Speaking Test Part 1

1. In your opinion, what is the best brand of smartphone?

There are many popular smartphone brands such as Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, and others but most of them have similar features. Personally, I like Xiaomi phones because they’re good value for money, they’re well made and they usually don’t run out of battery quickly.

2. Do you think smartphones are too expensive?

Smartphones can be expensive, but the price depends on the brand and model. The flagship models are usually very pricey but you can get really cheap smartphones that still have a lot of the same features.

3. What do you use your smartphone for?

Most of the time I just use my smartphone to send people messages or to access the internet. I don't actually make many calls on it. I also use banking apps on my phone really often as these days I pay for most things using it.

4. Do you play any games on your phone?

Not that often to be honest. I used to play online chess a lot on my phone, but I started to find it disruptive so I had to give it up.

5. How often do you switch off your phone? When and where?

Apart from when it runs out of battery, my phone is hardly ever turned off, but I do put it on silent mode a lot of the time as I find the constant notification sounds annoying and intrusive. At night before bed, I don’t switch it off either, but put it in airplane mode instead.

6. Do you send messages or call people more often?

I send messages much more often than I make calls. People often can’t pick up calls because they’re busy, so messages are more convenient. However, I still make phone calls from time to time, especially if I want to speak with someone urgently, or if I want to catch up with family or friends.

7. Do any of your friends use their phones too much?

Yes absolutely, I have a few friends who are completely addicted to their phones. They can’t put them down. They’re constantly flicking through their social media feed or checking their messages and social media notifications.

8. How would you feel if you couldn’t use your phone for a week?

It would be challenging to not use my phone for a week since it's an essential tool these days. Apart from all the useful apps,  I have all my contacts on my phone, and my friends and work colleagues all communicate using messaging apps, so it would be tricky to stay in touch with them.