Examiner: Good morning/afternoon. Can you tell me your full name, please?
Candidate: Good morning. My name is Wara.
Examiner: Thank you. And where are you from?
Candidate: I’m from Indonesia.
Examiner: Thank you. Now, in this first part, I’d like to ask you some questions about yourself. Let’s talk about cafes. Do you have a favorite cafe?
Candidate: Yes, I quite like Fore Coffee, which I usually visit at the mall near where I live. Their coffee is genuinely good quality – they have a nice range of options, and the taste is consistently reliable. The prices are reasonable as well, which makes it a convenient choice when I want decent coffee without too much fuss.
Examiner: Do you often go to cafes by yourself?
Candidate: Rarely, actually. I’m not really the type to sit alone in a cafe for extended periods. When I do go to cafes, it’s usually with my wife or occasionally with colleagues during work breaks. I find cafes more enjoyable as social spaces rather than places for solitary activities. If I’m alone and want coffee, I’m more likely to just grab a takeaway rather than sitting down by myself.
Examiner: What do you think helps to make a cafe very popular?
Candidate: I think there are three key factors. First and foremost is taste – if the coffee and food aren’t good, nothing else really matters. People return to cafes that consistently deliver quality products. Second is service – friendly, efficient staff who make customers feel welcome create a positive experience that encourages repeat visits. And third is the overall atmosphere and coziness of the space. People want to feel comfortable and relaxed, so factors like seating comfort, lighting, noise levels, and general ambiance are crucial. If a cafe gets all three of these elements right, it’s likely to build a loyal customer base.
Examiner: Why do some people prefer cafes that are part of large chains, rather than small, local cafes?
Candidate: I think consistency is the primary reason. When you go to a Starbucks or other major chain, you know exactly what you’re going to get – the same menu, the same taste, the same quality regardless of which branch you visit. This predictability is comforting, especially for people who don’t want to gamble on unfamiliar places or who are traveling and want something reliable. Large chains also typically have better facilities – comfortable seating, clean toilets, reliable wifi, and electrical outlets for working. They often have more extensive menus with various options to accommodate different preferences and dietary requirements. Additionally, chain cafes usually have loyalty programs or apps that offer rewards and convenience for regular customers. That said, local cafes often have more character, unique offerings, and contribute to the local economy, but they can be more inconsistent in quality and service, which is why some people play it safe with chains.
PART 2: Monologue
Examiner: Now, I’m going to give you a topic and I’d like you to talk about it for one to two minutes. Before you talk, you’ll have one minute to think about what you’re going to say, and you can make some notes if you wish. Do you understand?
Candidate: Yes, I understand.
Examiner: Here’s your topic. I’d like you to describe a place you visited that has beautiful views.
[One minute preparation time]
Examiner: All right? Remember, you have one to two minutes for this. Don’t worry if I stop you. I’ll tell you when the time is up. Can you start speaking now, please?
Candidate: Yes, of course. I’d like to talk about Puncak Pass, which is a mountainous area located between Bogor and Cianjur in West Java, Indonesia.
I’ve visited Puncak several times over the years, but the most memorable visit was probably about three or four years ago. The main reason for that particular trip was simply to escape Jakarta’s heat and congestion for the weekend. My wife and I wanted somewhere relatively close but with cooler weather and natural scenery, and Puncak is one of the most accessible highland destinations from Jakarta, only about two to three hours’ drive depending on traffic.
The views from Puncak Pass are dominated by expansive green tea plantations that stretch across the rolling hills as far as you can see. These tea fields create this almost carpet-like appearance, with perfectly manicured rows of tea bushes in vibrant shades of green covering the landscape. The plantation workers, who you can sometimes spot in the distance wearing their traditional conical hats, add an element of human activity to the scene without disturbing its tranquility. Beyond the tea fields, you can see layers of mountains in the background, often partially shrouded in mist, which creates a sense of depth and mystery to the landscape. In the early morning, there’s frequently a light fog that hovers over the valleys, and as the sun rises, it illuminates the tea leaves with this beautiful golden-green glow. There are also several viewpoints along the road where you can stop and take photographs or simply stand and absorb the scenery.
What makes these views so beautiful, in my opinion, is the combination of natural elements and human cultivation working in harmony. The tea plantations aren’t wild nature, obviously – they’re agricultural land – but they’ve been shaped in a way that’s aesthetically pleasing and doesn’t feel destructive or industrial. There’s something soothing about the uniformity and order of the tea rows against the organic curves of the hills. The color palette is remarkably calming – all these variations of green against blue skies or grey mist create a sense of peace and serenity that’s completely absent from urban life. The cooler mountain air adds to the experience as well; there’s something refreshing and invigorating about being at elevation with these expansive views. It’s one of those places where you can genuinely feel your stress diminishing just by looking at the landscape. The contrast with Jakarta’s concrete, traffic, and chaos makes the natural beauty of Puncak feel even more striking and valuable.
Examiner: Is this area popular with tourists?
Candidate: Yes, extremely popular, particularly on weekends. Traffic can actually be quite terrible because so many Jakarta residents have the same idea of escaping to Puncak. But despite the crowds, it remains a worthwhile destination.
PART 3: Discussion
Examiner: We’ve been talking about beautiful views, and I’d like to discuss with you one or two more general questions related to beauty. Let’s consider first of all beauty products. Do you agree that most beauty products are a waste of money?
Candidate: I think it depends on what you mean by “beauty products” and what expectations people have. Many beauty products probably are overpriced relative to their actual effectiveness, particularly luxury brands that charge premium prices largely for packaging, marketing, and brand prestige rather than significantly superior ingredients or results. The profit margins in the beauty industry are quite extraordinary, which suggests that consumers are paying far more than the actual cost of ingredients and production. However, I wouldn’t say all beauty products are a waste of money. Basic skincare like sunscreen, moisturizers, and cleansers serve genuine protective and health functions beyond pure aesthetics. Some products do deliver visible improvements that people value, whether that’s cosmetics that enhance confidence or treatments that address specific skin concerns. The key issue is that the industry often makes exaggerated claims, and many consumers purchase products based on unrealistic expectations created by advertising rather than understanding what the products can actually achieve. So while there’s certainly waste in the beauty industry, I think the answer isn’t that beauty products are inherently wasteful, but rather that consumers need to be more discerning and realistic about what they’re purchasing and why.
Examiner: How does the beauty industry advertise its products so successfully?
Candidate: The beauty industry is remarkably sophisticated in its advertising strategies. First, they exploit insecurities – advertisements often subtly or explicitly suggest that there’s something wrong with how you currently look that their product will fix. They create problems that people didn’t know they had and then offer solutions. Second, they use aspirational imagery and celebrity endorsements. When consumers see beautiful models or admired celebrities promoting products, there’s an implicit suggestion that using these products will help you achieve similar attractiveness, even though those endorsers have professional makeup, lighting, photography, and often digital enhancement. Third, the industry uses pseudo-scientific language and impressive-sounding ingredients to create an aura of legitimacy and sophistication. Terms like “clinically proven,” “dermatologically tested,” or exotic ingredient names make products seem more credible and effective than they may actually be. Fourth, beauty advertising is omnipresent and normalized – it’s on social media, television, magazines, in stores – so constant exposure makes purchasing beauty products seem like a normal, necessary part of life. Finally, the industry is skilled at creating emotional connections, linking products to self-care, confidence, empowerment, or self-expression rather than just superficial appearance. This transforms buying beauty products from vanity into an act of self-investment or self-love, which is much more appealing to consumers.
Examiner: What do you think of the view that beauty products should not be advertised to children?
Candidate: I think there’s a strong case for restricting beauty product advertising to children. Children and young adolescents are particularly vulnerable to advertising messages because they’re still developing their self-image and lack the critical thinking skills to evaluate marketing claims skeptically. Exposing children to beauty advertising at young ages can contribute to body image issues, low self-esteem, and the internalization of harmful beauty standards before they’ve even had a chance to develop confidence in their natural appearance. It can also encourage premature engagement with cosmetics and beauty routines that aren’t age-appropriate and may even be physically harmful to developing skin. Furthermore, beauty advertising often reinforces narrow, unrealistic standards of attractiveness that can be particularly damaging during the formative years when children are developing their sense of identity and self-worth. That said, implementing such restrictions raises practical questions about enforcement – in an age of social media and influencer marketing, how do you effectively prevent children from encountering beauty advertising? And at what age does someone transition from “child” to “appropriate audience”? Despite these practical challenges, I do think there’s merit in attempting to limit children’s exposure to beauty industry marketing, similar to restrictions that exist for advertising tobacco or alcohol to minors. The developmental and psychological risks seem significant enough to warrant protective measures.
Examiner: Why do many people equate youth with beauty?
Candidate: This association is deeply rooted in both biological and cultural factors. From an evolutionary perspective, youth is associated with fertility, health, and vitality – characteristics that would have been advantageous for reproduction and survival. Smooth skin, lustrous hair, and other markers of youth signal genetic fitness and health, so humans may be biologically predisposed to find these features attractive. However, I think the intensity of youth worship we see today is heavily influenced by culture and commerce. The beauty and advertising industries profit enormously from promoting youth as the ideal, and they’ve been remarkably successful at convincing people that aging is something to be feared and combated rather than a natural process. Media representation reinforces this constantly – younger individuals are overrepresented in entertainment, advertising, and positions of visibility, while older people, particularly women, often become less visible or are valued primarily for how successfully they’ve “defied aging.” Society also associates youth with desirable qualities beyond physical appearance – energy, optimism, potential, adaptability – and these associations blur with purely aesthetic considerations. Additionally, in cultures that prioritize productivity and novelty, older age becomes associated with obsolescence, making youth seem more valuable by contrast. It’s worth noting that not all cultures equate youth with beauty to the same extreme degree – some societies have traditionally valued the wisdom, dignity, and character reflected in aged faces. But in contemporary globalized consumer culture, the youth-equals-beauty paradigm has become particularly dominant and commercially reinforced.
Examiner: Do you think that being beautiful could affect a person’s success in life?
Candidate: Unfortunately, yes, I think physical attractiveness does influence success, though I wouldn’t say it’s the determining factor. Research has consistently shown what’s called the “beauty premium” – attractive people tend to earn more money, receive more favorable treatment in various social interactions, and are perceived as more competent, trustworthy, and likeable even when their actual abilities are identical to less attractive peers. This is partly due to the “halo effect,” where positive qualities are attributed to attractive people based solely on their appearance. In professional contexts, attractive individuals may receive preferential treatment in hiring, promotions, and business negotiations. In social contexts, they often find it easier to form relationships and social networks, which themselves contribute to opportunities and success. However, I think the impact varies depending on the field and the type of success we’re discussing. In industries like entertainment, modeling, or hospitality where appearance is directly relevant, attractiveness obviously plays a major role. In fields like academia, engineering, or technical professions, competence and expertise matter more, though attractiveness may still provide subtle advantages. It’s also worth noting that attractiveness can sometimes create disadvantages – attractive people may face assumptions about lacking substance, may be taken less seriously in intellectual contexts, or may encounter jealousy and resentment. Additionally, the extent to which appearance affects success can depend on gender, race, and cultural context. So while beauty does provide real advantages in many situations, I wouldn’t say it guarantees success or that its absence prevents success – competence, effort, opportunity, and other factors remain crucial.
Examiner: Why might society’s ideas about beauty change over time?
Candidate: Beauty standards are far from universal or timeless – they shift considerably across different eras and are influenced by various factors. Economic and social conditions play a significant role. For instance, during periods when food was scarce, fuller body types were considered attractive because they signaled wealth and health, whereas in contemporary wealthy societies where food is abundant and sedentary lifestyles are common, slimness has become idealized because it requires discipline and resources to maintain. Cultural exchange and globalization influence beauty standards as well – as societies become more interconnected, beauty ideals can spread across cultures, though they may also provoke reactions where people assert local or traditional standards as resistance to homogenization. Media and technology drive changes too – the rise of mass media, then television, then social media have each influenced what types of appearances are promoted and normalized. Currently, photo editing and filters are creating increasingly artificial beauty standards that would have been impossible to achieve or even imagine in previous eras. Fashion and commercial interests also drive changes in beauty standards because the beauty industry profits from convincing people that current standards have changed and they need new products to keep up. Social movements influence beauty ideals as well – feminism has challenged some traditional beauty standards, body positivity movements are working to expand definitions of beauty, and there’s growing awareness of how beauty standards have been racialized and exclusionary. Medical and technological advances also enable new beauty practices that then become normalized. Essentially, beauty standards reflect broader social, economic, technological, and cultural conditions of their time, which is why they’re constantly evolving rather than being fixed or natural.
Examiner: Thank you very much. That is the end of the speaking test.
Candidate: Thank you.
