Part 1 — Home & Hometown
"Hometown" vs. "home city" · describing layout · nostalgia language · place-description techniques
1. Topic & Why It Matters
Home and hometown questions appear early in Part 1 because they are familiar, personal, and easy to extend. The examiner is not testing geography knowledge; they are listening for whether you can describe a place naturally, add personal detail, and compare past and present without overcomplicating the answer.
This topic typically generates 4–6 questions spanning sub-areas: where you live now, your hometown, what your neighbourhood is like, how the place has changed, what you like or dislike about it, and whether you plan to stay or move. Being able to paint a vivid picture in a few sentences is the core skill here.
Candidates often lose marks in three ways:
- Lexical Resource — repeating beautiful, nice, and convenient without precise details. Saying "My hometown is very beautiful" scores much lower than "It's a fairly green, laid-back kind of place with tree-lined streets and a river running through the centre."
- Fluency — stopping after a basic fact, such as "I live in an apartment." Part 1 expects 3–5 sentences, not one.
- Grammar — confusing present perfect, past simple, and used to when talking about childhood or changes. "I am living there since I was a child" is a very common error.
2. Scoring Strategy — How to Maximise Your Band
Place descriptions are a goldmine for scoring points because they naturally invite sensory language, comparison, and personal connection. Here's how to target each criterion:
3. Answer Frameworks for Place Description
Describing a place can feel vague. These frameworks give you a reliable shape so you always have enough to say.
4. Knowledge Points
Home, hometown, and home city
| Word | Best use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| home | where you live now, or the place you feel emotionally attached to | Home for me is a small apartment near the river. |
| hometown | the place where you grew up or strongly identify with | My hometown is a medium-sized city in the south. |
| home city | acceptable, but less natural than hometown in IELTS Part 1 | My home city has changed a lot in the last decade. |
| neighbourhood | a smaller local area inside a town or city | My neighbourhood is quiet and mostly residential. |
| the area / district | a zone within a city — more formal than 'neighbourhood' | I live in the financial district, right in the centre. |
The 3-layer answer shape
- Fact: Say where it is or what kind of place it is.
- Feature: Add one concrete detail about layout, atmosphere, transport, or people.
- Feeling: Explain your personal connection or give a tiny memory.
For example: "I live in a residential area on the edge of the city. It is well-connected, but there are still a few quiet backstreets and small food stalls. To be honest, I like it because it feels familiar; I used to walk past the same bakery every morning on my way to school."
Tense choices for Home & Hometown
| Situation | Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Current fact about home | Present simple | I live in a two-bedroom flat near the city centre. |
| Describing atmosphere/feel | Present simple | It's a pretty laid-back area with lots of greenery. |
| Past habit (no longer true) | Used to + base verb | It used to be mostly farmland when I was a kid. |
| Change over time | Present perfect | The area has changed beyond recognition. |
| Duration of living there | Present perfect + for/since | I've lived here since I was about ten. |
| Specific past event | Past simple | We moved there in 2015 when my dad got transferred. |
| Ongoing development | Present perfect continuous | They've been building new apartments for years. |
| Future plan to move | Going to / thinking of | I'm thinking of moving closer to work next year. |
| Hypothetical wish | Conditional 2 | If I could live anywhere, I'd choose a coastal town. |
| Comparing then and now | Used to + but now | It used to be quite run-down, but now it's really vibrant. |
Five ways to extend a place description
| Strategy | Signal phrase | Example continuation |
|---|---|---|
| Add sensory detail | you can hear / see / smell … | "…you can hear the sound of street vendors in the morning." |
| Compare with somewhere else | compared to … / unlike … | "…compared to Beijing, the pace of life is much more relaxed." |
| Add a memory | I remember … / I'll never forget … | "…I remember playing football in the empty lot next to our building." |
| Mention a change | it's changed a lot / it used to be … | "…it used to be a sleepy little town, but now it's quite built-up." |
| Express a wish | I wish … / if only … | "…I wish they'd kept some of the old buildings — they had real character." |
Describing size and type — levels of precision
Don't just say "big city" or "small town." Layer your description:
"My hometown is a big city. It's very beautiful."
"My hometown is a large city in the south of China. It has many parks and is quite modern."
"My hometown is a sprawling coastal city in southeastern China — it's got a population of around eight million, so it's fairly bustling, but once you get away from the commercial centre, there are some surprisingly tranquil pockets with traditional architecture."
5. Vocabulary & Phrase Bank
A. Location & layout
| # | Expression | Meaning / use |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | be originally from … | a natural way to introduce your hometown |
| 02 | be based in … | where you currently live, study, or work |
| 03 | on the outskirts / on the edge of | not in the centre, near the boundary |
| 04 | in the heart of the city | right in the very centre |
| 05 | a residential area / district | a zone mainly for homes |
| 06 | within walking distance | close enough to walk to |
| 07 | a stone's throw from … | very close to (idiomatic) |
| 08 | a bit off the beaten track | less touristy or less central |
| 09 | well-connected | easy to reach by bus, metro, or train |
| 10 | sprawling | spread over a large area (usually cities) |
| 11 | compact | small but well-organised |
| 12 | tucked away | hidden, not easily noticed |
B. Atmosphere & character
| # | Expression | Meaning / use |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | a lively atmosphere | busy, energetic, and pleasant |
| 14 | a tight-knit community | people know and support each other |
| 15 | the pace of life | how fast or relaxed daily life feels |
| 16 | down-to-earth | unpretentious, friendly, ordinary |
| 17 | a quiet backstreet | a small, calm street away from main roads |
| 18 | tree-lined avenues | streets with trees on both sides |
| 19 | a vibrant nightlife | lots of bars, restaurants, entertainment at night |
| 20 | a sleepy / laid-back town | slow, relaxed, not much happening |
| 21 | bustling | full of energy and activity |
| 22 | picturesque / scenic | beautiful to look at (landscapes, views) |
| 23 | run-down / shabby | in poor condition, needs repair |
| 24 | up-and-coming | becoming more popular and developed |
C. Features & facilities
| # | Expression | Meaning / use |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | green space / open spaces | parks, riversides, gardens, or open areas |
| 26 | local landmarks | well-known buildings or places in the area |
| 27 | a convenient location | a practical place to live |
| 28 | public amenities | facilities like libraries, gyms, hospitals |
| 29 | street food stalls / food vendors | small outdoor places selling food |
| 30 | high-rise buildings / apartment blocks | tall residential buildings |
| 31 | a shopping district / commercial area | zone with shops and businesses |
| 32 | a heritage site / historical quarter | area with old, preserved buildings |
| 33 | pedestrian-friendly | easy and safe to walk around |
| 34 | congested / gridlocked | stuck in traffic, too many vehicles |
D. Change & development
| # | Expression | Meaning / use |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | undergo rapid development | change quickly, often with new buildings |
| 36 | retain its character | keep its original feel or identity |
| 37 | beyond recognition | changed so much it looks completely different |
| 38 | spring up (shops, buildings) | appear quickly and in large numbers |
| 39 | be demolished / torn down | destroyed (usually old buildings) |
| 40 | gentrification | when a poor area becomes wealthy (and original residents leave) |
| 41 | urban sprawl | uncontrolled expansion of a city into surrounding areas |
| 42 | a construction boom | a period of lots of new building |
E. Nostalgia & personal connection
| # | Expression | Meaning / use |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | childhood memories | personal memories from when you were young |
| 44 | feel nostalgic about … | miss something from the past |
| 45 | have mixed feelings about … | see both positives and negatives |
| 46 | put down roots | settle somewhere for a long time |
| 47 | a sense of belonging | the feeling that a place is truly yours |
| 48 | have a soft spot for … | feel affection for (despite flaws) |
| 49 | miss the simplicity of … | nostalgic for a less complicated time |
| 50 | it holds a special place in my heart | emotionally significant to you |
F. Vocabulary upgrades — replace generic words
| Instead of … | Try … | Example in context |
|---|---|---|
| beautiful | picturesque / charming / scenic / stunning | "It's a fairly picturesque town surrounded by mountains." |
| nice (place) | pleasant / inviting / cosy / welcoming | "It's a really welcoming neighbourhood." |
| big (city) | sprawling / bustling / vast / thriving | "It's a sprawling metropolis with over ten million people." |
| small (town) | compact / intimate / sleepy / quaint | "It's a quaint little town with cobblestone streets." |
| old | historic / centuries-old / well-preserved / ancient | "There's a well-preserved temple in the centre." |
| new | modern / newly built / state-of-the-art / contemporary | "They've built a state-of-the-art library near the river." |
| quiet | tranquil / peaceful / serene / hushed | "It's surprisingly tranquil given how close it is to the centre." |
| noisy | hectic / chaotic / deafening / raucous | "The traffic can be pretty chaotic during rush hour." |
| convenient | well-connected / accessible / well-served | "It's well-served by public transport." |
| changed a lot | transformed / undergone a transformation / evolved | "The whole area has undergone a dramatic transformation." |
6. Describing Techniques — How to Talk About Different Sub-Topics
A. Describing your home / accommodation
Layer: type → size / layout → character → personal touch.
- "I live in a two-bedroom flat on the fifteenth floor — it's nothing fancy, but it's cosy and gets a lot of natural light."
- "We rent a small apartment in a high-rise block. The living room doubles as my workspace, which can be a bit cramped, but I've got used to it."
- "It's a fairly spacious place with a balcony overlooking the park — that's probably my favourite feature."
- "My room is quite minimalist — just a desk, a bed, and wall-to-wall bookshelves, which suits me fine."
B. Describing the atmosphere / vibe of a place
The examiner wants to feel the place through your words. Use sensory language and similes to bring it alive:
- Sight: "Tree-lined streets, colourful shopfronts, lanterns hanging from the eaves."
- Sound: "You can hear vendors calling out in the morning market."
- Smell: "There's always the smell of freshly baked bread drifting out from the bakery on the corner."
- Feel / vibe: "It has a real village-like feel despite being in the middle of a city."
- Simile: "Walking through the old quarter is like stepping back in time."
C. Describing changes to your hometown
Structure: before → trigger → after → your feeling about it.
"My hometown changed a lot. Before it was small, now it is big."
"When I was growing up, it was a pretty sleepy little town — mostly low-rise houses and open fields. But over the past ten years or so, there's been a real construction boom — new high-rises have sprung up everywhere, and they've even built a metro system. I have mixed feelings about it, to be honest — on one hand it's much more convenient, but on the other, it's lost some of its original charm."
D. Describing what you like / dislike about where you live
- "What I like most is … / The thing I appreciate most is …"
- "If I had to pick one thing, it would be …"
- "The only real downside is … / The one thing that bugs me is …"
- "I suppose the trade-off is … / The flip side is …"
- "It's not perfect, but on balance, I'd say it's a great place to live."
E. Describing whether you want to stay or move
- "I can see myself settling here long-term — I've really put down roots."
- "I'm quite attached to the area, but I wouldn't rule out moving if the right opportunity came along."
- "To be honest, I've been toying with the idea of relocating to a bigger city for career reasons."
- "If I could afford it, I'd love to move somewhere with a bit more space — maybe a house with a garden."
- "I think I'll probably end up going back to my hometown eventually — there's something about it that keeps pulling me back."
F. Comparing two places (hometown vs. current city)
The examiner may ask you to compare. Use these structures for natural-sounding comparisons:
- "Compared to my hometown, [current city] is far more cosmopolitan."
- "The main difference is the pace of life — back home it's much more laid-back."
- "What I miss about my hometown is … / What I prefer about living here is …"
- "In terms of [food / transport / nightlife], [city A] has the edge, but when it comes to [green space / community feel], I'd give it to [city B]."
- "They're chalk and cheese, really — one is a sleepy coastal town and the other is a concrete jungle."
7. Grammar Patterns
8. Pronunciation Focus
Linking final consonants to vowel sounds
Place descriptions often contain short word groups such as part of, kind of, and edge of. Link the final consonant to the next vowel so the answer flows instead of sounding word-by-word.
| Phrase | Linking target | Practice sentence |
|---|---|---|
| part of the city | par-tov the city | It is in the older part of the city. |
| edge of town | e-jov town | I live near the edge of town. |
| kind of quiet | kin-dov quiet | It is kind of quiet during the week. |
| a lot of green space | a lo-tov green space | There is a lot of green space nearby. |
| sort of charming | sor-tov charming | It's sort of charming in a rustic way. |
| out of the way | ou-tov the way | It's a bit out of the way, to be honest. |
Word stress for place adjectives
| Word | Stress pattern | Common error |
|---|---|---|
| residential | re-si-DEN-tial | Stressing the first syllable |
| convenient | con-VE-nient | Saying 'con-ve-ni-ENT' |
| picturesque | pic-tur-ESQUE | Stressing 'PIC-turesque' |
| atmosphere | AT-mos-phere | Equal stress on all syllables |
| cosmopolitan | cos-mo-POL-it-an | Stressing 'COS-mopolitan' |
| commercial | com-MER-cial | Saying 'COM-mercial' |
Intonation for lists and descriptions
When listing features of a place, use rising intonation on each item except the last, which falls:
"There are parks ↗, cafes ↗, a couple of small museums ↗, and a really nice riverside walk ↘."
Rising on list items keeps the listener expecting more; falling on the last signals completion.
9. Common Pitfalls
10. Common Questions Bank & Strategy Notes
Below are the most frequently asked Part 1 Home & Hometown questions. For each, there's a strategy note and suggested framework.
A. About your home / accommodation
B. About your hometown
C. About your neighbourhood
D. About change & the future
E. Personal connection & preferences
11. Practice Questions & Model Answers
Question 1: "Do you like the place where you live? Why or why not?"
"Well, yes, I do, for the most part. I live in a fairly quiet residential area on the edge of the city, so it's not right in the middle of all the noise, but it's still pretty well-connected. There's a metro station within walking distance, and there are a few small parks where people go jogging in the evening. To be honest, what I like most is the sense of familiarity. I've lived there since I was a teenager, and although the area has undergone quite a bit of development, it still retains some of its old character. For example, there's a tiny noodle shop near my building which my dad used to take me to after school. It's nothing fancy, but it brings back a lot of childhood memories. I suppose the only downside is the traffic at rush hour — it can be a bit of a pain, especially on rainy days. But overall, I'd say it's a convenient, down-to-earth place, and I've definitely put down roots there."
Question 2: "Has your hometown changed much since you were a child?"
"Oh, beyond recognition, I'd say. When I was growing up, it was a pretty sleepy little town — mostly low-rise houses, open fields, and a couple of small markets. The pace of life was really slow, and, you know, everybody knew everybody. But over the past decade or so, there's been a real construction boom — new high-rise buildings have sprung up everywhere, they've built a metro system, and the population has probably tripled. I have mixed feelings about it, to be honest — on one hand, it's much more convenient now, and there are far more job opportunities. But on the other, it's lost some of its original charm — I kind of miss the simplicity of how it used to be. There are still a few of the old lanes tucked away behind the new developments, though, which I find quite comforting."
Question 3: "What's your hometown famous for?"
"Well, I'm originally from Chengdu, which is in southwestern China, and it's probably best known for two things — the food and the pandas. The street food scene is incredible — there are food stalls on practically every corner, and everything is seriously spicy. It's also where the famous panda breeding centre is, so we get a lot of tourists coming specifically for that. But for me personally, what makes Chengdu special is the laid-back atmosphere — there's a real teahouse culture where people just sit for hours chatting and playing mahjong. It's quite different from, say, Shanghai or Beijing, where everyone's always in a rush. I think that relaxed pace of life is what I have a real soft spot for — it's hard to replicate that feeling in a big city."
Question 4: "Do you live in a house or a flat?"
"I live in a flat, actually — a two-bedroom place on the twelfth floor of a fairly modern apartment block. It's nothing luxurious, but it's cosy and gets a decent amount of natural light, which I really value. My favourite spot is probably the little balcony — I've squeezed a few potted plants out there, and on a clear day you can see the mountains in the distance. The neighbourhood is mostly residential — very quiet at night, which suits me because I'm not really a night-owl. If I could change one thing, though, I'd love a bigger kitchen — the one we have now is what you'd call compact, which is a polite way of saying it's tiny!"
Question 5: "Would you prefer to live in the city or the countryside?"
"Hmm, that's a good question. I think at this stage of my life, I'd lean towards the city — mainly for practical reasons like career opportunities and public amenities. I'm the kind of person who likes having everything within walking distance — cafes, cinemas, gyms, that sort of thing. Having said that, I can definitely see the appeal of the countryside, especially as I get older. My grandparents live in a small village, and whenever I visit, the tranquillity is just incredible — no traffic noise, clean air, stars at night. If I could have the best of both worlds, I'd probably live in the city during the week and escape to the countryside at weekends. But, you know, that's a bit of a pipe dream on my current salary!"
12. Annotated Commentary
Analysis of techniques used across the model answers above:
"although the area has undergone quite a bit of development, it still retains some of its old character" — concession clause + present perfect + present simple contrast. Also: "If I could have the best of both worlds" (Conditional 2), "Having said that" (participle clause for contrast).
The answers naturally shift: present simple for current facts ('I live in a flat'), 'used to' for past contrast ('it used to be sleepy'), present perfect for change ('has undergone'), conditional for wishes ('If I could'). This range is what pushes from Band 6 to 7+.
"food stalls on every corner", "everything is seriously spicy", "potted plants on the balcony", "stars at night", "no traffic noise, clean air". These concrete details make descriptions vivid and memorable — far better than abstract 'beautiful' or 'nice'.
"for the most part", "I have mixed feelings", "I suppose", "to be honest", "I'd lean towards", "I can definitely see the appeal". These show you can express degrees of opinion — a key Band 7+ skill.
"put down roots", "a soft spot for", "beyond recognition", "chalk and cheese", "pipe dream", "best of both worlds". Each is woven into the flow — not bolted on. Use 1–2 per answer, not 5.
"a tiny noodle shop which my dad used to take me to", "I've squeezed a few potted plants out there", "my grandparents live in a small village". These make answers sound genuine and impossible to have memorised.
"which is a polite way of saying it's tiny!", "a bit of a pipe dream on my current salary!". Light humour shows confidence and fluency. Don't force jokes, but don't be afraid to be playful.
Key words: 'residential' /ˌrezɪˈdenʃl/, 'atmosphere' /ˈætməsfɪə/, 'picturesque' /ˌpɪktʃəˈresk/, 'tranquillity' /træŋˈkwɪlɪti/. Link: 'part_of', 'kind_of', 'sort_of'. Stress: 'conVEnient', 'resiDENtial'.
13. High-Band Techniques (Band 7–8+)
14. Self-Drill
Shadow-reading lines — say each 5 times aloud
"I live on the edge of the city, but it's still well-connected."
Focus on: linking 'edge_of' (no gap), stress on 'EDGE' and 'WELL-conNECTed'. Clear /dʒ/ in 'edge'.
"Although the area has undergone quite a bit of development, it still retains some of its old character."
Focus on: falling intonation on 'character'. Stress 'QUITE a BIT' and 'STILL reTAINS'. Link 'some_of_its'.
"If I could live anywhere, I'd probably choose a small town by the sea."
Focus on: stress on 'ANYWHERE' and 'SEA'. Rising intonation on 'If I could live anywhere' before the fall on 'sea'.
Improv prompts — record yourself, no notes
"Has your hometown changed much since you were a child?"
Target: 4+ sentences · Use PCC framework (Past → Change → Current). Include 'used to' and present perfect. Add your opinion about the change.
"What do you like most about the area where you live?"
Target: 4+ sentences · Use at least one sensory detail (sight/sound/smell). Include one idiom from the phrase bank.
"Would you like to move to a different city? Why or why not?"
Target: 4+ sentences · Use conditional structures. Show both sides (pros of staying vs. pros of moving). End with your real preference.
"Describe your favourite place in your hometown."
Target: 4+ sentences · Paint a sensory snapshot. Include a memory. Use a relative clause to add detail.
Vocabulary activation drill
Set a 2-minute timer. For each prompt below, speak for 30 seconds using as many expressions from the phrase bank as you can. Don't read — speak from memory.
- Describe your neighbourhood to someone who has never been there.
- Compare your hometown to the city you live in now (or the city you'd like to live in).
- Convince a friend to visit your hometown for a weekend trip.
- Describe how your hometown has changed since your childhood — as if telling a story.
Writing exercise — write your own model answer
For each question below, write a full model answer (4–6 sentences). Then read it aloud and record yourself. Compare with the model answers above. Focus on using the vocabulary, grammar patterns, and frameworks from this chapter.