A host profile in four parts
A host profile is a short text for a visitor who will stay with your family, for example on a school exchange. In about 60 words, cover four parts (where, sleeping, routine, invitation) and add one honest comparison. Here’s a model with the job of each part; write about your own home:
- “Hi! I live in a small flat near the city centre with my mum and my little brother.” → where, and who lives there
- “It isn’t as big as a house, but it’s cosy and convenient: the bus stop is right outside.” → an honest comparison with a reason
- “You’ll have the spare room, which is quiet enough to study in.” → where the guest will sleep (or “You’ll share my room.”)
- “We usually have dinner at seven,” → a family routine
- “and you’re welcome to join us!” → the invitation
Compare honestly: not as … as, much and a bit
“Not as … as” means one thing has less of a quality: “My flat isn’t as big as your house.” Both as words are weak, so stress the adjective: as BIG as. Without not, it means equal: “as quiet as a library”.
For a big difference, put much or far before a comparative; for a small one, a bit: “much closer”, “a bit shorter”. Listen to a host and a friend:
Host OK, welcome to my flat. It isn't as big as your house, Lucas. It's much smaller, to be honest.
Friend Small is fine! My house is bigger, but it's far from everything. Your flat is much closer to the city centre.
Too … to and enough: when size stops something
“Too” means more than is OK, so something isn’t possible: “This hall is too narrow to film in.” It isn’t a stronger very, so “The room is too cosy” sounds like a complaint. “Enough” means as much as you need. It goes after an adjective but before a noun: “big enough”, “enough beds”.
Keep the final in: you study in a room, so it’s “quiet enough to study in”. Listen for too and enough:
Friend 1 My flat has a balcony with a great view of the bay. But our spare room is too small to fit two beds.
Friend 2 Theo, this hall is too narrow to film in. I can't get far enough back!
Words for homes and guests
Precise words make a short text sound real. Flat (British) and apartment (American) mean the same.
- Places: balcony, view, neighbourhood, spare room, sofa bed.
- Describing: convenient (near shops or the bus), cosy (small, warm and comfortable), peaceful, noisy, tidy.
- In the rooms: wardrobe, shelf, curtains, cushion, duvet, pillow.
- Hosting: host, guest, share. Accommodation is uncountable in British English: “The school needs accommodation for all the guests.”
Say it out loud: reasons and invitations
A guest may ask why your home suits them. Give two reasons, one with a comparison: “It’s close to the sea, so you can watch the boats, and it’s much quieter than your street.”
In Speaking Part 2 you describe a photo for about a minute; if it shows a room, add one comparison.
- Inviting: “Would you like to come to the market with us?”
- Answering: “I’d love to!” or “Thanks, but I’d rather stay in.” After I’d rather, use the verb without to.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
Look for these when you finish (mistake on the left, fix on the right):
- “My flat isn’t as big than your house.” → “My flat isn’t as big as your house.”
- “The sofa bed is enough big.” → “The sofa bed is big enough.”
- “The hall is too much narrow for film.” → “The hall is too narrow to film in.”
- “Your view is very better than mine.” → “Your view is much better than mine.”
A 15-minute practice routine
Three times a week is enough. One round goes like this:
- 3 minutes: note the four parts for a real home.
- 6 minutes: write about 60 words with one comparison.
- 3 minutes: check the parts and where enough goes.
- 3 minutes: say it out loud, then give a guest two reasons to choose your home.
What comes next
Next, try longer tasks: the Writing Part 1 email may ask you to describe a place, and Reading Part 2 matches five people to eight short texts. The next guide covers a recipe card (links below).