Home Topic
Part 1 Questions
Short, personal questions. Answer directly, then add one extra sentence to extend your answer naturally.
1. Do you live in a house or an apartment?
"I currently live in an apartment on the fifth floor of a fairly modern building, though I grew up in a house."
2. Can you describe your home?
"It is a two-bedroom apartment with an open-plan kitchen and living area, and a small balcony that gets a lot of natural light in the afternoon."
3. What is your favourite room in your home?
"Definitely the living room. It is where I relax after work, and I have a comfortable sofa positioned right by the window."
4. Do you plan to live there for a long time?
"Probably not permanently. I am happy there for now, but I would eventually like to buy a place of my own."
5. What changes would you like to make to your home?
"I would love a bit more storage space, and honestly, a proper home office instead of working from the kitchen table."
6. Is it common for people in your country to live in apartments or houses?
"In the cities, apartments are far more common due to limited space and high property prices, whereas houses are still fairly typical in smaller towns."
Part 2 Cue Card
You get 1 minute to prepare, then speak for up to 2 minutes.
Describe your ideal home
You should say:
- What kind of home it would be
- Where it would be located
- What special features it would have
- And explain why this would be your ideal home
Full model answer
I'd like to describe what my ideal home would look like, since it's something I think about quite often, actually.
It would be a fairly modern two-storey house, not overly large, but with an open, airy layout that lets in plenty of natural light. I would want it located somewhere just on the edge of a city - close enough that I could get to work or meet friends easily, but quiet enough that I would not hear traffic noise or feel cramped by neighbouring buildings. Ideally, it would back onto some greenery, even just a small park or a line of trees, since I find it hard to relax somewhere that feels entirely urban.
In terms of special features, the two things I would prioritise are a proper home office, since I do a fair amount of work remotely, and a decent-sized kitchen, because I enjoy cooking and currently find my kitchen far too cramped for that. I would also love a small garden or at least a large balcony where I could grow a few plants and maybe herbs, and honestly, a bathtub, which sounds like a small thing, but I have never had one and it is on my wish list.
The reason this would be my ideal home really comes down to balance. I want somewhere that feels calm and gives me space to work and relax properly, but that is not so isolated that I lose the convenience of city life. At the moment, my apartment ticks the convenience box but not much else, so this would genuinely be a big upgrade in terms of quality of life.
Part 3 Discussion
Deeper, more abstract questions. Give your opinion and explain your reasoning with an example.
1. What are the differences between houses and apartments in terms of lifestyle?
Houses generally offer more space, privacy, and often outdoor areas like a garden, which apartments rarely have. Apartments, on the other hand, tend to be more convenient - they are usually closer to city centres, require less maintenance, and often come with shared amenities. It really depends on whether someone prioritises space or convenience.
2. How has the design of homes changed in recent decades?
Homes have generally become more open-plan, with fewer separate rooms and more shared living spaces. There has also been a stronger focus on natural light, energy efficiency, and smart technology, things that were barely considered in home design a few decades ago.
3. Do you think owning a home is still realistic for young people today?
Honestly, in many places it has become significantly harder due to rising property prices and stagnant wages relative to the cost of living. It is not impossible, but it often requires far more saving, family support, or compromise on location than it did for previous generations.
4. Why do some people prefer to rent rather than buy a home?
Flexibility is probably the main reason - renting allows people to move for work or personal reasons without being tied down. It also avoids the large upfront costs and long-term financial commitment of a mortgage, which suits people who are not yet certain where they want to settle.
5. How does the neighbourhood affect a person's quality of life?
Quite significantly, I would say. Access to good schools, safety, green spaces, and public transport can make a huge difference to daily convenience and wellbeing, sometimes even more than the home itself. A lovely house in a poorly located neighbourhood can end up being far less enjoyable to live in than a smaller home somewhere well-connected.
6. What impact does smart home technology have on the way people live?
It has made homes considerably more convenient and, in many cases, more energy-efficient - things like automated heating or lighting can save money and reduce waste. That said, it also raises concerns around cost, reliability, and privacy, since so many of these devices collect data on how we live.
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