IELTS Speaking Part 1 Work/Study: Complete Answer Guide

Quick Answer: In IELTS Speaking Part 1, you’ll likely be asked about your work or studies. Common questions include “What do you do?” “Why did you choose that subject/job?” and “Do you like it?” To score high, give extended answers with reasons, examples, and a range of vocabulary, while staying natural and fluent.

Table of Contents

Why Work/Study Is a Common Topic

Key Vocabulary and Phrases

How to Structure Your Answer

Band Score Comparison

Real Examples

Common Mistakes

Pro Tips from IELTS Active

How IELTS Active Helps

FAQ

Key Takeaways

Why Work/Study Is a Common Topic

IELTS Speaking Part 1 is designed to break the ice and assess your ability to talk about familiar topics. Work and study are universal themes – almost every test-taker has either a job or is a student. Examiners ask about your daily routine, preferences, and future plans to gauge your fluency, coherence, lexical resource, and grammatical range.

The topic is straightforward, but many candidates lose marks by giving one-word answers or repeating the same structures. For example, “I study engineering” is a low-scoring answer. A high-scoring version would be: “I’m currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at XYZ University, and I chose it because I’ve always been fascinated by how machines work – especially renewable energy systems.”

To excel, you need to show you can expand on ideas, use specific vocabulary (e.g., “major,” “coursework,” “campus,” “profession,” “colleagues,” “deadlines”), and link your thoughts naturally. The key is to treat each question as a mini-story.

Key Vocabulary and Phrases

Using topic-specific vocabulary boosts your Lexical Resource score. Here are essential phrases for work and study:

For Students:

“I’m studying [subject] at [university].”

“My major is [field].” / “I’m majoring in [field].”

“I’m in my [first/second/final] year.”

“Coursework” / “assignments” / “exams” / “lectures” / “seminars”

“Campus life” / “student union” / “dormitory”

“Part-time job” / “internship” / “work-study”

For Working Professionals:

“I work as a [job title] at [company].”

“I’m employed in [industry].”

“My responsibilities include [tasks].”

“I’m a freelancer” / “I run my own business.”

“Colleagues” / “team” / “projects” / “deadlines”

“Career progression” / “promotion” / “job satisfaction”

General Linkers to Extend Answers:

“The reason I chose this is…”

“What I enjoy most is…”

“On the other hand, a challenge is…”

“In the future, I hope to…”

How to Structure Your Answer

IELTS examiners look for a clear structure even in Part 1. Aim for a 3-step response:

Direct Answer – State your answer clearly.

Reason or Explanation – Why you do it or how you feel.

Example or Detail – A specific instance, a comparison, or a future plan.

Example Question: “Do you like your job?”

Direct: “Yes, I really enjoy my job as a software developer.”

Reason: “Because it allows me to solve creative problems and work with a talented team.”

Detail: “For instance, last month we launched a new app that helps small businesses manage inventory, and seeing it succeed gave me a great sense of achievement.”

This structure shows fluency and coherence, and gives you enough words to demonstrate vocabulary and grammar.

Band Score Comparison

Band	Score	What Examiner Wants
6	6.0	Basic answers, some repetition, limited vocabulary. “I study business. I like it.”
7	7.0	Extended answers, good vocabulary, some idiomatic phrases. “I’m studying business management because I find marketing strategies fascinating.”
8	8.0	Fluent with natural pauses, wide range of complex structures, specific examples. “I’m currently pursuing a degree in business management at a top university, and I chose it because I’ve always been intrigued by how brands connect with consumers – especially in the digital age.”
9	9.0	Effortless, precise, idiomatic, and sophisticated. “I’m a business management major, and I absolutely love it because it’s the perfect blend of creativity and analytics. For example, last semester we did a project on neuromarketing, which completely changed my perspective on consumer behaviour.”

Real Examples

Question: “What do you do – work or study?” Band 7 Response: “I’m currently a student at a local university. I’m studying computer science, and I’m in my second year. I chose this subject because I’ve always been interested in technology, and I think it offers good career opportunities.” Band 8 Response: “I’m a full-time student at the University of Manchester, where I’m majoring in computer science. I’m in my second year, and I chose this field because I’ve been passionate about coding since I was a teenager – I even built my first website at 14. The coursework is challenging but rewarding, especially the modules on artificial intelligence.” Band 9 Response: “I’m currently pursuing a degree in computer science at the University of Manchester, and I’m halfway through my second year. I decided to major in this field because I’ve always been fascinated by how algorithms can solve real-world problems – for instance, I’m now working on a project that uses machine learning to predict traffic patterns. The programme is demanding, but I thrive on the intellectual stimulation, and I’ve already secured a summer internship with a tech startup.”

Common Mistakes

❌Mistake 1: One-word answers. Saying “I study” or “I work” without elaboration. The examiner expects you to speak for 20–30 seconds per question.

❌Mistake 2: Memorised phrases. Using robotic sentences like “I am a student. I like my subject because it is interesting.” This sounds unnatural.

❌Mistake 3: Irrelevant details. Talking about your family or hobbies when the question is only about work/study. Stay on topic.

❌Mistake 4: Poor grammar. Forgetting to use present perfect or conditional structures when talking about experience or future plans. Example: “I work here since 2020” (should be “I have worked here since 2020”).

Pro Tips from IELTS Active

Tip 1: Use the “PPF” method – talk about the Past, Present, and Future. For example: “I studied economics in high school (past), now I’m doing a degree in finance (present), and I hope to become an investment banker (future).” This shows range.

Tip 2: Vary your sentence structures. Combine simple and complex sentences. Use relative clauses: “I work for a company that specializes in renewable energy.”

Tip 3: Practice with a timer. Part 1 questions are short – aim for 20–30 seconds per answer. Record yourself and check for fluency and fillers (like “ummm”). Replace fillers with natural pauses.

How IELTS Active Helps

At IELTS Active, we offer free practice tests, vocabulary lists, and model answers for all Speaking Part 1 topics, including work/study. Our interactive exercises help you build confidence and fluency. Visit ieltsactive.com to access our complete Speaking course with video lessons, mock tests, and personalized feedback. You can also download our “IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topic Workbook” for 50+ sample answers and band 9 templates.

FAQ

Q: Should I say I am unemployed if I don’t work or study? A: Yes, but be positive. Say “I am currently taking a gap year to travel and learn new skills” or “I am looking for a job in the marketing field.” Avoid negative language. Q: How many sentences should I speak per question? A: Aim for 3–5 sentences. That’s about 20–30 seconds. Don’t speak too long – the examiner has to ask 4–5 questions in Part 1. Q: Can I use idioms in Part 1? A: Use them sparingly and naturally. For work/study, idioms like “burning the midnight oil” (studying hard) or “climbing the career ladder” (advancing) are fine if they fit the context. Q: What if I don’t know the exact name of my job in English? A: Describe it. For example, “I work in a hospital as a technician – I operate medical imaging machines.” The examiner will understand. Q: Is it okay to ask the examiner to repeat the question? A: Yes, you can say “Could you please repeat that?” or “Sorry, I didn’t catch that.” It’s natural and doesn’t lower your score.

Key Takeaways

✅Expand your answers – use the Direct Answer + Reason + Example structure.

✅Learn topic-specific vocabulary for work and study.

✅Use the PPF method (past, present, future) to show range.

✅Avoid one-word answers and memorised scripts.

✅Practice with a timer to improve fluency.

✅Visit IELTS Active for free resources and sample answers.

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

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