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Direct answer + one reason or example — every time, on every question
Part 1 questions are short and personal, but a one-word answer under-develops every one of them. Here’s the core strategy, and why it matters even before Part 2 begins.
The core strategy: answer, then extend
Every Part 1 question wants a direct answer plus one reason, example, or detail — two to four sentences, not one word and not a speech. Real example, Test 1: “Do you think it is better to live in a house or an apartment? Why?”
Answering “house or apartment, why?”
An apartment.
I’d say an apartment, mainly because it’s easier to maintain — no garden to look after, and everything’s closer to public transport.
Stay personal and concrete, not general
Part 1 is about your own life, not a general essay on the topic. A question about your neighbourhood wants your street, not urban planning theory — save the abstract thinking for Part 3.
Match your answer’s length to the question, not the topic
Some Part 1 questions genuinely need only a short answer — the extension is one clear reason, not a list of five. Over-answering here just runs down the clock before Part 2.
Answering “salary or job satisfaction — what’s more important?”
Well, that’s a very complex question, because salary and job satisfaction are both important in different ways, and it also depends on your stage of life, and different cultures view this differently, and personally I think—
Job satisfaction, for me — a good salary means nothing if you dread going to work every day.
Putting it together
Four questions per topic, each one a direct answer plus a reason or example — that’s the entire Part 1 strategy. Get comfortable with that shape here and Part 2’s longer turn feels like less of a jump.
DEB
4 things to know about answering Part 1