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IELTS Speaking Part 1

Concentration: Part 1 questions and answers

Real Part 1 questions about concentration, as candidates reported them. Play each one, answer it out loud, then open a short Band 7 reply to compare.

Today's topicConcentration

  • 4–5 minthe whole part
  • ~12questions
  • ~20 seach answer

Answer, add a reason or an example, then stop. The examiner moves on fast, so short and real wins.

Reported in July 2026

Question 1: Can you concentrate for a long time?

Yes/no questionDon't stop at yes or no. Say why.

Think of yours first, then see a Band 7 replyHide the reply

AnswerProbably, yes. WhyI can usually concentrate for about an hour, mainly because I break revision into small parts and remove things of my desk, and I usually study in silence. ExampleDuring exam week, I get through two chapters before lunch, although I sometimes reread the same paragraph.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. get through two chapters This is a natural phrasal verb showing strong everyday vocabulary.
  2. remove things of my desk Things is vague; distractions would be more precise.
  3. parts and remove things of my desk, and I usually The simple linker and is repeated in a natural spoken way.
  4. small parts A plain choice; short blocks would be more precise.
  5. things of my desk A preposition slip: things from my desk is correct.

About 19 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 2: Could you concentrate for longer when you were younger?

About the pastUse the past: I used to, I remember…

Think of yours first, then see a Band 7 replyHide the reply

AnswerYes, I think so. WhyWhen I was younger, I could stay on track for longer because school stuff felt less demanding, and I had less messages coming in. ExampleI mean, I remember doing homework at my grandparents’ flat for nearly two hours, but my attention wandered if the task was boring.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. stay on track for longer This useful collocation shows natural control of everyday English.
  2. school stuff felt less demanding Stuff is vague; schoolwork or assignments would be more precise.
  3. less messages coming in A common spoken slip: fewer messages is correct.
  4. I mean, I remember A filler that makes the answer sound unplanned.

About 20 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 3: Is it easy for you to concentrate in a noisy place?

Yes/no questionDon't stop at yes or no. Say why.

Think of yours first, then see a Band 7 replyHide the reply

AnswerNo, not at all. WhyIn Bishkek, I find it difficult to concentrate in cafés because I can’t block out other people’s conversations, and I start listening things around me. ExampleLast month, I tried to read in a busy place, but I only managed three pages before moving outside.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. listening things around me Things is vague; conversations or noises would be more precise.
  2. block out Block out is the natural phrasal verb for not letting a noise reach you.
  3. a busy place A plain choice; a busy food court would be more precise.
  4. listening things A small slip: listening to things is correct.

About 19 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 4: What usually distracts you when you're trying to focus?

Open questionAnswer it, then add one detail.

Think of yours first, then see a Band 7 replyHide the reply

AnswerUsually, messages in my phone distract me. WhyI’ll tell myself to check it once, and then I lose track of the paragraph I’m reading. ExampleI mean, yesterday I spent a lot of time scrolling through online stuff instead of studying.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. lose track of the paragraph This phrasal verb makes the description more natural and specific.
  2. I mean, yesterday I spent The filler I mean reflects natural hesitation in spoken English.
  3. scrolling through online stuff Stuff is vague; messages or posts would be more precise.
  4. a lot of time A plain choice; ten minutes would be more precise.
  5. messages in my phone A preposition slip: messages on my phone is correct.

About 16 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 5: What do you do to help you concentrate?

Open questionAnswer it, then add one detail.

Think of yours first, then see a Band 7 replyHide the reply

AnswerI usually work in a nice quiet room. WhyI put my phone on silent and set aside twenty-five minutes for one task because a clear limit stops me checking the time. ExampleFor example, before a statistics lecture, I wrote a short plan on a paper and finished the short reading before leaving the home.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. set aside twenty-five minutes This collocation clearly shows how time is reserved.
  2. a short plan on a paper and finished the short reading Repeating short is a small Band 7 limit in word choice.
  3. a nice quiet room A plain choice; a quiet room would be more precise.
  4. leaving the home An extra word: leaving home is correct.
  5. on a paper An extra article: on paper is correct.

About 22 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Phrases to borrow

get through something

/ɡet ˈθruː ˌsʌmθɪŋ/

finish something difficult or time-consuming

I got through the last chapter before dinner.

stay on track

/steɪ ən ˈtræk/

continue making progress towards a goal

A timetable helps me stay on track.

block something out

/ˌblɒk ˈaʊt/

stop yourself hearing or noticing something

I wear earplugs to block out the traffic.

lose track of something

/luːz ˈtræk əv ˌsʌmθɪŋ/

stop noticing time or progress

I lost track of the time while reading.

set aside something

/set əˈsaɪd ˌsʌmθɪŋ/

reserve time for a particular purpose

I set aside an hour for revision.

Fill the gap

Which phrase fits?

Phrases from the answers above. Pick the one that belongs in the gap.

Your turn: answer the examiner

What do you do to help you concentrate?

Answer, add a reason or an example, then stop: about 20 seconds. Nothing is uploaded.

Want a band score?Sign in free, answer the examiner's Part 1 questions out loud and get one thing to fix.

Practise Part 1

More Part 1 topics

Each question with a short Band 7 reply.

See all 59 topics+49

How the IELTS Speaking test works