IELTS Speaking Part 3: explain, alternative, example

In part 3 of the speaking test, you need to give longer, detailed answers. A good way to do this is by organising your answers according to the following steps:

1. Idea: answer the question directly.2. Explain: give a reason or explain your answer in more detail.3. Alternative: explain an alternative (e.g. the opposite) to your answer.4. Example: give an example to support your answer.5. Another idea: sometimes you think of another idea while you are speaking. Just add it on

the end of your answer.

You can give a really good answer without including all five steps, but you might find it useful to practise including all five, as I've done here:

Why do you think some people prefer to buy products from their own countries rather than imported items?

(idea) I suppose it’s because those people want to support the economy of the country they live in. (explain) If they buy something that was made in their own country, they know that they are contributing to the salaries of workers within the same country, (alternative) whereas if they buy imported items, a foreign company and its employees will benefit. (example) For example, if I buy some meat that originates from a local farm rather than a farm in another country, I’m helping one of my fellow citizens to carry on in business. (another idea) Also, I think that trust is an issue; people might feel that they can trust domestically produced items more than imported ones.

I think this is a matter of national pride. In my case, whenever I see a product made in my own country, I feel proud and would choose to buy it even I know there are better products in the market from other countries. Besides, although it is very little amount of money that I spend, I can somehow feel that I am contributing to my whole country's economy. For example, when choosing smartphones, I would naturally pick the brand HTC simply because HTC is made in Taiwan and I am Taiwanese!

IELTS Speaking: Two-Way Discussion sample answers

In part 3 of the IELTS speaking test  you need to talk about a topic with the examiner for 4-5 minutes. During  this time you will be asked various questions to help develop the conversation. (You can find more tips, advice and sample answers about the Two Way Discussion here).

Here are some sample questions and answers:

Q1: Let’s consider first of all why people write books. What do you think makes people want to write a book?

A1: In my opinion, there are many reasons why people decide to write a book. Some people have an important story to tell and that’s why they write their own autobiography.  For instance, I recently read Richard Branson’s and it was fascinating. Writers of fiction, on the other hand, may just enjoy writing. Look at Stephen King, he has written countless books and shows no sign of stopping. People like him seem to have a real passion for writing.

Q2: What qualities does a writer need?

A2: Well, being a professional writer is a tough job and the whole creative process of planning, writing and redrafting a book can take years. So, I guess that dedication and self-discipline are prerequisites for any aspiring or established writing. I also believe that being able to connect with readers is essential.

Q3: So, do you think anyone could write a book?

A3: Not really. People say that ‘everyone has a book in them’ but I doubt if we could all write one. Take my father for instance, he has had an extremely interesting life which would make a fascinating story but I really doubt that he could write a book about it. Writing is a skill and not everyone has it. Also, people who are good at telling stories to friends etc might not have the patience you need to write a book, as I said before.

Q4: In your opinion, is writing a good career choice then?

There are many famous authors like Stephen King who has written books for decades and J K Rowling who created Harry Potter. They have had amazing careers and have also made a lot of money in the process. Nevertheless, for every Stephen King there are probably a 10,000 failed writers and even some of his books have not been well received. It’s a tough industry because so many people want to become writers and so it’s extremely difficult to write something original and even then it’s not guaranteed to sell.

 Here are some useful phrases from the sample which you can use to answer the same questions.

In my opinion, there are many reasons why people decide to write a book

Some people have an important story to tell

For instance, I recently read…and it was fascinating.

Writers of fiction, on the other hand, may just enjoy writing.

Look at…he/she has written countless books and shows no sign of stopping.

People like him/her seem to have a real passion for writing.

Being a professional writer is a tough job.

The whole creative process of planning, writing and redrafting a book can take years.

I guess that dedication and self-discipline are prerequisites for any aspiring or established writing.

I also believe that being able to connect with readers is essential.

People say that ‘everyone has a book in them’ but I doubt if we could all write one.

Writing is a skill and not everyone has it.

There are many famous writers like…who has/have..

Some of his/her books have not been well received.

It’s a tough industry because…

Now, make some of your own sentences about writing books and write them in the comments box below.  Here are some more practice questions. Leave your answers in the comments box and a teacher will mark them for you!

1. What kinds of books are popular nowadays?2. Why do people like reading books?3. How do you feel about electronic books?4. Do you think people read more or less now compared to before?5. How important is reading?6. How can we encourage more reading in society?

SPEAKING MODULE PART 1Sample Questions and Answers TOPIC: Free time

1. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Before, I used to play basketball, but now I’m into gardening and going out for a walk.

2. How much time do you have each week for doing these things? I make it a point that I do these on weekends. I think that this is really important.

3. Why do you like doing these activities? Well, these activities make us feel young and healthy. Also, there are good ways on how to avoid illnesses and stress.

4. How did you start doing this activity at first? My friends influenced me to do these things. Eventually, I found these very helpful.

5. Is there some other hobby or sport you would like to try? Why? Yes! I’d like to try mountain climbing because this would be relatively new to me and it’s exciting to climb mountains and feel the wonders of nature.

6. How has the way people spend their free time changed over the years? Lately, people find it a must to find an activity to do in their free time despite hectic work schedule. They see it as a need although some view the activities for free time such as badminton as an expensive outlet.

TOPIC: Your town

1. Can you describe your town or village to me? My hometown is such a simple place. It’s a community with about 10, 000 people who are mostly into farming but others go to offices. Houses are well-spaced unlike in cities that are crowded. There are small stores and a market and other commercial establishments like hospitals, schools and retail shops. There’s also a small sports complex and a quiet park.

2. What jobs do people in your town do? Some are farmers and the others are working in offices. In addition, there are also some who own business such as stores and other poultry business.

3. What things are there to do in your town in your free time? Well, there are quite a number of you know simple activities that could be done in my hometown. There’s badminton, typical Filipino games, and card games. Most often, people there love to gossip or chat about anything for long hours.

4. What do you like about your town? I think it has to be the peacefulness of the town as there are only a few people there. Also, I would say that there is no traffic in the town.

5. How has your town changed over the last twenty years? It changed significantly. For instance, the market has been improved by constructing a building to enclose the area. There’s also a swimming pool now in the sports complex and the road are well-paved and there are enough public transport in the area.

TOPIC: Transport—provide your own answers here

1. How did you come here today?2. What is public transport like in your town?3. How do you think it could be improved?4. Do you think people should use public transport more? Why (not)?

TOPIC: Your neighborhood- provide your own answers here

1. Can you describe to me the house where you live?2. What is there to do in the area where you live?3. What do you like about the area where you live?4. How do you think it could be improved?5. Do you think it is better to live in the centre of town or outside in the country? Why?

TOPIC: Holidays

1. What do you do when you have a holiday? Typically, I make it sure that I have ample time to spend with my family to make up with the lost time. I also engage in physical activities like brisk walking or jogging.

2. Where do you like to spend your holidays? Why? I prefer to spend them either on the beach, taking a road trip to cool places such as Baguio and Tagaytay. In addition, I prefer going for a picnic in a mountain or cave areas.

3. Can you describe a typical day in your holiday? Well, normally I go to a beach together with my family. We enjoy cooking and of course, swimming. We also don’t forget to take pictures with beautiful sceneries.

4. Why are holidays important to you? Holidays are very important to me because it’s a good time to spend with my family as I always get busy on regular days. Holidays also provide an opportunity for me to relax.

5. If you could take a holiday anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why? I think I’d choose Australia. Since I have plans of working there I might as well try to explore the country first before I decide to work and stay there permanently.

TOPIC: Shopping

1. How much time do you spend shopping every week? I think about 5 hours. I and my wife shop every Sunday as this is the only day that we have for ourselves.

2. Do you enjoy going shopping? Why (not)? Provided that I have money, sure I’d love to shop3. What is your favorite shop and why do you like it? A lot actually! But I prefer SM department store because

they have various outfit for men and very trendy underwear. 4. What problems are there with shopping in your area? Oftentimes, having to wait long on lines when paying,

impolite attendants and having too many choices are some problems that I encounter. For car owners, getting a parking space could also be a problem.

TOPIC: Places to go in your free time

1. What do people do in your town in their free time? Well, most of them just stay at home, watch TV or read magazines while the others would play a sport such as badminton or basketball.

2. Where can they go out for entertainment, or to enjoy themselves? Most of them go to shopping malls. Filipinos love going to the malls. Well, there are parks where they can spend time talking with someone.

3. Which do you prefer: eating in restaurants or eating at home? I prefer to eat at home because it’s safe, cheaper and you can cook the food that you’d like to eat. In restaurants, it’s a little expensive and sometimes the taste of the food isn’t what you’re looking for.

4. Which are the best places to eat out? In my hometown, there are small restaurants. Well, there are fast foods which are really popular and also restaurants catering Japanese, Chinese and other international menu.

TOPIC: Reading

1. Do you enjoy reading? Why? Yes sometimes because I know that reading is an important skill. You can learn many things from reading.

2. What sort of things do you read? I don’t read books that much. I prefer newspapers and magazines. 3. Tell me something about your favorite book. I’d rather tell you about my favorite newspaper. It’s called the

Manila Bulletin. It’s a daily broadsheet but I prefer to read the Sunday issue of this paper. Basically, it contains up to date and comprehensive news coverage of issues affecting the people and issues concerning the country. However, I read most of the time the classified ads section as I normally search for hot jobs in and out of the country.

4. What are the advantages of reading instead of watching television or going to the cinema? First of all, reading is not expensive as compared with going to the cinema. Reading provides detailed information about a subject or topic whereas watching television gives you abbreviated information about a subject or topic.

Topic: You

1. Do you work or study?Definitely, your response to this question would be I am working, I’ve worked before in…, or I worked as a welder before in…

Work1. Can you describe your job to me?- Well, m y job is welding. 2. How long have you been doing it?- I worked in Saudi for 7 years and in the country, about 5 years.3. Why did you choose to do that job?- I think this job is something that I really love to do. I want to believe that

I was born with this skill and have perfected it through years of experience.4. What things do you enjoy about your work? Why?-For the most part, I think the various projects that are

delegated to us. Periodically, we change projects but of course, the same kind of job.5. And what things don’t you like? Why not?-To be honest, it’s the salary. We don’t get paid as much as our

quality of work is measured.6. What are your plans for the future?- Well, right now I have pending application as a welder in Australia. If

everything goes well, then I will work there and hopefully, provide my family with good life. TOPIC: Sports and games

1. What sports are most popular in your country?- Lately, I guess Filipinos became interested with boxing, swimming and most of all, badminton.

2. What sports and games did you most enjoy playing when you were a child?- As far as I can remember, I think it’s Yo-yo. I think this is a game that most children would play.

3. Do people take as much exercise as in the past?- I think yes! I just don’t know exactly. Lately, the need to exercise increased, but, people find it hard to do because of time constraint, work, and other factors.

4. Why is exercise good for you?- With the increasing demands at work, family and personal life, exercise has become a very essential tool in fighting boredom, stress and depression. So, I think it is good for me as well.

SPEAKING MODULE PART 2Sample Questions Directions: For 1 minute, prepare your response to the following questions. When you prepare your answer, make sure that you don’t write the whole answer but rather write key words. Once you are ready, in a quiet place, record your answer in a blank tape. Read the topic first before your recording of answer. Your objective is to record a response that is 2-minute long. You are provided a list of transitional markers at the end of this hand out for use with your responses in Part 2 and 3. Before recording, read first the 3 sample part 2 answers below.

1. Describe a place you visited recently2. Describe a friend3. Describe a child you know4. Describe an object you like5. Describe a photograph6. Describe a historical figure7. Describe an important event in your culture8. Describe your favorite newspaper9. Describe your last holiday10. Describe the clothes that you like11. Describe the person whom you’d like to spend time always12. Describe a person that you like to be with when you grow old13. Describe a game that you play when you were a child14. Talk about the difference of growing up in the city and in the countryside15. Describe a household equipment that you prefer

*Look at the NOTE section below. Use the opening phrases to start with your responses for the topics above. Model AnswersNOTE: There are many possible ways of starting your answer, including:I’d like to talk about a TV program called…I’m going to talk about a TV program called…A TV program that I found really interesting was… Sample 1:Talk about a happy event in your childhood that you remember well.You should say:-where the event took place-when the event took place-what happened exactlyAnd explain why you remember this event clearly.

Did you ever do this again? Yes, I went to the same place when I graduated from college. The place was totally different.What did your parents think about it? My parents found this very helpful to me. That’s why they allowed me to join.A happy event that I can still remember about my childhood was our educational trip to Manila Zoo when I was in elementary. I believe it took place in 1986 as part of our science subject requirement. Anyway, I studied in Cavite and

Manila Zoo was I guess a 2 hour drive from our school. As a child, going for a trip is always a pleasure especially riding a bus and taking a long road trip. Well, I was with my classmates—40 plus all in all. As it was a field trip and a common practice, we had to bring with us food and drinks- a typical picnic of some sort. Then, we went in the zoo and had a tour guide who explained every details about the various animals. Of course, I didn’t understand everything what the guide told us. But anyway, the trip was very memorable because it was my first time to have a close encounter with the animals of various sizes, shapes and behavior. It is apparently very clear to me up to now because as I said it was my first time to meet and greet with the animals, and it was a form of socialization where we students talk about things outside the class room. That’s it! Describe a TV program that you have seen and that interested you.You should say:-When and where you saw the program-What the program was about-What you felt about the programAnd explain why you found the program particularly interesting.I am going to talk about a TV program called Bubble Gang. If I am not mistaken, this is the longest comedy TV show on Philippine television. The program is shown every Fridays on GMA 7. Although the program is shown late at night, it particularly makes viewers roll over with laughter. The program emphasizes on pop culture parody. Skits and sketches are performed on a variety of style that captivates the audiences’ hearts. In addition, it spoofs shows and commercials, and it takes on other celebrities and other political figures. The show also features top-notch actors and actresses armed with unparalleled talents. Personally, I find this show an excellent comic relief from a hard days work. Despite its comic attributes, it also provides awareness to viewers about issues confronting personalities of national prominence as well as typical situations in the Philippine community. These things make the program interesting to me. I think this is all that I can say about the show. Describe a town or city you would like to visit.You should say:-where it is-how it is similar to your hometown-how it is different from your hometownAnd explain why you would like to visit it.A city that I found really interesting and which I would like to go to in the future would be Perth, Australia. This city comes to mind first because this is where I will work as a welder. Most probably, this will also be the destination of the majority of the skilled workers applying for Australia. It is located in Western Australia and is the fastest growing city in the country. Being the fourth largest city, it holds major commercial establishments which are really ideal for skilled workers like me. Well, I come from Pampanga, also a growing town. This is the only similarity that I could cite. Perth is very different from Pampanga, of course. Firstly, Perth has huge population which favors their labor force. As I have read, there is always job for everyone in Australia. Secondly, it has well-established highways for an economy to prosper. In Pampanga, roads are still being improved. Thirdly, there is good provision for the benefits of the residents unlike in my hometown where even health care is not sufficient. I would like to visit this place to enjoy these benefits and, most of all to work and earn for my family here. That’s all!SPEAKING MODULE PART 3Sample Questions Directions: Prepare your response to the following questions. When you prepare your answer, make sure that you don’t write the whole answer but rather write key words. Once you are ready, in a quiet place, record your answer in a blank tape. Read the topic first before your recording of answer. Your objective is to record a response that is 3-5 sentences long. You are provided a list of transitional markers at the end of this hand out for use with your responses in Part 2 and 3. Before recording, read first the 3 sample part 3 answers below. Topic A: How does tourism affect a country? Does it have some advantages? Can cultures learn from each other? Topic B:

Is friendship important in your culture? How many close friends can you have? Are friends more important than family? Topic C: What is the role of parents in raising children? Has the role changed in recent years? Who is responsible for discipline? Topic D:Do possessions make people happy? Why do people buy things? Are people in your country wise consumers? Topic E: Are images important in your culture? What is the role of advertising? Do films and television influence our decisions? Topic F: Who are the most influential people in your society? Are there many heroes or role models today? What are the qualities of a good leader? Topic G: How do different cultures celebrate events? What is the importance of festivals? How have special occasions such as weddings changed in your culture? Model AnswersNOTE: There are many possible ways of starting your answer, including:I guess… I believe… Most probably…I think… Well… Actually… Sample 1:How has the countryside changed in recent years in your country?I believe the rural areas changed so much now as compared to 10 years ago. For instance, telephone and power lines have been reinforced providing people in the area the access to news and information. Similarly, the roads have been improved for comfortable travel and business transaction. These changes are absolutely helpful to the town and all the more to the residents. Sample 2:How do you think the countryside may change in the future?Well, most probably there will be internet access to these areas and stronger signals for mobile networks so that the residents can benefit from good communication. In addition, I am also looking at positive changes in the education sector. As observed, nowadays, people coming from these areas have poor communication skills. Sample 3:Where do most people live in your country- in the city or in the countryside?I guess more people are coming to cities lately in the Philippines. Noticeably, teenagers and young adults are searching for jobs in Makati or Ortigas City and eventually live there for work purposes. While this could be positive to the city’s labor force, it would also pose some problems such as overcrowding and traffic. Here are more topics for you to practice. You may or may not record these and your answers. However, it is still highly recommended that you record them if you don’t have a partner to practice with. NOTE: Practice makes perfect!

1. Describe your own family’s favorite holiday destination.2. Identify what most people in your country do on their holidays.

3. Discuss the pros and cons of spending holidays overseas or spending them in your own country.4. Describe the main tourist destinations for overseas tourists coming to your country.5. Describe how people entertain guests in your country.6. What are the advantages of entertaining friends at home or of meeting them in public places?7. What are the forms of entertainment young people and adults prefer in your culture.8. Describe the main activities that go on in a family room in your culture.9. Evaluate the importance of spending time with your family at home.10. Compare the importance of spending time with your family and with your friends.

Transitional Devices (Connecting Words)

Transitional devices are like bridges between parts of your essay or letter. They are cues that help the reader to interpret ideas in the way that you, as a writer, want them to understand. Transitional devices help you carry over a thought from one sentence to another, from one idea to another, or from one paragraph to another with words or phrases. And finally, transitional devices link your sentences and paragraphs together smoothly so that there are no abrupt jumps or breaks between ideas.

There are several types of transitional devices, and each category leads your reader to make certain connections or assumptions about the areas you are connecting. Some lead your reader forward and imply the "building" of an idea or thought, while others make your reader compare ideas or draw conclusions from the preceding thoughts.

Here is a list of some common transitional devices that can be used to cue your reader in a given way.

To Add:and, again, and then, besides, equally important, finally, further, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly, what's more, moreover, in addition, first (second, etc.), To Compare:whereas, but, yet, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, on the other hand, on the contrary, by comparison, where, compared to, up against, balanced against, vis a vis, but, although, conversely, meanwhile, after all, in contrast, although this may be true To Prove:because, for, since, for the same reason, obviously, evidently, furthermore, moreover, besides, indeed, in fact, in addition, in any case, that is To Show Exception:yet, still, however, nevertheless, in spite of, despite, of course, once in a while, sometimes To Show Time:immediately, thereafter, soon, after a few hours, finally, then, later, previously, formerly, first (second, etc.), next, and then To Repeat:in brief, as I have said, as I have noted, as has been noted, To Emphasize:definitely, extremely, obviously, in fact, indeed, in any case, absolutely, positively, naturally, surprisingly, always, forever, perennially, eternally, never, emphatically, unquestionably, without a doubt, certainly, undeniably, without reservation To Show Sequence:first, second, third, and so forth. A, B, C, and so forth. next, then, following this, at this time, now, at this point, after, afterward, subsequently, finally, consequently, previously, before this, simultaneously, concurrently, thus, therefore, hence, next, and then, soon To Give an Example:

for example, for instance, in this case, in another case, on this occasion, in this situation, take the case of, to demonstrate, to illustrate, as an illustration, to illustrate To Summarize or Conclude:in brief, on the whole, summing up, to conclude, in conclusion, as I have shown, as I have said, hence, therefore, accordingly, thus, as a result, consequently, on the whole Speaking Activity Directions: On a separate sheet of paper, write two sentences for each question. Remember to write interesting sentences as these will catch the examiner’s attention and would count towards getting a higher score in the IELTS Speaking Test. Warm-up

1. Could you show me your identification card please? Sure. Here is my passport/SSS2. Could you tell me your full name please? My name is John Santos. You can call me Joe as my friends call

me this way.3. What shall I call you? I prefer to be called Joe. Ever since I was young I was called like this.4. Does your name have any special meaning? I actually don’t know but I’ll to research on that.5. Why do so many people change their names? Maybe because it’s unpleasant or conflict of interest.6. Is your name important to you? Definitely. It is for security purpose and personal identification.

Hometown or birth place

1. Where do you come from? 2. Where do you live? 3. Can you tell me something about your hometown? 4. Can you tell me some famous landscapes or scenic spots in your hometown? 5. Can you tell me some history of your hometown?

Personal background and information

1. Are you a student or do you have a job? 2. What do you like most about your study? 3. What kind of job do you prefer after graduation? 4. What is your major? 5. What do you do for living? 6. Could you tell me a typical day of yours? 7. How do you get your job? 8. Are you satisfied with your job? 9. What do you like most about your job? 10. What kind of job do you prefer in the future?

Hobby or inclination

1. What do you usually do in your spare time? 2. Do you prefer to stay alone or with your friends?

3. What do you usually do on weekends and weekdays? 4. What do you usually do when you go out? 5. What do you usually do with your friends? 6. Do you like reading? 7. What kind of books do you like best? 8. Do you like English? Why or why not? 9. What do you think of the importance of English? 10. What are good hobbies and bad hobbies? Why?

Future plan

1. Why do you take the IELTS test? 2. What are you planning to do in the next five years? 3. What are you planning to do in the next ten years? 4. What is the first thing you will do when you arrive at the new place?

Traveling

1. Do you like traveling? 2. Do you like travel alone or with your friends? 3. Have you traveled to other places? Where are they? 4. What do you usually do when you first arrive in a new place? 5. What are the benefits of traveling? 6. Why do so many people like traveling nowadays?

Friends

1. Do you have many friends? Are they casual acquaintances or close friends? 2. Do you prefer to stay with your family or with your friends? 3. Do you prefer one or two close friends or many friends? 4. Can you talk about your best friend? 5. How to make friends? 6. What do you usually do with your friends? 7. Is the time you spend with your friends as much as that you spend with your family?

Music

1. Do you like music? 2. What are the benefits of listening to music? 3. What kind of music do you like best? 4. Why do you like this kind of music?

Transportation

1. Can you say something about the transportation in your hometown? 2. What is the common means of transport in your country? 3. Do traffic jams often occur in your hometown or in the city where you live? 4. How to solve the problem? 5. What changes in transportation have taken place in the past several years in your country?

Building

1. Can you tell me an interesting building in your hometown? 2. Can you tell me an interesting building in Manila?

IELTS SpeakingBrushing Up

 Useful Language

 At the moment, I’m living/ studying/ working…

Before that I lived in…Recently, I’ve been to …/ started playing badminton…etc

 I’m planning to…

After that I’ll probably… 

I prefer eating in a restaurant because…I’d rather work in Australia because….

 Both my father and mother are…

Neither of my brothers…None of my friends…

 It depends. Sometimes I like cooking, and sometimes I’m just too tired.

Definitely, I love it. It’s…Possibly. It depends on the weather really.

 Generally, I think it’s a good idea because…

Well, it’s very different because… 

Let me think/ see…I’m not really sure, but perhaps…

That’s a good question/ point. I suppose…That’s a good question/ point. I suppose…

I haven’t really given that much thought before but… 

Frequently Asked Questions in Part I Why are you taking IELTS?Well, I’m taking IELTS as it is a requirement for my working visa to Australia.What are your ambitions?For now, I think it has to be to work in Australia and support my family financially.Tell me about where you are living at the moment.I live in Bulacan and its getting progressive as years pass by. It is also a quiet place to live.How would you describe your hometown?My hometown is typically simple but it boasts of some beautiful places like beaches, old churches and mountains.What do you usually do at the weekend?Usually, I and my family go out and stroll around in a mall. Also, we go to church to hear mass.REMEMBER:

     Make sure you answer the question.     One-word answers are NOT acceptable.     Always add some extra information to your answer.

 Frequently Asked Questions in Part II Describe an occasion when you have been successful. You should say:

    Where and when you were successful    How you were successful    What you had to do to make sure you were successful

And describe how you felt about your success.ANSWER: I would like to talk about the moment that I worked in the Middle East as a welder. I think it was 3 years ago. It was a very challenging experience since I have to leave my family behind and work there alone in a country where I don’t know anyone. The culture was totally new and I had to deal with it squarely. So, I consider this a great success because I was able to survive and to send money to my family in the country. Aside from constant missing of my family, I also had to bear with the inconveniences of day to day work where I met foreign people and talk to them. Nevertheless, it was fulfilling and rewarding experience because I saw my children grow up properly in terms of education, food and shelter.REMEMBER:It is important to keep talking, but don’t talk about things which are not related to the topic. Talk about an important day in your life. You should say:

    When this day was    If you were alone or with others    Where you were and what happened

And explain why this day was important to you.  

Describe a present someone gave you which was/ is important to you.You should say:

        What the present was        Who gave it to you        Why they gave it to you (e.g. to celebrate a birthday)

And explain why it is so important to you.Describe a friend who has played an important part in your life. You should say:

        How you met this person        How long you have known them        The kind of things you do or did with them

And explain why they have been important in your life.Useful Language The best/ worst thing about…is/was… The thing I really like(d)/ hate(d) about…is/was… One of the problems with…is/was… I particularly remember…because… I’ll never forget…because..

Follow- up QuestionsAfter you have spoken for 1-2 minutes, the examiner may ask you one or two follow-up questions about what you have said. Sample Question:Topic in Part 2: A place you visited that you liked. How did you feel when you arrived in that place?I was very nervous because I didn’t know anybody. Did you find it easy to meet people?At first, I resisted but eventually the people around were very friendly so I found it easy to mingle with them. Other sample questions: 

Do you enjoy playing sports? Yes, definitely. I particularly enjoy outdoor ones.Would you like to go there again? Possibly. It would depend on who I went with.Do you think it will be easy to get a job in IT? I expect so. It’s a growing industry.Have you ever been to any other countries in Europe?

Yes, a few. France, Spain and Germany.

Would you consider doing the same sort of I don’t think so. It wasn’t really for me.

job again?Would you recommend the holiday to other people?

No, not really. It wasn’t very good value for money.

 Part III

 Frequently Asked Questions: Is it a good idea to exercise regularly?Definitely! Nowadays, life is very stressful. Exercise is the ultimate solution to balance work and family life.Are there more crimes these days?I think so. With the society becoming more materialistic, crimes tend to increase also because people want to have more in life. Do you think everyone should have a mobile phone?Yes, I think it is a good idea that everyone becomes wireless in terms of communication. Linking Ideas 

On the other hand and so because however such as

 Useful Language: Comparing and Contrasting On the other handWell, it isn’t as…as…is nowhere near as…as…I’d rather…I’d much prefer (to)…It depends (on)…  Useful Language: Making predictions/ talking about the future There’s a good chance that…I doubt very much if… I hope that…I expect that…I’m afraid that…It is/ isn’t very likely to…  Useful Language: Giving opinions As far as I’m concerned…It seems to me that…

I tend to think that…  Frequently Asked Questions in Part 3: Do you think smoking should be banned in all public places?It’s really hard to say but I think if this plan will benefit the majority, then it’s ok to ban it. For sure smokers will greatly go against this proposal as this has become their way of life.Do you prefer to go out or stay at home in the evening?I prefer to stay at home because I have to help my wife take care of my children. Besides, this is the only time that I can spend with my children, helping them do their homework. On the other hand, when I became a father going out became limited to just meeting with very common friends who my wife knows.Do you think that e-mail has made our lives easier?Definitely, yes! Before I used to send letter through post but it needed much time to reach its destination. Now, e-mails greatly help me with sending of letters. It’s fast and convenient. Which is better: living in the countryside or in the city?I’d rather live in the city. City life offers modern living. There are many opportunities in terms of work, entertainment, leisure and dining. However, the countryside gives a very common and limited life style which is I guess preferred by people in their old age.How likely it is that computer will be able to do your job in the future?With the kind of work that I do, computers are of great help. Back then, we had to do manual work in terms of calibration of machines. Today, calibration is done through computers making our work more efficient and easy to do.Would you rather watch sport or play it?Actually, I like both. If I want to learn how to play a new sport, I watch it first. Similarly, if I want to improve a sport that I know how to play, I watch it on TV so I could learn some techniques. What do you think the consequences of global warming will be?If there’s global warming, our environment will be warmer. People and animals might have trouble coping with the changing temperature. Also, there people from the cold regions of the world might experience flood due to melting of ice. I believe that this is not a good phenomenon and will give bad effects to all of us. 

 EXTRAPart 2:Describe a happy event in your childhood that you remember well. You should say:

      When the event took place      Where the event took place      What happened exactly

And explain why you remember this event clearly. FF:Did you ever do this again?

What did your parents think about it?   Part 3:Do you think children’s lives are very different nowadays?Yes, of course! With modern life style, children are similarly affected as with adults. Before, children were confined in their house. They were just limited to some activities such as playing indoor games of simple nature. At present, they are faced with enormous challenges such as meeting deadlines for a school project, waking up early to beat the traffic and do homework using computers. These things are a few examples of the notable changes in the lives of the children.Are children too protected now?For some, yes. This applies to parents who are aware that children are well exposed to temptations coming from peers and technologies. Parents who value their family would keep a close contact with them. However, for working parents, they have less time to oversee their children, thus, providing less care to them. As a result, there are delinquent minors.Do you think children can have too many toys?It depends. There are toys that have good effects to children. Due to commercialization lately, there are also many hazardous toys. So, having few or many toys would be the prerogative of the parents. They should always guide their children in choosing toys to play.Is it important to celebrate birthdays and other festivals?Absolutely, yes! Birthdays come once a year. In the Philippines, celebrations are highly regarded by Filipinos. Celebrations are blessings that need to be commemorated, the same with festivals which are mostly religious in nature.     

Speaking Practice: Directions: Provide a 2-minute response to the following questions. Record your answer on a blank tape. 

1. Discuss an interesting place you have been to recently (What is it, where is it, whether you like or dislike the place)

2. Discuss an interesting person you have met (who he is, where he lives, what qualities make him interesting)

3. Discuss what you would like to do when you get older (what is it, how you will do it, why you will do it)

4. Discuss what you would like to learn in the future (what is it, how you can learn it, why you’d like to learn it)

5. Discuss a frightening experience you had when you were young (what is it, where it took place, what makes it frightening)

6. Discuss a person you like to spend time always (who he is, what you enjoy to do, why you like to be together always)

7. Discuss an exciting experience you had (what it is, where it happened, why it became exciting)

8. Discuss a favorite pet (what kind, where you got it from, why it is a favorite)9. Discuss something you like to do when you have free time (what it is, how

you do it, why you like to do it)10. Discuss a place you would like to visit in the future (what is it, where it is,

why you like to go there soon)11. Discuss a person you would like to meet some day (who he is, where you’d

like to meet, why you’d like to meet him)12. Discuss a person who has influenced your life (who he is, what you like about

him and why he was influential to you)13. Discuss something you have never done but would like to do (what is it, how

you can do it, why you’d like to do it)14. Discuss something you have done but never want to do again (what was it,

how you did it, why you don’t like to do it again)15. Discuss an experience which made you laugh (what it is, where it took place,

why it made you laugh)16. Discuss an experience which made you cry (what it is, where it took place,

why it made you cry)17. Discuss what you would do if you had a million dollars (what it is, where will

you spend it, why will you spend it there)18. Discuss what you would do if you were President of your country (what you’ll

do, why you’ll do it)19. Discuss a gift you could give others (what it is, to whom you’ll give it and why

you have chosen it)20. Discuss a gift you would like someone to give you (what it is, what occasion ,

why you’ll like it given to you)21. Discuss a special talent you have (what it is, where you got it, what makes it

special) 

 

IELTS Speaking Test - Sample Questions and Answers

The first part of the IELTS speaking test takes about 4-5 minutes. During this part you will be asked questions about your family, studies, work, friends, hobbies etc.

It doesn’t require a lot of practice to do well in the IELTS speaking test. All that you need to do is to familiarize yourself with the kind of questions that could be asked. While answering, avoid monosyllabic answers like ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Here are some questions that could be asked. Sample answers are also given.

Question: Can you tell me your full name?

Answer: Sure. My full name is Manjusha Santosh Nambiar.

Question: Tell me something about the city you live in.

Answer: I live in Delhi. It is the capital of India. Delhi is an old city with a rich cultural heritage. It is known for its monuments.

Question: Tell me something about the apartment you live in. What do you like about it?

Answer: I live in a rented apartment. It is a nice little place to live in. The one thing that I like most about my apartment is its balcony where I spend my evenings listening to music. I can also host small parties in my balcony.

Question: Is there anything you don’t like about your apartment?

Answer: I like my apartment, but sometimes I feel that I should move into a bigger home. In my apartment, there is hardly enough room for my things and me.

Question: Do you have a hobby?

Answer: Yes. Collecting stamps is my favourite hobby. I think stamps are windows to the world. They tell us a lot of things about the history and civilization of the countries they come from.

Question: Do you enjoy watching English films?

Answer: Oh yes. I like English films because they are the most technologically advanced. I watch them mostly for the special effects, but sometimes I enjoy the storyline too.

Question: What do you like about your city?

Answer: I like several things about my city. For instance, in my city the people are very warm and friendly. They make you feel at home.

Question: Is there anything you don’t like about your city?

Answer: Yes. In my city the traffic system is very congested. It is well connected by roads and rail, but during peak hours you can hardly reach your home or office in time.

Question: Do you like your name?

Answer: Well, not really but there is nothing I can do about it.

Question: Have you ever wanted to change your name?

Answer: Yes, sometimes. But changing a name involves many legal procedures which I am not very comfortable with. That’s why I have decided to stick to the name my parents have given me.

Question: Who is the one that usually names a child in your country?

Answer: In my country children are named by their fathers or uncles.

IELTS Speaking Test: Part 2Part 2 of the IELTS speaking exam consists of a prepared long answer (2 minutes plus 1 minute for preparation): Candidates are given a topic card and then given 1 minute to prepare a 2 minute answer. Topics include describing or commenting on a person, place, or movie. The examiner may ask 1 or 2 rounding-off questions at the end of this turn.

 Speaking Unit 2: The long Turn  

Requirement Strategy

1~2 minute answer(1 minute preparation), followed by a couple of questions

The examiner will hand you a card with a question and three sub questions on it. You have one minute to read the question and prepare your answer.

preparation

1. Identify key words in the question

2. Think about the tense required

3. Write down some key points

4. Write down some key vocabulary

Speaking

1. Use strong adjectives (fantastic!)

2. Speak with rhythm if possible

3. Try to avoid long pauses

 1. Read the question below and the then underline the key words. 

 Describe a place that you have visited that you particularly liked.

You should say:a.    When you visited there?

b.      Who you went with?

c.      What was most memorable?

And explain what you liked most about this place.There are many possible ways of starting your answer, including:I’d like to talk about a country called…I’m going to talk about a city called…A park that I found really interesting was…

 

2. Decide the place you will describe then write down some notes. Place:San Francisco, USA 

a.    When you went there?     For 6 months in1994

b. Who you went with? friend who is from Viet Nam vegetarian guybrother was an artist

 c. What was memorable?      There were many tourist attractions such as Fisherman’s

wharf and Alcatraz Island      

d. What you liked most         lots of different types peoplegood weatherlots of cool places to visitgreat restaurantsrelaxed lifestyle

  

3. Introduce your answer, paraphrasing the question, to show you clearly understand the question.     I’d like to talk about San Francisco, because it’s a place I will never forget. a. I went there in …..        b. I went there with ………     c. The thing I remember most is (PRESENT TENSE) … 

d. Some of the things I enjoyed were I’d like to talk about San Francisco, because it’s a place I will never forget. I went there in 1994 for about six months. I went there with a friend of mine who is from Viet Nam. He is a vegetarian, so we couldn’t use any meat when we cooked. I also remember his brother who was a very talented artist. The thing I remember most about San Francisco is that there were many tourist attractions such as Fisherman’s wharf, which had lots of delicious seafood and sour dough bread; and Alcatraz Island, which used to be a prison for murders and other serious criminals. Some of the things I enjoyed most about San Francisco were the different types people, the good weather, the many different places and neighborhoods to visit. There were also many great restaurants and overall it is a very relaxed lifestyle there.

 

4. Read the question below and the then underline the key words. 

 Describe a historic place that you have visited that you particularly liked.

You should say:a.      When you visited there?

b.      Who you went with?

c.      What you saw there?

And explain what you liked most about this place.

5. Decide on a place and then write down some notes.  a. I went there in …..        b. I went there with ………     c. Some of the things I saw were …  d. The main thing that I enjoyed about this place is …..   

Describe your favorite place for shoppingYou should say:

a.    When you go there

b.    Where it is located

c.    What you can buy there

And explain why you like it

 

6. Adjectives: Adjectives make things more interesting. There is a difference between eating a nice dessert, and eating a bowl of the freshest, sweetest fruit, topped with a delicious chocolate sauce!  Comparatives are used to compare  Cheap Cheaper CheapestExpensive More expensive Most expensive

  

7. ModifiersTo modify is to change. Modifiers can be weak or strong.  Weak A little, sort ofStrong Much, really, very, extremely

  

8. Useful language to use in your speech 

Introductory phrases - when you start your talk:I want to talk about…I’d like to talk about…I’m going to talk about…I'm going to describe…What I'm going to talk about is… Developing phrases - when you want to expand your argument:First of all…

Secondly,…Additionally,…Another thing…Another reason why…Furthermore… Background phrases - when you want to add some detail:At that time…It happened…It took place…It’s been going on for/since…It's near… Impression phrases - when you want to say something that made an impression onyou:... influenced me. … affected me … disturbed me … had an effect on me … impressed me … motivated me … moved me … touched me deeply  Things you like phrases - when you want to describe or talk about things you like:I enjoy…I like… most of allI love doing...  

9. Answering rounding-off questions.

You may be asked one or two questions at the end of your 2 minute speech. You can use this technique to answer them.

 1. Brief answer, repeating auxiliary verb

2. Use the same tense

3. If you are really stuck for an answer just say “Yes, I think so,” “No, I don’t think so”  Answering follow up questions:

You may be required to give a couple of short answers about your topic. Usually the best way to do this is to repeat the auxiliary verb. YOU MUST USE THE SAME TENSE! EXAMPLE 1: “ Have you done this type of work before?”                         “No, I haven’t.” EXAMPLE 2: “Do you know anyone who has”                          “Yes, I do.” 

  Sample Questions according to different topics 

PEOPLE : Individuals : Appearance / Personality / Hobbies / Relationship / My own feeling    

Describe one of your neighbors What is your neighbor like? Do you like this neighbor? When do you usually meet his neighbor?

and say if this person is a good neighbor

Describe a young person you admire.You could say:

who this person is how long you have known them what qualities they has

and say why you admire them

Describe someone you know who is a good teacher.You could say:

who this person is how you know them what kinds of subjects they teach

and explain why this person is good at teaching

Describe an interesting person who you know.You could say:

who the person is how you know this person what sort of person this is

and explain why you think this person does that is interesting

PLACES    

Buildings : Location / Exterior / Interior / Atmosphere / Service / My own feeling Cities : Location / People / Food / Cityscape / Entertainment / My own feeling Organization : History / Members / Location / Duty / Influence / My own feeling Natural Beauty : Location / History / Visitors / Activities / My own feeling    Describe a shopping centre that you often go to.

Where is the shopping centre? What do you buy there? How often do you go to it?

and explain why you choose to go that shopping centre

Describe a country that you would like to travel to.You could say:

where this country is? how you would travel there? who you would go with?

and explain what you like about this country.

Describe a public building you know.You could say:

where this building is what you can do in this building how often you go to this building

and explain why you went to this building.

Describe a park you remember visiting.You could say:

where it is what it looks like what activities people do there

and explain why you still remember it.

 

Objects    Objects : How I got it / Exterior / Function / Price / another related object / My own feeling   Describe an invention that is important in today’s society.You could say:

What is the invention? What is it used for? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the invention?

and explain why you think this invention is so important

Describe a book you read that you think is interestingYou could say:

how you knew about this book where you this book from what is it abut

and explain why you think this book is interesting.

Describe an important letter or email that you received.You could say:

who wrote it what the letter or email was about how you felt about it

and explain why it was important.

Describe your favourite electronic gadget.You could say:

what it is when you bought it why you bought it

and say why you like it so much.

  Activities  

 Leisure activities : What / Who / When / Why / My own feeling    

Describe an activity you enjoy doing in your free time.You could say:

who you do this with where you do it why you do it

and explain why you like to spend your free time this way.

Describe a practical skill you have.You could say:

what the skill is how often you use it who taught it to you

and explain why the skill is so practical

Describe an advertisement you think is interesting.You could say:

what this advertisement is about where you saw or heard this advertisement

what the contents of the advertisement areand explain why you think this advertisement is interesting

Describe a sport you have enjoyed playing or watchingYou should say

where this sport is played how the sport is played what sort of people play this sport

and explain what you like about this sport

Experiences/The past    What / Why / When / Where / Who / My own feeling  Describe an educational trip that you went on when you were in school.You could say:

who went with you where you went what you did there

and explain what you learned on this trip.

Describe a place you have visited where you learnt something.You could say:

who went with you where you went what you did there

and explain what you learned at this place.

Describe a recent news story that interested you.You could say:

how you heard about this news story what the news was about is this news positive or negative

and explain why this news story was interesting to you.

Describe an important decision that you might have to make in the futureYou could say:

what the decision will be about how you will make your decision what the results of the decision are likely to be

and explain why it was important.

IELTS Two Way Discussion: Sample Questions and Answers

For a summary and tips on Part 3: Two Way Discussion please read last week’s blog, which should give you extensive help in your preparation.

Now, we will look at how Part 2: The Long Turn develops into the final part of the IELTS Speaking test.

Remember that you shouldn’t just read this information I am giving, you MUST practise with it. That means getting a friend to read out the sample questions to you and then you must answer them. Even better is to record yourself giving the answers and then think how you can improve your answers – refer to my earlier blog on how to do this.

Example 1

If your Long Turn card looks like this…

Talk about an historical place in your country. You should say:

what it is where it is what you can do there why it is interesting

…then your Two Way Discussion may develop with questions like these:

So, you just told me about ______ and now I’d like to talk about that further.

1. How do you think an area benefits from having an historical place?2. Are there any disadvantages to having an historical place in a region?3. What do you think will happen to historic buildings in the future?4. How do people in your country feel about protecting culturally important buildings?5. You mentioned education. Do you think that school children learn about these places?6. Should technology be used in historical buildings to increase their popularity?

Example 2

If your Long Turn card looks like this…

Talk about a place that you would like to travel to. You should say:

where it is why you want to go there what you can do there

…you may have questions like these in your Two Way Discussion:

So, now I’d like to talk more about travelling to far away places.

1. What advantages are there in reading up about a holiday destination before you visit?2. Are there any disadvantages to this?3. Is it good to have a local guide?4. Do you think it’s better to visit important sites or meet local people?5. Moving on slightly now, what are the benefits of taking a gap year before going to university?6. What are the challenges of a gap year?7. What preparation is necessary before taking a gap year?8. Would you recommend people go on a gap year?

Example 3

If you were asked to talk about your favourite film in Part 2, then your Two Way Discussion may follow along these lines:

So, thank you for telling me about about your favourite film and now I want to talk more about film in general.

1. How do Hollywood films compare to films from your country?2. Why do you think films are important in peoples’ lives?3. And do you think that there is too much violence in films?4. What do you think abou the way men and women are portrayed in film?5. And you talked about downloading. Do you think that downloading films is a crime?6. OK and why are people so interested in the private lives of famous film actors?7. Are film star salaries justified?

Example 4

Now listen to a Hungarian student (who scored a 9 on the IELTS test) answer these part 3 questions on the topic of food.

You spoke about a typical Hungarian dish and now I’m going to ask you a few questions about food in general.Do men and women cook in your country?And what do you think they would cook?And do you think that situation will change in the future?You said that there isn’t a culture of dinner parties, but are restaurants popular?Is there a particular type of cuisine which is more popular?And like many other countries is there a problem with obesity in Hungary?

 

Teacher Comments on Answer

This Two Way Discussion would achieve a very high IELTS Band Score because the student uses:

Personal experience to give details to the answers Contrasts and comparisons Synonyms, instead of repeating the same word Different time tenses (the past, the future) Specualtion References to the media Good stress-timing and clear pronunciation Different phrases to begin sentences giving personal opinion

 When you practise for the IELTS Speaking, bear these things in mind.Record yourself and analyse your answer.What could you have said differently?Did you miss out any of these important characteristics of a great answer?Practise, practise, practise and you will get the results that you deserve.