What Part 1 Is Actually Testing

Part 1 tests your ability to talk about familiar, personal topics — your home, family, work, hobbies, daily routines. The examiner is not testing your knowledge; they are testing your English fluency on comfortable topics.

The Scoring Criteria

Part 1 is marked on the same four criteria as the whole test: Fluency & Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range, Pronunciation. Even in Part 1, all four are being assessed.

The Right Answer Length

Short answers fail on fluency. Very long answers sound rehearsed.

The Two-Sentence Rule

For most Part 1 questions, give a direct answer (1 sentence) + extend with a reason, detail or example (1–2 sentences). Total: 3–4 sentences, about 20–30 words. That is the sweet spot.

Question: Do you enjoy cooking?

  • Too short: Yes, I do.
  • Too long: Well, that is an interesting question. Cooking is something I started doing when I was a child and my grandmother used to show me how to make traditional dishes and since then I have developed a real passion for it and I cook every single day without exception and… (sounds memorised)
  • Just right: Yes, I genuinely enjoy it. I find cooking after a long day really relaxing, and I especially like experimenting with different cuisines — last week I tried making sushi for the first time.

Extending Techniques

Use these patterns to extend naturally:

Pattern Example
because + reason I enjoy it because it helps me unwind.
especially + detail I love it, especially Thai food.
for example + instance I try new recipes often, for example last weekend I made pasta from scratch.
although + contrast I like cooking, although I don’t always have time.
Do Not Memorise Answers

Examiners are trained to detect memorised responses. If your answer sounds like you are reciting a script, you will be interrupted and given a different question — and your fluency score suffers.

Vocabulary to Upgrade Common Answers

Basic Upgraded
I like it I’m quite keen on it / I’m really fond of it
I don’t like it I’m not particularly into it / It’s not really my thing
sometimes from time to time / every now and then
a lot considerably / a great deal / quite a bit
Pronunciation Over Vocabulary

A Band 5 word said clearly is worth more than a Band 8 word mispronounced. Speak at a natural pace. Clarity beats complexity in Part 1.

Part 1 is meant to warm you up. Treat it as a conversation, not a performance.