About today's practice
Shopping and spending habits are common Part 1 territory. A good chance to practise comparison language (online vs in-store) and habit language. Listen for the conditional creeping in (“I’d rather…”).
Part 1 has no planning time in the real test. Read each question and answer on the spot in two to three full sentences — that on-your-feet fluency is exactly what this builds.
Questions — Shopping & Money
- Do you enjoy shopping? Why or why not?
- Do you prefer shopping online or in actual shops?
- What was the last thing you bought for yourself?
- Are you a careful spender, or do you spend easily?
- Do you prefer big shopping centres or small local shops?
- Has the way people shop changed in your country?
- Do you ever buy things you don’t really need?
More questions — build a bank
Shopping habits
- What kinds of things do you enjoy shopping for?
- Do you make a list before you shop, or decide in the moment?
- Do you prefer shopping alone or with someone?
- How has the way you shop changed in recent years?
Money & spending
- Are you more of a saver or a spender?
- Do you think it’s important to budget? Why?
- What’s something you think is worth spending more on?
- Did your family teach you anything about money?
Comparisons & society
- Are big shopping malls popular in your country?
- Do you think people buy too much these days?
- Do you ever regret things you’ve bought?
- Is it common to bargain over prices where you live?
- Do you prefer to pay with cash or by card? Why?
Example answers — short reply grown into a full one Online or in shops? It depends what I’m buying. For everyday things I shop online to save time, but for clothes or anything I want to try on, I’d much rather go in person — too much guesswork otherwise. Careful spender or spend easily? I’d say I’m careful by default, but I have my weaknesses — books and good coffee, mainly. I don’t mind spending on things I’ll use a lot; it’s impulse buys I try to resist. Has shopping changed in your country? Hugely. Even small shops take mobile payments now, and a lot of people order their groceries to the door, which was almost unheard of a few years ago. It’s been a very fast shift.
Pair-work sequence (~30 min)
▸ Interview · 13 min — A asks every question, B answers (~6 min); swap so B asks and A answers (~6 min). The examiner-partner keeps the pace brisk, like the real test, and resists chatting back. No planning — straight in. ▸ Extend & re-run · 13 min — New partner. Run the set again — but now every answer must carry a reason (“because…”) and one example or detail. Faster, more natural delivery. ▸ Feedback · 4 min — Whole-class: read out two answers you overheard that grew from one word into a full, natural reply.
Listen for / feedback: Mark any answer that stops at one word — push that student for a reason and a detail. Praise natural extenders: “Well, actually…”, “I’d say…”, “It depends, but…”. Note tense slips (“I go yesterday”) for a quick thirty-second correction at the end.
Flexibility: Short on time today? Assign the whole set as paired home practice — a quick voice call or an in-person run — and have each student record one answer to bring back. If the room runs ahead of schedule, this slots straight in after the wrap-up.