When asked questions like “What do you do for fun?“… band 6 students usually list off basic answers like: “I like watching movies” or “talking to friends”, but band 7+ students have a much broader, precise and idiomatic vocabulary.
Stop saying the word “Relax” in every sentence.
The biggest indicator of a Band 6 speaker on this topic is overusing “relax” (e.g., “I do it to relax,” “It is very relaxing,” “It helps me relax my mind”).
To hit Band 7, you need specific alternatives that describe how you relax.
The Upgrade Toolkit: From Band 6 to Band 7
We will look at the common, generic Band 6 phrases and replace them with the more natural, higher-level equivalents.
1. Expressing “Doing Nothing”(At Home)
The goal here is to move away from just relaxing and watching.
Band 6: I like to relax and watch a movie.
Band 7:
Chill out = relaxing in general
To put one’s feet up = physically relaxing
To binge-watch a tv series = watching episode after episode after episode.
Unwind = relax after being stressed.
Notes:
–DON’T say “I love to binge-watching series”. Either say “I love binge-watching…“ or “I love to binge-watch…“
–DON’T say “I like chilling out in home“. Say “at home”
Band 6: I sleep longer on Saturday morning.
Band 7:
To have a lie-in/sleep-in (noun)
To lie in/ sleep in (verb)
Note:
You can add adjectives for more detail e.g. I have a little lie-in/ I have a massive lie-in/ I have a much-needed lie-in.
2. Socialising
The goal is to stop using formal verbs like “meet” and use warmer phrasal verbs.
Band 6: I like to meet friends and go to a cafe or drink some beers.
Band 7:
To meet up (with) = to socially gather together
To catch up (with) = to talk with friends/family about what has happened since you last talked
To hang out (with) = to spend time with smb
To grab a bite to eat = to have a quick, casual, and often small meal or snack. It basically translates to “get some food to eat.”
To go out for (drinks/dinner) = to have some beers/ coffee or food at a bar/ cafe/club
To blow off steam (by) = to do activities in order to release stress, annoyance or anger
Notes:
–DON’T say “I meet with my friends”. “Meet with” sounds formal. Meet up with implies intention to socialise.
–DON’T say “I catch up my friends”. “With” connects to whom you are doing this action.
–DON’T say “I go outside to a restaurant”. “Out” and “outside” are used differently.
–DON’T say “I blow off my steam by running”. “Blow off steam” is a fixed phrase.
–DON’T say “I take a coffee” or “I drink a coffee“. We go for a coffee or grab a coffee.
3. Activities and Going Out
The goal is to stop using the generic verb “go to” for everything.
Band 6: I like to go for a walk and go to the cinema.
Band 7:
To go for a stroll: = to walk slowly and leisurely
To head to the cinema = to go to the cinema
Note:
-You can add adjectives to alter the verb “stroll”. E.g. I go for a long stroll on the beach/ I go for a short stroll around the park.
-The most common adjective with “stroll” is “leisurely“. E.g. I went for a leisurely stroll yesterday.
Band 6: I like to go to the gym and see a movie.
Band 7:
To hit the gym: = to go to the gym
To catch a movie = to go to the cinema and watch a movie
Note:
–DON’T say “I hit gym“. You need to use the definite article.
–DON’T say “I want to catch up a movie“. Catch and catch up have different meanings.
Putting it into Practice: The Transformation
Here is how a full answer changes when you apply these upgrades.
Examiner Question: “What do you usually do on the weekend?”
The Typical Band 6 Answer:
“Usually, on Friday evenings I am very tired from my work. So, I like to stay at home and relax. I watch some series on Netflix and maybe eat some pizza. Sometimes I meet my friends and we go to a bar to drink something. On Saturday, I like to sleep longer and then do some tasks at home like washing my clothes. Then in the evening, I like to order food and spend time with family. And on Sunday, I go to the park to walk and then prepare for work.”
(Feedback: Functional, intelligible, but uses “relax,” repetitive sentence structure, and generic vocabulary like “meet” and “drink something.”)
The Levelled-Up Band 7 Answer:
“Usually, by Friday evening I’m pretty exhausted, so I like to just unwind. I often just order a pizza and binge-watch whatever series I’m into at the moment. But sometimes, if I have the energy, I meet up with some mates and we head out for a few drinks in the city centre. I’m always trying to find a place that does live music! On Saturday, I usually sleep in a bit, get all the washing and house chores done, and then in the evening, we usually get a takeaway and chill out with family. And on Sunday, I head to the park for a nice leisurely stroll or if I’m in the mood, I might hit the gym. And then in the evening, I get ready for work the next day.”
(Feedback: Uses “unwind” and “chill out” instead of relax. Uses “binge-watch,” “meet up with,” and “head out for a few drinks” and “head to“. Uses “sleep in” instead of “sleep longer“. Uses “leisurely stroll” and “hit the gym” instead of “walk” and “go to the gym”. The flow is much more natural.)
Review Test
Section A: Vocabulary Matching (7 Marks)
Match the Band 7 idiomatic phrases on the left with their Band 6 plain English definitions on the right.
Section B: Grammar and Usage Check (8 Marks)
Read the following sentences. Each one contains a common error. Rewrite the sentence correctly.
1. On rainy days, I just like to chill out in home.
2. My friends and I usually meet with each other on Friday nights.
3. It’s been a stressful week, so I need to blow off my steam tonight.
4. I love to binge-watching series on Netflix all weekend.
5. I’m going to hit gym before work tomorrow.
6. Do you want to go to the cinema and catch up a movie?
7. We went outside to a nice restaurant last night.
8. Let’s go out and take a coffee this afternoon.
Section C: The Band 7 Transformation (5 Marks)
Rewrite the following “Band 6” sentences using higher-level vocabulary.
Constraint: Do not use the word “relax” in any of your answers.
- Band 6: On Saturdays, I like to sleep longer.
Band 7: - Band 6: I like to meet my friends and we go to a bar to drink something.
Band 7: - Band 6: After a hard day, I like to physically relax on the sofa.
Band 7: - Band 6: I am going to go to the gym now.
Band 7: - Band 6: I like to go for a walk in the park to relax my mind.
Band 7:
(Hint: Use an adjective with your walk).
Answers
Reveals Answer
Section A: Vocabulary Matching
- C
- E
- F
- G
- A
- B
- D
Section B: Grammar and Usage Check
- On rainy days, I just like to chill out at home.
- My friends and I usually meet up (with each other) on Friday nights.
- It’s been a stressful week, so I need to blow off steam tonight.
- I love to binge-watch series on Netflix all weekend. (OR: I love binge-watching…)
- I’m going to hit the gym before work tomorrow.
- Do you want to go to the cinema and catch a movie?
- We went out to a nice restaurant last night.
- Let’s go out and grab a coffee this afternoon. (OR: go for a coffee)
Section C: The Band 7 Transformation
(Slight variations are possible as long as the target vocabulary is used correctly and “relax” is avoided).
1. On Saturdays, I like to have a lie-in / sleep in. (On Saturdays, I like to sleep longer.)
2. I like to meet up with my friends and head out for a few drinks / go out for drinks. ( I like to meet my friends and we go to a bar to drink something.)
3. After a hard day, I like to put my feet up on the sofa. (After a hard day, I like to physically relax on the sofa.)
4. I am going to hit the gym now. (I am going to go to the gym now.)
5. I like to go for a leisurely stroll in the park to unwind / chill out / blow off steam. (I like to go for a walk in the park to relax my mind.)
