Part 1 · Band 7

where is your hometown

Source-reported band score · 44 words

Sample answer

I am originally from Chusovoy, but I live in Nizhny Novgorod for the past 9 months because of my study. I love Nizhny Novgorod very much, but I still miss my hometown sometimes. There is something special about my city that I really appreciate.

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

The ideas follow a clear sequence: you name your hometown, explain your move, then contrast your affection for Nizhny Novgorod with missing Chusovoy. The final sentence adds a personal response, though “something special” leaves that thought undeveloped. Try a 30-second timed response using these three beats; add one specific detail about what you appreciate only if it is true for you.

Lexical Resource

Your vocabulary is clear and appropriate for a hometown question: “originally from,” “miss my hometown,” and “really appreciate” communicate your meaning naturally. The main limitation is that “something special” is general, and “love” and “appreciate” carry most of the description. As a refinement, choose one precise adjective or detail that reflects your genuine feeling about the place, rather than adding unsupported facts.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

The answer uses straightforward sentence structures and keeps the relationships between ideas clear. The main tense issue is “I live … for the past 9 months”: a period continuing to the present calls for the present perfect continuous (“I have been living”). “Because of my study” is understandable, but “because of my studies” is more idiomatic here. Practise combining present-perfect forms with time expressions such as “for the past nine months.”

Pronunciation

This is a practice guide, not an assessment of a recording; no pronunciation can be judged from text alone. Practise the phrases “originally from Chusovoy” and “for the past 9 months”: give the key content words clear stress, then group the answer into thought units, such as “I am originally from Chusovoy / but I have been living in Nizhny Novgorod…”. Record yourself once and check that each phrase is easy to follow.

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

  • Use “I have been living” with “for the past 9 months” to show that the move began in the past and continues now.
  • For a more specific response, add one genuine detail about what makes Chusovoy or Nizhny Novgorod special to you.
  • Practise delivering the answer in three connected parts: where you are from, why you moved, and how you feel about both places.

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Give the hometown’s name and country, then mention a personal connection such as being born and raised there.
  • Describe one or two features of the place, such as its architecture and parks, rather than listing many attractions.
  • Finish with a personal activity and feeling, such as enjoying walks because they are relaxing.

Suggested structure

  1. Name the hometown and country.
  2. Add a brief personal detail about your connection to the place.
  3. Describe a distinctive feature or two.
  4. End with an activity you enjoy and explain how it makes you feel.
Useful vocabulary & examples
a distinctive mix of
a noticeable combination of different features

Baku has a distinctive mix of modern buildings and striking architecture.

born and raised
born and brought up in a particular place

I was born and raised in Baku.

across the city
in different parts of the city

There are beautiful parks across the city.

I find it relaxing
I feel calm when I do it

I enjoy walking around my hometown because I find it relaxing.

Practise your answer →

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