Shopping questions are about habits, preferences and change: the bazaar or the mall, online or in a shop. Uzbekistan's bazaar culture makes a great example here.
What the examiner asks on this topic
Do you enjoy shopping?
Do you prefer shopping online or in shops?
Where do people in your area usually buy food?
Have your shopping habits changed recently?
Do you ever buy things you don't need?
Model answers (aimed at band 7+)
Do you enjoy shopping?
It depends on what I'm buying. I quite like shopping for books or gadgets, but clothes shopping drives me mad, mainly because I can never find anything that fits properly, so I usually go with a friend who's more patient.
Do you prefer shopping online or in shops?
For most things I shop online now, because it saves time and you can compare prices easily. But for anything I need to try on, like shoes, I still prefer going to a shop, since returning things can be a hassle.
Where do people in your area usually buy food?
A lot of people still go to the bazaar, especially for fruit, vegetables and meat, because it's fresher and you can bargain a bit. Supermarkets are growing fast though, and younger families tend to do one big weekly shop there.
Do you ever buy things you don't need?
Occasionally, yes, usually when there's a big sale. Last month I bought a pair of headphones just because they were half price, even though my old ones worked perfectly well. I'm trying to be more careful now.
Useful words and phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| drive me mad | drive me mad |
| fit properly | fit properly |
| compare prices | compare prices |
| try on | try on |
| a hassle | a hassle |
| bargain | bargain |
| a weekly shop | a weekly shop |
| half price | half price |
How to answer
- Start with "It depends" and separate two situations: what you enjoy and what you do not.
- Comparing the bazaar and the supermarket also prepares you for Part 3.
- Add a small personal story: "Last month I bought...".
- For questions about change, use the present perfect: "I've started buying...".
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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.
