Cheatsheet: Band 7 essentials

Timing and structure

• Length: 12 to 18 seconds.
• Shape: PRE = Point, Reason, Example.
• Pace: steady, no rush.
• Finish: a clear full stop, not a rising question tone.

Language signals that score well

• Stance: I usually, I tend to, in my case.
• Time: these days, at the weekend, when I was younger.
• Precision: about twice a week, a five minute walk, within my budget.
• Balance: it depends, to be honest, to some extent.
• Cohesion: because, so, while, whereas, by comparison.

Pronunciation focus

• Endings: -ed and plural -s.
• Word stress: TAble, DEStination, PROcess.
• Linking: read_it, live_in.
• Avoid extra vowels after clusters, past not pas-ti.

Model set A: Home, work, study

Q: Do you work or study
Band 7 sample: I work as a junior accountant in a local firm. I like the role because I learn new software and handle real clients. Three days a week I support audits, which keeps me sharp with deadlines.

Why it works: clear job, reason, concrete example with a number.

Q: What do you like about your neighbourhood
Band 7 sample: It is walkable. I can reach the market in five minutes, and there is a small park where I read after work. The only downside is weekend traffic near the main road.

Why it works: precise detail, minor contrast, natural close.

Q: How do you organise your day
Band 7 sample: I plan the next day before bed. I set three tasks on my phone, one for work, one for study, and one for health, like a 20 minute run. It keeps my mornings calm.

Why it works: process plus example and time marker.

Model set B: Free time, technology, food

Q: How do you relax after a busy day
Band 7 sample: I cook something simple and watch a short travel video. Cooking slows me down, and the video is a ten minute reward. If I am too tired, I just stretch for five minutes.

Q: What apps do you use most
Band 7 sample: I rely on a notes app and a budget tracker. The notes app helps me collect ideas during the day, and the tracker shows weekly spending, so I avoid impulse buys.

Q: Do you prefer eating at home or eating out
Band 7 sample: I prefer home cooking on weekdays because it is healthier and cheaper. At the weekend I try one new cafe with a friend, which makes it social without overspending.

Strengths across set B: frequency phrases, numbers, contrast by time.

Topic prompts by bucket with mini lines

• Travel: I prefer train trips for medium distances because the schedule is reliable and I can read.
• Books: I choose non fiction, mainly work biographies, since I can apply one idea the next day.
• Weather: I like cool mornings. I run for twenty minutes then start work with a clear head.
• Shopping: I compare prices online first, then buy in a local shop to check the quality.

Use these as seeds. Expand to PRE length with one reason and one example.

Mini case: From ramble to Band 7 in one week

Maliha’s answers were long and vague. She timed at 35 seconds with filler words. She switched to PRE and set a hard stop at 18 seconds. She wrote a five line bank for her life, job, commute, weekend, food, and tech. After four practice days her average answer length fell to 16 seconds, she used one number in most replies, and her teacher reported clearer endings and better control.

Two focused upgrades

Upgrade 1, verbs
Weak: I do exercise, I make a plan.
Stronger: I train for twenty minutes, I draft a plan, I schedule chores.

Upgrade 2, tense mix
Add a past or future line once per answer set.
Example: I usually cook simple meals. Last month I tried three new recipes, and next week I will learn a soup.

Mistakes to avoid

• Over-talking. Part 1 is not a speech. Stop at a full stop.
• Memorised templates with rare idioms. Use clear phrases, on balance, to some extent, instead of flashy lines.
• Vague claims with no detail. Add a number, distance, or frequency.
• Flat tone. Vary stress on key words and finish with falling tone.

Edge cases

• If you do not have a hobby the question mentions, pivot politely, I do not paint, but I relax in a similar way by cooking.
• If you forget the question, ask once, Could you repeat the question, please
• If the answer is sensitive, keep it general, I prefer not to discuss finances, but I do track my spending weekly.

Mini glossary

• PRE frame: Point, Reason, Example.
• Filler word: a sound or word like um or like that adds no meaning.
• Falling tone: lower pitch at the end of a sentence, signals completion.
• Frequency phrase: words that show how often you do something.

Drills you can run this week

• Timer drill: answer five prompts, each 15 to 18 seconds, record, then cut one extra sentence.
• Number drill: add one number to every answer, time, distance, frequency, price.
• Verb swap: replace do, make, get with precise verbs in ten answers.
• Ending drill: speak the final word with a clear fall, then pause one beat.

Actionable closing
Build a 20 prompt bank from your life topics. For each, write a PRE skeleton with one number and one contrast. Practise five prompts a day with a timer and a hard stop at 18 seconds. Record once, swap weak verbs, and mark a falling tone on the last word. Repeat for seven days and keep the best answers as your ready set.