In part one of your IELTS Speaking test, you will usually be asked about your hometown. You might also be asked about your neighborhood, and one common question on this topic is, “Do you like your neighbors?”
In this post, you’ll learn how to give a great answer to this question, with 10 good examples (go straight to the answers here).
What You Could Say
For a nice answer, you could talk about:
- Why you like (or don’t like) your neighbors or one of your neighbors
- How you know them (how you first met them)
- How you interact with them (are you friends? Are you polite with each other? Are they noisy? Do they complain?)
- How friendly (or unfriendly) your local community is
- Why you don’t know your neighbors
- If you’d like to know your neighbors better (or not)
- How long you’ve been living in the area (if you’ve had time to get to know your neighbors or not)
- What you think an ideal neighbor should be
- Anything else that comes to mind
The Three-Step YES Method
For a band-seven answer in part one, you need to say more than just “yes” or “no.” But also, don’t say too much.
It’s a good idea to follow the YES Method for part-one answers. Just say:
- Your answer (‘yes, I do like them’ or ‘no, I don’t’)
- Explain your answer (say why you like or don’t like them) maybe add some more details
- Stop talking (wait patiently for the next question)
Don’t Hesitate, Focus on Fluency
In part one of the test, you don’t need to use advanced vocabulary, or complex grammar (it’s nice, but not necessary).
Instead, focus on fluency (answering quickly, without hesitation) and warming you up.
You can use simple English in part one, and just try not to make mistakes. This will give the examiner a good first impression, and help you to relax and feel more confident.
In parts two and three, you can begin to demonstrate your advanced grammar and vocabulary.
Here are 10 example answers to this question about your neighbors.
‘Yes, I Do’ Answers
1. Yes, I know my next-door neighbors, and they seem like really nice people. We don’t speak often, and I don’t know them very well, but when I see them on the street, they usually smile and say ‘hello.’
2. Yes, I’m actually good friends with one of my neighbors. He’s an office worker, like me, and we sometimes go for a beer together in the local pub.
3. I’m lucky because I live in a building with a really nice community of people. We often do social things together, like barbecues at the weekend. So yes, I like my neighbors a lot.
4. Yes, I like two of my neighbors. They’re young mothers like me, and their children go to the same school as my son. So we sometimes share a car to take each other’s children to school in the morning.
‘No, I Don’t’ Answers
5. Actually, no, I don’t really like my neighbors. They’re always too noisy in the evenings. A few times I had to knock on their door and ask them to keep the noise down.
6. No, don’t. I’ve had a few problems with my neighbor on the right. They come across as quite rude so I try to avoid speaking to them.
7. I’m afraid I don’t like my neighbors very much. There’s no real reason. We just don’t get along.
‘Don’t Know’ Answers
8. Well, to be honest, I don’t know my neighbors at all. I live in a big city and I think it’s quite common that city people don’t know the people who live near them.
9. I’d like to know my neighbors, but we hardly ever see each other. They seem nice, I suppose. Maybe I’ll introduce myself one day.
10. I’ve recently moved to a new apartment building, so I haven’t had time to meet any of my neighbors yet. Hopefully, I’ll like them when I meet them.
Say Whatever Comes to Your Mind
Notice from these answers that you really can say anything you like. Just say anything that comes into your mind.
The only things that matter in Part 1 are:
- Answering quickly and fluently (simple English is fine)
- Not making (many) mistakes
- Warming yourself up (so you’re relaxed and ready for the more challenging parts two and three of the test)
Now You Have a Try!
It’s best to record yourself when practicing. So set up your voice recorder and ask out loud, “Do you like your neighbors?”
When you’re done, listen to the recording, and write down what you said. This way you can clearly see any mistakes you might have made.
Answer the question again, and again, and try to improve each time.
This is a great way to prepare for a band-seven answer to this IELTS Speaking part-one question.
