Essential to the

IELTS
Student’s Book

The Speaking Module

 INTRODUCTION TO THE IELTS TEST

Background

If you’re preparing to take the IELTS test, you’re not alone. Over two million people all over the
world take the test each year. A knowledge of English is increasingly important for people who
want to study abroad, or work in countries where English is the first language, and IELTS is widely
recognised by universities and colleges, professional bodies, employers, immigration authorities
and other government agencies. You can find a list of over 9,000 organisations which recognise
the test on the IELTS website at www.ielts.org.

Academic and General Training tests

There are two versions of IELTS, Academic and General Training (or GT). When you enrol, you can
choose which version you want to take.

You should take IELTS Academic if you want to study abroad, for example an undergraduate or
postgraduate course at a university where the teaching is in English. You should take the General
Training version if you intend to live and work in an English-speaking country and need to show
the migration authorities that you have the required level of English.

Your teacher can advise you on the version which is appropriate for you, or you can contact the
organisation you intend to apply to and find out which one they require.

The Test
There are four parts to the test: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, and you must take
them all. The total test time is two hours and 45 minutes The tests of Listening and Speaking
are the same for all candidates, but the tests of Reading and Writing are different depending on
whether you chose the Academic or General Training versions. You do the Listening, Reading and
Writing tests on the same day, and usually the Speaking test is done a few days before or after the
other components.

The test is administered very frequently, typically once or twice each month, and you can find your
local centre and information about how to register for the test on the IELTS website at www.ielts.
org.

Scoring
IELTS assesses your language knowledge and skills and gives you a Band Score from 1 to 9 in each
of the four parts of the test, and also an overall Band Score from 1 to 9 for the whole exam, which
is an average of the scores for each part. There is no pass or fail in IELTS because the college,
university or organisation you’re applying to will tell you the Band Score you need to achieve.

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 IELTS BAND SCORES

Band 9: Expert user

Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete
understanding.
Band 8: Very good user

Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and
inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed
argumentation well.

Band 7: Good user

Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriaces
and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and
understands detailed reasoning.

Band 6: Competent user

Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies
and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar
situations.

Band 5: Modest user

Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is
likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.

Band 4: Limited user

Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and
expression. Is not able to use complex language.
Band 3: Extremely limited user
Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in
communication occur.
Band 2: Intermittent user
No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words
or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty
understanding spoken and written English.
Band 1: Non-user

Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.

Band 0: Did not attempt the test

No assessable information provided.

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4 Essential to the IELTS
 The Speaking

Module

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 ABOUT THE SPEAKING TEST
A The Test
Speaking Description Time
Part 1 Introduction and interview 4-5 minutes
Part 2 Individual Long Turn 1-2 minutes
Part 3 Two-way discussion 4-5 minutes
The IELTS Speaking Test is designed to test your
ability to use spoken English effectively. You’re
given an interview time and the interview takes
place in a room where you sit down at a table
for a face-to-face interview with the examiner.
You don’t need to bring anything with you to
the test, except for the identification documents
required by the regulations. The test is recorded
so that it can be checked later if necessary.
The Speaking test lasts for approximately 11 to 14
minutes and has three parts. Each part gives you
the chance to demonstrate your English speaking
skills in different ways.
Part 1 lasts for 4 to 5 minutes. The examiner asks
you questions about your daily life and other
everyday topics.
Part 2 lasts for 1 to 2 minutes. You speak at length
about a topic that the examiner gives you.
Part 3 lasts for 4 to 5 minutes. You have a
discussion with the examiner.
Part 1
At the beginning of the interview, the examiner
asks for your name and checks your identity. He
or she then begins Part 1 by asking you a series
of questions on different topics. These questions
are related to everyday subjects such as work,
study, hobbies, likes and dislikes, the weather,
and so on. You should give full answers, for
example explaining your reasons for liking or
disliking things. When you’ve said enough on
a topic, the examiner will move on to the next
question.
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Part 2
In Part 2 of the test, the examiner gives you a
task card. On the card, you see the topic that
you’re going to talk about in this part of the test.
You have to talk on your own for between one
and two minutes on this topic, and you have
one minute to prepare before you begin. There
are also some bullet points on the card. These
give you some ideas about what to include in
your talk. You’re also given some paper and a
pencil, so that you can make some notes in the
preparation time.
The topics for Part 2 are also familiar everyday
ones, and there should be plenty to say about
the topic you’re given. For example, it could be
a holiday you enjoyed, or something you want
to buy. The examiner gives you one minute’s
preparation time to think about what you
want to say before you start talking. Use the
bullet points to help you prepare and structure
your talk. When the preparation time is up,
the examiner asks you to start speaking, and
then lets you speak on your own for up to two
minutes without interrupting you. When the time
is up, the examiner stops you, asks a question to
‘round off’ and collects the task card and paper
and pencil from you.
Part 3
In Part 3 of the test, the examiner starts a
discussion with you which is related to the
topic that you’ve spoken about in Part 2.The
examiner asks for your opinion about things
and encourages you to explain and justify your
ideas. This part of the test lasts for about four
to five minutes. At the end of this time, the
examiner thanks you and tells you that the test
has finished. You can then stand up and leave the
room.
B Marking criteria
While you’re doing the Speaking test, the
examiner is listening to you and assessing your
English speaking level. You’re given what’s called
a Band Score for Speaking on a scale of 0-9. The
levels range from 0 for a non-user of English to
9 for an expert user of English. It’s important to
remember that, as with the other modules of the
IELTS test, the Speaking test isn’t a test that you
can pass or fail. It’s a measure of your ability to
communicate effectively in spoken English.
To assess your speaking ability, the examiner
uses a set of criteria. The criteria are divided into
four parts, which focus on different aspects of
speaking. Each aspect is equally important. You
are given a score of 0 to 9 for each of these four
aspects, and your overall result for the speaking
is calculated from these four scores.
Fluency and Coherence
Here the examiner assesses your ability to keep
talking. For example, can you say more than
just a word or phrase in answer to a question?
The examiner also assesses your ability to
express your ideas clearly and logically, so that
they flow naturally when you speak at length.
For example, can you link your ideas when you
move from one point to the next, and can you
use a range of different connecting words and
phrases? The examiner also assesses whether
you can do all this without long pauses or
repeating yourself.
Lexical Resource
Here the examiner assesses your ability to use
a wide range of vocabulary accurately and
appropriately. In other words, do you know
enough words to say what you mean on a range
of different topics? Do you know when to use
more formal words and when to use idiomatic
phrases? The examiner also assesses whether
you can do all this without making too many
mistakes in word forms or collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Here the examiner assesses your ability to use
a range of grammatical structures flexibly and
accurately. In other words, do you know which
grammatical structures to use to get across the
ideas you want to express? Do you know when
to use simple structures and when to use more
complex ones? The examiner also assesses how
well you can do all this without making too many
errors.
Pronunciation
Here the examiner assesses your ability to speak
English clearly enough to be understood. For
example, do you produce each of the sounds
correctly? Do you put the stress in the right place
in words and sentences? Can you use intonation
to help communicate your ideas clearly? The
examiner also assesses how easy it is for other
people to understand your pronunciation.
Essential to the IELTS
C Strategies
Before the test
• It’s important to familiarise yourself with the
format of the Speaking test. Make sure you
know exactly what you have to do in each part
of the test - then you can feel confident and
prepared on the day of the test. For example,
you can watch the Speaking Test Videos on
the DVD-ROM to see what the examiner and
candidate do in each part.
• Try preparing for the Speaking test with a
friend. Take it in turns to play the roles of
examiner or candidate. Use the practice
questions in the Speaking module to
practise asking and answering questions.
Try recording yourself and then listen to
the recording. Focus on different aspects of
your performance; for example, check your
verb tenses, or the variety of vocabulary that
you used, or your use of linking expressions.
Ask yourself how you could improve your
performance.
• When you practise answering questions in
Part 1, try to get into the habit of expanding
your answers. In other words, when you
answer a question, try to say more than just
‘Yes’ or ‘No’. Give a reason or an example as
well.
• When you practise giving a talk in Part 2, use a
stopwatch app on your phone or computer to
time yourself. This helps you to get an idea of
how much you need to say to keep going for
about two minutes.
• When preparing for the talk in Part 2, it’s
a good idea to practise reading the topic,
brainstorming some ideas, and noting them
down on a piece of paper. Use a stopwatch to
allow yourself only one minute to do this.
• Try to make the most of every opportunity to
practise your speaking. For example, if you’re
asked to participate in a discussion in your
English class, use this as a chance to practise
for Part 3 of the Speaking test.
• Listen to broadcasts and podcasts in English
as often as you can. Use the Internet to keep
up with the latest news and current affairs
in English. While you’re reading or listening,
think about your opinions on the issues. This
can help you find something to say about a
variety of different topics.
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 • As you listen or read about current issues, • In Part 3, to help extend your answers, use the
make a list of words and phrases that relate to PREP method: make a Point, give a Reason,
that topic. Make a note of how the words are give an Example, and re-state your Point.
pronounced - a speaking dictionary can help Don’t forget to use connecting words to link
with this. Try to review the list once a week. your ideas together.
• Use your study time to practise talking • If you can’t think of the perfect word to
about a variety of different topics. Don’t try use to express your meaning, don’t worry
to memorise talks for Part 2 - the examiner about it. Use another word instead and move
doesn’t want to hear a talk that you’ve smoothly on. Your ability to paraphrase (to
memorised word-for-word and the chances say something in a different way) is a positive
of your getting exactly the topic you’ve thing.
memorised are very low. • At the end of the test, don’t try to ask the
• Remember to practise your pronunciation. examiner about how well you’ve done.
Find exercises with a recording to practise Examiners aren’t allowed to talk about this
individual sounds, word stress, sentence with candidates.
stress and the intonation patterns of
connected speech. After the test
• It’s a good idea to reflect on how you
During the test performed in the test, but don’t waste time
• The examiner gives you all the instructions and energy worrying about any mistakes that
during the test and guides you through the you may have made.
three parts. Don’t worry if the examiner
interrupts you at any point; it’s nothing
personal! The test has strict time limits for
each part of the test, so the examiner may
have to stop you.
• In the exam room, be friendly and polite. Sit
facing the examiner and make eye contact
regularly while taking part in the conversation.
Be aware of your volume and speak loudly
enough so that the examiner can hear you.
• Try to make the interview interesting for the
examiner -remember he or she enjoys hearing
what candidates have to say.
• If you make a mistake, try not to worry about
it. Just keep going! It’s only natural to make
the occasional error. The examiner knows
this and is assessing you on your overall
performance during the whole test.
• In Parts 1 and 3, if the examiner asks you a
tricky question, you can use a filler expression
such as ‘That’s a very good question ...’or
‘Well, I’ve never really thought about that
before, but...’ to give yourself a little more
time to think about your answer.
• In Part 2, when planning your talk, always
use the bullet points to guide you. They are
there to help you. Don’t worry, however, if
the examiner stops you before you’ve finished
covering all the bullet points, because it’s not
necessary to cover them all.

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 Speaking - Part 1 - In Class Activity

WORK/STUDY

Let’s talk about what you do.

• Do you work or are you a student?
• What’s your job/course?
• What does your work/course involve?
• Do you think you will stay in this job for a long time?

SEASONS

Let’s talk about the seasons now.

• Tell me about the seasons in your country.
• What’s your favourite season? (Why?)
• What do you like doing at different times of the year?
• What season did you enjoy most when you were a child?

READING

I’d like to talk about reading now.

• Do you like reading? (Why?)
• What kind of books did you read when you were a child?
• Is there anything you find difficult to read?
• When do you think is the best time to read? (Why?)

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 Getting ready to speak - In Class Activity

WORK/STUDY

• Do you work or are you a student?

• What are you studying? or What’s your job?
• Why did you choose to study this subject? or Why did you choose this job?
• Have you made many friends on the course? or Do you plan to stay in this job for a long
time?

HEALTH AND FITNESS

Let’s talk about keeping fit and healthy.

• What do you do to stay healthy?
• Do you do any exercise? (What kind?)
• How active were you when you were a child?
• How important is it for children to be active?

WEATHER

Let’s talk about the weather.

• What kind of weather do you like best? (Why?)
• Have you noticed any changes in the weather recently in your country?
• What do you like to do in winter?

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 Home Activity - Speaking - Part 1

WORK/STUDY

• Do you work, or are you a student?

• Where do you work, or what are you studying?
• Why did you choose that job or course?
• Do you think you will remain friends with the people from your course or job in the future?

FAVOURITE PLACE

Let’s talk about your favourite place.

• What is the place that you most like to visit?
• Why do you like it there?
• How often do you go there?
• Is it easy to travel there?
• Is it a popular place for other people to visit?

DAILY ROUTINE

Let’s talk about your daily routine.

• Tell me about a typical weekday for you.
• Do you work or study better in the morning or the afternoon?
• What would you like to change about your daily routine?
• Is there a balance between your work time and your leisure time in your daily routine?

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 Home Activity - Speaking - Part I

FAVOURITE FOOD

• What sorts of food do you enjoy eating most?

• Do you spend much time shopping for food?
• Which do you prefer, eating at home or eating in restaurants?
• Do you think people should be careful about what they eat?

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

• When did you start to learn English?

• What do you enjoy about learning languages?
• Apart from classes, what are useful ways to practise a language that you are learning?
• How do you plan to use your English in the future?

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 Speaking - Part 2 - In Class Activity

Describe a photograph that is important to you.

You should say:

• where and when it was taken
• who took the photograph
• what you can see in the photo
and explain why it is important to you.

You will have to talk about the topic for 1 to 2 minutes.

You have 1 minute to think about what you’re going to say.
You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Rounding-off questions:

• Have you shown this photograph to other people?

• Do you like taking photographs?

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 Understanding the task - In Class Activity

Talk about a building that you like

You should say:

• where the building is

• what the building looks like
• what the building is used for
and explain why you like it so much.

You will have to talk about the topic for 1 to 2 minutes.

You have 1 minute to think about what you are going to say.
You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

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 Home Activity - Speaking - Part 2

Talk about a meal you have had that you really enjoyed.

You should say:

• what the meal was

• who prepared the meal
• where you ate the meal
and explain why this meal was so enjoyable for you.

You will have to talk about the topic for 1 to 2 minutes.

You have 1 minute to think about what you are going to say.
You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

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 Home Activity - Speaking - Part 2

Describe a town you have enjoyed visiting.

Read the topic card below carefully.

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes.
You have one minute to think about what you are going to say.
You can make notes if you want.

You should say:

• why you went to the town

• who you saw there
• what you did there
and explain why you enjoyed visiting the town?

Describe a film you found interesting.

Read the topic card below carefully.

You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes.
You have one minute to think about what you are going to say.
You can make notes if you want.

You should say:

• when you saw this film

• why you decided to see this film
• what happened in the film
and explain why you found this film interesting.

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 Speaking - Part 3 - In Class Activity

Let’s consider technology and photography.

• What effect has technology had on photography?

• It’s common now for people to share photographs online.
• What are the pros and cons of this?
• What elements do you think make up a good photograph?

the pursuit of photography as a profession.

• In your view, can photography be a form of art?

• Some people say that photography is a dying profession. Do you agree?
• Do you think we will still need photographers in the future?

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 Talking about abstract topics - In Class Activity

Talking about buildings

• Do you think it’s important for the government to preserve traditional buildings,
or should the money be spent on essential services such as hospitals and schools?

• Is it possible for a government to fund all of these things?

• Many people like living in modem buildings. Why do you think that is?

• What do you think homes of the future will look like?

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 Home Activity - Speaking - Part 3

Children and food

• What is the best age for a child to learn to cook? Why?

• Whose responsibility is it to teach children to eat healthily?

• Do you think children will eat more healthily in the future?

Eating habits

• Does food play an important role in your culture? In what way?

• Would you say people in your country have a healthy diet these days or did people eat
more healthily in the past?

• Do you think it’s important for a family to sit together to eat a meal in the evening? Why?/
Why not?

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 Home Activity - Speaking - Part 3

PEOPLE & PREFERENCES

• What are the kinds of things people like to do when visiting towns and cities?
• Why do many people prefer to live in cities rather than in the countryside?
• Can you identify some of the main problems of living in large cities?
• What measures could be taken to reduce problems of congestion in cities?

MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

• Which do you think is more enjoyable, watching films in the cinema or watching TV
programmes?
• Do you think that cinema films should have an educational value?
• Is it important for governments to support film-making in their countries?
• In what ways do you think that entertainment media may develop in the future?

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