IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Concentration

IELTS Speaking Part 1 (Concentration)

Topic: Concentration
Difficulty: Easy

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Did you stay focused in class when you were a child? 

1. Not really, because I tended to wander off whenever I went to school. I’m not sure why I couldn’t concentrate; it’s just that I felt bored. Sometimes, I would doodle and scribble on my notes, and as a result, my teacher would call me out. I wasn’t paying attention during class, especially when I was in fifth grade. Maybe I just didn’t like the class because I was a transfer student, so my focus wasn’t really there.
2. Well, I had to stay focused because I sat in the front, and the teacher would always call on me. To avoid being scolded by the teacher, I had to pay attention all the time and stay laser-focused. I tried to understand what the teachers were saying, and I needed to be alert for every movement. I grew up with a very old-school style of teaching, where not paying attention resulted in punishment, usually in the form of a stick. So, we had to stay focused.

Are you a focused person? 

I can say that at least 80% of the time, I’m focused. When I engage in things I like, such as playing games or working on projects that genuinely interest me. However, when it comes to chores, I tend to struggle. For example, let’s say I have to clean. I’ll concentrate for the first 10 minutes, but then if I hear my phone, I’ll stop and sit down. After three hours, I realize I haven’t accomplished anything. This tends to happen, but when it comes to things I love, I’m laser focused.

How do you stay focused? 

In order for me to stay focused at work or school, I will turn off my phone. Notifications and messages can easily distract me, so I want to avoid that. When I’m at work, I also wear headphones to signal to others that I don’t want to be disturbed or that I’m occupied. This helps me concentrate on what I’m doing.

Is it easy to stay focused in a noisy environment? 

For me, it’s really hard to stay focused in a noisy environment. Even music can be distracting because it creates two issues for me. First, it can cause physical discomfort, especially if it has a loud bass sound. It feels like my head is being pounded repeatedly. Second, songs with lyrics tend to draw my attention, and I end up analyzing the lyrics instead of focusing on the task at hand, especially when I’m writing. I lose focus and sometimes even end up typing the words I’m hearing, which is not productive. So, I prefer to work in a quiet or minimally noisy place. Sometimes, I even work around 4 in the morning to avoid distractions.

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