SPEAKING Test
Part 1
Task Description
In Part 1, the examiner will introduce him/herself and ask to check your I.D. You should bring your I.D card.
Download the video to see an example from Part 1 of the speaking test. Note down what happens and read the comments that are provided in the video.
The examiner will first ask you to talk about where you live, your studies or, if working, your job. You may be asked further questions such as how long you have been living there/studying etc, or what your future plans are.
The examiner will then move on to two other topics of general interest, for example, your interests, family life or lifestyle, food, festivals or public transport; or activities such as sport, films or shopping. They will ask 3-4 further questions per topic, to elicit more information from you. You cannot choose these topics, but the examiner will ask general questions and interact with you to encourage you to speak. The tone is one of an informal, if slightly one-sided, conversation.
To summarise, Part 1 consists of a discussion on:
1. The area you live in OR your studies OR your work.
2. PLUS another 2 topics of a general nature.
Skills Tested
- Responding appropriately and fully to general questions about yourself.
- Giving information, describing, explaining or expanding on general topics.
- Fluency, clarity, pronunciation, and intonation.
- Accuracy and range of grammatical structures and vocabulary.
TIPS
- Go into the test well prepared. This is not difficult, as the topics are relatively predictable. The exercises below will enable you to prepare and practice until you are confident.
- Being well prepared does not mean memorizing a set speech, as this sounds artificial and may not answer a question exactly. The examiner will be able to tell you have memorized it and will penalize you for this.
- 'What is it like?' This question means you should describe the subject (e.g. the area where you live) more fully, NOT say whether you enjoy living there. For example: 'I live in Sham Shui Po' 'What's it like?' 'It's an interesting area but the buildings are quite old. It's convenient for public transport and shopping and there's a fascinating outdoor market, but it's very crowded.'
- Pronunciation: Pay particular attention to consonant word endings, as not pronouncing them is a common problem for Cantonese speakers. Make sure the 't' in “don't” and the' in “I'd like” are clearly audible.
- Think about the kind of questions that someone who was trying to get to know you would ask. These are the kind of questions the examiner will ask at this point, about your interests, family life or lifestyle, popular activities such as sport, films or shopping or common areas such as food, festivals, public transport and holidays.
- Work on expanding your vocabulary so that you can give full and interesting answers to questions on the above kind of topics. Brainstorm vocabulary with a group of friends.
Practice Tasks
1- Download and watch the example video of Part 1 of the IELTS speaking test. Note down the questions that are asked. Then, use a voice recorder to record your own answers.
2- With a partner, practice the interview, with one of you taking the examiner's role of asking questions and the other replying. Swap roles so you both get to practice.
Part 2
Task Description
In Part 2 the examiner will choose a topic for you to talk about (one of around 20 possibilities).
Download and watch the video to see an example from Parts 2 and 3 of the Speaking Test. Note down what happens and read the comments that are provided in the video.
The examiner will give you a booklet with the selected topic, along with 2 or 3 guidelines to structure your monologue. After reading the topic, you will have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You may make notes on paper at this stage. The examiner will tell you when your preparation time is up, and you than talk on the topic for 1-2 minutes. The examiner will not interrupt you unless you exceed the allotted time, or do not speak long enough. You will likely be asked a short follow-up question to the topic after you finish speaking. This is your chance to demonstrate your fluency and accuracy with a range of vocabulary and sentence structures.
Skills Tested
- Talking about a general topic for an extended length of time.
- Developing your thoughts on a topic into a mini-presentation.
- Fluency, clarity, pronunciation, and intonation.
- Accuracy and range of grammatical structures and vocabulary.
What you should do
- Preparation. Go into the test well-prepared. This is not difficult, as the topics are relatively predictable and general; the kind of thing you might discuss socially. Practice talking about something for 1 - 2 minutes.
- It's a good idea to record yourself and listen. Check for clarity, pronunciation and vocabulary selection. Time yourself: you must talk for at least a minute. Listening to yourself is a good way of getting over any shyness or embarrassment you may feel! As with Part 1, you can take the recording to a CILL teacher for feedback.
- Expand your vocabulary. Use the resources in CILL. Integrate new vocabulary into your rehearsed talks until it feels natural.
- Give yourself one minute (timed) to prepare in advance. Making quick, very short notes to remind you of thoughts while you speak. Expand these into full sentences when you speak and add any extra relevant information or examples.
- Try to include personal anecdotes and information from your own life. Try also to relax and treat the experience as an informal and interesting sharing of information about yourself. Remember, the more you practice in advance, the easier and more natural this will become!
Possible Topics
- Things you read: books, magazines, newspapers, etc, and why.
- Music: what you enjoy, which musicians or groups you admire and why, your own musical background, karaoke, etc.
- A description of your ideal accommodation, celebration or holiday destination.
- An outing or holiday you have been on.
- An everyday object that you find useful or you think has made life more convenient.
- A description of a friend, a child you know or a member of your family and why you chose to talk about them.
- A famous personality you admire and why.
- Personal success or achievement.
- The climate or seasonal changes in your country.
- A person who has influenced you.
- Something you used or played with as a child.
- Other similar topics.
Practice Tasks
The IELTS Speaking Test Part 2: Task 1
Take any or all of the above topics and give yourself a minute to prepare for a talk. Make notes and expand them orally. An example of notes might be as follows:
The IELTS Speaking Test Part 2: Task 2
Using the notes made in Task 1, talk for up to two minutes on each topic. Record yourself (and get over the embarrassment of listening to yourself: practice until you are proud of the way you speak!) Notice whether speaking for the required time is easy or difficult and what kind of sentences and vocabulary you use.
If a particular topic proves difficult or sounds stilted, work on it until it improves. Remember, you cannot choose your topic. This may all seem like a lot of preparation, but if you do it, you will be able to talk skilfully about a wide range of common conversation topics for the rest of your life!
Part 3
Task Description
The third part is a discussion of wider issues connected to the topic in Part 2.
The examiner will ask questions to guide you and may ask you to expand or comment on related themes or compare, contrast or speculate about them. They will interact with you and may lead the discussion into more abstract or 'difficult' areas towards the end, in order to really challenge your language range and skills. If they do this, you have already done very well, so try not to panic!
Skills Tested
- Continuing a conversation related to the topic you talked about in part two.
- Explaining and justifying your opinions or describing a personal experience.
- Further describing, comparing, contrasting or speculating.
- Fluency, clarity, pronunciation, and intonation.
- Accuracy and range of grammatical structures and vocabulary.
What you should do?
- The practice you do for Part 2 will stand you in good stead for Part 3 by increasing your speaking confidence and expanding your vocabulary and sentence structure range.
- Try to read an English language newspaper or magazine regularly (e.g. South China Morning Post, Time, Newsweek or The Economist). Notice especially the language used to discuss current affairs topics and give arguments and opinions (e.g. the editorial sections and letters page). This will keep you well informed and improve your grammar and vocabulary, as well as giving you reading practice.
- Try also to watch some English T.V or watch online videos. This will improve your listening skills and build your knowledge of topics that may come up in the speaking or writing papers.
- Choose a topic from Part 2. Think about what kind of questions the examiner could ask related to that topic and decide what your opinion is on any controversial or conversational aspect. It's a good idea to practice with a partner, discussing any issues you can think of in relation to a topic, as the examiner will participate in Part 3 to encourage you to speak.
- Practice using conditional tenses (if...then) and the language of speculation and hypothesis.
Now it's time to go to the exercises :
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