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IELTS Speaking Part 1

Your job: Part 1 questions and answers

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

Today's topicYour job

  • 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 June 2026

Question 1: What do you do for a living?

Open questionAnswer it, then add one detail.

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

AnswerI’m an office worker, and I handle customer enquiries for a small travel company. WhyI like the job because it lets me deal with different requests, although I still get a few things wrong sometimes. ExampleI mean, on Tuesday I sent a booking form to wrong client.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. deal with different requests This natural phrase shows good control of everyday work vocabulary.
  2. I mean, on Tuesday I The filler makes the answer sound natural but slightly less polished.
  3. to wrong client A missing article: to the wrong client is correct.

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

Question 2: How would you describe your workplace?

Open questionAnswer it, then add one detail.

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

AnswerI work in a fairly modern, fairly quiet office on the fourth floor of a shared building. WhyIt feels comfortable because there’s plenty of daylight and not much background noise. ExampleFor example, there’s a small café within walking distance of the building, and there are about ten desk for our team.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. within walking distance of the building This useful phrase gives a clear, natural description of location.
  2. fairly modern, fairly quiet office Repeating fairly is a simple spoken vocabulary limit.
  3. about ten desk for our team A common spoken slip: about ten desks for our team is correct.

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

Take it further: Describe where you work or study. Is it tidy or a bit chaotic?

Question 3: What do you like or dislike about your workplace?

Open questionAnswer it, then add one detail.

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

AnswerI like the atmosphere, although the open-plan room can be noisy. WhyI generally get on with my colleagues, because they’re easy to talk to. ExampleI mean, on busy afternoons, I lose focus when several people are speaking near me, especially at Mondays.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. get on with my colleagues This natural phrasal verb describes a friendly workplace relationship.
  2. I mean, on busy afternoons The filler makes the answer sound natural but slightly less polished.
  3. especially at Mondays A common spoken slip: especially on Mondays is correct.

About 17 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 4: Can you describe a typical day at your job?

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

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

AnswerA typical day starts with me catching up on emails and checking the day’s appointments. WhyThen I speak to customer and update our shared calendar, so the afternoon is usually busy. ExampleOn Fridays, I leave around six after a short team meeting.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. catching up on emails This common collocation describes a realistic work routine.
  2. day starts with me catching up Repeating day is a simple spoken vocabulary limit.
  3. speak to customer A common spoken slip: speak to customers is correct.

About 17 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Question 5: What responsibilities do you have at work?

Open questionAnswer it, then add one detail.

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

AnswerMy main responsibility is keeping track of deadlines for customer bookings. WhyI check each file before it goes to my supervisor, and I remind my supervisor if some information is missing. ExampleFor example, I sometimes give my supervisor an advice about a booking before it is confirmed.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. keeping track of deadlines This precise phrase clearly describes an office responsibility.
  2. my supervisor, and I remind my supervisor Repeating supervisor is a simple spoken vocabulary limit.
  3. an advice about a booking A common spoken slip: some advice about a booking is correct.

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

Question 6: If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be?

Plans and wishesUse would, I'd like to or I'm planning to.

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

AnswerI’d probably cut down on paperwork, Whybecause I spend a lot of time printing forms that are already stored online. The change would make my afternoons calmer, and I’d have more time for customer calls. ExampleFor example, I lost nearly an hour in last Wednesday.

Why it's a Band 7

  1. cut down on paperwork This useful phrasal verb expresses a clear workplace change.
  2. a lot of time printing forms A more precise phrase would be nearly an hour, so this is slightly vague.
  3. in last Wednesday A common spoken slip: last Wednesday is correct.

About 18 seconds to say. Part 1 answers sit around 10 to 25.

Phrases to borrow

deal with someone/something

/ˈdiːl wɪð ˌsʌmwən/

manage or respond to something

She deals with difficult customers calmly.

within walking distance of something

/wɪˌðɪn ˈwɔːkɪŋ ˌdɪstəns əv ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

close enough to reach by walking

The museum is within walking distance of our hotel.

get on with someone

/ɡet ɒn wɪð ˈsʌmwən/

have a friendly relationship with someone

I get on with my new flatmate.

catch up on something

/ˈkætʃɪŋ ʌp ɒn ˌsʌmθɪŋ/

do something missed or delayed

I catch up on my reading at weekends.

keep track of something

/ˈkiːpɪŋ træk əv ˌsʌmθɪŋ/

continue knowing where something is or changes

I keep track of my spending with a notebook.

cut down on something

/ˌkʌt ˈdaʊn ɒn ˌsʌmθɪŋ/

reduce the amount of something

I’m trying to cut down on sugary drinks.

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 responsibilities do you have at work?

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.

How the IELTS Speaking test works