Music
Directives for Test-Takers:
- Part 1: Provide personal answers. Use 2-3 sentences for each question. Stay relevant and concise.
- Part 2: You will have 1 minute to prepare and 2 minutes to speak. Take notes during the preparation time to organize your ideas and cover all the bullet points.
- Part 3: Expand your answers by giving reasons, examples, and contrasting views. Aim to speak for about 1-2 minutes per question when prompted.
Part 1
- Do you enjoy listening to music?
- What type of music do you like the most?
- Do you prefer listening to live music or recorded music?
- Can you concentrate while listening to music?
Part 2
Describe a song that is special to you.
You should say:
- what the song is
- where and when you first heard it
- how it makes you feel
and explain why it is special to you.
Time Limits:
- Preparation Time: 1 minute
- Speaking Time: 2 minutes
Sample Answers:
- Band 5 Answer:
“I like a song called ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon. I first heard it when I was in high school. I like it because the lyrics are about peace. It makes me feel calm and hopeful. I think this song is special because it talks about a better world.”
Why Band 5: Simple vocabulary and grammar; lacks detail and fluency.
- Band 6 Answer:
“One of my favorite songs is ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon. I remember hearing it in high school when my teacher played it during a lesson about peace. The melody is really beautiful, and the words are meaningful. This song makes me feel inspired because it talks about a world without war and problems. It’s special to me because it gives me hope for the future.”
Why Band 6: More details and variety in sentence structure, but some hesitation and repetition.
- Band 7 Answer:
“A song that holds a lot of meaning for me is ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon. I first heard it during my high school days when my English teacher introduced it in a class discussion about peace and harmony. The melody is soothing, and the lyrics are thought-provoking, encouraging people to envision a world without conflicts. Every time I listen to it, I feel a sense of calm and optimism, which is why it remains special to me.”
Why Band 7: Clear structure, varied vocabulary, and good fluency with only minor errors.
Part 3
- What role does music play in your culture?
- How has music changed over the past few decades?
- Do you think traditional music is still important? Why or why not?
- What impact has technology had on the music industry?
Sample Band 6 Answer for “What role does music play in your culture?”
“In my culture, music is a big part of celebrations like weddings and festivals. People dance and sing together. It brings happiness and connects people. However, nowadays, young people prefer modern music, and traditional music is becoming less popular.”
Why Band 6: Clear ideas but lacks elaboration and uses basic vocabulary.
Sample Band 7 Answer for “What impact has technology had on the music industry?”
“Technology has revolutionized the music industry in many ways. For example, streaming platforms like Spotify have made it easier for people to access music from around the world. However, it has also created challenges, such as declining revenue for artists due to low streaming royalties. Overall, while technology has increased convenience, it has also forced musicians to adapt to new business models.”
Why Band 7: Complex sentences, specific examples, and good coherence.