The examiner asks about you and everyday topics. Answer naturally — a direct answer plus one extra detail. Record yourself, then compare with the model after you submit.
"I'm from Sylhet, a city in the north-east of Bangladesh, and I've actually lived there my whole life — so around twenty years now. It's a fairly green, relaxed place compared to Dhaka, which is one of the things I like most about it."
"I'm a student at the moment — I'm studying business at university. I'm in my second year, and although the workload can be heavy, I really enjoy the marketing side of the course because it's so creative."
"It depends on how busy the week has been, but usually I try to relax. On Fridays I meet friends for lunch, and on Saturdays I often help my family with shopping and then catch up on any studying I've fallen behind on."
"Honestly, I lean towards films, mainly because I find them a quicker way to unwind after a long day. That said, I do read when I travel — there's something about a novel on a long bus journey that a film just can't replace."
"I'm quite fond of street food, especially fuchka. It's cheap, it's spicy, and it reminds me of evenings out with friends. I probably eat it more often than I should, but I can never resist it."
Read the card, then use the 1-minute preparation timer to make quick notes. When it ends, start the 2-minute timer and speak until it stops, covering all four points.
"The skill I'd really love to learn is how to swim properly. It might sound surprising, but although I grew up near plenty of rivers, I never actually learned, and it's something that has always slightly embarrassed me.
The main reason I want to learn is safety — I'd feel far more confident on boats and at the beach — but I'm also drawn to it as a form of exercise, because I've heard it's one of the gentlest ways to keep fit.
As for how I'd go about it, I think I'd sign up for a proper course with a qualified instructor rather than trying to teach myself, since technique matters so much and bad habits are hard to undo. I'd probably start in a shallow pool and build up gradually.
In terms of usefulness, beyond the safety aspect, I think it would open up a lot of activities I currently avoid, like snorkelling on holiday, and it would give me a real sense of achievement to finally conquer something I've put off for so long."
The examiner asks broader questions linked to Part 2. Give an opinion and a reason, and try to extend each answer.
"I think the main reason is a lack of time — adults are often juggling work and family, so they simply can't practise consistently. There's also a psychological factor: adults tend to be more afraid of failing in front of others than children are, and that fear can hold them back before they even start."
"To some extent, yes. I think things like managing money or basic cooking are genuinely useful and often neglected. However, I wouldn't want that to come at the expense of academic subjects, because those teach you how to think. Ideally, it should be a balance rather than one replacing the other."
"It's changed it enormously. In the past you'd have to find a class or a teacher, but now you can learn almost anything from a video online, often for free. The downside, though, is that it takes a lot of self-discipline — it's very easy to start something online and never finish it, whereas a real class keeps you accountable."
"Almost certainly. As machines take over routine tasks, purely technical skills like basic calculation may matter less. What I suspect will grow in value, though, are the things machines struggle with — creativity, communication and the ability to work well with other people. So it's less that skills disappear and more that the balance shifts."