Sample answer
In my free time, I like to follow the news. Deepa's news is very powerful. Knowledge builds up, and Instagram and Facebook are very big news companies.
Part 1 · Band 4
What do you like to do in your free time?
Source-reported band score · 27 words
Answer analysis
Fluency & Coherence
Your answer moves in a clear sequence: you name following the news, mention “Deepa's news,” and then refer to Instagram and Facebook. However, the links between these points are brief, so the listener may not know how they connect to your free-time activity. Practise a 30-second response using this answer: state the activity, explain what you learn from it, and add one detail about where you encounter news. Fluency cannot be assessed from text alone.
Lexical Resource
The answer uses relevant vocabulary such as “follow the news” and “Knowledge,” so the topic is clear. The range is limited, though, and “very big news companies” is an imprecise description of Instagram and Facebook, which are social media platforms. For a stronger response, learn a few precise expressions for news sources and explain what you mean by “powerful”—for example, that a story is informative or influential.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
You use understandable simple sentences, including “In my free time, I like to follow the news” and “Deepa's news is very powerful.” The basic sentence structures are controlled, but the answer offers little variety, and “Knowledge builds up” does not clearly show who or what builds knowledge. Practise joining related ideas with “because” or “which,” while keeping the subject explicit, such as “Following the news helps me build my knowledge.”
Pronunciation
Pronunciation cannot be assessed from this text, so this is a practice guide, not an assessment of a recording. Practise the phrases “follow the news,” “builds up,” and “Instagram and Facebook”: stress FOLLOW and NEWS, BUILD and UP, and the main names in the platform phrase. Read in thought groups—“In my free time / I like to follow the news.” Record yourself, then check that each phrase is clear and that the stressed words stand out.
A transcript shows language and organisation. Fluency, delivery and pronunciation require an audio recording; the synthetic voice demonstrates the text, not the original speaker.
- Add one short reason after “I like to follow the news,” such as what you learn from it.
- Clarify “Deepa's news” if you mean news from a particular person, programme, or source; keep the name but make the reference clear.
- Replace broad labels such as “big news companies” with a more exact description, then practise delivering the answer in about 30 seconds.
Plan your answer
Try your own response before reading the samples.
Ideas to explore
- Name reading as the free-time activity you enjoy.
- Mention the library and the Peace Hotel as places where you used to read.
- Include the detail that you read in class three times, expressed clearly.
Suggested structure
- Answer the free-time question directly with the activity.
- Add a sentence about when or where you used to read.
- Give the class-reading detail in a separate, clear sentence.
- Check that each detail connects to reading rather than introducing a new question.
Useful vocabulary & examples
- in my free time
- during the time available for leisure
I enjoy reading books in my free time.
- I used to read
- I read regularly or habitually in the past
I used to read in the library.
- at the Peace Hotel
- at the named place, Peace Hotel
I used to read at the Peace Hotel.
- read in class
- read while attending a class
I read in class three times.
Compare answers on this topic
Band 9
For me, I am especially interested in learning about social sciences and humanities, particularly religion. I've spent time learning about the philosophy of religion, sociology...
Band 8
Well, when I have leisure time, I usually take care of my flowers in my garden with my mother. I also go to our local park with my little brother to relax and ride bicycles. Esp...
Band 7
I don't have one specific activity I always do in my free time. But I love playing sports whenever I get the chance. I also enjoy watching Netflix series when I'm free. Right no...
Band 6
Well, to be honest, I would say that I like listening to music, traveling, and watching TV series, especially Korean dramas. In fact, I'm not like others because they like readi...
Band 5
In my free time, I like to take a break after working hard. I think I will go to sleep and then take a bit of time to do my hobbies, like reading or maybe watching a movie. I en...
Band 4
What do you like about reading books? In reading books, there are three times in the classes. I used to read in the library, at the Peace Hotel, and during my free time.