The examiner will introduce himself or herself and confirm your identity. He or she will then ask you a number of general questions about yourself to try and make you feel relaxed. You may be asked about your home or studies. Then you will be asked one or two more sets of questions on familiar topics such as your interests, your country, your family or types of things you like in various categories such as food, clothes, holidays etc. The questions come from an examiner ‘frame’ (pre-determined questions) so the examiner will not necessarily follow-up with questions based on what you say. The more questions that are asked on a specific topic the more difficult they tend to be. However, you do not have to express a point of view or justify it in this part.
Some typical questions/prompts might be:
- Where do you come from?
- What is your home like?
- Tell me about your family.
- Tell me about your job/studies.
- Is there anything you dislike about your job/studies?
- What type of transport do you use most?
- Do you like reading?
- What kind of television programmes do you watch?
- Tell me about a film you have seen recently.
- Do you have a pet?
- What kind of food do you like?
- How often do you go shopping?
- What’s your favourite festival? Why?
- How do people celebrate this festival?
How to do Part 1
