On animals, the best answers are small stories: your pet's name, a habit, something funny that happened. If you have no pet, that is fine: say why not, or talk about one you had as a child.
What the examiner asks on this topic
Do you like animals?
Do you have a pet?
What is the most popular pet in your country?
Did you have any pets when you were a child?
Would you like to have a pet in the future?
Have you ever been to a zoo?
Model answers (aimed at band 7+)
Do you have a pet?
Yes, we've got a cat called Mosh. My sister found him in the street as a tiny kitten about four years ago, and now he basically runs the house. He sleeps on whichever bed he chooses and expects breakfast at six sharp.
What is the most popular pet in your country?
Cats, I'd say, especially in cities, because most people live in flats and cats don't need to be walked. In villages it's different: lots of families keep a dog to guard the house, and many have chickens or a cow, though those are more livestock than pets.
Did you have any pets when you were a child?
We had a parrot for a few years. He could say three words in Uzbek and one in Russian, and he used to imitate our doorbell, which drove my mother crazy.
Would you like to have a pet in the future?
I'd love a dog one day, but only when I have a house with a garden. Keeping a big dog in a small flat doesn't seem fair to the animal.
Useful words and phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| run the house | run the house |
| at six sharp | at six sharp |
| be walked | be walked |
| guard the house | guard the house |
| livestock | livestock |
| imitate | imitate |
| drive someone crazy | drive someone crazy |
| doesn't seem fair | doesn't seem fair |
How to answer
- Give your pet a name and one habit: the answer comes alive at once.
- Compare the city with the countryside: a natural contrast and new vocabulary.
- Use "used to" for childhood and "I'd love... but only when..." for the future.
- For the zoo question, add an opinion: are the animals happy there?
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The AI examiner asks you these questions, listens to your answers and shows your mistakes.
Everything about Part 1: the Part 1 guide. More topics: all articles.
Practise this topic now
The AI examiner asks you these questions, listens to your answers and shows your mistakes.
