Describe a free day off study or work – IELTS Band 8 Sample

Sample Answer 1

As I have been preparing hard for the IELTS along with preparing for my final semester at college, it has been quite hectic for me. I have not been able to find a relaxing time or place to lay for a bit. As my final exams are over, I decided to take a break from all my studies and work to enjoy some free time with my friends. 

As I informed my friends about my current predicament, they planned for a short trip to a nearby hill station. They know that I am an orophile and nothing can relax me more than the serenity and incredible beauty of the mountains. So, we packed our bags and left early in the morning in one of my friend’s car. We reached our destination within 2 hours. As we had been to this place before, there was no need to explore. So, I decided to sleep over while they spent their time chit-chatting. In the evening, the hotel management prepared a bonfire for us. We sang, shared stories and enjoyed barbecued chicken and marshmallows around the fire. Eventually, we retired to our beds as it was getting cold outside. 

The next day, I got up early and most of us hiked to one of our favourite points to see the sunrise. After we returned and freshened up, we packed our luggage and headed home. This journey, although very short, rejuvenated me for my forthcoming ventures as I got to enjoy the company of my closest friends in the lap of the tranquil magnificence of nature.

Sample Answer 2

I find that I have to take a lot of breaks from study because I get distracted so easily. I can only concentrate for relatively short, intense periods of study. Anyway, I’m going to talk about a time more recently when I was studying for my mid-year examinations. The examinations are quite important because they give you an idea of how well you know the material, and whether or not you are on track for achieving a good grade for the year’s work. So, although the marks only represent a small proportion of the overall grade, I think it is important mentally to feel as though you are on top of things.

So, I was studying quite hard actually, every day and the weather was very hot outside, but I kept studying and every day, one of my friends would call me and say, “hey, we’re going to the beach today, do you want to come?” or, “we’re going away to the coast for the weekend to go surfing, you should come with us” and every time I had to say no, “I’m sorry I can’t, because I have to study”. So, I was being very good and staying focused. Until finally, I think it was about a week away from my exams and I was starting to feel really restless and frustrated, when I heard that an old friend of mine was back in town from abroad. Well, he called me up and what could I say? I really wanted to catch with him because it had been ages since we’d hung out together and he was only in town for a couple of days! So of course, I put study on hold, and we went out with a whole bunch of friends and had a great night. Of course, I felt slightly guilty the next day, then, I got straight back into the books, and the good news is that I felt much more focused and able to absorb the material, so I think in the end, it was more productive, for me anyway, to take some time out and then return to the studying. It helped me to clear head and study more effectively. But I have to be really firm with myself on occasion as I am easily tempted to procrastinate run out of time! In this case, it worked for me as in the end, I got straight as on all my exams.

Sample Audio

Click on the audio to listen to the sample answer above. Pay attention to the intonation and pronunciation of the words

Vocabulary

• Achieve: to succeed in finishing something or reaching an aim, especially after a lot of work or effort
  Eg: Rose achieved her dreams of working in a corporate environment. 
• Restless: unwilling or unable to stay still or to be quiet and calm, because you are worried or bored:
  Eg: John’s restless. He never stays in one country for long. 
• Hang out:  to spend a lot of time in a place or with someone
  Eg: I often hang out with my childhood friends. 
• Guilty: feeling bad about something you have done 
  Eg: Rose was guilty about forgetting her best friend’s birthday. 
• Procrastinate: delay or postpone action; put off doing something
  Eg: One of my weaknesses is procrastination. 

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