Topic: Shopping
Part 1: Introduction and Interview Questions
Directive for Part 1:
- Preparation Time: None (Answer immediately)
- Speaking Time: 4–5 minutes
- Kind of Answer Expected: Short, direct answers with personal experiences or opinions.
Questions:
- Do you like shopping?
- What kind of things do you usually buy?
- Do you prefer shopping in stores or online? Why?
- How often do you go shopping?
Sample Answers for Part 1:
- Band 9 (Expert User):
“Yes, I enjoy shopping, especially when it comes to buying clothes or tech gadgets. I usually shop for clothes, books, and occasionally electronic items. While I like shopping in stores because I can try things out before purchasing, I often shop online for convenience. I usually go shopping once or twice a week, depending on what I need.”
Reasoning for Band 9: The answer is fluent, clear, and well-structured. The response provides specific details with good range and accuracy, and the speaker is confident and spontaneous. - Band 7 (Good User):
“I like shopping, but I don’t do it very often. I usually buy things like clothes, food, and sometimes shoes. I prefer online shopping because it saves time and I can compare prices easily. I go shopping around once a week.”
Reasoning for Band 7: The answer is clear and provides relevant details, but it lacks some depth compared to a Band 9 answer. The speaker makes some minor errors, and the response could be slightly more elaborate. - Band 5 (Modest User):
“I like shopping but not too much. I buy clothes and food mostly. I think online shopping is better because it’s easy. I go shopping every week.”
Reasoning for Band 5: The response is simple with limited vocabulary and is repetitive. The speaker is able to answer the questions but struggles with offering more detailed responses, and the ideas are not fully developed.
Part 2: Long Turn
Directive for Part 2:
- Preparation Time: 1 minute
- Speaking Time: 1-2 minutes
- Kind of Answer Expected: A detailed and organized answer, providing a description, opinion, and explanation.
Question:
Describe a time when you bought something that was very useful to you. You should say:
- What it was
- When you bought it
- How it has been useful
And explain why you consider it useful.
Sample Answers for Part 2:
- Band 9 (Expert User):
“About six months ago, I bought a high-quality backpack that has been incredibly useful to me. I purchased it online after doing a lot of research, as I needed something durable for my daily commute and occasional travel. The backpack is spacious, has multiple compartments, and is made from waterproof material, which has proven to be very practical. It has made my life much easier because I can carry my laptop, books, and other essentials with comfort and organization. It’s durable, so I’m confident it will last for years. Overall, it’s a great investment.”
Reasoning for Band 9: The speaker delivers a fluent, organized, and detailed response. There is a clear explanation with an evaluation of why the item is useful, along with specific examples. The vocabulary and grammar are used accurately with good flexibility. - Band 7 (Good User):
“I bought a new phone last year, and it has been really useful. It’s a smartphone with a large screen and lots of features, which I use for both work and leisure. I bought it because my old phone was getting slow and unreliable. It has helped me stay organized and connected with people, which is very important for me, especially for work. It’s been very helpful.”
Reasoning for Band 7: The response is good but slightly less detailed than a Band 9 answer. The speaker gives a clear response with a relevant example, but the explanation could have been more detailed, and there is a slight lack of variety in sentence structures. - Band 5 (Modest User):
“I bought a phone recently. It is useful because I can use it for many things. I use it for talking to people and sometimes for work. I bought it because my old phone was not working well. It helps me stay connected.”
Reasoning for Band 5: The response is somewhat basic and lacks depth. The speaker provides a relevant example but does not expand much on why it is useful or explain how it helps in detail. There are some repetitions, and the range of vocabulary and sentence structures is limited.
Part 3: Discussion Questions
Directive for Part 3:
- Preparation Time: None (Answer immediately)
- Speaking Time: 4–5 minutes
- Kind of Answer Expected: In-depth responses with reasons, examples, and clear explanations.
Questions:
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping online?
- How do you think shopping habits have changed in recent years?
- Do you think it’s better to shop in large malls or local shops? Why?
- What do you think will be the future of shopping in the next 10 years?
Sample Answers for Part 3:
- Band 9 (Expert User):
“The advantages of online shopping include convenience, variety, and often better prices. You can shop from the comfort of your home and find almost anything you need, while prices are usually competitive due to less overhead cost for online stores. However, the downside is that you can’t physically check the products before buying, and there are shipping fees and sometimes delays. Shopping habits have definitely changed in recent years with the rise of e-commerce platforms, as more people are opting for the ease of online shopping. In terms of large malls vs. local shops, I think both have their merits. Malls offer a variety of stores in one place, while local shops offer more personalized service. Looking ahead, I believe online shopping will continue to grow, but there might also be an increase in physical stores offering unique experiences to attract customers.”
Reasoning for Band 9: The response is clear, well-structured, and insightful. It covers all aspects of the question in detail, providing a balanced view with examples. The speaker uses advanced vocabulary and complex sentence structures accurately. - Band 7 (Good User):
“Online shopping has a lot of benefits like convenience and price comparisons. However, one disadvantage is that you can’t see the product physically before buying. People have started shopping online more in the past few years, especially with the pandemic making it more popular. Large malls are good because they have everything in one place, but local shops provide a more personal experience. In the future, I think online shopping will become even more popular, but physical stores may adapt by offering different experiences.”
Reasoning for Band 7: The speaker answers the questions clearly, with good coherence and some elaboration. The vocabulary is appropriate but not as varied as a Band 9 response. There is a solid understanding of the topic but with less depth in explanation. - Band 5 (Modest User):
“Online shopping is easy because you don’t need to leave home. But sometimes you can’t see the product before buying. People shop online more now because it is faster. Malls are big and have many stores, but local shops are smaller and maybe better for service. I think online shopping will be bigger in the future.”
Reasoning for Band 5: The response is relatively simple, offering basic ideas with limited development. The speaker addresses the questions but doesn’t provide enough detail or examples. Vocabulary and grammar are limited, with some repetitive language.