Prompt
What do you like about your hometown?
Band 9 sample transcript
Band 9 sample transcript
What I like most about my hometown is how convenient it is without feeling hectic. It’s a mid-sized coastal city, so you get the fresh air and a really relaxed atmosphere, but you’re still never far from anything you need.
For example, there’s a long waterfront promenade where people jog, cycle, or just sit with a coffee and watch the boats come in. I grew up going there with my family at weekends, so it feels quite nostalgic for me.
Another thing I appreciate is the sense of community. Even though it’s not a small town, people tend to recognise each other, and neighbours actually chat rather than just rushing past. Local markets are a big part of that—there’s one every Saturday where you can buy fruit, street food, and handmade crafts.
Finally, I’d say it’s a good place for students and young professionals because public transport is reliable and rent is still relatively affordable compared with bigger cities. So overall, it’s comfortable, friendly, and easy to live in.
Verified word count: 170
Why this answer scores highly
explanation
Fluency: smooth, logically organised points. Lexical resource: precise place-description language (mid-sized, waterfront promenade, nostalgic, sense of community, relatively affordable). Grammar: complex sentences and accurate comparative structures. Pronunciation-friendly: clear chunking and signposting (“For example…”, “Another thing…”, “Finally…”).
what this question tests
IELTS Speaking Part 1: ability to give a clear, personal response with specific details; use of natural vocabulary to describe places; fluency and coherence in a short answer; range of grammar (complex sentences) and accurate pronunciation-friendly phrasing.
Natural phrases to reuse
What I like most is…
opening a direct Part 1 answer
What I like most is how convenient it is.
For example, …
adding a concrete detail
For example, there’s a promenade along the sea.
Another thing I appreciate is…
introducing a second point smoothly
Another thing I appreciate is the sense of community.
Overall, …
wrapping up briefly
Overall, it’s comfortable and easy to live in.
Pronunciation and fluency notes
- Linking: connect ideas with light pauses after signposts (What I like most / For example / Another thing / Finally).
- Sentence stress: emphasise key contrasts (convenient vs hectic; relaxed vs never far).
- Keep vowel clarity in multi-syllable words: con-VE-nient, at-MOS-phere, nos-TAL-gic, a-FORD-a-ble.
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