Eleven to fourteen minutes with an examiner, split across three parts. Practise each part in isolation, then run the full interview end-to-end.
Short answers on familiar topics: work, study, home, hobbies. Fluency and natural rhythm carry more weight than vocabulary here.
"Do you enjoy the area where you live?"
One minute to prepare, up to two minutes to speak on a given topic. Structure, extension and precise vocabulary decide the band.
"Describe a decision you made that changed your life. You should say when it was, what you decided, why you decided it, and how you feel about it now."
Abstract discussion on themes drawn from Part 2. This is where Band 7.5 candidates typically separate from Band 8+ candidates.
"How do people's priorities change as they get older?"
Recorded prompts, timed responses, self-review.