IELTS Speaking Part 1 Home/Accommodation: Sample Answers

Quick Answer: In IELTS Speaking Part 1, you will be asked about your home and accommodation – a common topic that can appear in any test. To score high, describe the type of home you live in, its location, your room, and your feelings about it. Use a mix of tenses, specific vocabulary (e.g., "detached house," "spacious," "cosy"), and elaborate with reasons and examples.

Table of Contents

What to Expect in IELTS Speaking Part 1 Home/Accommodation

Common Questions on Home and Accommodation

Vocabulary to Describe Your Home

Band Score Comparison

Real Sample Answers (Band 7 to 9)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Pro Tips from IELTS Active

How IELTS Active Helps

FAQ

Key Takeaways

What to Expect in IELTS Speaking Part 1 Home/Accommodation

In IELTS Speaking Part 1, the examiner will ask you 4–6 short questions about familiar topics. Home and accommodation is one of the most frequent themes. You should be ready to talk about:

The type of house or flat you live in (e.g., apartment, villa, detached house)

The location (city centre, suburb, countryside)

The rooms (especially your favourite room)

How long you have lived there

What you like or dislike about your home

Any changes you would like to make

The answers should be 1–2 sentences long but developed enough to show your language ability. The examiner wants to hear a range of vocabulary, correct grammar (especially tenses), and fluency. This topic is perfect for showing off adjectives like "spacious," "well-lit," or "cosy," and structures like "I’ve been living here for…" (present perfect continuous).

Common Questions on Home and Accommodation

Here are typical questions the examiner might ask. Prepare your answers for each:

Do you live in a house or a flat?

Band 8 answer: "I live in a third-floor flat in the city centre. It’s quite compact but very convenient because it’s close to my university and the main shopping areas."

What is your favourite room in your home?

Band 9 answer: "Without a doubt, the living room. It has a huge window that lets in natural light all day, and I’ve decorated it with plants and soft cushions, which makes it incredibly relaxing."

How long have you lived there?

Band 7 answer: "I’ve been living in my current apartment for about three years now. Before that, I used to live in a smaller flat with my parents."

What do you like about your accommodation?

Band 8 answer: "I really appreciate the location – it’s only a five-minute walk from the subway station. Also, the neighbourhood is very peaceful at night, so I can sleep well."

Is there anything you would like to change about your home?

Band 9 answer: "If I could change one thing, I would expand the kitchen. It’s a bit cramped when I cook elaborate meals, and I love hosting dinner parties, so a bigger kitchen would be a dream."

Vocabulary to Describe Your Home

Use these collocations and phrases to boost your Lexical Resource score:

Category	Words / Phrases
Type of home	detached house, semi-detached house, terraced house, apartment/flat, studio flat, penthouse, villa, cottage
Size & space	spacious, cramped, roomy, compact, huge, tiny, cosy (cozy), airy, well-proportioned
Light & atmosphere	well-lit, bright, dim, sunny, airy, cluttered, tidy, messy, welcoming, homely
Location	city centre, suburbs, outskirts, countryside, residential area, quiet street, bustling neighbourhood
Rooms	living room, lounge, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, dining room, study, balcony, garden, terrace
Feelings	comfortable, convenient, relaxing, peaceful, lively, vibrant, outdated, modern, energy-efficient
Verbs for living	reside, dwell, inhabit, occupy, share, rent, own, move into, settle in, decorate, furnish

Grammar tip: Use present perfect continuous for how long you have lived somewhere: "I’ve been living here since 2019." Or simple present for facts: "My flat has two bedrooms."

Band Score Comparison

Band	Score	What Examiner Wants
6	OK	Basic vocabulary, some errors, short answers. Reads like a list.
7	Good	More vocabulary, few errors, longer answers with reasons.
8	Very Good	Natural flow, idiomatic language, clear structure, confident.
9	Expert	Precise vocabulary, complex grammar perfect control, engaging answers.

Real Sample Answers (Band 7 to 9)

Band 7 Response (Question: "What is your favourite room in your home?"): "My favourite room is the living room because it’s big and I can relax there. There is a sofa and a TV. I like to watch movies with my family. It’s comfortable." Analysis: Simple vocabulary, no adjectives like "spacious," only basic linking. Answer is short but clear. Not enough elaboration. Band 8 Response (Same question): "I would say the living room is my favourite, mainly because it’s the most spacious area in our flat. It has large windows that make it really bright during the day. I’ve decorated it with some indoor plants and family photos, which gives it a warm atmosphere. It’s where we gather after dinner to chat or watch a film together." Analysis: Good vocabulary ("spacious, bright, warm atmosphere"), specific details, reasons given. Fluency is smooth. Band 9 Response (Same question): "Undoubtedly, my favourite space is the living room. It's not just a room – it's the heart of our home. The ceiling-to-floor windows flood it with natural light, and I’ve meticulously chosen every piece of furniture to create a minimalist yet cosy vibe. I often curl up on the sofa with a book, especially on rainy afternoons, and that sense of tranquillity is priceless. In a nutshell, it perfectly reflects my personality." Analysis: Advanced vocabulary ("flood it with natural light, meticulously chosen, minimalist yet cosy vibe"), complex grammar ("I’ve meticulously chosen"), emotional touch. Language is precise and natural.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌Mistake 1: Giving one-word answers. Example: "Do you live in a house or flat?" "Flat." Instead, expand: "I live in a modern flat on the tenth floor of a high-rise building in central Tokyo."

❌Mistake 2: Using the same simple adjectives repeatedly. Saying "big," "nice," "good" over and over. Replace with "spacious, cosy, convenient, well-maintained, modern."

❌Mistake 3: Forgetting tenses. If you moved recently, use past simple. If you still live there, use present simple or present perfect continuous. Don't mix them incorrectly.

❌Mistake 4: Sounding robotic. Memorising answers can hurt your fluency. Instead, practice talking naturally about your actual home.

Pro Tips from IELTS Active

Tip 1: Prepare a single "home story" that you can adapt to any question. Describe your home in 3–4 sentences, including type, location, favourite room, and a small problem. Use that core story to answer multiple questions fluently.

Tip 2: Use the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) if asked about changes. E.g., "The balcony was tiny (situation). I wanted to make it usable (task). So I installed a foldable table and hanging plants (action). Now it’s my favourite spot to have morning coffee (result)."

Tip 3: Don't forget the "why" – always give a reason even for simple questions. "I love my bedroom because it’s the quietest room in the house, which helps me focus on my studies." This shows depth.

How IELTS Active Helps

Struggling to move from Band 6.5 to 7+? At ieltsactive.com, we provide free, high-quality practice tests for IELTS Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing. Our model answers include topic-specific vocabulary (like "home/accommodation"), grammar tips, and fluency drills. Sign up to get 10 full-length Speaking mock tests with examiner feedback. Also check our IELTS Speaking Part 1 Question Bank – 50+ commonly asked topics with sample Band 9 answers. Start practising today and see your score rise!

FAQ

Q: How many questions will I get on home/accommodation? A: Usually 3–4 questions. But the examiner may ask follow-ups based on your answers. Stay ready for related topics like "neighbourhood" or "furniture." Q: Can I talk about a future home or my childhood home? A: Yes, if the question asks about "ideal home" or "past home." Use appropriate conditionals (would, could, used to) and mix tenses. For example, "If I could design my dream home, it would be a cottage in the mountains." Q: What if I don’t have a favourite room? A: You can talk about a neutral room or why you don’t have a favourite. Better to choose any room and describe it in detail – the kitchen, balcony, or even the hallway if you have a large photo collection there. Q: How do I avoid repeating the same words? A: Use synonyms from our vocabulary table above. For "house," use "property, place, accommodation, residence, flat." For "like," use "enjoy, appreciate, adore, find… pleasant."

Key Takeaways

✅Prepare core answers for type, location, favourite room, and one change – then adapt.

✅Use high-level adjectives (spacious, cosy, bright, cramped, outdated) to impress.

✅Link ideas with because, since, so, which means to show fluency.

✅Practice your tone – be enthusiastic but natural. Smile as you speak.

About IELTS Active: Trusted by 500,000+ students worldwide. Get free practice tests and expert tips at ieltsactive.com Related:

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