Part 1 · Band 8

What do you like to do at home?

Source-reported band score · 190 words

Sample answer

At home, I'm fond of reading books, especially novels and science fiction, as they allow me to relax and escape into a different world. I'm also really keen on cooking and experimenting with new recipes. It's something that brings me abundant joy and inspiration. Additionally, I spend my time studying and improving my skills in various subjects, such as languages and photography. I find that learning new things keeps my mind active and engaged. Furthermore, I enjoy watching documentaries and educational programs, which not only entertain me but also broaden my knowledge about the world. In the evenings, I often like to unwind by listening to music or playing the guitar, which helps me to relieve stress after a long day. I also appreciate spending quality time with my family, whether it's playing board games or simply chatting about our day. Moreover, I occasionally indulge in some gardening, which I find therapeutic and rewarding. Tending to plants gives me a sense of accomplishment as I watch them grow. Overall, my home is a place where I can pursue my interests, nurture my creativity, and enjoy the company of loved ones.

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

The ideas develop in a clear sequence: reading, cooking and learning come first, followed by evening activities, family time and gardening, then a summary of what home means to you. That gives the answer a satisfying shape, though the number of activities makes it longer than a typical Part 1 response. Practise a 60-second version, grouping activities into hobbies, relaxation and time with family.

Lexical Resource

You use a varied and relevant range, including “escape into a different world,” “keeps my mind active and engaged” and “therapeutic and rewarding.” These phrases communicate both activities and their benefits. “Abundant joy and inspiration” is understandable but sounds more formal than the surrounding conversational language. As an optional refinement, try simpler, natural collocations such as “brings me a lot of joy” while keeping the specific vocabulary that expresses your interests.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

The answer handles complex sentences confidently, including the relative clauses in “which not only entertain me but also broaden my knowledge” and “which I find therapeutic and rewarding.” Verb forms and sentence relationships are consistently clear. Repeated use of “which” clauses is a stylistic pattern rather than a clear error. For variety, practise combining one benefit with an activity in a shorter sentence, then use a relative clause elsewhere.

Pronunciation

This text-only response cannot show how you pronounce the answer; this practice guide is not an assessment of a recording. Practise the word stress in “photography,” “documentaries” and “accomplishment,” checking a reliable dictionary for the stressed syllable. Try thought groups such as “In the evenings / I often like to unwind / by listening to music.” Record yourself saying the answer, then check whether the key content words are clear and the group boundaries match the meaning.

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

  • For Part 1, practise giving two or three activities and one reason for each, rather than listing every interest in one response.
  • Replace elevated wording such as “abundant joy” with natural spoken collocations, then read the revised sentence aloud to check its tone.
  • Record a 60-second version and check that each activity has a clear reason or benefit, with a brief pause between topic groups.

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Explain how reading novels helps you relax or imagine a different world.
  • Describe what you enjoy about cooking and trying unfamiliar recipes.
  • Mention studying English as another activity you make time for at home.

Suggested structure

  1. Name the activities you enjoy at home.
  2. Develop the first activity with a reason or feeling.
  3. Add another activity and explain what you like about it.
  4. Finish with studying English as an additional activity.
Useful vocabulary & examples
escape into a different world
Become absorbed in a book or story and temporarily forget everyday concerns.

Reading a novel helps me escape into a different world.

experiment with new recipes
Try different ways of preparing food.

I enjoy experimenting with new recipes when I cook at home.

work on my English skills
Spend time practising and improving your ability in English.

I work on my English skills by studying at home.

Practise your answer →

Compare answers on this topic

Band 9

At home, I enjoy reading books, especially novels, as they allow me to relax and escape into a different world. I also like cooking and experimenting with new recipes, which bri...

Band 8

Actually, I love doing a variety of tasks at home, like baking for my lovely family and working in my small garden. It's the weekend, and I really enjoy cleaning my house whenev...

Band 7

The time I spend at home is probably the most comfortable and relaxing I can enjoy. It's my own habitat, where I can relax without interruption. For example, I love reading book...

Band 6

There are a lot of activities I enjoy doing at home. First, I clean my room and take care of my plants. Then, I might cook something or bake a sweet treat for my family. When I...

Band 5

I love spending time at home. It's a place where I can relax and enjoy myself. For example, I can read a book without any distractions. It's much more comfortable than reading i...

Band 4

Generally, I spend time relaxing at home, such as sleeping, browsing the internet, and reading.