As an IELTS instructor with over 20 years of experience, I often encounter students who feel a sense of dread when faced with seemingly simple questions about their social life. Questions like “How often do you see your friends?” can be deceptively tricky, especially when you’re trying to impress an examiner. Don’t worry! In this article, we’ll break down why this question is so common in IELTS Speaking, how to formulate impressive responses, and provide you with useful vocabulary and example answers.

Why Does the IELTS Exam Ask About Your Friends?

The IELTS Speaking test assesses your ability to communicate effectively in English. While this question might seem superficial, it allows examiners to gauge several key skills:

• Fluency and Coherence: Can you answer spontaneously and keep your ideas flowing logically?
• Lexical Resource: Do you possess a wide range of vocabulary to describe frequencies, activities, and relationships?
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Can you use a variety of grammatical structures correctly?
• Pronunciation: Can you articulate yourself clearly and use intonation naturally?

Tackling “How Often Do You See Your Friends?”

The key to answering this question successfully is to provide an answer that is:

• Detailed and Specific: Avoid one-word answers like “often” or “sometimes.” Instead, provide context: “I try to catch up with my close friends at least twice a week, usually for dinner or a movie.”
• Engaging: Share a little about what you do with your friends, making your response interesting for the examiner.
• Relevant: While it’s fine to mention online interactions, be sure to focus on in-person meetings, as the examiner is interested in your real-life social interactions.

friends meeting for coffee

Example Answers:

Here are a few ways you can approach this question:

1. Focusing on Regularity:

• “I make it a point to see my closest friends at least once a week. We have a standing coffee date every Saturday morning – it’s a great way to start the weekend.”

2. Highlighting Variations:

• “It really depends on everyone’s schedules. During the week, it’s more difficult because of work and family commitments. But we always try to get together for a meal or a fun activity at least twice a month.”

3. Addressing Pandemic Impact:

• “Since the pandemic, we’ve been meeting up less frequently in person. We often have video calls to stay connected, but I’d say we manage to meet face-to-face every few weeks or so.”

Vocabulary Boosters

To make your answers even stronger, try incorporating these words and phrases:

• Frequency: frequently, occasionally, on a regular basis, from time to time, every now and then, once in a blue moon.
• Activities: catch up, hang out, grab a bite, go for a walk, have a movie night, go out for dinner, hit the gym.
• Relationships: close friends, old friends, colleagues, former classmates, people I met through [hobby/interest].

Practice Makes Perfect

Remember, the more you practice, the more confident you’ll become. Try recording yourself answering the question and then analyze your response for areas of improvement. You can also brainstorm different situations and how you would describe your social interactions within them.

By following these tips and putting in the effort to practice, you’ll be well on your way to confidently tackling this common IELTS Speaking topic and achieving your desired band score!