In part one of the IELTS Speaking test, the examiner might ask you about your neighborhood. A common question would be, “Do you like the area you live in?”
Let’s take a look at how to answer this question for a band-seven answer. Below, you’ll also find 10 good example answers (go straight to the answers here).
How You Can Answer
To answer well, simply say if you do or don’t like your area (or your neighborhood) and then explain why. Give one or two reasons. That should be enough.
You might want to talk about some of these things:
- The location
- local shops
- Restaurants
- Parks or natural surroundings
- Neighbors
- Family and friends who live nearby
- Convenience
- Public transport
- Traffic
- Safety
- Anything else that comes to mind
How long should your answer be?
One or two sentences should be enough. Just talk for 10 or 20 seconds, not longer.
Many students make the mistake of speaking for too long in part one. Try to avoid this.
The examiner needs to ask you 10-12 questions in only four to five minutes. So help them do their job by answering nicely, with good English, then stopping.
You can follow thethree-step YES Method to practice this. Just say:
- Your answer (‘Yes, I do’ or ‘No, I don’t’).
- Explain your answer (say why you do or don’t like it) or add more details
- Stop talking (wait patiently for the next question)
Focus on Fluency
Focus on fluency in part one; answer quickly, without hesitation.
Don’t worry about using advanced vocabulary or complex grammar. This is nice but not necessary in part one.
You can show off your vocabulary and grammar in parts two and three.
Now, let’s take a look at 10 example answers to this question.
‘Yes, I Do’ Answers
1. Yes, I really like the area I live in because it’s quiet and peaceful and safe, but it’s also quite close to downtown, so I can get around my city quickly and easily.
2. Yes, I love my neighborhood. I’ve been living there for seven years now, and I’ve made a lot of friends in the area. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
3. Yes, I like my area because there are plenty of restaurants and shops in a big shopping mall nearby. It’s also very convenient. The subway and train stations make it easy to get to work and back.
4. Yes, I’ve lived in my neighborhood for almost all of my life. And I know many of my neighbors. My family lives all around me, and lots of friends live nearby too.
5. Yes, I do because I live in a beautiful village far away from everything. It’s so peaceful and quiet and I’m surrounded by nature, which I love.
‘No, I Don’t’ Answers
6. No, I don’t like my area much because it’s so noisy and dirty. I can’t afford to live in a better neighborhood right now, but I think I’ll be able to move next year.
7. To be honest with you, I don’t really like my neighborhood. I need to live close to my work, but it’s an industrial area, far away from the center of town. There isn’t much to do there.
8. No, I don’t. I’m tired of my area and also my whole city. It’s a big expensive, noisy city. Next year, I’m going to study abroad in a smaller town and I can’t wait.
‘Kind Of’ Answers
9. I suppose I do like my area. It’s not very exciting, but there are some grocery stores and there’s a large park. I also have everything I need nearby.
10. I kind of like my neighborhood. It’s very safe and clean. The only problem is that there are no good schools nearby, so I have to travel really far each morning to drop my kids off at school.
Your Turn To Try
Okay, now it’s your turn to answer this question.
Set up the voice recorder on your phone and then ask yourself, “Do you like the area you live in?”
Answer as quickly and fluently as you can. Try to use the YES Method.
Then listen to your recording, and write down your answer so that you can see any mistakes clearly.
Think about how you might improve the answer, and then do it again.
If you repeat this process a few times for each part-one question, you’ll soon be ready to give excellent answers in your IELTS Speaking test.
