The test opens with a short interview. The examiner asks your name and then a few questions about you: where you live, your work or studies, your free time, your plans and your preferences.
It's a chance to settle your nerves and show you can talk naturally about familiar things. Here you read the questions and record your answers; in the exam, the examiner asks you and your partner in turn.
A one-word answer gives the examiner nothing to assess. Aim for two or three sentences: answer the question, then add a reason, an example or a detail. 'Yes, I do. I play basketball twice a week, because it helps me switch off after work.'
Learnt-by-heart answers sound flat and rarely fit the exact question, and examiners notice straight away. Prepare ideas and vocabulary for common topics instead, and build each answer fresh.
Do you like...?, What do you usually...? and Would you rather...? need different answers. A question about the future needs future forms; a question about preferences needs a comparison and a reason.
This is a friendly chat, not a presentation. Speak at a steady pace, look at the examiner, and don't go on too long: three sentences is plenty. A relaxed answer usually comes out more accurate, too.
It's perfectly fine to ask for a question again. 'Sorry, could you say that again, please?' costs you nothing, and it's far better than answering a question you weren't asked.
Even simple questions let you show good English. Mix your tenses, choose precise words over general ones (fascinating, not very interesting), and link your ideas with words like although, so and actually.