Part 1 · Band 4

where is your hometown

Source-reported band score · 26 words

Sample answer

I'm originally from Farghana, but I'm living in it was the past 9 months. There is just something special about my city that I really appreciate.

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

The answer follows a clear sequence: you name your hometown, mention how long you have been living there, and then express appreciation for it. The unclear phrase “I'm living in it was the past 9 months” interrupts that progression, and the final idea is not developed further. Practise a 30-second response: state where you are from, explain your current connection to the place, then add one genuine detail about what you appreciate.

Lexical Resource

“Originally from” and “something special about my city” are relevant, natural phrases for this question, and your meaning is partly clear. However, the vocabulary is limited in this short response, and “something special” does not tell the listener what you value. Next, choose one accurate descriptive phrase that reflects your own view—such as “the atmosphere” or “the sense of community”—and explain it briefly, if it genuinely applies.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

You use a present-tense clause in “There is just something special about my city,” but the sentence “I'm living in it was the past 9 months” has a serious structure and tense problem that makes the timeline difficult to understand. For an action continuing until now, practise “I’ve been living there for the past 9 months.” Then check that each sentence has a complete, consistent clause.

Pronunciation

This is a practice guide, not an assessment of a recording; no pronunciation can be judged from the text alone. Practise the word stress in “Farghana” using the pronunciation you know for the place name, and give “past 9 months” and “special about my city” clear thought groups. Record yourself saying the improved answer, then check that each phrase is easy to distinguish and that the place name is consistent.

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

  • Replace “I'm living in it was the past 9 months” with “I've been living there for the past 9 months” and practise the corrected sentence aloud.
  • Add one truthful, specific detail about what you appreciate about Farghana, rather than relying only on “something special.”
  • Practise a 30-second answer with three parts: hometown, length of time living there, and one reason or detail you value.

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 →

Compare answers on this topic

Band 9

I am from Baku, Azerbaijan, which is my hometown. I was born and raised in this remarkable city. Baku is a unique blend of modern and architectural buildings, complemented by be...

Band 8

My hometown is Rabat, the capital city of Morocco, where I was born and grew up. It's a beautiful city surrounded by beaches and green spaces. Known as the city of lights, Rabat...

Band 7

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....

Band 6

I am originally from Argentina, but I have lived in for the past 9 months. I love Nam and Young, but I still miss my hometown. Sometimes there is something special about my city...

Band 5

Uh, I'm originally from a small town, but I live in Namangan for the past 9 months because of my study. I love Namangan, but I still miss my hometown very much. There is somethi...

Band 4

My hometown is located in the western coastal area of Nepal. It's called Bharakpur.