IELTS Speaking - Part 1

The questions in Part 1 are on general topics about your life. Your answers are from
your life and experience. There is no right or wrong answer.

About you

 What is your (full) name?

 Can I have your name please?
 Could you tell me your full name please?
 What shall I call you?
 How can I address you?
 Does your name have any special meaning?
 Is your name important to you?
 Do Korean people like changing their name? Why?
 Have you ever changed your name? Why or why not?
 Why do so many people change their name?
 Do you work or study?

Study

 What are you studying?

 What’s your major?
 Why did you choose that subject?
 What do you find most interesting about your course?
 What is your favorite subject?
 What do you dislike about your study?
 What do you hope to do after your graduation?
 What are your ambitions for the future?
 Do you hope to gain any qualifications?
 What are the advantages of studying instead of working?
Work

 Can you describe your job to me?

 What do you do for a living?
 How long have you been doing it?
 Can you describe one of your typical working days?
 What’s your daily routine on a working day?
 Why did you choose to do that job?
 What things do you enjoy about your work? Why?
  What do you think is the attraction of your work?
 What is your ideal job?
 Do you want to change your current job? Why or why not?
 Are you willing to keep your job permanently?
 What are your plans for the future?

Your town

 Can you describe your town or village to me?

 Tell me something about your hometown.
 Where are you from?
 Where is your hometown?
 Where do you come from?
 What is the name of the street you live on?
 What kind of street do you live on?
 What do you like about your town?
 What is the weather like in your town?
 What building is considered famous in your town?
 What jobs do people in your town do?
 How has your town changed over the last twenty years?
 What changes have taken place in your city in recent years?
 Do you think it is better to live in the center of town or outside in the country? Why?

Free time

 What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

 How much time do you have each week for doing these things?
 Why do you like doing these activities?
 How did you start doing this activity at first?
 Is there some other hobby or sport you would like to try? Why?
 How has the way people spend their free time changed over the years?

Holidays

 What do you do when you have a holiday?

 Who do you usually spend holiday with?
 Where do you like to spend your holidays? Why?
 Can you describe a typical day in your holidays?
 Why are holidays and important to you?
 If you could take a holiday anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?
 What do people usually do during holidays and in your town?
Places to go in your free time

 What do people do in your town in their free time?

 Where can they go out for entertainment, or to enjoy themselves?
 Which do you prefer: eating in restaurants or eating at home?
 Which are the best places to eat out?

Transport

 How did you come here today?

 What is public transport like in your town?
 How do you think it could be improved?
 Do you think people should use public transport more? Why (not)?

Shopping

 How much time do you spend shopping every week?

 Do you enjoy going shopping? Why (not)?
 What is your favourite shop and why do you like it?
 What problems are there with shopping in your area?

Your neighbourhood

 Can you describe the house where you live to me?

 What is there to do in the area where you live?
 What do you like about the area where you live?
 How do you think it could be improved?
 Do you think it is better to live in the centre of town or outside in the country? Why?

Reading

 Do you enjoy reading? Why?

 What sort of things do you read?
 Tell me something about your favourite book.
 What are the advantages of reading instead of watching television or going to the
cinema?
 Sports and games

 What sports are most popular in your country?

 What sports and games did you most enjoy playing
 when you were a child?
 Do people take as much exercise as in the past?
 Why is exercise good for you?

IELTS Speaking - Part 2 & 3

In the second section candidates are given a topic card and then have one minute to
prepare after which they must speak about the given topic. The third section involves a
discussion between the examiner and the candidate, generally on questions relating to
the theme which they have already spoken about in part 2.

 Beautiful places
 Family
 Shopping
 Eating and food
 Travelling
 School
 Adventure
 Newspapers
 Sport

Beautiful places

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a beautiful place to visit in your country.

You should say:

 where it is
 how to get there
 what there is to do when you are there

and explain why you recommend this place.

Part 3

Attitudes to tourism

 Why do you think people like to travel to different places in their free time?
 How do you see tourism changing in your country in the future?

Conserving the countryside

 Why is it important to protect the countryside?

 In what ways is the countryside in danger in your country?

Historic buildings and monuments

 Why are historic buildings and monuments important to a city?

 Is it better to keep old buildings, or build new modern ones?

Family

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe the person in your family who you most admire.

You should say:

 what their relationship is to you

 what they have done in their life
 what they do now

and explain why you admire them so much.

Part 3

Attitudes to family

 In what ways have families in your country changed in recent years?

  Should husbands and wives have different roles within the family? Why (not)?

Family or friends

 Which are more important to you: your family or your friends?

 What conflicts can arise between a person's family and a person's friends?

Family responsibilities

 What responsibilities do parents have towards their children?

 What responsibilities do children have towards their parents?

Shopping

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe your favorite shop.

You should say:

 where it is
 what things it sells
 what sort of people are its customers

and explain why you like the shop so much.

Part 3

Things to buy

 What typical things can visitors to your country buy?

 What things do young people like to buy in your country?

Money

 Is it a good idea to save money? Why (not)?

 Do you think that people are happier if they have money? Why (not)?

Shopping

 What can shops do to make shopping more pleasant for their customers?
  Do you think that in the future people will do most of their shopping using the
Internet? Why?/ Why not?

Shopping

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe your favorite shop.

You should say:

 where it is
 what things it sells
 what sort of people are its customers

and explain why you like the shop so much.

Part 3

Things to buy

 What typical things can visitors to your country buy?

 What things do young people like to buy in your country?

Money

 Is it a good idea to save money? Why (not)?

 Do you think that people are happier if they have money? Why (not)?

Shopping

 What can shops do to make shopping more pleasant for their customers?
 Do you think that in the future people will do most of their shopping using the
Internet? Why?/ Why not?

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.
 Describe an open-air or street market which you enjoyed visiting.

You should say:

 where the market is

 what the market sells
 how big the market is

and explain why you enjoyed visiting this market.

Part 3

Shopping at markets

 Do people in your country enjoy going to open-air markets that sell things like food or
clothes or old objects? Which type of market is more popular? Why?
 Do you think markets are more suitable places for selling certain types of things?
Which ones? Why do you think this is?
 Do you think young people feel the same about shopping at markets as older people?
Why is that?

Shopping in general

 What do you think are the advantages of buying things from shops rather than
markets?
 How does advertising influence what people choose to buy? Is this true for everyone?
 Do you think that any recent changes in the way people live have affected general
shopping habits? Why is this?

Eating and food

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a special occasion when you had a really enjoyable meal.

You should say:

 what the occasion was

 who was at the meal
 what you ate
 and explain why the meal was so enjoyable.

Part 3

Attitudes to food

 What do you think a healthy diet consists of?

 Which do people in your country prefer: traditional food or fast food such as
hamburgers or pizzas?

Learning about food

 Do you think children should be taught about healthy diets and cooking at school?
Why (not)?
 At what age do you think children should be taught to cook?

Food aid

 What can be done to prevent poor people in the world going hungry?
 Should rich countries help poor countries with more than just food?

Travelling

IELTS Tip

Travel is a verb: I enjoyed my travel trip very much. It is only used as a noun in a general
sense, e.g. travel broadens the mind.

Trip refers to both a journey: the trip there was fine; or a short stay: a business trip; or a
holiday: I’m going away on a trip.

Journey only refers to getting from one place to another: the journey there was very
uncomfortable.

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a memorable journey you have made.

You should say:

 where you were going

 how you were travelling
 why you were making the journey

and explain what made the journey so memorable.

Part 3

Travelling and learning

 What do people learn from travelling?

 Do you think the growth of international tourism is a good thing? Why (not)?

Tourism and culture

 How has tourism changed the way people in your country live?
 How should tourists behave when they visit your country?

Ways of travelling

 What do you think is the best way for a tourist to travel if they want to learn about
your country?
 What are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling by plane?

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a journey that you remember well.

You should say:

 where you went

 how you travelled
 why you went on the journey

and explain why you remember this journey well.

Part 3

Reasons for daily travel

 Why do people need to travel every day?

 What problems can people have when they are on their journey, for example to work
or school? Why is this?
  Some people say that daily journeys like these will not be so common in the future.
Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Benefits of international travel

 What do you think people can learn from travelling to other countries? Why?
 Can travel make a positive difference to the economy of a country? How?
 Do you think a society can benefit if its members have experience of travelling to
other countries? In what ways?

School

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a school which you went to.

You should say:

 when you went there

 how many people studied there
 how long you spent there

and explain what you liked and disliked about it.

Part 3

Attitudes to education

 How has education changed in your country in the last ten years?
 Is a good education more important to a boy or a girl? Why?

The focus of education

 How well do you think schools prepare young people for working life?
 Do you think schools should teach subjects like art, music and dancing? Why (not)?

Education and technology

 How important is it for schools to have computers for their students?

 Is the Internet a valuable educational tool?
 Adventure

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe an exciting experience in your life.

You should say:

 when the experience took place

 where the experience took place
 what happened exactly

and explain why the experience was so exciting.

Part 3

Safety and danger

 In what ways is life becoming safer, and in what ways is it becoming more
dangerous?
 Should people always avoid danger, or is it a good idea sometimes to take risks?

Taking risks

 What risks should people try to avoid?

 Do you think people take fewer risks as they grow older? Why (not)?

Adventure

 How important is it to have adventure in our lives?

 What do people learn about themselves from having adventures?

Newspapers

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.
 Describe a newspaper or magazine you enjoy reading.

You should say:

 what kind of newspaper or magazine it is, e.g. fashion

 how often you buy it
 what articles and information it contains

and explain why you enjoy reading it.

Part 3

Attitudes to newspapers

 In what ways are newspapers better for learning about the news than listening to the
radio or watching television?
 Do you think newspapers should be completely free to say whatever they want?

Tastes in reading

 What do people enjoy reading in your country?

 Do you think it is important for people to read a lot? Why (not)?

Public and private lives

 What sort of stories do newspapers and magazines publish about well-known or

famous people in your country?
 Do you think the media should be allowed to publish stories about the private lives of
public figures?

Sport

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe an exciting competition or sporting event you have witnessed.

You should say:

 what the competition or sporting event was

 when and where it took place
 who won

and explain why it was exciting.

Part 3

Sport & Health

 What do you do to keep fit?

 Are you good at sport?
 What sports do you play?
 What is the most popular sport in your country?
 What are the best ways to keep fit?
 Do you think most people consider exercise a chore or do they find it fun?
 What is the most popular form of exercise in your country?
 Do you think people in your country are less healthy than they used to be?
 How can we encourage young people to stay healthy?
 Should governments intervene to force people to be healthier?

IELTS Speaking : Successful Family Member

IELTS Speaking

1) The format of the test is as follows:

In the first part of the interview you will be asked questions about yourself and familiar

topics. In the second part you will be given a card with a topic and some prompts. You will
have one minute to prepare this topic and then you will talk about it for one to two minutes.
In the last part the examiner will develop this topic into a more abstract discussion. You will
be asked for your opinions and ideas on related issues.

2) Try to talk as much and as fluently as possible. In the actual test, do not let concern about
accuracy obstruct fluency.

3) Do not prepare specific answers: they will not be useful and they will make it more
difficult for you to do a good interview.

4) Relax, be confident and enjoy using your English.

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.
 Describe the member of your family who is the most successful.

You should say:

 who this person is

 how often you see each other
 what this person does

and explain why he/she is successful.

 Model answer

I think that the person who is the most successful in my family would be my father. I think
also that the answer to the question ‘Who is the most successful person in your family?’
basically depends on what you think ‘success’ means, so, my answer is in the context of
working life, rather than personal life. And that's why I've chosen my dad. He has a job that is
rewarding. He feels like he's accomplishing something, that is obviously personally and
professionally satisfying, but he also feels like he's contributing to society in a positive way,
which is a quality that a lot of jobs these days seem to lack and is something that I gauge
success on.

It's a bit hard to explain exactly what he does, but basically he works for a charitable
organisation that runs retirement homes for old people, especially old people who haven't got
much money. It's a management job, but working in a context which is really worthwhile.

His success is due to a lot of different things basically ... finding the right job for him, one
that suited him and his personality as well as his qualifications, and the goals that he wants to
reach in his working life. But he's also just worked hard over a lot of years, which means that
it's more likely that he'll be successful, I guess, if success comes from hard work, which it
often does.

I see my dad very regularly, about once a week. We often eat breakfast together before we go
to our respective workplaces, so, yes, I think that I'd have to say he was the most successful
because he enjoys what he does, as well as making a decent living out of it and I admire that
in him. I think that in a work context this is what success means.

IELTS Speaking : Free Time

 What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

 How much time do you have each week for doing these things?
 Why do you like doing these activities?
 How did you start doing this activity at first?
 Is there some other hobby or sport you would like to try? Why?
 How has the way people spend their free time changed over the years?
Test Tip
If you didn't hear properly, you can say:
- Sorry, I didn't catch that.
- Could you repeat the question, please?

If there's a word that you don't understand, you can say:

- Could you repeat X, please?
- What does X mean?

Model answer 1

Well, I do quite a lot of sport actually. I go swimming twice a week. There’s a very good pool
just around the corner from my office. I swim for an hour and do about 40 lengths. I also
cycle to work when I can. Apart from that, I do a lot of reading and photography.

Model answer 2

When I was younger, I did a lot of surfing. I used to go snowboarding quite often too in the
winter. But I haven’t been for a long time, although I might go this year with some friends.
These days I go cycling when I can. At the weekends I like to cook and invite friends around
for dinner. I’m a big fan of cooking programs, and often try to copy the recipes, but they
don’t always turn out very well.

Model answer 3

I don’t have a lot of time to myself now that I’m married with two young children. So, a lot
of my free time is used taking my kids to their activities. For example, on Saturday morning,
I have to take my son to his basketball games, and my daughter to football practice. Then I
have to ship them off to parties or friends’ houses. Two or three times a month, my wife and I
go for a meal with friends, and once a month, we go the cinema when my parents look after
the kids. There’s a great little cinema that shows independent or foreign films just near where
we live.

Model answer 4

I have tennis lessons with a group of friends at the weekend. There are eight of us, four moms
and dads and four kids. The idea was that the lessons would give us the chance to do
something sporty with our children, and it’s great. The teacher is really good and we all have
a fantastic time. Plus, we’re getting better at tennis. Best of all, after an hour of tennis, the
kids go off to play, and we can have a drink and a chat. Now, that’s my idea of playing sport.
Apart from that, I also go out bowling once a month.
Model answer 5

I play golf at the weekend. I get up really early on Sunday and play for about five hours with
some friends from work. While I’m out, my husband prepares lunch which is usually ready
by the time I get back. Apart from that, I play online video games and read a lot. Also, I go
for a drink after work every Friday with my work colleagues. There’s a pub nearby and we
usually stay there for a couple of hours, which is good fun.

IELTS Speaking : Family Tradition

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe your favourite family tradition.

You should say:

 what the tradition is

 when it occurs
 what you do

and explain why it is your favourite tradition.

Test Tip
For Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking exam, you will be given a task card, a pencil and some
paper and you will have one minute to prepare.

1) Use this minute to make notes that will help you to keep talking for two minutes.
2) Read the task card carefully and identify the different prompts you should talk about.
3) Use clear signals when you move on from one prompt to the next.

Model answer

My favourite family tradition is most certainly Thanksgiving, which is celebrated on the

fourth Thursday in November. Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday. Actually, everyday
should be a day of Thanksgiving. My family loves to celebrate this holiday.

It is a yearly tradition for our family to gather at my grandma’s house for Thanksgiving. I
always look forward to this event. My cousins and other family members that I do not get to
see often are there. My grandma and other family members prepare a big meal. There is
always plenty for everyone. The main thing is of course the turkey. I like turkey, especially
the legs. My uncle never eats turkey. He says it is an ugly bird, and he doesn’t want to eat it.
 When I was younger, I would always want to get the wishbone and break it. We also have
sides to go along with the turkey. Everyone loves my grandma’s mashed potatoes. We also
have rolls, dressing, cranberry sauce, and yams. Then, for dessert we have fresh pumpkin pie
with whipped cream. Before we eat everyone always gathers around the table and someone
says the blessing.

Thanksgiving is always a good time of fellowship and bonding for my family. We usually
watch some of the parade on television or a football game. Sometimes after everyone is done
eating, we play card games like Rook. You can see why this is a favorite tradition for me and
my family. I wish we could do it more often.

IELTS Speaking : Describing Places

IELTS Speaking Tip

Listen carefully to the examiner’s questions to make sure that you answer them fully and
appropriately. Don’t be too shy to ask for help in the interview if you need it.

Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a place that you enjoy visiting.

You should say:

 where the place is

 what you can see and do there
 how it has changed since you first visited it

and explain why you enjoy visiting this place.

 Model answer

A place that I enjoy visiting is Prague. It’s the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic,
with a population of nearly 2 million. It lies in the north-west of the country, in the centre of
the Bohemian region, which is a green and lush part of Czech Republic.

There is lots to do in Prague. It has several universities, so first and foremost it’s a fantastic
place to be a student. It’s buzzing, with a good nightlife, good restaurants and a lively cultural
life. In fact, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a cultural and economic centre of
central Europe a few years back.
 If you climb up to the hill overlooking the old town, you have an amazing view of the city.
What strikes me most when I go up there is all the traditional, pale buildings with their red
roofs, and then right in the middle of it all, a remarkable piece of art and engineering, the
Charles Bridge. It is one of the most loved attractions in Prague that crosses the Vltava River.
It was built between the 14th and 15th centuries and connects Prague Castle with the Old
Town. Today you can walk across it and find many souvenir stalls or have your caricature
drawn. There are many statues on the bridge and some people think that if you touch the
statue of St John of Nepomuk you will receive good luck and return to Prague soon.

The last time I went to Prague, they were having a wine festival. People were tasting all kinds
of wines from stalls on the street, very informally and chatting with friends while they drank.
It was wonderful.

How has it changed since I first visited it? Well, I would say it has undoubtedly become more
trendy. Like I say, they have built a stunning new museum. Another example is “the Lennon
Wall”, a monument of recent vintage: It is a wall covered in graffiti and pictures inspired by
John Lennon and the Beatles. People have been drawing on the wall since the 1980s and they
continue to do so today. I would say the local inhabitants have become more overtly proud of
their city too. It has received quite a bit of recognition in recent times, which has really
placed Prague well and truly on the cultural map; something the inhabitants are always happy
to talk to you about. In fact, that is something else I enjoy about going there: the local people
are invariably friendly and helpful.

When did you last go to Prague?

I last went there the year before last. I wish I could go more often, but unfortunately work
commitments mean I can’t.

IELTS Speaking : Childhood

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a happy childhood memory.

You should say:

 when and where the incident you remember happened

 who you were with
 what happened exactly

and explain why it is a happy memory.

IELTS Speaking Tip

To get maximum benefit all the practice should be done without preparing your answers.
You will not know exactly what the examiner is going to ask or exactly how he or she will
ask it. You need to be spontaneous, to speak as naturally and fluently as possible. The aim
of this practice section is to help you to prepare for the type of questions you will get and to
practise dealing with them without preparing specific answers. It is important to keep to
this for two reasons. First, the examiner will notice if you are repeating something you have
learned and will stop you. Second, though it may seem difficult at first, it will actually make
the test easier for you if you relax and talk naturally rather than trying to remember a ready-
made answer. So the first and most important skill is talking fluently.
The only way to improve your fluency is by getting a lot of practice in speaking. Be
confident. Think about what you want to say. Of course you should try to get your English
right, but do not worry too much about getting everything absolutely correct. The important
thing is that you should speak and listen, that you should engage in an extended interview
with the examiner and that you should enjoy using your English to communicate with an
English speaker. Most of the exercises in this section are designed to increase your fluency.
 Model answer

I grew up very far from most of my family so I only saw them once a year. Every summer I
would go to stay with them, while my parents continued working. Although I missed my
parents, I used to really enjoy spending time with my grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.
I spent all summer there, nearly two whole months, so from time to time my cousins and I
would get bored. We would ask my grandparents if they had any ideas for interesting things
we could do. Sometimes they suggested going for a bike ride, sometimes into town to do
some shopping. At other times, they showed us a new game to play. Then we were happy
again.

One day - it must be about 30 years ago (doesn't time fly!) - all of us got really, really bored
and we kept complaining to my grandparents. They were tearing their hair out, trying to think
up ideas of where we could go and what we could do. Suddenly, my granddad came up with
the idea of going to a new water park that had opened that summer. I hadn't heard about it but
my cousins had, and they told me all about it. It was a park with vast numbers of different
pools, some inside, some outside. There were water slides as well. And, on top of there was
not one, but two playgrounds with swings, a merry-go-round, see-saws. We were so excited.

We set off and on the way we were all singing songs and laughing. We couldn't wait to get
there. When we arrived, my cousins and I ran into the park and changed into our swimming
costumes. Then we went looking for the most exciting-looking pool, and we found it, one
with brightly coloured tiles and slides, we jumped straight in. We played all day in the park
and had a lovely lunch, sat on some benches in the sunshine.

My granddad loved a pool that was filled with spa water. It was dark brown and stank of
rotten eggs. I didn't want to go in but he eventually convinced me. I'm pleased he did because
the water was really warm. I'd never swam in water that warm. I didn't want to get out,
despite the terrible smell.

I consider it such a happy memory because we enjoyed ourselves so much and I remember so
vividly how I felt that day. But there's more to it than just that. When I look back now, I
understand how caring my grandparents were and how much they wanted us all to be happy.
They would have done anything to help us have a good time. I appreciate that more now that
I'm older and have children of my own. I hope we thanked them; I can't remember. But,
anyway, they were content, I'm sure, to just watch us have an amazing time, playing and
laughing in the water. So, as you can see, it was a wonderful day and is one of my favourite
childhood memories.

What other activity did you use to enjoy when you were staying with your family?
I loved going for walks in the local park. There were people selling all kinds of delicious
foods from carts, so my grandparents would invariably buy us some treat, like homemade ice-
cream or cakes.

Home Town Questions

 Where do you live?

 What part of your country do you come from?
 What nationality are you?
 Can you describe your city / home town / village?
 Can you describe where you live?
 What other countries have you visited?
 What do you like about where you live?
 What do you find difficult about living in your home town?
 What town or city do you come from?
 What type of restaurants are there in your city / town / village?
 Do you like shopping? How are the shopping centres in your home town?
 How are the people in your home town?
 What do the majority of people do to make a living in your home town?
 Do you live in the capital of your country?
 How long have you lived here?
 Is the place you live a nice place? What's it like?
 Are you here (in your host country) alone?
 Do you like living in this country / your home town?
 What do most teenagers like doing in your country?
 When did you set up house?
 Have you met your next-door neighbours yet?
 Is there a supermarket in the neighbourhood (where you live)?
 Are you a native of Aberdeen?
 Would you like to move house to a bigger area?
 Can you get along with your neighbours?
 When did you settle in this town?
 What are some of the problems of urban life?
 Would you like to be inhabitant of a small village?
 Which part of town do you live in?
 Have you ever lived in the suburbs?
 Do you like living in the centre of a big city?
 What social problems do you think we have in your society?
 How do you define a good society?
 Do you consider your home town as a cultural spot?
  What are the cultural values of your country?
 Do you like living in a multicultural society?
 How do you define a traditional society?
 What makes an advanced industrial society?
 Do you belong to a very close community who would find it difficult to accept too
many newcomers?
 Are there many different social classes of people in your country?
 Do most people in your country own their house? Why (not)?
 Is it easy to find accommodation in your home town?
 What kind of place are you living in at the moment?
 Who do you live with and why?
 Are there any advantages of living where you are at present? What are they?
 Can you describe your study room / bedroom to me?

IELTS Speaking : Home Town

1. We left home and set up house together in another part of town. (informal)
(begin to live independently in a house)

2. The first thing you must do is to find some accommodation.

(somewhere to live or stay)

3. The town has 20000 inhabitants.

(people who lives in a country, town, etc.)

4. Are you resident in the UK?

(If your home is in a particular country, town, etc. you are a resident of that place)

5. I haven't met my next-door neighbour.

(a person who lives in the house nearest to yours)

6. I am native of London.

(a person who was born in a particular place)

7. If you get lost, ask one of the locals.

(a person who lives in a particular place)

8. Homelessness is a growing problem in inner-city areas.

(the condition of being homeless)

9. A lot of people / homeless sleep rough / live rough in cardboard boxes.

(you sleep outside because you have no home)

10. The families were evicted for not paying the rent.

(to force a person to leave the building or land where they live)

11. We're moving house next week.

(you go and live in another house)
12. We must vacate the flat by the end of the year.
(you stop living in a house and take your belongings away)

13. We haven't met the people who have moved in next door.

(you bring your belongings to a new house and being to live in it)

14. We have got used to a better standard of living.

(the level of money and comfort that people have in their everyday lives)

15. Some people live on bread and water.

(to have something as your only food)

16. In most big towns, there is a commercial centre.

(an area with lots of banks and company offices)

Some useful words to describe cities

17. People who prefer the countryside to big towns often say towns are noisy, dirty and
polluted, stressful, and crowded; however, the countryside is quiet and peaceful, clean;
calm and relaxing, and has lots of open space and is safe.
People who prefer big towns have a different point of view. They say, in towns, there are
plenty of things to do, and life is exciting; there is a wide range of shops and lots of night -
life; however, in the countryside, there's nothing to do; it's boring, and there are only a few
shops; there's no night-life.

18. Every day, particularly in the rush-hour, we are / get stuck in a traffic jam.
(the times each day when there is a lot of traffic because people are travelling to or from
work; not able to move because of heavy traffic)

19. The streets get so packed with traffic that travel is very slow or even comes to
a standstill.
(extremely crowded; a situation in which there is no movement or activity at all)

20. This is really stressful for commuters who travel to work in the town..

(someone who travels a long distance to work every day)

21. Vandalism is one of the major problems of big cities.

(the crime of deliberately damaging things, especially public property)

22. He grew up in the East London slums.

(a house or an area of a city that is in a very bad condition and is poor)

23. A picturesque new England village in the fall.

(pretty and interesting, especially in an old-fashioned way)

24. These are a lot of historic buildings in the village.

(old)
25. I've had a pretty hectic social life.
(very busy or full of activity)

26. In big towns, you can see a continual bustle of people coming and going.
(energetic activity)

27. It is a run-down inner-city area.

(an area that is in a very bad condition)

28. A lot of people are moving out of rural areas to urban areas.

(connected with a village: connected with a town or city)

29. It's a city of six million inhabitants / citizens.

(a person who lives in a town or city)

30. The (whole) town was on the streets.

(the people who live in a town or city)

31. We're moving downtown.
(to or in the centre of a city)

32. Which part of town district do you live in?

(an area of a town)

33. Many people live in the suburbs and travel to work in the centre of town.

(an area of a town where people live, outside the centre)

34. I live on the outskirts of Bradford.

(the parts of a town or city that are farthest from the centre)

35. We lived on the other side of the square.

(an open space in a town or city that has buildings all around it)

Family Questions

 Do you live in a big or small family?

 Would you like to live in a big family?
 What do your family do?
 Do you live with your parents?
 Would you like to spend more time with your family?
 What family members do you live with?
 What does your family usually do at weekends?
 Do you like going out with your family? Why?
 Who would you most like to go on holiday with?
 Can you tell me about your family?
 Now are you enjoying family life?
 Where are your parents from?
  Why anti when did they come here?
 Do you live in a one-parent / single-parent family?
 Who's the breadwinner in your family?
 Do you usually have a family get-together?
 Do you often see your family at weekends?
 Do you have strict parents?
 Are your grandparents alive?
 Do you think your parents are proud of you?
 Who do you like in your family more? Why?
 Can you get along with your parents / brothers and sisters?
 Have you got any step-brothers or sisters?
 Who does your brother / sister take after?
 What's your brother like?
 Do you know the family next door?
 What's the relationship between you and Mr. Watson?
 Where does your mum work?
 Do you live by yourself or with your family?
 Is your family with you?
 What do your parents do for a living?
 Is the generation gap between you and your parents a big problem for you?
 Are your grandparents still alive? Can you tell me about them?
 Are you married? What does your husband / wife do?
 Are you happy with the life you have with your husband wife?
 Can you get along with your in-law?
 Do you agree with arranged marriages?
 What do you think of polygamy?
 Where and when did you get married Do you remember how you felt at that time?
 How would you describe your lifestyle?
 Do you have any English speaking friends?
 Do you live close to your family? Can you tell me about your fame members?

IELTS Speaking : Family

Exam tip

 Some words in English are more formal or more appropriate for formal writing.
 Other words in English are less formal or more appropriate for speaking.
 Avoid slang expressions, for example: Creative writing is  really cool.
 Avoid very formal expressions or words which are more appropriate for writing, for
example: My aforementioned interest in creative writing lasted for six months.
1I live in a one-parent family / single-parent family.(a family where the children live with
only one parent)
2I really enjoy my family life.(the way a family lives)
3I come from a big family of eight children.(the group of people who are related to you)
4I grew up on a farm.(develop from being a child to being an adult)
5I grew up knowing that my elder brother would take over the family business one day.(the
job your parents and probably your grandparents used to do)
6Nuclear family(a family consisting of mother, father and their children)
7Extended family(all the people in a family including aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.)
8Family background(the sort of family you come from)
9She's / he's family (informal)(used to say that someone is related to you)
10A large household(all the people who live in one house)
11My domestic life isn't very happy.(connected with the private family home)
12I live on my own. I haven't got any family.(the group of people who are related to one
another)
13We've got the same name but are not related.(the way you are connected)
14He lives with us, but he's not related / unrelated.(a person who is not a member of your
family)
15He is a close / distant relative of mine.(near or not in a family relationship)
16I really take after my mother.(to look like or be like a parent or older member of your
family)
17All the men in our family are bald. I support it's hereditary.(a quality which is passed from
parents to children)
18All her children are very artistic. It must run in the family.(something which is passed from
parents to children / a common feature in a family)
19Bringing up / raising children is never easy.(to look after children in a family until they are
adults and to teach them how to behave)
20My parents really tried to give me a good upbringing.(the way somebody is brought up)
21My father recently lost his job, so my mother's the main breadwinner now.(a person who
earns all or most of the money in family)
22I need a job, so I can support my family.(to have enough money to be able to look after a
family)
23I am getting married next year and hope to start a family straight away.(have children)
24My father is really a family man.(a man who enjoys being at home with his wife and
children)
25He's got some fatherly concern and duties.(behaving like a father)
26Motherhood really suits her.(the state of being a mother)
27She is a motherly sort of person.(behaving like a mother)
28Danny is my foster brother.(having different parents, but being brought up in the same
family)
29My step father is a nice man.(the man who is married to your mother but is not your father)
30Paul is my big brother / older / elder brother.(older than you)
31Anna is my little sister / younger sister.(younger than you)
32We're identical twins.(twins who look exactly the same)
33My twin sister is a dentist.(either of the children who have the same parents and are born at
the same time)
34She doesn't get on well with her in-laws.(the parents of your husband or wife)
35 Next of kin(your closest relative, who should be told if you are injured or killed)
36I closely resemble my father.(to be closely similar to, or look like someone)
37You can see the resemblance between Susan and her sister.(a similarity between two
things, especially in the way they look)
38He bears a remarkable resemblance to my father.(to be or look somebody / something else)
39My parents live apart from each other.(if married people decide to separate, then they live
apart)
Job Questions
Vocabulary tip

In the IELTS Speaking exam you need to show that you have a broad vocabulary.

In English there are many words that have the same general meaning; however, they may
have subtly different definitions.

Example: challenge and obstacle can both refer to a difficulty. However, if you use the

word challenge, you imply that you may be able to overcome the difficulty. If you
use obstacle, you imply that the difficulty is harder to overcome.

Learn to distinguish these subtle differences of meaning to express yourself precisely.

 What do you do?

 What's your job?
 What do you do for a living?
 What are your main responsibilities?
 What do you do every day?
 What are your duties?
 What is your daily routine?
 What does your job involve?
 How many people does your firm employ at present?
 Can you have some time off whenever you want?
 Why don't you apply for another job?
 Have you filled in the application form?
 If they offer you a well-paid job, will you take it?
 How much holiday do you get / How many weeks holiday do you get?
 What are normal working hours for most office jobs in your country?
 What kind of jobs get very high salaries in your country?
 What is the minimum amount of income tax you have to pay?
 What jobs often involve shiftwork? Would you like to do one?
 Is flexi-time common in your company?
 What are your working hours?
 Do you do / work any overtime?
 Teachers don't earn very much, do they? Why (not)?
 When were you last promoted?
 Why / When did you apply for this job?
 Why did you take an early retirement?
 Why did you resign?
 Did they give you a lot of training before getting the job from the company?
 Did you do / go on any training courses for this job?
 Have you been promoted since you started in the company?
 Do you normally get a good pay rise at the end of each year?
 How do you feel about your future prospects in the company?
 Are you happy in the job or do you feel is time for a fresh challenge in another
company?
 What exactly are your duties as a nurse?
  Who do you work for?
 Are you usually busy at work?
 What do you find difficult about working there?
 Can you describe your place of work?
 What do you like about your job?
 Do you usually cover for a colleague when he is on leave?
 How do you find visiting a lot of people / clients?
 Who will take your place when you leave? How do you feel about this?
 What kind of jobs are you good at?
 Can you tell me about your boss? What kind of a person is he / she?
 Have you ever had any serious problems at work?
 Do you work at the moment? Tell me about the work you do.
 Have you ever had any other jobs?
 Would you like to do the same job as your mother / father?

ELTS Speaking : Job

Have a look at the phrases and sentences below and practice with a partner. Then with the
help of your partner answer the follow-up questions to test yourself. Remember that these
questions are only sample questions designed to promote your spoken English ability in those
areas and facilitate the task and may not be necessarily the questions being asked in the actual
test.

What you do

1. I'm a / an (+ job).

e.g. a nurse / an accountant / a builder

2. I work in (+ place or general area).

e.g. a hospital / an office marketing / social

3. I work for (+ name / place of the company).

e.g. Union Bank / IBM / Fiat / an international bank

What your job involves

4. I'm in charge of
e.g. a big company

5. I'm responsible for

e.g. some workers in that department

6. I have to deal with

e.g. any complaints / overseas clients, mainly
7. I run
e.g. the company / a restaurant

8. I manage
e.g. a shop in downtown

Daily duties / routines

9. I have to go / attend (formal)

e.g. (to) a lot of meetings / conferences

10. I visit / see / meet

e.g. patients / clients

11. I advise
e.g. people / clients and give them help...

12. It involves
e.g. writing letters / filling in forms / doing a lot of paperwork / using computers a lot of the
time

Getting a job

13. It's not easy to get / find work

e.g. in big cities / round these parts

14. I'd love to do

e.g. marketing / this kind of work

15. It's difficult to make a living as a / an

e.g. freelance writer

16. I've been offered a job

e.g. in that company / in London

17. I've applied for a job

e.g. in a local company / in the accounts department

Working hours

18. I have a nine-to-five job / I work nine-to-five

(regular working hours in Britain)
19. I do / work shift work.
(nights one week, days next)

20. I am on flexi time.

(flexible working hours)

21. I have to do / work overtime.

(work extra hours)

22. I only work part-time / take a part-time job.

(part of a day or a few days a week)

23. I am a workaholic. I work full-time.

(work too much)

24. I took early retirement.

(retire at 55 in Britain)

25. I am on / take sick leave.

(a period spent away from work, etc. because of illness)

26. I am on / take maternity leave.

(expecting a baby)

27. I gave up work
e.g. in order to study

28. I was laid off (informal)

e.g. when the factory went bust

29. I was made redundant.

(no longer needed and therefore out of work)

30. I was dismissed (formal)
e.g. for refusing to obey orders

31. I was fired (informal)
e.g. for always being late

32. I am on / off duty.

(to be working / not working)

Other useful phrases

33. We usually take a break

e.g. for lunch / for ten minutes
34. We normally knock off work (informal)
e.g. about 5:30 p.m. and go off to a restaurant nearby

35. I get some rest.

(a period of time when you relax after working)

36. I was rather inexperienced

e.g. for that kind of work

37. I have a lot of experience

e.g. in this area / of this kind of problem

38. I am sufficiently qualified
e.g. for this position

39. This is a job requiring

(a period of time when you relax after working)

40. I try to be hardworking.

(work hard)

41. I'm quite competent
e.g. at my job

42. I try to work efficiently.

(work quickly without making mistakes and wasting time)

43. Efficiency is very important

e.g. in my job

44. A lot of people do voluntary work.

(you want to do it and you're not paid)

45. I was promoted.
(get a higher position)

46. It is a demanding job.

(needing a lot of effort, care, skill)

47. I fill in for / stand in for / cover for

e.g. her while she is off sick

48. I am acting
e.g. as a manager for the next couple of months

49. I will take the place of

e.g. our manager when he leaves
50. The morning shift takes over from
e.g. the night shift at 9 a.m.

51. It is great teamwork
e.g. that helps get the job done on time

52. We teamed up
e.g. with another group to finish our project

53. We cooperate
e.g. with a German firm on this project

54. I was employed
e.g. as a secretary for a couple of months

55. I do casual work.

(not regular, usually paid hourly)

56. I've got a temporary job

e.g. working in a newspaper office

57. This factory has 200 employees.

(a person who is employed)

58. The staff
e.g. are so polite and friendly

59. They promoted
e.g. me to office manager

60. I'm on leave
e.g. at the moment because...

61. The post has been vacant

e.g. for some time

62. I turned it down.
(to refuse one's offer)

Payment

63. I am paid
e.g. every months and this pay goes directly into my bank account monthly

64. My salary
e.g. is 20.000$ a year
65. I earn
e.g. 200$ a week as a hairdresser

66. With many jobs you get holiday pay and sick pay.

(when you're off duty or ill)

67. I'm going to a pay rise.

(my pay goes up)

68. My average income
e.g. has risen 2% this year

69. I'm poorly paid / badly paid / don't earn much.

(I'm paid very little money)

70. I have a high income / earn a lot / am well-paid.

(I'm paid a lot of money)

71. My take-home pay / net income is 150$.

(money left after deductions)

72. My gross income is more than that.

(before deductions)

Hobby Questions

 What do you like doing in your spare time?

 Have you got a hobby? If so, what is it?
 Is it an expensive hobby in your country?
 What do teenagers like doing in your country?
 What hobbies are usually expensive in your country?
 What do you like about your hobby?
 How much time do you spend on your hobby?
 Is your hobby a common hobby in your country?
 Are there any new hobbies that you would like to take up?
 Have you ever been abroad?
 What other countries have you visited?
 Are there any countries you would like to visit?
 What do you find interesting / difficult about travelling?
 What is your preferred method of travel?
 Who would you like most to go on holiday with?
 What was the best / worst holiday you've ever had?
 How would you like to travel around?
 Are there any games / sports that you watch but don't play / do?
 What games / sports do you play / do?
 What games / sports are you good at?
 Are there any activities that you hate? Why?
  What games are not played much in your country?
 Which sport is the most popular in your country?
 Which sport is the most dangerous in your opinion?
 Which game or sport requires the most strength?
 Which sport has the biggest crowds in your country?
 Would you prefer to go to the cinema or theatre?
 How often do you go to the cinema?
 Who's your favourite actor / actress? Why? What do you like about him / her?
 Would you like to be an actor / actress? Why?
 Do you like watching TV?
 What's your favourite newspaper / magazine?
 What do most people do at weekends in your country?
 Would you prefer to stay home and relax or go out with friends at weekends? Why?
 What do you usually do during most flights? Do you always eat the food they give
you?
 Is there anything about flying that frightens or worries you?
 Would you like to have a sightseeing holiday? Where?
 Why do most people go to seaside resorts?
 Have you ever been in a boat when the sea was rough? Were you seasick?
 Imagine you are on holiday, would you prefer to eat in a restaurant or have a picnic in
the open air? Why?
 Would you prefer to stay in a hotel or rent an apartment?
 Would you prefer somewhere quite lively, or somewhere quiet? Why?
 Would you prefer to stay in one place, or would you rather go to different places?
 Are there any special places you like to go when you go out?
 What indoor activities do you enjoy?
 Do you watch much television? What do you like to watch on TV?
 Do you like travelling? What interesting places have you visited?
 What method of transport do you use most and why?

IELTS Speaking : Hobby

IELTS Speaking Tip
Be prepared to talk about your hobbies and how often you do them. Search online or in
language books for texts describing your pastimes. Note down and learn any useful words,
phrases or collocations, and then practise talking about your hobbies with a friend.

Speaking Exam: Part 2

Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a hobby you enjoy.

 You should say:

 how long you have been doing it

 how often you do it
 what benefits you get from it

and explain why you enjoy it.

1. I've joined a club where I can play chess.
(become a member of a club)

2. I'm a philatelist. I collect all sorts of stamps.

(a person who collects stamps for pleasure)

3. I often go camping in the summer.

(to live in a camp or outdoors)

4. I do a bit of / a lot of climbing.

(go mountain climbing)

5. I make my own clothes.

(I make clothes for myself. I don't buy them.)

6. I like photography.
(the skill or process of taking photographs)

7. I'm mad about DIY. I think this is a very good hobby for people who have a house
but don't have much money.
(do it yourself; the activity of making and repairing things yourself around your home)

8. I took up golf when I was at school.

(to start a hobby for the first time)

9. I gave up photography.
(to stop doing a hobby)

10. I collect antiques. I really enjoy going round the shops looking for a bargain.
(you collect stamps, coins, antiques)

11. I try to practice playing the guitar every day.

(to make music with a musical instrument)

12. I usually go jogging two or three times a week.

(run slowly, especially as a form of exercise)
13. I took up hiking because I wanted to get more exercise.
(a long walk in the country)

14. I don't really do anything in my spare time.

(time when you are not working)

15. In winter, I do quite a lot of skiing.

(in English you normally do a lot of / a bit of sport)

16. In summer, I play tennis and cricket.

(in English you normally play a game)

Holiday making

17. My aunt is a great traveler: she's been to every country in Europe.

(a person who is travelling or who often travels)

18. We toured / went / were on a tour round the United States last summer.

(to make a journey for pleasure during which you visit many places)

19. I will be going overseas in my new job.

(to travel to another country across the sea)

20. The island's economy is heavily dependent on tourism.

(the business of providing Holidays for people)

21. We went on an excursion to the mountains.

(an organized trip with a group of people)

22. I'm not taking any holiday / vacation

(time when you do not go to work for a special reason)

23. I'm taking a short break and going to my sister's for a few days.

(a short period of time when you do not work)

24. You look exhausted. You should take a few days off and relax.

(not present at work)

25. I can't come I'm afraid. I'm on holiday / off that week.

(to leave your home and go somewhere else for a holiday)

26. We're only going away or a few days.

(to live the place where you leave at least one night)

27. We've booked two weeks in Australia in July.

(to reserve and pay for a holiday before you go)
28. They run a small resort hotel in Vermont.
(a place where a lot of people go on holiday)

29. I brought a model of the Eiffel Tower as a souvenir of Paris.

(something that you buy on holiday [for your friend] as a reminder of that place)

30. We travelled overland to Delhi and then flew on to Singapore.

(by road or rail)

31. The voyage from England to India used to take six months.

(a long journey by sea)

32. We decided to go cruising in the Mediterranean.

(to travel by sea, visiting a number of places as a holiday)

33. We take / get / catch the train / bus, to Leeds and then got a bus to where she lives.
(to travel to a place by train, bus, plane)

34. We headed for / made for (informal) the town centre.

(to travel towards somewhere)

35. We stopped off in Paris en route to Nice.

(on the way to somewhere)

36. The travel agent suggested some changes to my itinerary.

(a plan of a journey, route, etc.)

37. One of the most famous landmarks in London is Nelson's Column.

(an object especially a building, that can be seen from a distance)

38. We had been on the move for twenty four hours and were absolutely exhausted.
(to be travelling)

39. We made a stopover at Frankfurt on the way to Tokyo.

(a short stop on a journey)

40. I'm learning Spanish, just for fun.

(you do something for enjoyment and pleasure)

41. I think I get more pleasure out of doing my garden than anything else.

(the feeling of being happy)

42. Let your hair down (informal) for once!

(to allow yourself to enjoy something freely, without worrying about what other people think)

43. We had the time of our lives.

(to enjoy something very much)
44. There isn't much entertainment for young people in this town.
(things to do that interest and amuse people)

45. I had a great time last night.

(to get pleasure from doing something)

46. I have to amuse myself for a few hours while I waited for her to arrive.
(to keep yourself entertained)

Study Questions

 What are you studying?

 Do you have higher education?
 What do you like about your studies?
 How often do you use English?
 What languages can you speak?
 What subject would you like to study at university?
 When does the academic year begin?
 Have you ever lectured at university? Can you tell me about it?
 Have you ever done a research? What was your research on?
 What's your field of study?
 What do you find difficult about your field of study?
 What do you like about it?
 What subjects will you take when you go to university?
 Which courses are you doing this term?
 How do you find them?
 How's your course going?
 How many modules does the course consist of?
 How many other credits do you need to complete this course?
 Do you think you're going to do them successfully?
 Which exams do you usually find difficult?
 Do you need to do well in your assignments during the course?
 Do they count towards your final degree?
 Have you started writing your thesis? What's it about?
 Do you have to give a seminar paper during the term?
 When have you got to hand in your essays?
 What marks did you use to get at university?
 Have you ever won a university scholarship?
 What are your future plans after graduation?
 What are you majoring in?
 Have you got any other diplomas or degrees?
 Which subject did you study at university?
 Are there many people with expertise in your field in the country?
 Can you tell me about the education system in your country?
 What types of school are there in your country?
 What different exams must students take in your country?
 What's the reason you're taking this exam?
 Are you studying now? Describe the course you are studying?
  What do you most dislike about your study / course?
 What are the best things about where you study?

IELTS Speaking : Study

1. The government wants to make it possible for most people to g onto higher education.
(education at a university)

2. He went to Oxford University, but I don’t know which college he was at.
(an independent institution which has its own teachers, students, and buildings)

3. I’m in the department of sociology.

(one of the parts into which a university is divided)

4. You should start revising for your exam as soon as possible. Any delay will result in
vital time being lost.
(to read or study again something that you have learnt, especially when preparing for an
exam)

5. The candidate paced nervously up and down waiting to be called for the interview.

(a person who is taking an exam)

6. Unless you pull your socks up, you've got no chance of passing the exam.
(to achieve necessary standard in an exam, test, etc.)

7. He is the dean of the Arts Faculty.

(the head of a faculty [a group of related departments in a university])

8. The academic year begins in October.

(the part of a year at university when students have classes and exams)

9. They’re advertising a lectureship in the Sociology Department.

(the position of a lecturer)

10. I've just been appointed to the chair of/professorship of European History.

(the position of a professor)

11. She's giving a series of lectures on molecular biology.

(to talk to a group of people on a particular subject)

12. All the students have to give a seminar paper at least once.

(a talk which is given for a seminar)

13. She was my tutor at Durham.

(a person who teaches a small group of students)

14. My dissertation is being supervised by professor Holroyd.

(to work as a supervisor)
15. I’m not happy with the supervision I’m getting.
(when you supervise someone)

16. I'm doing some research into animal behavior.

(to study something carefully and in detail)

17. I'm a university student.
(a person who is studying at a college or university)

18. I'm doing an undergraduate course.

(a student who has not yet taken his or her first degree)

19. They have brought new computer facilities for the postgraduates in the department.
(a student who is studying for a second degree at a university)

20. I'm planning to spend a year abroad before I go to university.

(to attend universe y regularly as a student)

21. I got a place ace at Manchester University.

(an opportunity to study at university)

22. I live in hall.
(to live in a hall of residence [university building where some students live])

23. This course consists of six modules.

(a part of a course [a complete series of lessons or classes])

24. I need another four credits to complete this course.

(a part of a course that a student has completed and that appears on his / her record)

25. I have to take a Maths exam.

(to take a written, spoken, or practical test of what you know or can do)

26. I have to hand in an essay on biology.

(a short piece of writing on one subject)

27. You need to do well in your assignments as well as in the exam.

(a piece of work that you are given to do by university teachers which counts towards your
final degree)

28. I'm writing my thesis at the moment.

(a long piece of writing on something which you have studied or researched, especially as
part of a university degree)

29. I've got a degree in psychology.

(a qualification gained by successfully completing an academic course at a university)

30. I'm majoring in English.
(to study something as your main subject at college or University)
31. I've got a diploma in hotel management.
(a qualification of a lower level than a degree)

32. I'm a graduate in engineering.

(a person who holds a (first) degree from a university)

33. I graduated in History from Sussex University.

(to receive an academic degree or diploma)

34. After graduation, I plan to do a postgraduate degree.

(the time when you complete a university degree course)

35. I've got an upper second in politics from Surrey University.

(grades for a university degree in Britain: first (class), (upper) second (class), third (class)
e.g.: a first class honours degree)

36. I've got an MA (Master of Arts) in English literature.

(a degree taken after a first degree in an arts subject)

37. MSc (Master of Science)
(a degree taken after a first degree in a science subject)

38. BA (Bachelor of Arts)
(a first university degree in an arts subject)

39. BSc (Bachelor of Science)
(a first degree in a science subject)

40. PhD, Dphill (Doctor-of Philosophy) / (doctorate)

(the highest university degree e.g. to get a PhD, to work for a doctorate)

41. I'm hoping to get a student grant.

(money that is given (by the government) to help you for a university or college education)

42. She's won a scholarship, to study music.

(an amount of money that is given to a person who has passed an exam or won a competition
in order to help pay for their studies)

43. He started university but dropped out after two years.

(to leave university without finishing your studies)

44. I'll have to read up on (informal) the third chapter for my exam.

(to read a lot about something so that you learn about it)

45. I did (informal) Archaeology for two years at university.

(to study a particular subject)

46. I'm afraid I don't know much about that. It isn't my field.

(a general area of study or knowledge)
47. There are a lot of people with expertise in this field.
(special knowledge or skill which a person has)

48. She specializes in family law.

(to give most of your attention to one subject)

49. I've done a study of modern American society.

(a piece of scientific research into a particular subject)

50. I've collected a lot of statistics relating to air pollution.

(information about something in the form of numbers)

51. We are gathering data on graduates without jobs.

(facts or information used in research)

52. Data collection has already finished; I'm doing the analysis now.

(studying or thinking about the different parts or details of something in order to understand it
better)

53. The theory needs to be tested by experiment.

(a thorough test using scientific methods to discover how someone or something reacts under
certain conditions)

54. Joule carried out / performed a series of simple experiments to test his theory.

(to do a task or something)

IELTS Speaking : Free Time

 What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

 How much time do you have each week for doing these things?
 Why do you like doing these activities?
 How did you start doing this activity at first?
 Is there some other hobby or sport you would like to try? Why?
 How has the way people spend their free time changed over the years?

Test Tip
If you didn't hear properly, you can say:
- Sorry, I didn't catch that.
- Could you repeat the question, please?

If there's a word that you don't understand, you can say:

- Could you repeat X, please?
- What does X mean?

Model answer 1
Well, I do quite a lot of sport actually. I go swimming twice a week. There’s a very good pool
just around the corner from my office. I swim for an hour and do about 40 lengths. I also
cycle to work when I can. Apart from that, I do a lot of reading and photography.

Model answer 2

When I was younger, I did a lot of surfing. I used to go snowboarding quite often too in the
winter. But I haven’t been for a long time, although I might go this year with some friends.
These days I go cycling when I can. At the weekends I like to cook and invite friends around
for dinner. I’m a big fan of cooking programs, and often try to copy the recipes, but they
don’t always turn out very well.

Model answer 3

I don’t have a lot of time to myself now that I’m married with two young children. So, a lot
of my free time is used taking my kids to their activities. For example, on Saturday morning,
I have to take my son to his basketball games, and my daughter to football practice. Then I
have to ship them off to parties or friends’ houses. Two or three times a month, my wife and I
go for a meal with friends, and once a month, we go the cinema when my parents look after
the kids. There’s a great little cinema that shows independent or foreign films just near where
we live.

Model answer 4

I have tennis lessons with a group of friends at the weekend. There are eight of us, four moms
and dads and four kids. The idea was that the lessons would give us the chance to do
something sporty with our children, and it’s great. The teacher is really good and we all have
a fantastic time. Plus, we’re getting better at tennis. Best of all, after an hour of tennis, the
kids go off to play, and we can have a drink and a chat. Now, that’s my idea of playing sport.
Apart from that, I also go out bowling once a month.

Model answer 5

I play golf at the weekend. I get up really early on Sunday and play for about five hours with
some friends from work. While I’m out, my husband prepares lunch which is usually ready
by the time I get back. Apart from that, I play online video games and read a lot. Also, I go
for a drink after work every Friday with my work colleagues. There’s a pub nearby and we
usually stay there for a couple of hours, which is good fun.