The examiner asks you some questions about yourself and about familiar, everyday topics. Answer each question aloud and record yourself if you can; the model answers unlock after you submit.
Topic 1 — Work or studies
"I work as a pharmacist at a private hospital in Dhanmondi. I joined about a year ago, straight after finishing my degree."
"Mainly because chemistry was always my best subject at school, and I liked the idea of a job where that knowledge directly helps people. It's also a profession that's needed almost everywhere, which gives me some security."
"Probably the night shifts. Once or twice a week I work through until the morning, and it takes me a whole day to feel normal again afterwards."
"Not a completely different one, but eventually I'd like to move into research. I enjoy helping patients, but I'm also curious about how new medicines are actually developed and tested."
Topic 2 — Handwriting
"Much less than I used to. Most of my writing happens on a laptop now, although I still jot down shopping lists and to-do lists by hand, because I find I remember them better that way."
"When I take my time, yes, it's reasonably neat. But when I'm in a hurry, it turns into a bit of a scrawl, and sometimes even I can't work out what I've written!"
"It was a birthday card for my grandmother a few months ago. She doesn't use a smartphone, so she really appreciates having something she can keep on her shelf and read again."
Topic 3 — Trees
"Not as many as I'd like. There are a few old rain trees along the main road, but most of the gardens in our area have been replaced by apartment blocks over the years."
"All the time, especially at my grandparents' house in the village. There was a huge mango tree in the courtyard, and my cousins and I used to compete to see who could climb the highest."
"Yes, I planted a lemon tree on our rooftop a couple of years ago. It's in a large pot, so it's still fairly small, but it's already produced a few lemons, which I'm very proud of."
"Definitely. Apart from looking nice, trees give shade and attract birds, so even a busy street feels a little more peaceful when there are a few of them around."
Read the card, then use the 1-minute preparation timer to make quick notes. When it ends, start the 2-minute timer and speak until it stops, covering all four points.
"The building I'd like to describe is the National Parliament House in Dhaka, which is in an area called Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, roughly in the middle of the city. Most people in Bangladesh would recognise it straight away, because it's one of the most photographed buildings in the country, but I think it's even more impressive when you see it in person.
In terms of what it looks like, it's really quite unusual. It was designed by an American architect, Louis Kahn, and it's made mostly of grey concrete with thin strips of white marble running across it. Instead of ordinary windows, the walls have these enormous geometric openings — huge circles, triangles and rectangles — that let light into the building in really dramatic ways. And the whole complex is surrounded by an artificial lake, so on a calm day the building is reflected in the water, which makes it look almost as if it's floating.
As for what it's used for, it's where our parliament meets, so it's the centre of the country's political life. Ordinary visitors can't just wander in whenever they like, but the grounds around it are open, and in the evenings they're full of families, joggers and students sitting on the grass.
So why do I find it attractive? I think it's because it manages to be both massive and peaceful at the same time. You'd expect a concrete building that size to feel heavy and cold, but somehow it doesn't. The light, the water and the simple shapes give it a kind of calm dignity. It also feels timeless — it was finished in the early eighties, yet it still looks more modern than most of the glass towers that have gone up since. Whenever I'm stuck in traffic nearby, just catching a glimpse of it lifts my mood a little."
The examiner asks you some more general questions connected with the topic in Part 2. Answer each question aloud; the model answers unlock after you submit.
Theme 1 — Buildings and the people who use them
"The most obvious difference is the materials. Older buildings tend to be made of brick, with thick walls, high ceilings and verandas that keep the inside cool. Many modern buildings, on the other hand, are glass and concrete towers that depend almost entirely on air conditioning. They're certainly more efficient in terms of space, which matters in a crowded city, but I think they've lost a lot of the character and practicality of the older designs."
"Quite significantly, I think. Natural light and fresh air can make people calmer and more productive, while dark, cramped rooms tend to increase stress. The layout matters too. A school with open courtyards encourages children to play and mix, whereas long, narrow corridors don't really invite anyone to linger. So good design isn't just about appearance; it actually shapes how people feel and behave every day. Unfortunately, these factors are often the first to be cut when budgets are tight."
"Practicality has to come first, of course — a hospital that looks stunning but is hard to find your way around would be a disaster. But I don't think it's really a choice between the two. Public buildings are paid for by citizens and seen by thousands of people every day, so I'd argue they have a responsibility to be attractive as well. A well-designed library or town hall can give a whole neighbourhood a sense of pride."
Theme 2 — Planning the city
"The main advantage is that they house a lot of people on a small amount of land, which is essential in a city as dense as Dhaka. They can also leave more space at ground level for parks. The downside is that if they're built too close together, they block light and air, and they put huge pressure on roads, water and electricity. So high-rises work well only when the infrastructure is planned alongside them."
"I think they should be consulted, yes, particularly for large projects that will change the character of a neighbourhood. Local people know things that planners often don't, like which streets flood or where children play. That said, if every design had to be approved by a public vote, nothing would ever get built, so I'd favour genuine consultation at an early stage while leaving the final technical decisions to architects and engineers."
"Ideally, a combination of the two. The government has to take the main responsibility, because public spaces benefit everyone, not just the people who can afford to live near them. But when developers make large profits from a new tower, I think it's reasonable to require them to contribute, perhaps by creating a small park or public square as part of the project. That way, growth in a city doesn't come at the expense of open space."
"I imagine they'll be far more environmentally conscious. We're already seeing buildings with solar panels, rooftop gardens and walls covered in plants, and I think that will become the norm rather than the exception, especially as cities get hotter. Construction methods may change too — perhaps more parts will be made in factories and simply assembled on site. My hope is that, along the way, architects will rediscover some of the local character we've lost."