Have you ever heard of the expressions, ‘swamped with work’, ‘running around like a headless chicken’, and ‘racing against the clock’? These expressions mean the same thing, and that is being busy. Using these expressions helps you express your answers like a native English speaker in your IELTS Speaking exam.
In this post, you’ll learn:
- How to structure a high-scoring answer (with 2 real examples).
- IELTS-specific vocabulary related to ‘being busy’.
- Complex and compound sentences to vary your sentence structures and grammar so you can get a higher score in the criterion, Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
- Natural and conversational answers that examiners prefer over memorized or template replies.
Let’s dive into the sample answers!
PART 1
BEING BUSY
Are you often busy?
(Answer 1)
Yes, I’m busy as a bee (to be very busy) these days! My work is pretty demanding, plus I have a side business that requires a lot of my time, and I’m doing my best to squeeze in some ‘me time’. My schedule is jam-packed (full), but I’m doing this intentionally as I want to achieve financial freedom at a certain age.
(Answer 2)
Thank God, I’m not. I’m enjoying my days these days after quitting my previous work. However, in the past few years, I was like a spinning top that never stops, and I promised myself that I would never come back to that situation ever again. Life is not all about work, after all.
Why are you busy?
(Answer 1)
Well, I’m juggling (managing) a full-time job while working on my own business. I’m pretty serious about the latter because I really want to get out of the rat race (the way of life in modern society in which people compete for money and power). I want to be my own boss in the near future, as I believe that’s more rewarding than working for someone. I’m sacrificing my social life these days just to achieve my target, but I know that I’ll surely reap (harvest) what I’ve sown (planted).
(Answer 2)
People might raise their eyebrows (to react in surprise or mild disapproval) if I say I’m used to (accustomed) this. Honestly, I don’t like wasting my time without doing something interesting or valuable. I guess this is because of how my parents raised me. I mean, when I was a child, they always told me to do something that could inspire me, motivate me, excite me, and things like that (and similar things that are mentioned), so I wouldn’t spend my time on something that wasn’t worthwhile.
When are you busy?
(Answer 1)
I admit that my mornings are absolutely chaotic! I’m like a headless chicken (in an uncontrolled or disorganized way) rushing to get ready for work, preparing my lunchbox, and posting some videos on my social media accounts to promote my business. That means I wake up earlier than most people, but I can’t complain because I’m doing this for a brighter future. As they say, do difficult things now, and enjoy an easy future; do easy things now, and your life will be hard later.
(Answer 2)
When I’m at work, that’s without a doubt. My work is pretty demanding because I work in a fast-paced environment. Although I like it because it challenges me to reach my full potential (achieving the highest level of success), there are still times when I want to give up because I experience anxiety.
Are you busier now than when you were a child?
(Answer 1)
Definitely! That’s not even a question, I think. I miss the time when I was a child, when all I wanted was to play outside and make new friends in the neighborhood. It’s funny because when I was a kid, I wished to grow fast and be an adult so I could live on my own without restrictions from my parents, and now, all I wish is to be a kid again.
(Answer 2)
Yes! Of course! I don’t think any adult is less busy now than they were as a little kid. This adult life is all about working; all about wanting to succeed, or all about multitasking. Don’t you think so? We, adults, are facing various kinds of responsibilities, and that surely makes us busier than ever.
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Meaning of Words and Phrases Sources: Collins, Macmillan, Cambridge, Oxford
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