Speaking Sample Test
Part 1: Introduction & Interview
Q1
Where do you live now?
Sample response
At the moment, I live in a fairly modern apartment in the outer part of a big city. It’s a convenient area because I can get to the city centre quite quickly, but it’s still residential enough to feel comfortable.
Q2
What do you like most about the area where you live?
Sample response
What I like most is probably the balance it offers. There are plenty of useful things nearby, like supermarkets, cafés and a park, but it doesn’t feel overwhelmingly crowded.
Q3
Is your neighbourhood usually quiet or busy?
Sample response
I’d say it’s mostly quiet, especially in the evenings. During rush hour there’s a bit more traffic, of course, but compared with the city centre, it’s definitely a calmer place to live.
Q4
Are there many shops and services near your home?
Sample response
Yes, actually, that’s one of the best things about it. Within a short walk, I can find grocery shops, a pharmacy, a bank and even a small gym, so daily life is pretty easy.
Q5
How easy is it to travel around where you live?
Sample response
It’s quite easy, to be honest. There are buses and a metro station nearby, so I don’t really need a car unless I’m going somewhere far outside the city.
Q6
Do you know many of your neighbours?
Sample response
I know a few of them, but not very closely. We usually greet each other in the lift or chat briefly, and there are one or two neighbours I’d happily ask for help if I needed anything.
Q7
Do you often spend time outdoors near your home?
Sample response
Yes, fairly often. I sometimes go for a walk in the nearby park in the evening, and on weekends I like sitting outside with a coffee if the weather is nice.
Q8
Did you grow up in a similar place, or was it very different?
Sample response
It was a bit different, actually. I grew up in a quieter area with fewer buildings and much less traffic, so life felt slower and more community-oriented than it does now.
Q9
Would you prefer to live somewhere more peaceful or somewhere with more opportunities?
Sample response
I’d probably choose somewhere with more opportunities, at least for now. I think career options, education and better services matter a lot at this stage of my life, even if it means a slightly busier environment.
Q10
Would you like to move to a different kind of place in the future?
Sample response
Yes, I think so. In the future, I’d love to live somewhere greener and more peaceful, maybe a smaller town, but only if it still had good transport links and basic facilities.
Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)
Describe a place that offers a very different way of life from your own. You should say: - where this place is - what daily life is like there - what makes it different from the place where you live And explain whether you would like to live there for a long time.
Sample response
I’d like to talk about a small mountain village in northern Japan, which I first learned about through a documentary and later read more about online. It struck me as a place with a completely different rhythm of life from my own. To begin with, daily life there seems to be very quiet, simple and closely connected to nature. People wake up early, grow some of their own food, and rely a lot on local community ties. The village is surrounded by forests and mountains, so outdoor activities are part of everyday life rather than something people only do on weekends. What stood out to me was how seasonal life is there. In winter, people have to prepare for heavy snow, and in other seasons they adjust their routines around farming, weather and local traditions. That is very different from where I live now, which is a busy urban area. My life is much more fast-paced and technology-driven. I spend a lot of time online, I use public transport every day, and convenience is a huge part of city life. In contrast, that village seems to value patience, self-sufficiency and a stronger sense of community. Another thing is that people there probably have less stress from traffic and noise, but they may also have fewer career options and less access to major services. Overall, I would definitely like to live there for a short period, maybe a few months, because I think it would be refreshing and eye-opening. But for the long term, I’d probably miss the opportunities and convenience of city life too much.
Part 3: Two-way Discussion
Q1
Why do some people choose to move to more developed areas, while others prefer quieter places?
Sample response
I think it mainly comes down to priorities. Some people move to developed areas because they want better jobs, education and healthcare, and those things are usually concentrated in big towns or cities. On the other hand, quieter places appeal to people who value space, lower living costs and a slower pace of life. For example, a young professional may choose a capital city for career growth, while a family with children might prefer a peaceful suburb or small town.
Q2
How does the place people live in affect their lifestyle and daily habits?
Sample response
The place people live in shapes their routine more than they often realise. In a large city, people tend to walk faster, follow strict schedules and depend heavily on transport systems because life is more time-sensitive. By contrast, in rural areas, daily habits are often more relaxed and people may spend more time outdoors or with neighbours. Even eating habits and sleep patterns can differ depending on whether someone lives in a noisy, fast-moving environment or a calm one.
Q3
What are the main challenges of living in highly populated areas today?
Sample response
One major challenge is overcrowding, which affects almost everything else. It puts pressure on housing, transport, healthcare and even access to green space, so people often end up living in stressful conditions. Another serious issue is pollution, both air and noise, which can damage physical and mental health over time. For instance, many city residents spend hours commuting every day, and that can reduce their quality of life quite dramatically.
Q4
Do you think younger and older people usually want different kinds of places to live in? Why?
Sample response
Yes, generally speaking, they do. Younger people are often more attracted to lively places because they want access to universities, jobs, entertainment and social opportunities. Older people, however, usually place more value on comfort, safety and peace, especially once they are retired or raising a family. Of course, there are exceptions, but I’d say age often changes what people expect from their surroundings.
Q5
How can governments improve the quality of life in less developed areas?
Sample response
Governments can make a huge difference by investing in infrastructure first. If less developed areas have reliable roads, internet access, schools and hospitals, people are far less likely to feel left behind. They should also encourage businesses to open there through tax incentives or local development programmes, so residents can find decent jobs without moving away. In my view, improving public services and economic opportunities at the same time is the most effective approach.
Q6
In the future, do you think the differences between different kinds of communities will become smaller or larger?
Sample response
I think both trends may happen at once, but overall the gap could become smaller in some ways. Technology, especially remote work and online services, is already making it easier for people in smaller communities to access opportunities that used to exist only in big cities. However, wealthy areas may continue to improve faster, so some inequalities could remain or even grow. So, in daily convenience the differences may shrink, but in terms of income and resources, the contrast might still be quite noticeable.