Birthday questions are about habits, memories and change. Comparative structures such as "The older I get, the less..." and a short story about your last birthday work well for your grammar score here.
What the examiner asks on this topic
Do you usually celebrate your birthday?
How did you celebrate your last birthday?
What did you do on your birthdays as a child?
Do you think birthdays are important?
What's a good birthday present?
Are birthdays celebrated differently in your country now?
Model answers (aimed at band 7+)
Do you usually celebrate your birthday?
I do, but in a fairly low-key way. These days I prefer dinner with my family and a couple of close friends to a big party. The older I get, the less I want to be the centre of attention.
How did you celebrate your last birthday?
My friends surprised me, actually. They told me we were just going for coffee, but when I arrived there was a cake with candles and about ten people hiding behind the counter. I was completely taken by surprise, and a bit embarrassed, but it was lovely.
What's a good birthday present?
Something that shows the person has paid attention to you. It doesn't have to be expensive: a book by an author you mentioned once, or tickets to something you've wanted to see, means much more than an expensive gift chosen at random.
Are birthdays celebrated differently in your country now?
Quite a lot. When my parents were young, birthdays weren't a big deal in many families; weddings and other family events mattered much more. Now, especially in cities, children's birthday parties have become quite elaborate, with themed decorations and entertainers.
Useful words and phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| low-key | low-key |
| the centre of attention | the centre of attention |
| taken by surprise | taken by surprise |
| pay attention to | pay attention to |
| at random | at random |
| not a big deal | not a big deal |
| elaborate | elaborate |
| themed decorations | themed decorations |
How to answer
- For the habit question, name the style: "low-key", "a big party".
- Tell a short story about your last birthday: past simple and past continuous.
- "The older I get, the less..." is less common and sounds strong.
- For the question on change, compare generations: your parents' youth and now.
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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.
