Weekends are a handy topic for showing a range of tenses: the present simple for habits, the past simple for last weekend, "used to" or "would" for childhood, and a conditional for the perfect weekend.
What the examiner asks on this topic
What do you usually do at weekends?
Do you prefer to stay at home or go out at weekends?
What did you do last weekend?
Do you work or study at weekends?
Are weekends different now from when you were a child?
What would your perfect weekend look like?
Model answers (aimed at band 7+)
What do you usually do at weekends?
Saturdays are usually busy, because I help my parents with the shopping and housework in the morning. Sunday is my lazy day: I sleep in, meet friends for plov at lunchtime and try not to look at anything to do with work.
What did you do last weekend?
Last weekend was actually quite special. It was my cousin's birthday, so the whole family got together at my aunt's house in the countryside. We spent most of Sunday in the garden, eating, talking and playing football with the kids.
Are weekends different now from when you were a child?
Very different. As a child, weekends felt endless: I'd play outside from morning till night. Now they go by in a flash, and there's always something I have to catch up on, like assignments or errands.
What would your perfect weekend look like?
Probably a trip to the mountains, somewhere like Chimgan, with a couple of close friends. No phones, a long walk, a big dinner and an early night. Just thinking about it makes me want to book it.
Useful words and phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sleep in | sleep in |
| a lazy day | a lazy day |
| get together | get together |
| go by in a flash | go by in a flash |
| catch up on | catch up on |
| errands | errands |
| an early night | an early night |
| recharge | recharge |
How to answer
- Describe Saturday and Sunday separately: the contrast builds itself.
- For "What did you do last weekend?", tell one specific event, not a general list.
- For childhood habits, use "I'd play..." or "I used to...".
- For the perfect weekend, use "would" and one vivid detail.
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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.
