GESE Grade 5 Festivals: questions and sample answers

What the examiner wants at Grade 5

Grade 5 is CEFR B1 and has two phases of up to 5 minutes each: a talk on a topic you prepare, and a conversation on two subject areas that the examiner chooses from a list of six. This page is about the conversation phase. You must be ready for all six subjects, because you will not know which two you get.

The examiner wants reasons ("because"), preferences ("I prefer", "I'd rather"), the future with "will", the present perfect ("I have never...", "I have lived here for..."), and amounts ("a lot of", "not many"). You also have to ask the examiner at least one question about the subject.

These are the six conversation subjects in Trinity's Grade 5 specification. Source: Trinity specifications.

10 example questions on festivals

An examiner could ask questions like these. They are our own practice questions. Answer each one out loud.

1. Which festival do you enjoy most, and why?
2. How long does the festival last?
3. What food do people eat at festivals in your country?
4. Have you ever been to a festival in the UK?
5. What do you prefer: a big festival or a small family one?
6. How have festivals changed since you were a child?
7. Will you celebrate a festival this year? How?
8. What do you do to get ready for a festival?
9. Is there a festival that you have never been to but would like to see?
10. How much money do people spend on festivals?

3 short sample answers

These answers are written at the level of the grade. Do not learn them by heart. Use them to see the size and shape of a good answer, then say your own.

Which festival do you enjoy most, and why?
“I enjoy Diwali most because the whole family comes together. We have celebrated it in our house for as long as I can remember, and I like the lights and the sweets.”

How long does the festival last?
“It lasts for five days. On the first day we clean the house, and on the last day we visit our neighbours.”

Have you ever been to a festival in the UK?
“Yes, I have. I went to a street carnival last summer. I'd rather go to a small festival, but this one was great and there were a lot of people.”

Useful words

• celebrate
• tradition
• decoration
• procession
• fireworks
• lantern
• feast
• costume
• gathering
• religious
• public holiday
• for three days

Say each word aloud three times. Then use two or three of them in one sentence about your own life.

Common mistakes

• Answering with one sentence. Add "because" and a reason.
• Using the present simple for the past: say "I went", not "I go", for last year.
• Not asking a question back. Trinity expects at least one from you.

Ask the examiner a question

Trinity says you must ask the examiner at least one question at Grade 5. Ask it when the talk feels easy and listen to the answer. A question for this subject: “Do you celebrate any festivals in your family?”

Practise this subject

Reading is not enough. Say your answers out loud, then listen to yourself.

• Practise the Grade 5 conversation with the AI examiner. It asks questions out loud and you answer out loud.
• Trinity GESE Grade 5 (B1): test format
• All Grade 5 subjects
• All six Grade 5 conversation subjects
• Grade 5 topic form examples
• Free level check (no sign-up)

This page is general information, not immigration advice. Check GOV.UK for your situation before you book.