# Do you work or are you a student? IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 1 - Work

Do you work or are you a student?

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 6 sample

I am a student now. I am studying bachelor in business administration in a private college, and this is my third year. I chose this subject because my father has small business and I want to help him in the future, also I think business degree has many job opportunities. The subject is quite interesting, especially marketing, but accounting is very difficult for me and I always get low marks on it. Besides study, I also do a part-time job in a mobile shop on weekends to earn some pocket money. After graduation I am planning to do MBA, maybe in abroad.

**Examiner notes.** This answer gives a clear response and develops it with reasons, likes and dislikes, a part-time job and future plans. The content is relevant, but linking is sometimes loose ("in the future, also I think"). Missing articles in "studying bachelor", "has small business" and "do MBA", plus "maybe in abroad" and "Besides study", are frequent slips. For Band 7, the speaker would use more precise phrases like "in my final year" or "I'm struggling with accounting" and handle articles accurately.

## Band 7 sample

I work full-time as a software tester for a company that builds apps for banks. Basically, my job is to find problems in the software before it reaches customers, so I spend most of the day running tests and writing reports for the developers. I've been doing it for about two years now. I actually studied civil engineering, so it wasn't my original plan, but I discovered I had a knack for spotting mistakes and the pay is better than I expected. The downside is that it can get repetitive, so I'm currently taking an online course in test automation to move into a more technical role.

**Examiner notes.** This answer explains the job in plain terms, adds background ("it wasn't my original plan") and finishes with a forward-looking plan. Idiomatic phrases such as "had a knack for spotting mistakes" and "move into a more technical role" are used appropriately, and the present perfect continuous is accurate. The answer still moves in a fairly predictable order: job, history, downside, plan. For Band 8, the speaker would link ideas more flexibly and use more precise, less common vocabulary.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/do-you-work-or-study).

## More Part 1 questions on this topic

1. Why did you choose that job or subject?
2. What do you like most about it?
3. Is there anything you find difficult about it?
4. What would you like to do in the future?

## Common questions

### How long should an IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?

You get one minute to prepare and then speak for up to two minutes; the examiner stops you at two. Aim to keep talking for the full time, which is usually 220 to 300 words.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and a learned script is marked down. Use the samples to see what each band does, then answer in your own words.