Model Answers By Topic
18. Home
SPEAKING
PART 1
1. Where do you live?
I live in a modern flat in a high-rise building which is located just outside the city centre.
2. Do you live in a house or a flat?
Currently I live in a flat but I’d like to buy a house in the future. Our flat is quite cramped and I’d love to live somewhere a little more spacious.
3. When did you move in?
I moved in about five years ago when I relocated to the city. A local estate agent helped me find the flat. Previously, I’d been living in a shared house in my hometown.
4. Do you own your home?
No, I rent my flat. I’d love to have my own place but it does tie you down and as I will likely move again in the future, I haven’t bought one just yet. I’ll buy a home when I’m ready to settle down.
5. Who do you live with?
I live with my girlfriend. She’s from my hometown too and we came to the city together.
6. What is your favourite room?
My favourite room in my flat is the living room. It's a comfortable and cosy space where we spend most of our time at home together.
7. How is your home decorated?
Our home was mostly decorated by the landlord but we have added some of our own furniture and decorations. We’ve put up some art prints on the walls, and we bought an expensive sofa for the living room. I also put in a washing machine as there wasn’t one in the property before.
8. Is there anything you would like to change about your home?
As I mentioned, I would like somewhere with more space. There’s not enough room to swing a cat in my current place. My girlfriend likes to cook so I know she’d appreciate having a large well-equipped kitchen.
Listen to Speaking Part 1 Model Answers:
PART 2
Describe a home that you visited that you liked.
You should say:
where it was
who the owner was
and explain why you liked it
Model Answer:
I’d love to tell you about my brother’s house. My older brother, Chris, bought the house a year ago in the southwest of England, very near the coast, and I really like it for several reasons.
Firsty, it’s spacious, as there are 3 bedrooms upstairs, and a living room, kitchen, dining room, and TV room downstairs. The bedrooms are cosy, the living room is well-lit, the kitchen is modern and well-equipped, and the TV room is luxurious, with a huge and very comfy L-shaped sofa.
Secondly, I love the location, which is within walking distance of the sea. It’s surrounded by beautiful countryside, and there are various walking trails that start near the house. You can just put on your walking boots, open the front door, and immediately head out on a hike. The neighbourhood is nice, and what’s more, it doesn’t take too long to drive to a big town nearby where you can go shopping.
Finally he’s done up the house in a stylish and personalised way. He redecorated it last year, painting the walls in a variety of vibrant colours, and he also bought an eclectic mix of furniture including some really cool vintage armchairs. I hadn't really realised it, but he has a great eye for design.
Listen to Speaking Part 2 Model Answers:
PART 3
1. What are the advantages of living in a house compared to a flat?
In my opinion, living in a house is much better than living in a flat because they are much more spacious and you have more privacy. Flats are usually quite small and cramped, and you have neighbours on every side, so you can easily be disturbed. What’s more, with a house you usually have a little garden too, and I love to be able to sit on the patio during the summer or have a barbecue.
2. Do you think everyone will live in cities in the future?
If you had asked me a few years ago I would have answered yes, but now I’m not so sure. There are obviously more opportunities in big cities, and in many countries it’s much more attractive to move to a big city because of the better job prospects. But, in the last few years it’s become much easier to work remotely from home, and you’ve seen many people relocating out of cities and into the countryside.
3. Do most people in your country rent or buy their house/ flat?
I’d say that the vast majority of people in my country aspire to own a property, but it’s getting harder and harder to get on the property ladder. House and flat prices just keep going up and up. As a result, for most young people in their late twenties or thirties renting is the best option.
4. Do you think houses are too expensive these days?
To be honest, I think they’re far too expensive . It seems like house prices never stop going up, and they are always increasing more quickly than salaries do. When my parents were in their early thirties, homeownership was much more affordable, but these days you can only buy a property if you take out a huge mortgage, and then it’s really difficult to pay back all the money.
5. Do you think it’s important to live near to relatives?
Well, there are definitely advantages to living near your family. It’s great to be able to meet up regularly and you can help and support your relatives more easily if you live locally. But these days, it’s super common to relocate to a different city or even country for work or other reasons. Fortunately though, it’s not hard or expensive to stay in touch with family members thanks to a plethora of modern communication tools. So, because of this, I’d say that it’s not as important to live nearby as it used to be.
6. How could you improve your house or flat?
In fact, there are a few things that I’d like to do in my house to make it my own. For starters, it would be great to do up the bathroom. I’d also like to redecorate the living room. I want to repaint the walls and then put up some new shelves, and some decorations like pictures and paintings. I think we could do with some new furniture there too. I’d like a new sofa in particular. As well as that, I wouldn’t mind improving the guest room and making it into a home office where I could work from home.
Listen to Speaking Part 3 Model Answers:
WRITING
GENERAL TEST WRITING TASK 1
You are doing a language course in a foreign country. Your accommodation was organised by the course provider. There is a major problem with the accommodation. Write a letter to the course provider.
You should:
say what the problem is
describe the accommodation you were expecting
ask the course provider to solve the problem
Model Answer:
Dear Elite Language Courses,
I am writing to bring to your attention a number of serious problems with the accommodation provided to the students on your language course.
Upon my arrival at the apartment, I was dismayed to discover that there are regular problems with the building’s plumbing. As a result, we are often unable to wash dishes, use the shower, not to mention the obvious issues with the toilet. Secondly, I was told that I would have my own room, when in fact, I must share with another student. I value my privacy and so I find the current situation not only uncomfortable but disruptive to my studies.
Before booking the course, I was promised that students would be housed in a modern, spacious, and well-equipped apartment. The reality differs greatly from this description. The property that has been provided is cramped, run down and overcrowded.
Given the substantial difference between the promised accommodation and the actual living situation, I kindly request that you immediately relocate me to a new apartment. I would also ask for a private room, as originally offered.
I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to a swift resolution.
Regards,
Mathew Hicks
WRITING TASK 2
Model Answer:
The choice between renting and owning a home is a major decision for anyone, and it is a topic of much debate. Some individuals prefer to rent their accommodations, while others prefer to purchase their own homes. While there are benefits to both options, my opinion is that owning a home is better for several reasons.
Firstly, owning a home provides a sense of security and stability. When someone owns their own home, they can make it their own and do it up to their liking. They do not have to worry about their landlord jacking up the rent or requiring them to leave at the end of the rental period. Furthermore, once the mortgage has been paid off, a homeowner can rest easy in the knowledge that their home is their own and nobody has the right to evict them.
Secondly, owning a home can provide financial benefits. While purchasing a home requires a significant upfront investment, the monthly mortgage payments are often less expensive than renting an equivalent property. Additionally, homeowners can build equity over time and potentially sell their home for a profit later on if prices have appreciated. Homeownership can also provide tax benefits, as mortgage interest and property tax payments are often tax deductible.
Of course, there are also potential drawbacks to owning a home. Homeowners are responsible for all maintenance and repairs, and unexpected expenses can arise. Additionally, owning a home can tie someone down to a specific location, which can be problematic if they need to relocate for work or other reasons. Renting meanwhile can offer more flexibility with renters having the freedom to move at the end of the rental period.
In conclusion, while renting can offer more flexibility, I believe that owning a home is ultimately a better option. The greater peace of mind that comes with homeownership, as well as the financial benefits, make it a worthwhile investment. Of course, each person’s situation is unique, and the decision between renting and owning has to be made based on individual circumstances.
In some countries people prefer to rent accommodation while in others people prefer to buy their home.
In your opinion, is it better to rent or own your home?
VOCABULARY
Topic Vocabulary:
cramped (adjective):
Definition: Feeling confined or crowded due to a lack of space.
Example: The studio apartment was so small that it felt cramped when more than one person was inside.
decoration (noun [c]):
Definition: An item or material used to improve the appearance of a room.
Example: She spent the weekend putting up Christmas decorations around the house.
do up (phrasal verb):
Definition: To renovate or redecorate.
Example: We're going to do up the kitchen with new cabinets and appliances.
estate agent (noun [c]):
Definition: A professional who assists in buying, selling, or renting properties.
Example: They hired an estate agent to help them find their dream home.
get on the property ladder (idiom):
Definition: Buy your first home.
Example: She was finally able to get on the property ladder thanks to the money her grandmother left her.
high-rise building (noun phrase):
Definition: A tall building that has many floors.
Example: The city skyline was dominated by high-rise buildings and skyscrapers.
homeownership (noun [u]):
Definition: Owning one's own home.
Example: Homeownership can provide a sense of stability and financial security.
landlord (noun [c]):
Definition: A person who owns and rents out a property to other people.
Example: The landlord was very responsive and quickly fixed any issues that came up with the apartment.
make it your own (idiom):
Definition: To personalise or customise a space or object to one's own tastes or preferences.
Example: She painted the walls and rearranged the furniture to make the apartment her own.
no room to swing a cat (idiom):
Definition: To have very little space in a room.
Example: The tiny apartment was so cramped, there wasn't even room to swing a cat.
privacy (noun [u]):
Definition: Being left alone so other people do not see or know what you are doing.
Example: She closed the door for some privacy while she talked on the phone.
property (noun [c]):
Definition: Land, a house, flat or commercial building.
Example: The farm has a lot of land and several buildings, so it's a big property.
put in (phrasal verb):
Definition: To install or add something, such as equipment or machinery.
Example: They need to put in new air conditioning units before summer.
put up (phrasal verb):
Definition: To put pictures, shelves or other items on the walls.
Example: I put up some new shelves in the living room over the weekend.
relocate (verb):
Definition: To move to a new town, area or country.
Example: They decided to relocate to a different city for better job opportunities.
settle down (phrasal verb):
Definition: To decide to live somewhere permanently, often when also starting a family.
Example: After years of travelling, he finally decided to settle down and buy a house.
spacious (adjective):
Definition: Having a lot of room or space.
Example: The living room was spacious, with high ceilings and plenty of natural light.
tie down (phrasal verb):
Definition: To limit one's ability to move or be flexible, often because of a financial or legal commitment.
Example: Buying a home can tie you down to a specific location for a number of years.
well-equipped (adjective):
Definition: Having all the necessary tools, resources, or amenities for a particular purpose or activity.
Example: The kitchen is well-equipped with an oven, microwave, fridge and many other appliances.
well-lit (adjective):
Definition: Having lots of lighting from natural or artificial sources.
Example: The living room is so well-lit because of its large windows.
