How the Interview task works
Take an Interview presents four questions on a single topic, one at a time, with about 45 seconds to answer each and little or no preparation time. It's meant to feel like a real conversation — a follow-up question can build directly on what you just said, so there's no way to pre-script an answer.
What raters actually score
Three things: topic development (did you directly answer the question and support it with a real detail, not just an opinion?), language use (range and accuracy of grammar and vocabulary), and delivery (pace, clarity, natural rhythm). The single biggest score-killer isn't grammar mistakes — it's a thin answer that never gets past the first sentence.
Sample topic 1 — A teacher who influenced you
Q: Describe a teacher who had a big influence on you. Why did they matter?
Band 5–6 model answer: "My high school biology teacher, Mr. Patel, influenced me the most. He never just lectured — he made us design our own small experiments, even if they failed. I remember one project where my hypothesis was completely wrong, and instead of marking it down, he asked me to explain why I thought it failed. That taught me that being wrong was part of learning, not something to be embarrassed about. It's part of why I'm still interested in science today."
Why this scores well: one specific memory (not a general claim), a clear cause-and-effect ("that taught me…"), and a natural close connecting past to present.
Sample topic 2 — A change you'd like to see on campus
Q: If you could change one thing about your campus, what would it be?
Band 5–6 model answer: "I'd extend the library's opening hours, especially during exam period. Right now it closes at midnight, but a lot of students, including me, do our best work late at night once the campus is quiet. Last semester I had to study in my dorm room instead, which was much harder to focus in because of noise from my roommates. Even keeping one floor open 24 hours during finals week would make a real difference."
Why this scores well: a concrete proposal (not vague), a personal example that supports it, and a specific, realistic solution rather than a sweeping demand.
Sample topic 3 — Working with a difficult group member
Q: Describe a time you had to work with someone who was difficult to collaborate with.
Band 5–6 model answer: "During a group project last year, one teammate kept missing our meetings and didn't submit his part until the night before the deadline. Instead of complaining to the professor, I messaged him directly and asked if something was going on — it turned out he was overwhelmed with another class. We split his remaining work between the rest of us and finished on time. It taught me that a direct conversation usually solves more than frustration does."
Why this scores well: names a real conflict without exaggerating it, shows a specific action taken, and ends with a genuine takeaway rather than a generic moral.
The pattern across all three
- Answer the actual question in the first sentence — don't warm up first.
- Add one concrete detail (a name, a number, a specific moment) — it's what separates a real answer from a template.
- Close with a short reflection or result, not a trailing thought.
Practice with real timing and AI feedback
Reading model answers helps you see the structure, but the Interview task is graded on spoken delivery under a real clock. Our free lane runs the same prep/record timers as the actual exam and grades your response on the same criteria above.