Part 1 · Band 8

Do you work or study?

Source-reported band score · 34 words

Sample answer

I've been working as a medical technologist for the past two years. I recently passed my American licensure and certification exams. Hopefully, by next year, I'll be a certified laboratory scientist in the US.

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

The ideas follow a clear sequence: you state your job and experience, mention the exams you passed, then describe your next career goal. That progression makes this a complete, easy-to-follow response. Fluency cannot be assessed from text alone. Practise answering the same question in 20 seconds, then again in 30 seconds, keeping the same sequence and adding only one relevant detail.

Lexical Resource

Your vocabulary is specific to your profession: “medical technologist,” “licensure,” “certification exams,” and “certified laboratory scientist” communicate a clear career path. The wording is appropriately precise rather than overly elaborate. One optional refinement is to use a more conversational transition into your future goal, such as “I hope to become…”; this is a style choice, not a correction of an error.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

You use several appropriate time references accurately: “I've been working” presents an ongoing role, “recently passed” describes a completed achievement, and “I'll be” refers to a future goal. The sentences are controlled and easy to understand. For a slightly smoother spoken connection, you could join the first two sentences with “and,” while keeping the same tense choices and meaning.

Pronunciation

Pronunciation cannot be assessed from this text, and this practice guide is not an assessment of a recording. Practise the word stress in “medical technologist” and “certification exams,” then group the answer into thought units: “I've been working as a medical technologist / for the past two years.” Record yourself saying the full answer and check that each phrase is easy to distinguish and the job title is clear.

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 a 20–30-second version of this answer, keeping the sequence of current role, recent exam success, and future goal.
  • Record yourself saying “medical technologist” and “certified laboratory scientist”; check that both job titles are clear and easy to distinguish.
  • Try linking your first two sentences with “and” so your work experience and exam achievement sound connected.

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

Well, right now I'm still studying economics at Gadjah Mada University. This is my fourth year as a college student. I'm actually a bit behind because I've been working at Bank...

Band 7

I'm currently a student at a special school called Yevgen in my hometown. I just recently finished the 10th grade and will be moving to the 11th grade starting in September.

Band 6

Recently, I have completed my graduation in Bachelor of Arts from the Ghana Devi University. Later on, I started preparing for my IELTS exam. And, uh, after that, I am focusing...

Band 5

Currently, I'm working as an English tutor at a center based in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

Band 4

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