Part 1 — Introduction & Interview
Answer questions about familiar topics. 4–5 minutes.
Speaking
All guides
What you see on screen
The examiner asks about familiar topics like your home, work, or hobbies for about four to five minutes. You answer aloud; nothing is typed or written.
How it is marked
Speaking earns one score across four criteria: fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Part 1 itself carries no separate mark.
Strategy
- Answer in two to three sentences, extending with a reason or example every single time.
- Prepare topics and vocabulary rather than scripts; memorised answers sound flat and examiners notice.
- Ask the examiner to repeat a misheard question once; guessing the topic wrecks coherence.
- Buy thinking time with an occasional 'well' or 'actually' instead of falling silent.
Traps that cost marks
One-word answers starve your fluency score and force awkward examiner follow-ups.
Reciting rehearsed paragraphs regardless of the question reads as memorised and caps your mark.
Now try it under exam conditions.
Practise Part 1 — Introduction & Interview