Tips for the IELTS Speaking test

Finally, we have reached the fun part of IELTS. Many people agree that the secret of

success in the Speaking test is being confident and creative person. Does it mean that

others will fail? Not at all! This test is PREDICTABLE. Use the following tips to

prepare yourself to what’s coming and the confidence will come.

What are they looking for?

 If you know what is important to IELTS examiners, it improves your chances of

success. These guidelines refer to every part of the Speaking test. Stick to them and

you will satisfy your examiner.

• Speak without long pauses (when you are trying to think of something to say)

• Understand what the examiner asks you and confirm that by answering

accordingly.

• Demonstrate how many "smart" words you know.

• Use all the tenses when you speak - past, present, future – and use them

correctly.

• Pronounce the words correctly. For example the word “culture” should sound

like “kolcher”, not “kultur”.

• Important! Accent has nothing to do with pronunciation, so it will not affect

your score.

Keep it simple!

This tip refers to the whole Speaking test. Don’t start long and complicated sentences

if you don’t know how to finish them! Keep your sentences simple, and words -

understandable. If you make grammatical error – it’s ok to correct yourself, but don’t

overdo it, you must sound fluent.

When you hear a question, your mind automatically draws an image with the answer.

You can describe this image in your own language, but when you start to describe it

in English, suddenly you don’t have enough words in your vocabulary. So try to think

of what part of that image you can describe, do it and stop there. Don’t let yourself

show what words you don’t know by saying incomplete sentences.

What if …?

It can happen that the examiner asks you a question and you don’t have a clue what is

he/she talking about. Don’t panic! Just say:

• I am not sure what you mean, could you be more specific?

• Could you repeat the question, please?

If you don’t have a ready answer and you are trying to borrow some time, say:

• Well, I never thought about that, but if I do, I would say that…

• Well, it is not a simple question.

If they ask for your opinion, you can start by saying:

• In my opinion…

• I think that…

• Well, if you ask me, …

• When it comes to me, I …

You will probably have to speak in present, past and future tenses. When asked to

speak about future, say:

• I am sure that (something will/won’t happen)

• It is likely/unlikely that (some event will / won’t occur)

Leave a good impression

FINALLY!!! When leaving the room after the interview, look the examiner in the

eyes, smile and simply say: “Thank you for your time. Good bye”.

Isn’t life great?

IELTS Exam ( Apr 2012) Gen. Writing and Speaking Test

Writing Task 1 (a letter)

Write a letter to a friend about an item you borrowed last week, that accidentally got damaged. In your letter
- Describe the item.
- What was the damage?
- What do you intend to do to rectify the problem?

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Some say that people should continue to work in the same job for a lifetime; others say they should change the job at least once in their career. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own opinion and support it with examples.

Speaking test

Interview
- Talk about your city.
- What do you like about your city?
- Why do you feel this city is not safe for youngsters?
- How is the climate in your city?
- Do many people like this city?

Cue Card
Talk about a wedding you have recently attended. Please say
- Whose wedding was it?
- What did you do there?
- What was so special about this event that made you remember it?

Discussion
- Should weddings be kept small and humble, or big and fancy?
- Why do people want to spend so much money on weddings?
- What type of wedding do you think is better?
- Do you think grand weddings are a waste of money?
- What is your opinion on the current state of marriages?

Recent IELTS Exam ( 31 March 2012) Writing Task 2 and Speaking

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Most people prefer shopping in supermarkets to small shops or local markets. Is this a positive or a negative development?

Speaking test

Interview
- What is your full name?
- Do you study or work?
- What are you studying?
- Do many students from your country take these subjects?

Cue Card
Describe a wedding you have recently attended. Please say
- Whose wedding was it?
- Where was it?
- Whom did you go with?

Discussion
- Do you like weddings?
- Why do you like or dislike them?
- Why does media pay attention to the celebrity weddings (of actors and actresses)?
- Is wedding important in our society?

IELTS Writing Task 2 ( in 31 march 12 Exam)- - - Sample Answer

Nowadays, people are spending increasingly large amounts of money on their marriage parties. Many people feel large and expensive weddings cause problems for the bride and groom. Do you agree? Use personal examples in your response.

Marrying couples often aspire to throw lavish wedding receptions with which to celebrate their union. However, often these parties carry with them a burden that newlyweds cannot comfortably bear. It is agreed that excessive spending on marriage celebrations can cause issues for new husbands and wives. This will be shown by analyzing how excessive matrimonial ceremonies can encumber newlyweds financially and cause the entire wedding gathering to be somewhat impersonal in nature.

Firstly, many marrying couples often create problems for themselves when they spend beyond their means on their marriage reception. For example, some friends of mine in China borrowed an exorbitant amount of money to pay for a very large wedding they held several years ago. Acting in such a prodigal way meant that for the two years following their matrimony, these young people had to dedicate every last cent of their earnings to their debt. As this money could have been put towards building a better life for themselves, it is clear that problems can arise for people who spend extreme amounts on their weddings.

In addition to this, huge weddings can cause a marriage reception to be impersonal in nature. For instance, I once attended a very large and extremely beautiful Iranian wedding. Although perhaps the most stunning matrimonial ceremony I have ever been to, the guest list was so large that I barely had a chance to give the bride and groom my wishes and meet their parents. These newlyweds later expressed their regret at not being able to mingle with their guests comfortably. As their experience shows, it is obvious that large weddings can cause problems for brides and grooms.

Following this look, it has been proven that large and expensive wedding parties can incite issues for marrying couples. Although many marriage arrangements are culturally sensitive, it is hoped that modern couples weigh the pros and cons of throwing a lavish ceremony before deciding to do so.

Recent IELTS Exam - Writing Task 2 and Speaking

Writing Task 2 (an essay)Nowadays young children are using mobile phones. Some people think it is a positive development, while others think it’s a negative one. Discuss. What is your opinion?

Speaking test

Interview
- Tell me about yourself.
- Where are you from?
- What do you do?

Cue Card 1
Talk about something that you purchased and had not used much, please say
- what it was,
- where you bought it,
- why you bought it,
- why you didn’t use it.

Discussion 1
- What advantage is there to moving from a large school to a small one?
- What is the difference between a large and a small school?
- What qualifications should a teacher have?
- Why teachers give so many assignments to pupils?

Sample IELTS Speaking Test

Interview

- Can you tell me your full name?
- What should I call you?
- Do you work or study?
- What do you do in your job?
- Do you want to do this job in the future?
- What is the climate like in your country?
- Why it is important to know the weather forecast?

Cue Card

Describe your dream job when you were young. Please say

- What kind of job was it?
- Where did you learn about it?
- What kind of training/skills are needed for that job?
- What is the importance of this job?

Discussion

- Are you going to take this job in the future?
- What kind of jobs is preferred by young generation?
- Are government jobs considered attractive places to work?
- How do you get job satisfaction?
- What is more important, job satisfaction or salary?
- How does government help small companies to carry out their business activity?

25 Common English Idioms

The idioms and expressions below are some of the most common in English. The example sentences show how idioms are used in context. Have fun!
1. as easy as pie means "very easy" (same as "a piece of cake")
Example: He said it is a difficult problem, but I don't agree. It seems as easy as pie to me!
2. be sick and tired of means "I hate" (also "can't stand")
Example: I'm sick and tired of doing nothing but work. Let's go out tonight and have fun.
3. bend over backwards means "try very hard" (maybe too much!)
Example: He bent over backwards to please his new wife, but she never seemed satisfied.
4. bite off more than one can chew means "take responsibility for more than one can manage"
Example: John is so far behind in his studies. Besides classes, he plays sports and works at a part-time job. It seems he has bitten off more than he can chew.
5. broke means "to have no money"
Example: I have to borrow some money from my Dad. Right now, I'm broke.
6. change one's mind means "decide to do something different from what had been decided earlier"
Example: I was planning to work late tonight, but I changed my mind. I'll do extra work on the weekend instead.
7. Cut it out! means "stop doing something bad"
Example: That noise is really annoying. Cut it out!
8. drop someone a line means "send a letter or email to someone"
Example: It was good to meet you and I hope we can see each other again. Drop me a line when you have time.
9. figure something out means "come to understand a problem"
Example: I don't understand how to do this problem. Take a look at it. Maybe you can figure it out.
10. fill in for someone means "do their work while they are away"
Example: While I was away from the store, my brother filled in for me.
11. in ages means "for a very long time"
Example: Have you seen Joe recently? I haven't seen him in ages.
12. give someone a hand means "help"
Example: I want to move this desk to the next room. Can you give me a hand?
13. hit the hay means "go to bed" (also "hit the sack")
Example: It's after 12 o'clock. I think it's time to hit the hay.
14. in the black means "the business is making money, it is profitable"
Example: Our business is really improving. We've been in the black all year.
15. in the red means "the business is losing money, it is unprofitable"
Example: Business is really going poorly these days. We've been in the red for the past three months.
16. in the nick of time means "not too late, but very close!"
Example: I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. It's a good thing, because I really need this medicine!
17. keep one's chin up means "remain brave and keep on trying"
Example: I know things have been difficult for you recently, but keep your chin up. It will get better soon.
18. know something like the back of your hand means "know something very, very well"
Example: If you get lost, just ask me for directions. I know this part of town like the back of my hand
19. once in a while means "sometimes, not very often"
Example: Have you been to the new movie theater? No, only see movies once in a while. I usually stay home and watch TV.
20. sharp means "exactly at a that time"
Example: I'll meet you at 9 o'clock sharp. If you're late, we'll be in trouble!
21. sleep on it means "think about something before making a decision"
Example: That sounds like a good deal, but I'd like to sleep on it before I give you my final decision.
22. take it easy means "relax"
Example: I don't have any special plans for the summer. I think I'll just take it easy.
23. to get the ball rolling means "start something, especially something big"
Example: We need to get this project started as soon as possible. I'm hoping you will help me get the ball rolling.
24. up to the minute means "the most recent information"
Example: I wish I knew more about what is happening in the capital city. We need more up to the minute news.
25. twenty-four/seven means "every minute of every day, all the time"
Example: You can access our web site 24/7. It's very convenient!

IELTS SPEAKING TIPS

IELTS Speaking Exercise:
Connecting Sentences

Do not use too many connectors when you speak, or it may sound unnatural. Here are some of the most common connection words in English.
1. "after" or "before"

After we did that, we ~ed.

Before we can finish that job, we must ~.

After that, I went to...

Before that, I was working in an office. 2. "although" or "even though"

Although my hometown is very small, it has many interesting places to visit.

Even though my hometown very crowded and noisy, I like living there very much. 3. "another"

Another good thing about my job is...

Another way to solve the problem would be to... 4. "as with" or "just like"

As with the first question, we must consider this one very carefully.

Just like Romeo and Juliet, we fell in love. 5. "at the same time"

I wanted to be with her every day. At the same time, I felt I should obey my parents wishes.

There are too many cars in Beijing. At the same time, the city is building more subway lines and adding more buses. 6. "besides" or "in addition to"

Besides that fact, here is another interesting point...

In addition to that law, there are many other laws to prevent traffic accidents. 7. "but"

This is usually true, but...

In most cases that is true, but...

In a typical situation that may happen, but...

In an ideal situation we can do it that way, but... 8. "because"

Many people believe that is true. I disagree because...

My point of view is... The reason I believe that is because... 9. "except for"

Except for that one case, I do not know of any other problems.

Except for the main character, all the others were bad people. 10. "for example"

I believe ~ is true. For example...

I believe that ~ is the best way. Let me give you an example... 11. "however" or "yet"

I basically agree with you. However, I don't know if that will be true in the future.

That is what I have thought most of my life. Yet I wonder if I am wrong. 12. "rather than"

Rather than repeat that process, the hero of the story decided to do something different.

Rather than just accept the decision, I decided to change my job. 13. "the reason is"

I don't agree with that at all. The reason is...

The reason I doubt that is... 14. "this" or "that"

Some people say that... and I have to agree with them...

That was good too, but not as good as...

That was good, and an even better way is...

Not only is that interesting, but ~ is also quite fascinating. 15. "when" or "whenever"

When I think about such a topic, I think about...

When I remember how I grew up, I realize...

Whenever I think about my studies, I wonder how I survived!

IELTS LISTENING TIPS

There isn't much you can do but there are some things. First of all, you get time to read the questions at the start of each section and mid-way in each section. Use this time (usually 20 seconds) wisely. You should know in advance all the questions before you hear the tape. At the end of the sections you also get some time to check your answers. Use this time to check through and then turn ahead to read the next questions in advance.

When you read the questions you can usually predict some of the types of answer that will come. For example, in section 1, if you can see that the test is asking for a telephone number, then you know you'll be listening out for numbers and the word telephone. In the later sections this becomes more complicated but the same technique can be used. Think about this when you are practicing so you can develop this skill.

As in all IELTS tests, the questions get harder as it goes on. You will see from your practice that the types of listening and questions that you encounter in Section 1 are more difficult in Section 2 and so on. This does not mean that by Section 4 they are impossible but they are more demanding linguistically.

Beware of some questions which require a number (i.e.: a telephone number) or some letters (i.e.: a postcode) as sometimes what you think is the answer will be read out only for the speaker to correct him or her self and then say the correct answer.

An important tip is to answer all the questions as you hear them; don't wait until later. Sometimes people in these tests hear the correct answer but decide to remember the answer and write it down later so they can wait for the next answer. This I feel is a mistake. Firstly, people will very often forget this answer and secondly, if you follow this method, you will have to remember up to 5 or 6 answers in a row before you can write them down. Then you'll forget even more.

As I said above, at the end of the test you have 10 minutes extra to transfer your answers from the question paper to the answer paper. Some people put their answers directly onto the answer paper. I feel it's better to write the answers on the question paper and use the 10 minutes given at the end for the transfer. Writing the answers on the question paper allows you to keep your concentration on the questions and, if you make a mistake, it's not so difficult to correct.

One area that students don't like is that, in the listening test, good grammar and spelling are important. The grammar part is not as important as you can't make many grammar errors in 3 words (the maximum you use in the listening test) but, if you spell something wrong, it will be marked as wrong. People think, quite rightly in my opinion that the listening should test whether you understand what you heard and not how you spell something but these are the rules. So, be careful about your spelling!

If the question asks for no more than 3 words, use no more than 3 words. Writing 4 words is wrong. You won't be asked to do it in 3 words or less unless it is possible so doesn’t worry; it can always be done.

Don't panic if you miss an answer. If it has really gone, then it is history. Worrying and panicking is only going to make you miss another one. One miss is probably not going to destroy your mark so calm down and listen for the next one. Sometimes you think you have missed it but you are mistaken. If you are calm and keep listening, maybe the answer will come or even be repeated.

Never leave a question unanswered; especially if it is only an A,B,C,D question or something similar. Guess if you really don't know. There are no marks taken away for wrong answers or even stupid answers. So, have a go! Logic, general knowledge or just luck might give you the right answer!

Sample Bar Chart -- IELTS WRITING TASK 1

 

Sample Pie and Line Chat -- IELTS GRAPH - TASK 1



IELTS Writing Task - 2

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should begin learning a foreign language as soon as they start school. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

Model answer :

Language is the best means of communication. In the modern globalization era it is not enough to be able to speak one language to communicate with the outside world. I strongly support the idea that children should begin learning a foreign language as soon as they start school. They faster become familiar with a strange language, improve their hearing ability to understand new words as time goes by and learn new words. In the following paragraphs I will list some reasons to support my position.

First of all, if one wants to see outcome soon, one must start sooner. So, the early children begin to learn new language the better will be the result. Scientists say that a child does not confuse two different languages but learns them more effectively.

Second of all, adults are often afraid to make mistakes when they are speaking in a new language. This fear is one of the biggest barriers for a person in his efforts to speak freely. Otherwise, children do not afraid of making grammatical mistakes because basically they just repeat words and sentences in the way they hear them. Also, children have a better chance to get rid of an accent. They faster get used to the right pronunciation and better feel the melody of a language.

To sum up, I think that it is very essential for children to begin learning a foreign language in their early ages. It is brings many benefits such as great pronunciation. Also, it help a child develop and gain more knowledge which is good for a long run.

Recent IELTS Speaking Topics - Part 2

Talk about a board game, card game or computer game you have played. You should include: - What kind of game it is - How many people can play - How the winner is decided And say if you think your whole family would enjoy playing that game together or not, and why

Speak about something you would like to do to improve your health. You should mention: - Why it is healthy - Why you want to do it - How popular that thing is And then say if you think you will do that soon or not, and why

Talk about a hobby you had when you were a child: You should say: - How you first became interested in it - How long you did it or have been doing it for - Why you enjoyed doing it And say if you have become more or less interested in that hobby since you were a child, and why

Talk about something you do when you are away on holiday. You should say: - Why you do it - How often you do it - Where you have done it And say whether you think you will have more or less time you do that in the future, and why

Talk about a place in your home where you often spend your free time. You should say: - What that place is like - Where exactly it is - Why you spend time in that place And say what you would change about that place if you could, and why

Talk about a book that had an impression on you. You should say: - What the topic of the book was - Why it impressed you - If any other books have impressed you the same way And say if you would like to read the same book again or not, and why

Talk about an instrument you would like to be able to play. You should say: - What the instrument looks like - What it sounds like - What kinds of people it is popular with And say if you think you will ever try to play that instrument or not, and why

Talk about a news source you like to use. You should say: - How often you find out the news this way - Why you use this source - What other sources you use And say how you would improve that news source if you could.

Talk about something you have read recently:. You should say: - What it was about - How and why you got it - How long it took you to finish it And say if you would like to read something similar or not in the near future, and why

Talk about something you often do to relax. . You should mention: - Where you do it - How often you do it - Why it relaxes you And say whether you think everyone would find that thing relaxing or not,

Talk about something you often do during the summer. You should mention: - Where you do it - How often you do it - Why you do it during the summer And say if you often do that during the winter or not, and why

Talk about something you like doing when the weather is cold or cooler. You should say: - Where you do it - How often you do it - What clothes or equipment you need And say if you prefer hot or cold weather, and why

IELTS Speaking Part Two Topic cards -- Part 1

Activity- see also "Favourite" and "Future" Describe an activity you like doing. You should say: - Where you do it - Who you do it with - Why you enjoy it And say what kind of people you would recommend that activity to, and why

Book- see also "Favourite" Talk about a book you have read in the last year You should say: - Why you decided to read that book - How long you it took you to finish it - What genre of book it was And say if you would like to read something else by the same author or not, and why

Talk about a book you have never read but would like to in the future. You should mention: - Why you would like to read it - Why you have never read it before - What you think it will be like And say how you think it will compare to other books you have read

Talk about a hobby that a brother or sister, or other relative, likes. You should mention: - Where and when they do that hobby - How long they have been doing it - If you have ever done it with them And say if you think that is a good hobby or not, and why.

Child- see also "Game" and "Sports" Talk about a hobby you were interested in when you were a child: You should say: - How you first became interested in it - How long you did it for - Why you enjoyed it And say if you became more or less interested in that hobby as you got older, and why

Computer- see also "Game" Talk about something you can do on a computer that you think is enjoyable. You should mention: - What equipment or software you need to do that - What you need to do to do it - What kind of people it is popular with And say if you would like to spend more time doing that or not, and why

Talk about something you or someone you know collects. You should say: - How many pieces there is in the collection - How the collection is stored - How quickly the collection is growing And say what kind of person would enjoy collecting that thing, and why

Cook Talk about a dish you know how to cook. You should describe: - What the ingredients are - How it is cooked - Other preparation you have to do And say if you think this is an easy dish to cook or not, and why

Describe a place where you often go on your days off You should say: - Where it is - Who you go with - Why you go there And say how it compares to other places where you could spend your free time

Describe something you often do in the evening. You should say: - When you usually do it - Where you usually do it - Who you usually do it with And say if you enjoy doing it or not, and why

Describe something you like doing in the evening. You should say: - How it makes you feel - How often you do it - How long you spend doing it And say if you think most people would enjoy doing the same thing or not

Describe something you think is exciting. You should say: - Why it makes you excited - If it is always exciting - What other feelings that thing can give people And say how it compares to other things that people usually find exciting

Give a presentation about something you think is a good way of doing exercise. You should include in your answer: - What equipment is needed - Where people usually do this form of exercise - What they usually wear And say if you think this form of exercise is getting more or less popular,

Talk about something you often do or used to do in your free time with your family. You should say: - Why you often did that - Who suggested doing it - Who enjoyed it most And say if you would like to do the same thing with your own children or not, and why

Describe your favourite film. You should say: - What the film is about - Who the main characters are - What the ending is And explain why it is your favourite film.

Describe your favourite place to eat out. You should include in your answer: - Where it is - What kind of food is served - What the décor is like And say what kind of people you think would enjoy that restaurant, and why

Describe your favourite song or piece of music. You should say: - What kind of music it is - Where you usually listen to it - Why you like it And say what kind of mood this music puts you in, and why

Speak about your favourite magazine, newspaper or comic. You should include in your answer: - Where you usually buy it - What parts of it you most enjoy reading - Where you usually read it And say how it compares to other things you read

Describe your favourite free time activity. You should mention: - Where you do it - Who you do it with - Why you enjoy it And say if you think your favourite free time activities will change as you get older or not, and why

Speak about something that is free or cheap you like doing in your free time. You should say: - How often you do it - When you first started doing this - Why you do it And say if you think this thing is as enjoyable as things you do which are more expensive or not, and why

Talk about a new sport or hobby you would like to take up You should say: - Why you are interested in that thing - If it is an easy or hard thing to start - What the best way to start doing it is And say if you think you will start doing it soon or not, and why

Talk about a musical instrument you would like to be able to play but have never tried. You should say: - What the instrument looks like - What it sounds like - What kinds of people it is popular with And say if you think you will ever try to play that instrument or not, and why