

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Band 5

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Band 4

I recently graduated from Ipekaunar School. I finished my last semester and graduated two months ago.