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IELTS SPEAKING

INTRODUCTION
The IELTS speaking test lasts 11- 14 minutes. The test is divided into
three parts. The ILETS examiner will ask you different types of
questions in each part as follows below.

Part 1: Short question and answers about familiar topics.

This part of the test lasts from 4 to 5 minutes and consists of questions
about you and the country you are from. There is a maximum of three
different sets of topics and each topic has a maximum of four
questions. The first topic will be about whether you work or study, the
place you are living in, or the place you are form. The other two
topics are usually fairly straightforward topics such as hobbies,
holidays, sports, and entertainment.

Part 2: Long Turn

You are given a card with a topic and then given 1 minutes to prepare
a 1 to 2 minutes answer to this topic. You should try to talk for 2
minutes if you are able. Topics include describing or commenting on
person, place, object, activity, or experience. The topic also has sub –
topics, which are provided to assist you to plan your response. The
examiner may ask one or two rounding – off questions at the end of
the test. These should be answer briefly.

Part 3: Discussion
This part of the test lasts from 4 to 5 minutes and consists of questions
roughly based on the topic area of the part 2: Long Turn. Questions
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typically ask you to compare, analyse, speculate, or give your opinion

on the given topic. In this part the examiner may push you hard to see
the limits of your ability.

Overview of the three parts of the test

PART REQUIREMENT
Part one Answer up to four questions for three topics.

General Try to speak for about 2- 4 sentences for each

questions questions.

4-5 minutes

Part two 1. The examiner will hand you a card with a

topic on it.
Long Turn 2. You have one minute to prepare for the topic.
3. Speak for one to two minutes.
3-4 minutes
[longer answers are need for higher scores]

Part three A discussion based on part two. This normally

takes the form of the examiner asking a series of
4-5 minutes questions related to your topic in part Two.

GRADING
Your speaking test is graded and marked from 1 – 9 in accordance
with the four key criteria shown below.
The four criteria are explained in more detail in the sections following
the tables.

Fluency and Coherence

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6 7 8

speaks at length, but speaks at length speaks fluently;

some efforts are without noticeable hesitation is usually
required effort to think of ideas and
rarely to search for
language

some loss of no loss of coherence develops topics

coherence due to due to repetition, coherently and
repetition, self – self- correction, or appropriately
correction, or hesitation
hesitation

wide range of linking wide range of linking

some inappropriate words used words used that assist
linking words to make information
highly coherent

Pronunciation

6 7 8

uses a range of good usage of uses a wide range of

intonation, stress, intonation, stress, pronunciation
rhythm; but with rhythm; sustains features of flexibly
mixed control and it flexible use of these and appropriately
is not maintained features, with only
occasional lapses
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can generally be easy to understand easy to understand

understood throughout; accent throughout; accent
throughout, through has minimal effect on has no effect no
mispronunciation of intelligibility intelligibility
individual words or
sounds reduces
clarity at times

Vocabulary: [lexical resource]

6 7 8

vocabulary is vocabulary used uses a wide range of

sufficient to discuss flexibly to discuss a vocabulary readily
topics at length and variety of topics and flexibly to
make the meaning convey precise
clear in spite of some meaning
errors

uses paraphrases uses paraphrases

generally, effectively effectively as
paraphrases required
successfully

uses some less uses less common

insufficient advanced common and and idiomatic
language is used to idiomatic vocabulary vocabulary skilfully,
award and shows some with rare
awareness of style inaccuracies
and collocation, with
some inappropriate
choices
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Grammar: [grammatical and accuracy]

6 7 8

uses a mix of simple flexibly uses a range uses a wide range of

and complex of complex structures structures
structures, but with
limited flexibility

frequently produces most sentences are

may make frequent error – free sentences error – free with only
mistakes with very occasional
complex structures, errors that are not
though these rarely repeated
cause comprehension
problems

Level 9 Grading Criteria

speaks fluently like a native speaker and any

repetition or self – correction is extremely rare;
and any hesitation is to think of ideas and not to
think of vocabulary or grammar
Fluency and
coherence speaks coherently using a wide range of
appropriate cohesive features

responses to question are relevant and

developed fully
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uses a full range of pronunciation features with

precision and subtlety
Pronunciation
sustains flexible use of pronunciation features
throughout

can be understood effortlessly

uses vocabulary with full flexibility and

Lexical precision for all topics
resources
uses idiomatic language naturally and accurately

uses a full range of structure naturally and

Grammatical appropriately
range and
accuracy produces consistently accurate structures apart
from ‘slips’ characteristic of native speaker
speech

IELTS Speaking Part - 1

INTRODUCTION
This course is an intense workout to improve your fluency in
the IELTS Speaking test.
It will help you,
• Speak more fluently
• Improve your intonation
• Build your confidence
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The course is divided into three parts, like the IELTS Speaking
Test.

The focus is on
• Learning to use 'chunks' flexibly
• Building coherence
• Using grammar effectively and effortlessly

It follows a grammar-based curriculum.

The course also uses a 'question - answer' format, so you can see
how to use different tenses effectively in different
parts of the test.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Fluency in Part 1 Questions

Talking about yourself and your experience, past and
present.
 Present Simple
 Present Perfect Continuous (past to present activity)
 Present Perfect Continuous (recent activity)
 Past habits (simple past, used to, would)
 Present Perfect (experiences)
 Comparatives
 Superlatives
 2nd Conditional
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Fluency for Part 2 Questions

Giving a talk about people, places, things, activities and
events that may have happened in the past, present or
future.
 Simple Past
 Past Continuous
 Past Perfect
 Relative Clauses
 3rd Conditional

Fluency for Part 3 Questions

Giving your opinions, evaluations and speculations of more
abstract topics, as well as exemplifying and justifying your
ideas.
 Future - will / might / may
 1st Conditional
 Present Perfect (result in present)

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

Present Simple Tense
I live in Spain Examples
I work in a bank
I do like this music (for emphasis)

Part 1 Questions
Do you run? Question
Answer
As a matter of fact I do.
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I’m really into running.

I run twice a week.

Verb substitute

Read the introductory grammar point.

For example, in unit 1, for the question "Do you run?". If you
run everyday, you could say, 'As a matter of fact I do. I'm really
into running. I run everyday.

PART 1
Fluency for Part 1 Questions

UNIT 1
Present Simple
If you are talking about things that are true now, or your habits
or things that happen regularly, you can use the present simple
tense.

I/you / we / they + verb

 I live in Spain.
 I work as a teacher.
 I do like this music (use 'do' for emphasis).

NEGATIVE - I/you / we / they + DON'T + verb

 I don't live in Spain anymore.
 I don't like this music.
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He / she / it + verb + S
 He lives in England.
 My sister works in a hospital.
 She does like her job (use 'does' for emphasis).

NEGATIVE - He / she / it + DOESN'T + verb

 He doesn't live in England now.
 My sister doesn't like her job.

Part 1 Questions
Q: Do you like reading?
A:
Yes, I am big fan of reading.
I'm really into crime novels actually,
1 do like Agatha Christie

Possible substitutes for crime novels:

Thrillers / biographies / romance novels

Q: Do you like reading?

A:
Not much.
It's not really my cup of tea.
I tend to listen to music.
whenever I have any free time.
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Possible substitutes for any free time:

Time on my hands / a spare moment / time to kill

Q: Do you often run?

A:
As a matter of fact, I do.
I'm really into running.
I run twice a week.

Possible substitutes for twice a week:

most days / regularly / on a regular basis = a lot
once in a while / now and then / now and
again = sometimes

Q: Do you cook?
A:
Yes, I do.
I'm rather fond of cooking.
to tell you the truth.
I find it really relaxing.

Possible substitutes for relaxing:

Calming / exciting / therapeutic (=relaxing)

Q: Do you play water sports?

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A:
Not really to be honest,
I don't play any water sports.
I don't have much chance Where I live.

UNIT 2

Present Perfect Continuous (activity from past to present)

If you are describing events or states that began in the past, and
continue now, you can use the present perfect continuous.

Subject + have/has been + verb + ING

 I have been living here for 2 years.
 I have been studying English for 10 years.

We use for to indicate a period of time

For example: 2 years, one day, 3 weeks.
We use since to indicate a point in time
For example: last year, yesterday, last Tuesday

Part 1 Questions

Q: Do you run?
A:
I do as a matter of tact,
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I've been jogging

for about 3 years now.
I love it...

Possible substitutes for 3 years:

3 months / a good while / as long as I can remember

Q: Do you practice any water sports?

A:
Yes, I do.
I surf actually.
I've been surfing
since I was a kid

Possible substitutes for surf:

swim / water-ski / snorkel

Q: Do you drive?
A:
Yes, I do.
I've been driving
since I was 18
I usually drive to work everyday

Possible substitutes for was 18:

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turned 18 / was a teenager / passed my driving test

UNIT 3
Present Perfect Continuous (recent activity)
We can also use the present perfect continuous to describe
repeated activities that began in the past and still continue.

Subject + have/ has been + verb + ING

Recently I have been watching a good TV series.
Lately, I have been going to the gym a lot.
She has been working out down the gym a lot lately.

When speaking, we often contract the "have" and "has"

Recently I've been watching a good TV series.

Lately, I've been going to the gym a lot.
She's been working out down the gym a lot lately.

Part 1 Questions

Q: Do you cook?
A:
Yeah, I love cooking.
Recently,
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I've been learning

some new Japanese recipes.
Possible substitutes for new Japanese recipes:
New dishes / new recipes / original ideas for new dishes

Q: Do you cook?
A:
No, not really.
That said, I’ve been trying to learn
following some videos on You Tube

Possible substitutes for some videos on You Tube:

A new book I have / a programme on TV I some online
classes

Q: Are you interested in science?

A:
Yes, I am a big fan of science.
Recently,
I've been listening
to a new podcast about science

Possible substitutes for science:

Biology / the planet earth / scientific issues
Q: How do you spend time by yourself?
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A:
Well, actually, recently,
I've been learning how to meditate.
It's great fun, I must say.

Possible substitutes for meditate:

Keep fit / paint / code

UNIT 4
Past Habits

we can use,
 SIMPLE PAST TENSE
 USED TO
 WOULD
to describe habits, we had, or activities we repeatedly did in the
past.

SIMPLE PAST TENSE

Subj + verb+ED (regular)

 I walked a lot when I was young.
 I didn't walk a lot when I was young.

Subj + verb in past (irregular)

 I swam a lot when was young.
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 I didn't swim a lot when I was young.

USED TO
Subj + used to + verb
 I used to swim a lot in my childhood
 I didn't used to swim a lot in my childhood

WOULD
Subj + would + verb
 I would swim a lot as a child
 I wouldn't swim a lot as a child

Part 1 Questions

Q: Did you eat a lot of sweet things when you were younger?
A:
Yes, I did, to be honest
in my family
we would have a dessert
after dinner most days.

Possible substitutes for a dessert:

some kind of cake / something sweet /
some kind of dessert

Q: Did you do water sports as a child?

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A:
Yes, I did.
I used to swim a lot.
Most weekends actually.
Possible substitutes for Most weekends actually.
at least twice a week / most days, as a matter of fact /
whenever I could
Q: Did you take art classes when you were a child?
A:
Yes, I had to do art classes at school,
it was mandatory, you know.

Possible substitutes for do:

Take / go to / take part in

Q: Did you enjoy learning English when you were a child?

A:
Not really, I didn't like it much.
I often used to skip English classes,
to tell you the truth.

Possible substitutes for to tell you the truth:

To be honest / if the truth be told / to be honest with you
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UNIT 5
Present Perfect (experiences)

We can use the present perfect to describe experiences we have

had in life

Subj + have/has + past participle

 I have been to Paris

When speaking, we usually make the contraction - I have

becomes I've

 I've been to Paris

 I've run a marathon
 I've never seen a lion
If we continue to talk about this experience, the following
sentences usual use the simp past tense.
I've run a marathon once. It was 2 years ago and took
place in Australia.

Part 1 Questions

Q: Have you ever grown a plant?

A:
Actually, no I haven't.
I've never learnt how to do it
but I'd love to try.
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Q: Have you ever been to an art gallery?

A:
Oh yes. I have been to a few actually.
I went to a great one in Italy last year,
it had some famous masterpieces,
that were really impressive.

Q: Have you ever seen wild animals before?

A:
Yes, I have seen loads,
well, if animals in a zoo count.
I have been to the zoo in my city several times
and it's full of wild animals;
like gorillas and giraffes.
Possible substitutes for several:
A number of / a couple of / a handful of

Q: Do you play any water sports?

A:
Not really to be honest,
I've never really liked water sports.
I was brought up in the city,
so I didn't have much chance to practice them.
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Possible substitutes for was brought up:

Was raised / was born and bred I grew up

UNIT 6
Comparatives

We can use comparative adjectives to compare 2 things (or two

people, two places etc.
With one or two syllable words (e.g. nice, long)

Adjective + er
 A is nicer / longer than B
With a one-syllable word with consonant + vowel + consonant,
then we double the last letter: For example, big becomes bigger
 A is bigger than B
…………

With three or more syllable words (e.g. expensive, comfortable)

MORE +Adjective
 A is more expensive than B.

To emphasize the comparison, we can use much/far or way.

 A is much/far/way bigger than B.
 A is much/far/way more expensive.
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Part 1 Questions

Q: Do you prefer to read a paper book or a digital book?

A:
To be honest, I prefer paper books
because they're nicer to hold than digital books
And just much easier to use too
That said, digital ones are actually cheaper

Q: Do you prefer to travel by train or plane?

A:
I usually travel by train
Because it's far more comfortable than a plane
It's also way cheaper
I know planes are faster,
but going to the airport is a bit of a hassle

Possible substitutes for hassle:

nuisance / pain / bother

Q: Do you prefer a long break or short breaks at work?

A:
Generally, speaking.
I'd rather take short breaks.
They're far better for my concentration and productivity.
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Possible substitutes for Generally speaking:

By and large / most of the time / on the whole

UNIT 7
Superlatives

We can use superlatives adjectives to compare 3 or more things

(or three or more people, places etc…)

With one or two syllable words (e.g. nice, big)

THE + adjective + est

 A is the nicest / longest.
 A is the biggest city in my country.
 A is one of the biggest cities in my country.

With a one-syllable word with consonant + vowel + consonant,

then we double the last letter. For example, big becomes the
biggest

With 3 or more syllable words,

THE MOST + Adjective

 A is the most expensive.
 A is the most expensive city in my country.
 A is one of the most expensive cities in my country.
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To emphasize we can use by far

 A is by far the most expensive.

Part 1 Questions

Q: Tell me about your hometown.

A:
I come from Manchester which is up in the north of England.
It's one of the most beautiful cities in England.

Q: What do tourists like to visit in your hometown?

A:
Many tourists
will go to Manchester United's football ground
because it's one of the most famous grounds in the world.
Q: What do people in your country like to do in parks or
gardens?
A:
Well, one of the most popular pastimes is sunbathing,
if the weather is sunny.
Otherwise, many people will just go for a stroll to get some
fresh air.

Possible substitutes for sunbathing:

jogging / community dancing / having a picnic
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UNIT 8
2nd Conditionals
We can use this tense to describe the consequences of things
that could happen in future, but are unlikely.

If + past simple, would + verb

The two phrase can occur in any order;
 If I won the lottery, I would buy a new house.
 I would buy a new house, if I won the lottery.

Also you can use a contraction in spoken English - would

becomes 'd.
 I'd be happy, if I succeeded in the IELTS test.
 If I succeeded in the IELTS test, I'd be happy.

Negatives can also be used in either clause.

 If I didn't win the lottery, I wouldn't buy a new house.
 If I didn't succeed in the IELTS test, I’d be unhappy.

Part 1 Questions

Q: How would you feel if someone gave you a pen as a gift?

A:
I would be delighted, if someone gave me a pen as a gift,
So long as it was a good quality one!
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Possible substitutes for delighted:

Over the moon / well pleased / thrilled to bits

Q: How would you feel if someone gave you a pen as a gift?

A:
To be honest,
I'd probably be a bit annoyed, if someone gave me a pen as a
gift.

Possible substitutes for annoyed:

Put out / cross / disgruntled

Q: What kind of sports would you like to try?

A:
If I had a chance, I would love to try surfing.
I think it'd be great fun.

We use the full form would, if we want to add emphasis.

Q: Would you like to be famous?

A:
Yes, I would like to be famous, if I didn't have to speak in
public.
We also use the full form would, when we use the negative.
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Q: Would you like to be famous?

A:
No, I wouldn't like to be famous, if I had to give up my privacy.

IELTS Speaking Part – 2

PART 2

Fluency for part 2 Questions

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Fluency for Part 2 Questions

Giving a talk about people, places, things, activities and events that may
have happened in the past, present or future.

 Simple Past
 Past Continuous
 Past Perfect
 Relative Clauses
 3rd Conditional

UNIT 9

Simple Past

We use the simple past tense to describe completed actions at a point in

time in the past.

REGULAR VERBS

Subj + verb + ED
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 Yesterday, I finished work at 10pm.

NEGATIVE / Subj + DID NOT /DIDN'T + verb

 Last Friday, I didn't finish work until 8pm.

IRREGULAR VERBS

Subj + verb in past

 I went home after work.

NEGATIVE / Subj + DID NOT /DIDN'T + verb

 I didn't go home until much later.

Part 2 Questions

We can use this tense to give a list of actions. We sometimes use a pattern
of 3, if it is the same person doing the actions, as it has a nice rhythm.

I did A, did B and then did C

Q: Describe a great meal you once had.

A:
We went to the restaurant,
ordered the house specials,
and then asked for some drinks

Q: Describe a time you got lost.

A:
I walked down the street,
turned left
and then realized I was lost.

We often use the simple past together with the past continuous.

I did A when/whilst I was doing B

Q: Describe an interesting person you have met.

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A:
1 once met an Australian guy
whilst I was travelling on a train through Europe
he had blonde hair
and looked a bit strange...

UNIT 10
Past Continuous

Subject + was/were + verb + ING

We can use the past continuous

-to describe an activity happening in the past, often overlapping another

action
 I was watching TV, when the phone rang.

-to describe the setting for a story

 I was living in Spain at that time.

-to describe a repeated action or habit in the past

 I was studying every day when I was at university.

Part 2 Questions
We can use this tense effectively to give the setting or background to an
event.

Q: Describe a time you had to wake up early.

A:
At that time, I was studying for my university exams.
And I was getting up early every day (past habit).

Possible substitutes for getting up early:

Burning the midnight oil = working late into the night
Pouring over my books = studying my books a lot
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Q: Describe a time you watched a play.

A:
I remember I was visiting London on holiday,
And decided to go to the theatre
I wanted to watch 'The Lion King'

Q: Describe a time you got bored.

A:
I was living in London at that time,
And got invited to a party
But it was so tedious

Possible substitutes for tedious:

tiresome / monotonous / mind-numbingly boring

This tense is also commonly used to describe an activity in progress when

a second activity begins.

Q: Describe a time you heard someone talking on the phone

A:
I was sitting on the train
on my way to work
when this man started speaking loudly
on his mobile phone

UNIT 11
Past Perfect

We can use the past perfect to show events that happened before a point
in a story.

Subj + had + past participle

 The concert took place on the 6th of January.
 had bought the tickets two days earlier.

4th Jan 6th Jan now

I bought tickets concert happened

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When speaking, we can contract the had to 'd

 The concert took place on the 6th of January.

 I'd bought the tickets two days earlier.

However, in your IELTS Speaking test, I recommend here that you use
the full form, to make It clear you are using the past perfect.

 The concert took place on the 6th of January.

 I had bought the tickets two days earlier.

Part 2 Questions
This is useful to add details to a story in the past, giving extra
information about things that happened before the main "action" of the
story.

Q: Describe a trip you took.

A:
I went to Paris last winter.
I had already booked the flight
and had made a hotel reservation two months earlier.

Q: Describe a time you visited a friend.

A:
I went to see my friend in London last month.
I had already phoned him to agree a date to visit.

Q: Describe a time you were late

A:
I remember once,
went to the cinema with my friend Jack
However, when we got to the cinema
the film had already started,
and the tickets had sold out.

Unit 12
Relative Clauses
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We can use relative clauses

-to make it clear which person or thing we are talking about

This is often called a defining clause because this phrase defines the
noun - without it we don't know who or what the speaker is talking about.

 The person I want to describe is a girl who/that lives in my

neighbourhood.
 I am going to tell you about a book which/that really excites me.

- to give extra information about a person, thing or situation

Note: This is often called a non- defining clause because this phrase does
not define the noun and it could be left out.

 I want to tell you about my friend Jack who lives in Canada.

 This book, which my sister recommended to me, is really good.

Notice with non-detaining relative clauses, we cannot use 'that instead of

who or which.

Part 2 Questions
This is a useful way to introduce and identify (with a defining clause)
people, that you are going to talk about in part 2 questions.

Q: Describe a famous person that you would like to meet.

A:
The person I want to describe
is a man who is famous in my country.
Boris Johnson

Possible substitutes for is famous:

is respected / is much-loved I has a good reputation (good things)
is notorious / has a bad reputation (negative things)

Q: You can also use it to give extra information.

A:
Boris Johnson, who is the Prime Minister, is almost 60 years old
………..
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This is also a useful way to introduce and identity (with a defining

clause) things that you are going to talk about in part 2 questions.

Q: Describe a toy from your childhood that was special.

A:
One toy which was special for me
was my train set

Possible substitutes for was special:

was one of a kind / unique / of sentimental value

You can also use it to give extra information.

A:
This toy, which was a present from my father, was my favourite toy.

Finally, this is a useful way to introduce and identity (with a identify

clause) places that you are going to talk about in part 2 questions.

Q: Describe a place where you like to read.

A:
One place
which is great for studying
is my local library

Possible substitutes for is great:

is ideal / is perfect / is spot on

You can also use it to give extra information.

A:
The library, which is not far from home, is really comfortable.

UNIT 13
3rd Conditionals
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We can use the third conditional to express an imagined situation in the

past that didn’t actually exist or happen.

So, it is often used to express regret.

If + past perfect, would + have + past participle

 If I had planned the trip better, we would have had a better time.
 If I had known you were going, I would have gone too.

When speaking, we can make the contraction in both clauses –

where in the first clause had becomes 'd

and in the second clause would have becomes would've

• If I'd planned the trip better, we would've had a better time.

Negatives can also be used in either clause.

• If I'd planned the trip better, we wouldn't've had such a bad time.

Part 2 Questions
We can use this tense to express regrets, especially when things didn't go
as planned or where the outcome was not good.

Examples could be
 Bad service in a restaurant
 A boring event
 A delay
 Missing a flight/train
 A failed project / business
 A time you were angry / someone lied

A:
If I had known the service
was going to be so bad,
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I would've gone
somewhere else

If I had known it was going to be

such a boring party,
I wouldn't have gone

Possible substitutes for boring.

tedious / tiresome / dull

If I had known the flight

was going to be delayed,
I would've gone
by train instead

Possible substitutes for delayed:

postponed / put back / cancelled

If we had left on time,

we would've made the flight

If he had worked harder,

he would've been more successful

If she hadn't forgotten my birthday,

I wouldn't have got so angry.

Possible substitutes for angry:

irritated / annoyed / upset

IELTS Speaking Part – 3

PART 3
Fluency Part 3 Questions

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Fluency for Part 3 Questions

Giving your opinions, evaluations and speculations of more abstract

topics, as well as exemplifying and justifying your ideas.
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 Future - will / might / may

 1st Conditional
 Present Perfect (result in present)

UNIT 14
Future (will, might, may, could)

We can use will to express something we fed is certain to happen in the

future.

We can use may or might to express something that is possible in the

future; such as a guess, a prediction or a speculation.

Subject + will / might / may / could + verb

We will use mobile phones more in the future (I am sure)

The government might introduce a new law next year (I think it is

possible)

Some people may eat less meat in the future (I think it is possible)

I could lose my job next month, because of COVID 19 (I think it is

possible)

NEGATIVE: Subject + won't / might not / may not + verb

We won't use mobile phones more in the future (I am sure)

The government might not introduce a new law next year (I think it is
possible this won't happen)

Some people may not eat less meat in the future (I think it is possible this
won't happen)

Part 3 Questions
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Q: How will workplaces change in the future?

A:
Actually, reckon
we'll work more from home in the future,
It's safer, easy to do and good for the environment

Q: Will we live on other planets in the future?

A:
Given the rapid pace of global warming, we might have to live on another
planet at some point in the Future

A:
I think that's highly unlikely.
That said, we could live on the moon,
but it won't be in the near future

Possible substitutes for in the near future:

For a long time yet / in our lifetime / for a good while

Q: How do you think the film industry will change in the future?
A:
I suspect they produce more series, rather than films
and I think cinemas may well disappear

Note, in natural English we sometimes add well to may, might and could
to show there is a good reason for a future possibility.

So many people have lost their jobs, I could well be next.

UNIT 15
1st Conditionals

We can use the 1st conditional to talk about things which we think are
likely to happen in the future, if certain other things also happen.

If + present simple, will + verb

The two phrase can occur in any order;

 38

 If it rains tomorrow, I will stay at home.

 I will stay any home, if it rains tomorrow.

 If prices continue to rise, people will buy less.

 People will buy less, if prices continue to rise.

Negatives can also be used in either clause.

 If it doesn't rain tomorrow, I will go out.

 If prices continue to rise, people won't buy this product anymore.

Part 3 Questions

Q: Will education change in the future?

A:
If governments invest more in teacher training,
the quality of education will go up

Possible substitutes for go up:

Rise / go right up / get better

If things continue as present,

we will most likely study more online

Q: How will cities change in the future?

A:
If the government doesn't take action now,
air pollution will increase

If more people take public transport,

then the level of air pollution will drop

Possible substitutes for will drop:

Decrease / go right down / fall considerably

Instead of if, we can use so long as to express a condition.

Q: How will the way we shop in the future change?

 39

A:
So long as online shopping remains safe,
people will do more of it

So long as present trends continue,

more and more people will shop online

Possible substitutes for continue:

Carry on / keep on like this / go on in this way

UNIT 16
Present Perfect (result in present)

We can use this tense to describe a past action that has a clear result in
the present or some connection with the present.

Subj + have/has + past participle

• I have broken my leg, so have to use a crutch

Past action: broke my leg

Result in present: I have to use a crutch

When speaking, we usually make the contraction - I have becomes I've

• I've broken my leg, so I have to use a crutch

• Look at all this air pollution, our environment has changed a lot

Past action: a change in the environment

Result in present: more air pollution

• I am so happy, have won the lottery

Past action: winning the lottery

Result in present: I am happy

Part 3 Questions
 40

This is a good tense to use to answer the following part 3 type question,
where a change creates a new result in the present time.

Q: How has ……………….. changed in recent years?

Q: How is ………………… today, different from the past?

Q: How has the way we get news changed in recent years?

A:
In the past, we used to read newspapers
but now technology has changed
that so we tend to read the news
on our mobile phones

Possible substitutes for tend to:

typically, I like to / more often than not

Q: How are families today different from the past?

A:
In the past, families were larger
Now this has changed
And families tend to be smaller nowadays

Q: Do you think films have changed since you were a child?

A:
Yes, previously,
films were much simpler
But now things have changed a lot
Today, many films use lots of special effects

SPEAKING
IELTS speaking strategies

Make sure you know what you have to do in the speaking test and what
you are being
assessed on. Even good candidates can lose marks because they are not
prepared for
requirements of the different parts of the text.

IELTS Speaking Part – 1

 41

 Use this part to develop your confidence and fluency - The questions
are about you
and should be straight forward to answer.

 Give full answers but do not talk for too long - full answers are
expected in part 3.

 Don’t memorize answers - your examiner will recognize prepared

answers and you
will not get credit for them.

 Part I relates to introduction & interview.

The examiner will then question you on same familiar basic topics like
school,
hometown, family, friends etc. This is to check your ability to
communicate the ideas
and information on everyday topics.

What happens in part I?

The examines will ask one or two warm up questions either about

Study or work
Home
Hometown
- You will then get 2 or 3 questions on two different topics.
- You should give quite short answers (3 or 4 sentences) and talk about you.

TYPE OF QUESTIONS
The following types of questions are outlined below:
Question type Strategy
Description Divide into 2 or 3 parts
Types of Divide into 2 or 3 parts
Liking General to specific
Disliking General to specific
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Habits Depends
Yes / no Depends
‘’Wh’’ questions Concession
when you were a child Concession
In the future Avoidance
Comparing Avoidance

1. DESCRIPTION QUESTIONS
STRATEGY: divide your response into two or three parts
STRUCTURE: point 1 + point 2 + point 3

SAMPLE QUESTION: ‘’Tell me something about your hometown?’’

Well, I come from Taipei and I have lived here all my life. I’d
like to begin by saying that it’s the capital of Taiwan and also
the cultural center. On top of that I can also add that it’s very
crowded, maybe even one of most congested cities in Asia I
guess. The roads are so jammed that even the locals have
problems finding their way around! Finally, I’d also like to
mention that it offers splendid examples of contemporary
architecture. Actually, some of the most renowned landmarks
are in the middle of Taipei, such as Taipei 101, the second
tallest building in the world.

USEFUL LANGUAGE
Starting – off (redundant language)
Ok, then; actually; alright; well you know;

Point 1
I’d like to begin by saying…………
The first thing I’d like to mention is………….
 43

The main thing you need to know is…………….

Point 2
On top of that I can also add that…………
Another interesting point………….
Not only that, but……………….is also exceedingly………..

Point 3
Finally, I’d also like to mention………….
And, I shouldn’t forget to mention that………….
I guess I could also say that (it’s) sort- of…………..

Practice questions:
1. What sort of work do you do?
2. What does your house look like?
3. What does your neighborhood look like?
4. What does your city/town look like?
5. What sort of clothes do you like to wear?
6. Describe a city you would like to visit?
7. Describe a country you would like to visit?
8. Describe a park you have visited?

2. ‘’TYPES OF’’ QUESTIONS

STARTEGY: divide into 2 or 3 parts
STRUCTURE: general statement + type 1 + type 2

SAMPLE QUESTION:
‘‘Tell me about the different types of public transportation I your city.’’
 44

Well, you know there’s quite a mixed variety of public

transportation in my city. I think the most common one is
buses because they seem to go everywhere. In addition, the
trains are also extremely popular for those people who are
lucky enough to live near a train station.

USEFUL LANGUAGE
Rephrasing types: kinds, sorts, variety, range of, array

Useful phrases to start [General statement]

There’s quite a mixed variety of………..
There’s a fairly wide range of………….
There’s quite a diverse mixture of………………..

Type 1
I think the most common one is……………..
The main one is………………
The first that comes to mind is………………

Type 2
In addition, x………………is also extremely popular
Another kind is…………………
Not only that, but x………………….is also exceedingly………………

Type 3 [if needed]

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And I shouldn’t forget to mention that……………

I guess I could also say that………………..
Finally, I’d also like to mention…………….

Practice
1. What kinds of restaurants are popular in your country?
2. What types of shops can be found in your local area?
3. What types of things do people collect in your country?
4. How do you spend your free time?
5. How do people spend their free time in your country?
6. What sorts of TV programs do you watch?
7. What sorts TV programs are popular in your country?
8. What sorts of things do people collect in your country?

3. LIKING
STRATEGY: general to specific
STRUCTURE: general statement + more precise statement + reason

SAMPLE ANSWER
‘’what kind of animals do you like?’’
Well, in general I would say I’m pretty fond of small animals. In
particular, I’m really keen on cats and dogs; and, I guess this is
because we often kept them when I was growing up, and they
were good companions for me.

Rephrasing ‘’liking’’
I’m pretty fond of……………
I’m really keen on………….
I’m big fan of………………….
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I’m extremely passionate about………….

General statement
Well, in general I would say…………..
Generally speaking………………………
Overall, I think that……………………..

More precise statement

In particular,
Specifically,
To be more precise…………….

Reason
And I guess this is probably because………..
I think this is due to the fact that……………….
The reason for this is because………………

Practice:
1. What do you like about your hometown?
2. What do you do about your job/studies?
3. What sort of music do you like?
4. What sorts of books do you like reading?
5. What type of movies do you like?
6. Where do you like to shop?
7. What types of food do you like?
8. What types of free time activities do you like?

4. Disliking
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STRATEGY: general to specific

STRUCTURE: General dislike + more precise statement + reason

SAMPLE ANSWER
‘’Is there anything you don’t like about your hometown?’’
Generally speaking…I’d have to say that I’m not really
fond of the weather. To be more specific, I really can’t
stand the summer months. I think this is due to fact that it
is always humid, so it makes me feel quite hot and sweaty!

Rephrasing ‘’Disliking’’
I really can’t stand…………….
I’m not really fond of………………..
I’m not much of a fan of…………….
………simply gets on my nerves

General statement
Generally speaking…………
Well, in general I would say…………….
Overall, I think that………………

More precise statement

To be more specific
To be more precise
Specifically,

Reason
 48

I think this is due to the fact that……………

And I guess this is probably because……………..
The reason for this is because………………..

Practice
1. Is there anything you don’t like about your hometown?
2. Is there anything you don’t like about job/studies?
3. Is there any food you don’t like?
4. Are there any clothes you don’t like?
5. Are there any colors that you don’t like?
6. What type of weather do you dislike?
7. What type of noises do you dislike?
8. What type of movies do you dislike?

5. Habits
STRATEGY: Depends
STRUCTURE: Depends + if preference 1 + if preference 2
[note that the structure uses conditional clauses which can increase your score
for grammar]

SAMPLE QUESTION
What do you usually do at the weekend?
Well, it is contingent upon how I feel.

If I’m exhausted after working all week, I prefer to do something relaxing like
chilling out on the sofa with a good book.

But, if I feel energetic I would rather do something more exciting like go

hiking or camping.
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Language

Depends
Well, it is contingent upon………
I think it depends really.
Well, to be honest, I would have to say that it really depends.

Preference 1
If I’m………….i prefer to………….
Usually, I prefer…………….
Sometimes, I prefer to………………..

Preference 2
But, if I……………I would rather………………..
Although, sometimes I would rather………………….
However, if I have……………….
Note: To describe past habits we can also ‘’used to’ or ‘would’’, with an
appropriate adverb of frequency:
My mother would always tell me a story to get me to fall asleep.
When I was a child, my brother often used to take me fishing.

Practice
1. What do you usually do on the internet?
2. Where do you usually study?’
3. What do you like to do for holidays?
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4. When do you go shopping?

5. What do you do to relax?
6. How much sleep do you usually get?
7. How do you celebrate festivals in your country?
8. How much TV do you watch?

6. Yes / no questions
STRATEGY: Depends
STRUCTURE: Depends + preference 1 + preference 2

SAMPLE QUESTION
Do you eat healthy food?
Well, to be honest, I would have to say that it really depends.
Usually I prefer to eat something quick and convenient such as
instant noodles because I am very busy with my studies.
Although, sometimes I would rather spend a little more time
and cook something healthier as a rice and veggies.

[*veggies = vegetables].
LANGUAGE

Depends
Well, to be honest, I would have to say that it really depends.
Well, it is contingent upon…………
I think it depends really.

Preference 1
Usually I prefer……………..
If I’m……….I prefer to…………….
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Sometimes I prefer to……….

Preference 2
Although, sometimes I would rather……………
But, if I…………..would rather…………….
However, if I have…………….

Practice questions
1. Do you like the weather in your country?
2. Do you enjoy eating food from other countries?
3. Do you enjoy your work / studies?
4. Are there enough festivals in your country?
5. Do you enjoy going shopping?
6. Do you like to get up early?
7. Do you play or watch any sports?
8. Are you planning any vacations?

7. ‘’WH’’ Questions
[these are questions that start with the words: who, where, why, what, and
how]

STRATEGY: CONCESSION (making a main point and then giving a concession to

it]
STRUCTURE: main point + concession

SAMPLE QUESTION
‘’What sort of restaurants do you usually eat at?’’
Well, recently I’d have to say that I have been enjoying eating
steak and each time I feel like a steak I go outback steak house,
because the steaks there are huge. Although, I suppose it could be
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argued that it may not be all that healthy to eat so much red
meat, as I’ve heard it can lead to high levels of cholesterol.

Language

Concession
Although, I suppose it could be argued that……………
However, I’m quite aware that…………………
Nevertheless, it is worth remembering that…………….

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ‘’WH’’ QUESTIONS

QUESTION FUNCTION EXAMPLE
What Asking for information What type of shops do you
about something like?
When Asking about a time When do you usually go
shopping?
Where Asking about a place Where do you like to go
shopping?
Which Asking about a choice Which is more important,
the quality or the price of a
product?
Who Asking about other place Who do you usually go
shopping with?
Why Asking for a reason Why do you go with that
person?

PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. What do you do at the weekend?
2. When do you usually read?
3. Where do you usually go for holidays?
4. Which do you prefer, reading a book or watching TV?
5. Who do you spend your evenings with?
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6. When do you usually sleep?

7. Why do you work/study there?
8. How often do you play or watch sports?

8. When you were a child

STRATEGY: Concession
STRUCTURE: main point + concession

SAMPLE QUESTION
What games did you enjoy playing when you were a child?
Well, I was always very keen on playing video games. I spent almost all my
free time playing them. However, I’m quite aware that…………..It wasn’t the
healthiest way to spend my childhood and perhaps it’s contributed to my
myopia*.

[*myopia is an eye problem of short – sightedness]

Concession
However, I’m quite aware that………….
Nevertheless, it is worth remembering that……….
Although, I suppose it could be argued that…………….

Practice questions
1. What colors did you like when you were a child?
2. Did you like to wear bright clothing when you were a child?
3. Did you like any sports when you were a child?
4. What type of food did you like when you were a child?
5. Did you have a lot of friends when you were a child?
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6. What type of indoor activities did you do when you were a child?

9. In the future
STRATEGY: avoidance [not directly answering the question]
STRUCTURE: avoiding phrase + answer to the question

SAMPLE ANSWER
‘’Where would you like to go for the next vacation?’’
Well, to be honest, I don’t really have a clear plan but I guess
that I will probably go overseas to some exotic location like
Nepal because I’m really into hiking and exploring new areas.

Avoiding phrase
Well, to be honest, I don’t really have………….
Actually, I’m not really sure about that.
Oh, I’ve never really thought about that.

Answer to the question

…….but I guess that I will probably………..
…….but I guess that if I had to choose one, then I’d……….
………perhaps the end result will be that

Practice questions
1. Would you like to learn a new language in the future?
2. In the future, what sort of home would you like to live in?
3. In the future, do you think people will use mobile phones more than
now?
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4. In the future, do you think people will be healthier or less healthy than
now?
5. Do you think your hometown will change much in the future?
6. Do you think you will have more free time in the future?

10. Comparing
STRATEGY: avoidance [not directly answering the question]
STRUCTURE: avoiding phrase + answer to the question

SAMPLE ANSWER
‘’Do you prefer to read a book or watch TV?’’
Oh, I like them both so it’s hard to choose only one. But I
guess that if I had to choose one, then I would rather read
a novel and the main reason for this is because I slightly
prefer the storylines of novels to TV.

[Note: the comparative words are underlined]

Avoiding phrase
Oh, I like them both, so it’s hard to choose only one.
Well, to be honest, I don’t really have….
Actually, I’m not really sure about that.
Oh, I’ve never really thought about that.

Answer to the question

……but I guess that I will probably…….
……….but I guess that if I had to choose one, then I’d……
 56

……….perhaps the end result will be that

Comparatives
I slightly prefer..
I’d much rather
I enjoy X much more than Y

Practice questions
1. Do you prefer studying in the morning or in the evening?
2. Do you prefer taking photos with your phone or with a camera?
3. Would you rather live in a place with hot weather or cold weather?
4. Do you like to take lots of short holidays or one long holiday?
5. Do you prefer to write by hand or using a computer?
6. Do you prefer to send text messages or to call someone?

Six common question types

Although there are many different topics in part I, the same kind of questions
are often asked.
If you are familiar with the types of questions that are commonly asked, then
you can better handle part 1 whatever the topic.
Here are 6 of the most common question types in IELTS speaking part I.

Common Question
Types What is being tested?
1) Do you (verb)? Can you use tenses related to the
present?
2) Are you good at it? Can you describe ability?
 57

3) Is (Noun) popular in your Can you talk about popularity?

country?
4) Did you (verb) as a child?
5) Do you prefer A or B?
6) What kinds of….. do you…?
Can you use tense to talk about the
past?
Can you make comparison?
Can you use a wider range of
vocabulary?

6 Common Questions types

1) Do you (verb)?
2) Are you good at it?
3) Is (noun) popular in your country?
4) Did you (Verb) as a child?
5) Do you prefer A or B?
6) What kind of (noun) do you (verb)?

1) Do you (verb)?
Do you cook?
- Yes, I do. I cook on a fairly regular basis.

I cook on a regular basis.

every now and again.
From time to time
once in a blue moon.
- I have been cooking since I was a child.

I have been cooking since I was a kid.

I was at school.
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I was young.

- I have been cooking for 3 years.

I have been cooking for 5 years/ ages

as long as I can remember

I love it.
I adore it.
I am really into it.
I have it.
I am not a big fan.

Similar questions.
Do you cook?
Do you wear jeans?
Do you like eating fish?
Do you often write with a pen?
Do you take photos?
Do you go to bed late?
Do you like travelling?
Do you like going to museums?

2) Are you good at it?

Yes, I am good at it.
am a dab hand at it.
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(I am very good at it)

have a knack for doing.

(I am quite skilful)
Can hold my own
(I am good enough)

Are you good at it?

No, I am pretty bad at it.

I am hopeless at it.
terrible at it.
It is not my forte = not a strength.

Similar questions.
Are you good at cooking?
Are you good at running?
Are you good at memorizing numbers?
Are you good at taking photos?
Are you good at art?

3) Is (noun) popular in your county?

Is baking popular in your country?
Yes, it is.
It’s well - liked.
pretty / fairly / quite/ trendy all the rage.
Is baking popular in your country?
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No, not really.

Most people are not into it.

are not big fans.
Don’t care much about it.

Similar questions
Is cooking popular in your country?
Are desserts popular in your country?
Are international celebrities popular in your country?
Which colours are popular in your country?
What kind of movies are popular in your country?

4) Did you (verb) as a child?

Did you cook as a child?
Yes, I did.
I Cooked a lot.
used to cook a lot.
would cook most days.
Did you cook as a child?
No, I didn’t to be honest.

I wasn’t into cooking that much.

Wasn’t really bothered about it.
Didn’t care about it.
never learnt to cook.
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Similar questions.
Did you take art classes at school?
Did you enjoy taking history classes at school?
Did you have science classes at school?
Were you patient when you were young?
Did you have the same voice as a child?
Did you grow any plants when you were young?

5) Do you prefer A or B?
Do you prefer to travel by train or plane?
I prefer planes because,
They are much faster / better / cheaper than trains
for faster / better / cheaper than trains.
way faster / better / cheaper than trains.

- I prefer planes because,

They are much more convenient / useful / interesting than trains.
far more convenient / useful / interesting than trains.
way more convenient / useful / interesting than trains.

Similar questions
Do you prefer long breaks or short breaks?
Do you prefer to use a pen or a pencil for writing?
Do you prefer to take photos yourself or have other people take photos?
Are you more tidy at work or at home?
Do you like dark colours or light colours?
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6) What kind of (noun) do you (verb)?

What kinds of movies do you like?
It depends on my mood really,
Sometimes I will go for comedies / action movies / thrillers.
I enjoy comedies / action movies / thrillers.
I am in the mood for comedies / thrillers.

Similar questions
What kinds of music do you like?
What kinds of cakes do you like?
What kinds of films do you like?
What kinds of cities do you like to visit?
What kinds of water sports do you like?

Part I Answer types

10 easy answer types.
Yes ............ but .............
Yes ............ because ................
Yes + example .............
Yes ............. if not ...............
Yes .............. so ................
Yes ............. otherwise .................
I think ............. that said ...............
I guess ............... mind you .............
I’d say .............. at the same time ...............
It depends, if .............. if .................
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Sleep
How many hours do you sleep every day (or every night)?
Do you think it’s good to have a nap during the day?
Did you sleep more in the past than you do now?
Yes, I do think it’s a good idea to have a small sleep during the day, but If you
sleep too long, you can end up feeling groggy and tired for the rest of the day.
Yes, it is a good idea to have a nap, otherwise you are going to feel really tired
for the rest of the day.

Sharing
Do you enjoy sharing?
What do you share with your friends?
Were you encouraged to share as a child?
Yes, both my mother and father encouraged me to share my toys and even my
food with friends, because, they felt that was a family value I should grow up
with.
Yes, I’d say I was strongly encouraged to share with family and friends, if not I
would get into big trouble with my parents.

Math
- When did you start to learn math?
- Is math important?
- What is a good way to learn math?
Yes, I think it is important in today’s society, for instance, when you go
shopping, if you want the right change, you need to know addition and
subtraction.
I think math is quite important nowadays, that said, today everybody has a
mobile phone so I am not sure we need to know addition and subtraction, we
can just use a calculator on our phones.
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Bottled water
- Do you ever drink bottled water? Why?
- Do you think it is important to drink a lot of water?
- Is water an important resource?
Yes, I do it’s healthier than tap water. So, I usually buy bottled water at the
supermarket.
No, I don’t usually drink bottled water because it is the same as tap water. So, I
don’t bother to buy it at the supermarket.
I guess I do sometimes drink bottled water like in a restaurant, mind you at
home I usually drink tap water because I trust it and it’s the same really.

Rubbish
- Is it important to keep the streets clean?
- Why do some people throw rubbish on the ground?
- What do you do when you see rubbish on the street?

It depends really, I think if someone lives in the city may be they’re just lazy, if
some people have grown in the countryside, may be it is just that they don’t
know it can damage the environment.
I’d say some people just don’t care, they think just one person doesn’t make a
difference. At the same time some people, especially younger children may not
know it can damage the environment.

Perfume
- Do you wear perfume?
- What’s your favourite perfume?
- Would you spend a lot of money on a perfume?
Yes, I think I would. If I was buying a present for somebody, I’d be happy to
splash out on a nice perfume.
 65

It depends really. If I was buying if for myself, I don’t think I would spend too
much, if I was buying a present for somebody, then yes, I’d fork out a bit of
extra money.

Shopping
- Do you like shopping?
- Who does most of the shopping in your household?
- What is the item that you buy the most?
- Do you compare prices before purchasing something?
- Do you like shopping?
Well, I like shopping for food, but I am not a big fan of clothes shopping. I love
cooking, so I really enjoy picking up fresh produce at the local markets, but
when it comes to buying clothes, I try to get it over and done with, as quickly as
I can.
Do you compare prices before purchasing something?

I think for food items, yes I probably do. I am usually after the best value for
money, so I will compare brands and prices before purchasing. It’s become a bit
of a habit really.

Staying up to late
- Do you sometimes go to bed late?
- What do you do when you stay up late?
- How do you feel when you have stayed up late the night before?
- Do you sometimes go to bed late?
Now and again yes, but by and large I tend to hit the sack quite early. I am
usually an early riser, because I find I am much more productive in the morning.
Yes, actually, I tend to stay up until the early hours. I just enjoy the peace and
quiet when others have gone to bed. It’s a great time to get things done.
How do you feel when you have stayed up late the night before?
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Well If I have stayed up late and need to work the next day, I will usually, feel a
bit tired and groggy, If I have stayed up late and need to work the next day, I
will usually, feel a bit tired and groggy, you know if I don’t get at least 7 hours
sleep, I usually feel out of sorts.
To be honest mostly, I’m fine because I am, used to it. So long as I get around 6
hours sleep, I don’t feel too tired or sleepy. I just get myself a strong coffee first
thing in the morning and I am good to go.

Tidiness
- Are you a tidy person?
- Are all members of your family tidy?
- Do you think people should be tidy all the time?
- Are you more tidy at work/school or at home?
Are you a tidy person?
Yes, quite tidy. I make a habit of making my bed in the morning. I usually sash
the pots straight after dinner. I wouldn’t say my house is spic and span, but It’s
tidy enough.
Yes, I am a sticker for keeping things today. I like my home to be really ship-
shape. If the home is messy, it just puts me in a bad mood, you know I can’t
find things and I also feel bad because I know I should have cleaned up, but I
haven’t.
Are you more tidy at work/ school or at home?
Interestingly enough, I tend to keep my workplace in order, way more than my
home. I guess I just think tidiness and productivity are connected, but at home I
just want a more relaxed atmosphere.

Laughter
 When was the last time you laughed?
 Do you like watching funny programmers on TV?
 Do you like to make people laugh?
 Do you think it is important for friends to laugh together?
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When was the last time you laughed?

That’s hard to say, I think it was probably last week. I was watching a film and
it really made me giggle. It was a comedy with Tom and if I remember correctly
it was called ‘yes man’. It was one of those films that’s full of visual humour,
right? And it really cracked me up.

Do you like to make people laugh?

I do, I think I have a good sense of humour, I enjoy a good laugh with friends. I
am not really into telling jokes, but I like playing with words, so in
conversations I am often thinking about other meanings words can have and
then make a joke with that.

History
 Do you like history?
 Did you enjoy learning history when you were a child?
 When was the last time you read about history?
 Do you think history is important?

Do you like history?

I wouldn’t say I am a big fan of history, but I do enjoy watching historical films
or period dramas on TV. I find it fascinating to see the customs and lifestyle of
people in past times. For example, I used to watch downtown abbey and loved
seeing how different society was then.
Did you enjoy learning history when you were a child?
To be honest, not much. It tended to be all facts and figures that I couldn’t
remember very well. So it was a bit tedious. It was only when I left school and
started travelling that I started to get a taste for history.

Wild animals
 Have you ever seen wild animals before?
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 Which wild animals do you like the most?

 Do you like to go to the zoo?

Have you ever seen wild animals before?

Well, I have seen lots in the zoo, such as lions and elephants, but I have never
those kinds of animals in the wild. When I was a kid growing up, I saw lots of
foxes, because there were plenty of them in the forests near where I used to live.

Do you like to go to the zoo?

Yes, and no. I guess on the one hand zoos are fun and it’s amazing to get up
close to those magnificent creatures like the lions. But on the other hand, the
cages in many zoos are too cramped and the living conditions of many animals
leave a lot to be desired.

Wearing Jeans
 Do you like wearing jeans? Why?
 Why are they so popular?
 Do most people like to wear jeans?
 Do you prefer to wear a certain brand of jeans?
 Why do people in your country wear jeans?

Do you like wearing jeans? Why?

For sure, I wear jeans an awful lot because they are just so comfy and practical.
That said, I don’t wear them in summer so much, because it’s usually too hot. I
think they are more suitable for the cooler seasons.

Why do people in your country wear jeans?

I’d say in large part, because they have been made so fashionable by celebrities
and the big brands. I mean take Calvin Klein for example, they have created an
image of young person with jeans as being cool and sexy, an image they many
young people strive to emulate.
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Hairstyle
 Have you always had the hairstyle you have now?
 Do you go to the barber’s a lot?
 Did you ever feel disappointed with your hairstyle?

Have you always had the hairstyle you have now?

No, not at all. I mean I wear my hair really short now, because It’s much more
manageable, you know, easy to wash. no need to brush it and that. But when I
was younger I used to have long. Shoulder-length hair. I also played with the
idea of dying it, but in the end, I never did.

Do you go to the barber’s a lot?

To tell you the truth, I never go to the hairdresser’s these days, because my wife
cuts my hair. However, When I was younger I used to go once a month, and
always got the same style. Short back and sides.

Voice
 How would you describe your voice?
 Did you have the same voice as a child?
 Do you like your vice?
 Do you ever record your voice?

How would you describe your voice?

That’s a tough question, I guess I would describe it as quite. Low-pitched and
slightly husky. Some people say I have a bit of radio voice, you know they say
it’s quite clear. Mind you, I think I am quite soft-spoken, so maybe it’s not the
best voice for the radio.

Do you ever record your voice?

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It’s funny you should ask, because actually I just started recording my voice
recently. My Chinese teacher recommended it as a way to improve my speaking
skills, so I recorded some phrases with a mobile phone app, and then compare
my pronunciation with a native speaker recording.

Concentration
 What helps you concentrate?
 What stops you from concentrating?
 What do you do when you can’t concentrate?

What helps you concentrate?

Peace and quiet. If there’s lots of background noise going on, even if it’s not
really loud, then it distracts me and I just can’t focus on whatever I am doing.
So when I am reading a studying for example, I’m a stickler for silence.

What do you do when you can’t concentrate?

I find the best thing to do is stop whatever I am doing and go and do something
else. I mean I have some techniques I try, like breaking my work down into
20minutes chunks, or drinking water, and that helps. But, more often than not, I
just change activity.

Speaking Part 1 (warm up questions)

Idiomatic expression on ‘work’
 Yesterday, I was talking to Jane and I decided to spill the beans about my
new job. (to reveal a secret)
 Pack something in = to stop doing something
Eg: I am going to pack in my job.
 I have working like a dog.
(Working very hard)
 This job is above her pay grade.
 If she plays her cards right, (do the right things) she will be up for a
promotion. (eligible)
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 We try our best to climb the corporate ladder

 You got a golden handshake (bonus when you retire)
 It is a cushy number = an easy job
 I have a lot on my plate these days = I am busy/things are hectic
 I managed to get a foot in the door. (To get an opportunity to enter…)

Sample answer: WORK

 Do you work or study?

 I graduated last year and now I work full-time.
to graduate = to finish university
to work full-time = to work 30 or 40 hours per week
to work part-time = to work less than 30 hours per week

 I’m employed full-time. I work for Coca-Cola.

 I was unemployed for several months and have just joined a new
company.

to be unemployed = not to have a job

to join the company = to find a new job

 What is your job?

 It’s just an admin nine-to-five office job. I’m a personal assistant at a
law firm.
nine-to-five = the normal working hours in an office
 I work nine to five.

 I’ve been working in accounting for a few years and now I’m a senior
accountant at a big multinational corporation.
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I have been working in (accounting)/as (an accountant) for…years = This is a

great opportunity to use the present perfect continuous tense.

 Why did you choose this job?

 Both of my parents are lawyers. I guess it runs in the family.
To run in the family = if a quality, ability, disease, etc. runs in the family, many
members of the family have it
 I needed a job and the office across the road advertised a vacancy. So I
thought, “Why not?”

 I guess I chose to become a photographer because I’m deeply fond of

photography. In my occupation, no two days are alike.
to be fond of something = to like something for a long time
an occupation = (formal) profession or job

 Is it a popular job in your country?

 Absolutely. Every company needs an accountant. I suppose it’s a popular
job in every country.
Not really. It seems that most people don’t think that being a You Tuber is a
real job.

 Do you like your job?

 The perk of being a travel agent is that I’ve travelled to so many
destinations for free. The pay could be better, though.
the perk = something you receive as well as your wages for doing a
particular job
high-paid job
low-paid job
 Accounting can be a bit boring at times but the money is good.
 Being a teacher is not a high-paid job, but a deeply rewarding one.
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rewarding work/job/career = it gives the sense of doing something important

fulfilling work/job/career = it gives you personal satisfaction or happiness
 I find something satisfying in recording every little transaction correctly.

 What do you dislike about your job?

 I have to work overtime quite regularly and I’d prefer not to.

Overtime = time worked in addition to one’s normal working hours to work

long hours
Overwhelming = very great in amount

Sometimes the amount of work is simply overwhelming. At other times, it’s so

quiet that I have nothing to do.

 Do you get on well with your colleagues?

to get on/along with somebody = to have a friendly relationship with

somebody
 I’m lucky to work with very nice people, and we all sometimes have
drinks together after work.

 I have a good working relationship with most of my colleagues, but I

prefer to keep my private and professional lives separate.

 What was your first day at work like?

 I had an induction day when my manager explained how things work in
more detail and took me around the office to introduce me to my
colleagues.
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Induction = introducing somebody to a new job or skill

 What responsibilities do you have at work?

 I’m responsible for answering calls and booking appointments for new
clients. I also support more senior colleagues with any admin tasks,
such as updating reports, answering emails, or collecting information.

 What is your typical day like at work?

 I usually start at 9 am and take about an hour to answer all the emails or
finish any small but urgent tasks for the day. Then I start working on
more important projects, such as creating new courses or recording new
videos, and the day flies by. I only take a short lunch break and try to
finish no later than 7pm.

 Would you like to change your job in the future?

 I’d like to progress with my career in accountancy and gain more
responsibilities in the future, so I may change jobs one day.

 I’m thinking about moving to auditing in a couple of years. I just need to

gain the required skills and knowledge first.

Sample answer: HOME

 Do you live in a house or a flat?

 I’ve never lived in a house in my life. A few months ago, I moved to a
two- bedroom flat on the second floor in North London.

 Could you describe it?

 It’s quite spacious for London, with a south-facing living room, a well-
equipped kitchen, a master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, a
small guest bedroom and a study.
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Spacious = with a lot of space

an open-plan living room = your kitchen and living room is together
a master bedroom = the main bedroom
an en-suite bathroom = it’s directly connected to a bedroom
a guest bedroom = a spare bedroom for your guests
a study = an office
a conservatory = a room with glass walls and a glass roof

 What kind of building do you live in?

 I live in a four-stores red-brick mansion built in the 1930s. It has nice
architecture and a private garden that we share with other residents.
 I live on the second floor of a four-stores building.
 I live in a modern high-rise building in a gated development. We have a
good range of facilities on its territory: a supermarket, a gym and a
couple of coffee-shops.
 I live in a typical single-store house with a small garden at the back and
a parking space at the front. Our neighbors’ houses look very similar.

 What do you like about living there?

 I like that most of the rooms face south, which means we get a lot of
natural light. The living room has an open view overlooking a green
lawn. What’s more, the location is really convenient. All the facilities are
within walking distance and it takes half-an-hour by Tube to get to
central London.

 Could you describe your favorite room?

 I would say it’s the living room because it’s the most spacious room in
the flat, with two big windows, a comfy sofa and a big glass table where
we eat dinner every night. That’s the room where the whole family
gathers together.
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 Would you change anything about your home?

 There’s quite a lot, actually. Before we moved in, we only had time to do
a basic refurbishment. We changed the floors and repainted the walls a
creamy color. We still need to buy lamps and decorations and at some
point, redo the bathroom completely.
 I love my house a lot the way it is. But there’s always scope for
improvement, I guess. I would…

 Would you like to move to a different home in the future?

What sort of accommodation would you most like to live in?

 One day I’d like to live in a house with more space and privacy. My
dream house would have a large open plan living-dining area, a garden
with a BBQ and a conservatory, to make the most out of sunny days.

There’s no place like home.

… feels like home.

I was born in Kazakhstan, but I’ve lived in London for so long that it feels like
home now.

Sample answer: FAMILY

 Do you have a large or small family?

 My immediate family is small as I’m an only child. So it’s just my

parents, my husband and me, but I have two uncles and many cousins.
Immediate family = parents, spouse and children
Extended family = grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins…
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Spouse = husband or wife

An only child = someone who has no brothers or sisters

Siblings = brothers and sisters
 I’ve grown up in a large family with three younger siblings, two brothers
and a little sister. Now I’m married and have three children myself.

 Do you have any brothers or sisters?

I’m the only child. Well, actually, I have a half-sister. My parents got divorced
when I was 18. Then my father remarried and they have a daughter.
Half-sister or half-brother = you have only one common parent
Divorced = no longer married because the marriage has been legally ended
Separated = no longer living with your husband or wife
My parents aren’t officially divorced, but they separated a long time ago.
To remarry = to marry again
Widow = a woman whose husband has died
Widower = a man whose wife has died

 Do you think it’s good to be the only child in the family?

 I guess there are pros and cons. When I was little, I really wanted to
have an older brother, but that definitely wasn’t possible.

 Could you tell me something about your family?

 It was actually my granny, my mum’s mum, who brought me up until I
was seven. My parents were geologists and spent most of their time on
expeditions.
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To bring up (brought up) = to care for a child

My grandmother brought up three sons.
My father was brought up to respect authority.
Upbringing = the way a child is cared for and taught how to behave while
she/she is growing up
I grew up with five siblings, so my upbringing prepared me for everything.

 What are your parents like?

What is someone like? = Please describe their appearance, Characters……
What do your parents do? = Please describe their occupations/jobs

 My parents are both well-educated, intelligent people. My mum is kind,

attentive and likes taking care of the family. My dad is still really
energetic and never says no to a challenge.

 Do you enjoy spending time with your family?

 Definitely, although my family live/lives far away and I don’t often have
a chance to see them. My in-laws are in Brussels, so it’s easy for us to
spend a weekend together.
In-laws = the relatives of your husband or wife
Mother-in-law = your spouse’s mother
Brother-in-law = your spouse’s father

 Do you get along well with your family?

 Generally, yes, especially with my mum. My dad is a bit short- tempered.
We used to quarrel a fair bit when I was younger, but our relationship
has improved in recent years.

To get along = to have a good relationship, to like each other

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Short-tempered = becoming angry quickly and easily a quarrel = an argument

between people who usually get along well

a quarrel with somebody about/over something

I sometimes quarrel with my sister over domestic chores.

 Who are you close to in your family?

 I’m very close to my mum. Even though we live in different countries,
we speak several times a week. There’s always been a bit of sibling
rivalry between my elder sister and me, but I guess that’s inevitable.
Sibling rivalry = competition between brothers and sisters
 I used to be really close to my grandmother and spent every summer
holidays with her. Sadly, she passed away two years ago.
To pass away = polite for ‘to die’

 Are people in your country generally close to their families?

 Indeed, they are. It’s not uncommon for three generations to live under
the same roof. Elderly parents usually move in with their children and
grandchildren rather than go to a care home.
Three generations = parents, children, grandchildren
To live under the same roof = to live together

Part 1 Questions
Advertising
 Do you like to watch advertisements on TV?
 How often do you see advertisements on the internet?
 Do you like the advertisements that you can see on the street?
 Have you ever bought anything after seeing it in an advertisement?
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Art
 Do you like art?
 Would you like to be an artist?
 What artwork do you have on the walls of your home?
 Have you ever visited an art gallery?
Birthdays
 How did you celebrate your birthdays when you were a child?
 Do you still feel that celebrating your birthday is important?
 How did you celebrate your last birthday?
 What is the most important birthday for people in your country?
Chocolate
 Do you like chocolate?
 Did you like chocolate when you were a child?
 Have you ever given chocolate as a gift to someone?
 How popular is chocolate in your country?
Computers
 How often do you use a computer?
 What do you usually use your computer for?
 Who taught you how to use a computer?
 Do you think computers have changed your life a lot?
Cooking
 Do you know how to cook well?
 Do you like cooking?
 Do you think cooking is difficult?
 Will you cook more in the future?
Dreams
 How often do you have dreams at night?
 What do you usually dream about?
 Have you had a bad dream before?
 Do you ever daydream?
Geography
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 Have you ever studied geography at school?

 Do you like to learn about geography now?
 Do you want to travel to any country because of its geography?
 Is geography an important school subject in your country?
Housework
 How often do you do housework?
 Did you do household work when you were a child?
 Is there any kind of housework you particularly dislike?
 Do you think you will do more or less housework in the future?
Jewellery
 Do you like wearing jewellery?
 Have you ever bought someone jewellery as a gift?
 What type of jewellery would you like to buy?
 What type of jewellery is most popular in your country?
Keys
 Do you have a lot of keys?
 Do you always take your keys when you go out?
 Have you ever lost a key?
 Do you do anything to avoid losing keys?
Languages
 What foreign languages have you studied?
 Do you think that English is difficult to learn?
 How long have you been studying English?
 Is there any languages you would like to learn in the future?
Library
 How often do you go to a library?
 When was the last time you went to a library?
 Did you go to the library when you were a child?
 How popular are libraries in your country?
Music
 How often do you listen to music?
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 What kind of music do you like the most?

 When do you listen to music?
 What types of music are most popular in your country?
 What’s your favourite kinds of music?
 How often do you listen to that type of music?
 When did you start listening to this type of music?
 Where do you listen to it?
 How do you feel when you listen to this music?
 Do you like listening to songs?
 Have you ever been to a musical performance?
 Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument?
 Is music an important subject at school?
 Did you often listen to music when you were a child? (if yes, give details)
 What kinds of music are most popular in your country?
Morning routines
 What do you do in the mornings?
 Is breakfast important?
 What is your morning routine?
 Do you like to get up early in the morning?
Names
 Does your name have any special meaning?
 If you could change your name, would you?
 Is it easy for you to remember people’s name?
 How do you feel when people don’t remember your name?
 Who gave your name?
 Do you like your name?
 In your country, do people feel that their name is very important?
 Is it easy to change your name in your country?
 Who usually names babies in your country?
 Do you have any special traditions about naming children?
 What names are most common in your hometown?
Noise
 What types of noises do you often hear?
 Are there any sounds you like?
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 What kind of noise do you dislike most?

 Is your area becoming easier?
Outer space and stars
 Did you learn about outer space and stars at school?
 Would you like to travel to outer space?
 Do you think it’s important to study the stars?
 Would you like to travel to outer space?
Puzzles
 Did you like doing puzzles when you were a child?
 When do you do puzzles now?
 Do you like doing word puzzles or numbers puzzles?
 How popular are puzzles in your country?
Reading
 Do you like reading? [why or why not?]
 Do you usually read for leisure or for work?
 What was your favourite book when you were a child?
 Are you reading any books now?
 What kinds of books do you like to read?
 Did you read much when you were a child?
 What kinds of books did you like reading when you were a child?
 Do young children like reading books?
 For children, what do you think are the benefits of reading?
 What are the benefits of reading to children?
Singing
 Do you like singing?
 Have you ever taken singing lessons?
 Do you sing more or less than when you were a child?
 Do you think singing can bring happiness to people?
Small business
 How often do you shop at small businesses?
 Do you prefer buying things from small businesses or big businesses?
 Are there many small businesses where you live?
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 Would you prefer to work for a small business or a large business?

Snacks
 What snacks do you like to eat?
 Did you often eat snacks when you were young?
 When do you usually eat snacks now?
 Do people in your country like to eat snacks?
Social media
 Do you like social media?
 What kinds of social media do you use most?
 Do you think you spend too much time on social media?
 Do you want to work in a social media company?
Staying up late
 How often do you stay up late?
 When did you last stay up late?
 How do you feel after staying up late?
 Does anything make it difficult for you to fall asleep?
Study
 What subject do you study?
 Why did you choose to study that subject?
 Are you studies interesting?
Technology
 What technology do you often use, computers or cell phones?
 What electronic devices have you bought lately?
 Is there any technology you want to buy?
 Is technology important in your life?

T – shirts
 Do you like wearing t- shirts?
 85

 How often do you wear t-shirts?

 Do you like t-shirts with pictures or prints?
 Would you buy t-shirts as souvenirs on vacation?

Watches
 How often do you wear a watch?
 What was your first watch like?
 What kinds of watches do you like to wear?
 How popular is it for people to wear watches in your country?
Weather
 What sort of weather do you like?
 Does the weather in your country change much during the year?
 Do you prefer to live in a place where the weather changes a lot?
 How often do you check weather forecasts?
 What’s the weather like today?
 What do you usually do during your favourite weather [or season]?
 What’s the weather [usually] like in your hometown?
 Do you like that weather (or, that kind of climate)? (why / why not?)
 How often is the weather good in your hometown?
 What did you do the last time the weather was good?
 Are there any bad points about the weather in your city?
 Have there been any changes in the weather over the past few years?
 How does the weather affect people (or, you)? (if yes, how?)
 Does the weather ever effect affect what you do?
 How do you feel when the weather is cloudy?
 Do you always pay attention to the weather forecast?
 Can you give examples of unusual weather?
 Do you like snow? (why?)
 Would you prefer to live in a place that has just one, warm season that
lasts the whole year or a place with different seasons?

Writing
 Do you like writing by hand?
 86

 How often do you write with a pen?

 Do you prefer to handwrite or type?
 Is your handwriting easy to read?
Study / Work
 Do you work or you are a student?
 Is that a popular subject in your country?
 What are the most popular subjects in your country?
 Why did you choose that university?
 What are your favourite classes / course / subjects at university?
Hometown
 What’s [the name of] your hometown [again]?
 Is that a big city or a small town?
 Please describe your hometown a little?
 How long have you been there?
 Do you like your hometown?
 Do you like living there?
 What do you like [most]about your hometown?
 Is there anything you dislike about it?
 Do you think you will continue living there for a long time?
Accommodation
 What kind of housing / accommodation do you live in?
 Do you live in a house or a flat?
 Who do you live with?
 How long have you lived there?
 Do you plan to live there for a long time?
 [If you answer you haven’t lived there long] what’s the difference
between where you are living now and where you have lived in the
past?
 Can you describe the place where you live?
 Which room does your family spend most of the time in?
 What do you usually do in your house / flat / room?
 Are the transport facilities to your home very good?
 Do you prefer living in a house or a flat?
 Please describe the room you live in?
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 What part of your home do you like the most?

Punctual
 Do you think it’s important to be on time?
 How do you feel when other are late?
 Are you, yourself, late very often?
 How do you feel when you are late?
 How do you think you could be on time?
 Do you wear a watch?
 When does time SEEM to move fats, and when does it SEEM to move
slowly?
 If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?
Television
 How much TV do you (usually) watch?
 What’s your favourite TV programme?
 Did you watch must TV when you were a child? (how much?)
 What (types of) programmes did you watch when you were a child?
 Do you think television has changed in the past few decades?
 [possibly] Do you think television has changed since you were a child?
 Has television changed your life in any way?
Museum
 Are there many (or, any) museums in your hometown?
 Do you think museums are useful for visitors to your hometown /
country?
 Do you often visit a museum?
 Did you go to any museums when you were a child?
 When was the last time you visited a museum?
 Do you think museums are important?
 Do you think it’s suitable for museums to sell things to visitors?
Holidays
 What public holidays do you have in your country?
 Do people in your country celebrate Christmas?
 Do you like public holidays?
 Which public holidays do you like the most?
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 What did you do during the last public holiday?

 What do other people in your country usually do on public holidays?
 What would you like to do during the next public holiday?
 Do you think public holidays are important?
 Do you think there should be more public holidays in your country?
Film
 Do you like to watch film?
 Do you prefer foreign films or Chinese films?
 How often do you go to a cinema to watch a film?
 What kinds of movies do you like the best?
 What was the first film that you have watched?
Leisure time
 What do you do in your spare time?
 What do you do to relax?
 How do you usually spend your evenings?
 What do you usually do after work / after classes?
 Do you prefer to stay at home in the evenings or do you prefer to go
out?
 Do you think modern lifestyles give people enough time for leisure?
 Do you think people it’s important for people to have leisure time?
 Do old people and young people spend their leisure time in the same
way?
 What do you think are the good points and the possible bad points
about having leisure time?
 How do people in your country spend their holidays?
 Do you like to travel in your holidays?
 If you had a child, what leisure places would you go to with your child?
Sports
 Do you like to watch sports on TV?
 Do you play any sports?
 Do you have a favourite sports star?
 What’s the most popular sports in china?
 What kind of sports would you like to try in the future?
 Have you ever tried any dangerous sports?
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Vegetables and fruits

 What’s your favourite vegetable and fruit?
 How often do you eat fruits?
 Are there any special fruits in your hometown?
 Should we eat vegetables every day?
Maths
 When did you start learning maths?
 Do you like maths?
 Who taught you maths?
 Who’s your favourite teacher so far?
 Is maths difficult for you to learn?
 Do you like to use a calculator?
Sky
 Do you like to watch the sky?
 What is the sky like at night in your hometown?
 Do you like to watch stars?
 Have you ever taken a course about stars?
 Is it important to study stars?
 What’s your favourite star?
Clothes
 What clothes do you usually like to wear?
 Do / did you wear the same clothes at school and at home?
 Will you change your clothes when you go home today?
 Did you have any special clothes to wear when you where a child?
 Did you like them?
Weekend
 How do you usually spend your weekends?
 In your country, do men and women usually do the same kind of things
on weekends?
 When do you spend time with your family?
 What do you usually do on weekend?
 What do other people in your hometown usually do on weekends?
 What are you going to do next weekend?
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 Is there anything new that you’d like to do on weekends?

 Do you like working on weekends?
 Do you think employees should have to work on weekends?
 Do you feel that weekends now are more important to you than when
you were a child?
Sleep
 How many hours do you sleep every day?
 Is it necessary to take a nap every day?
 Do old people sleep a lot? Why?
 How to have a good sleep?
 Do you like to get up early in the mornings?
 Can you sleep well if you are in a noisy environment?
Tree
 Do you like trees?
 Is there any important tress in your country?
 Is there a forest near your hometown?
 Would you like to live in a place that has a lot of trees?
 Where can one find trees (or forests) in your country?
 Do you think places with tress attract more visitors than places with a
few trees?
 Did you ever climb tress when you were a child?
 Have you ever planted a tree?
 Do you think more people should plant trees?
 Do you think we should plant more trees?
 Do you think trees are important?
 What would you say are the benefits of having trees?
 Do you think we need to protect trees?
Newspaper
 Do you often read newspapers?
 Which do you prefer reading magazines or newspapers?
 What kinds of newspapers (or magazines) do you usually read?
 How old were you when you first started to read newspapers?
 Do you think it’s important to read newspapers? [why? / why not?]
 Why do you think people read newspapers?
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 What different types of newspapers are there in china?

 Do you care about the news?
 Is the news important to you?
 What kinds of news do Chinese people read in newspapers?
 Do you prefer to read about domestic (or local) news or international
news? (why?)
 What are some methods that newspapers use to attract readers?
 What influence do you think newspapers have on society?
 Do you think the internet is a god way to get news?
Text messages
 Do you text someone if he doesn’t answer your phone?
 Is there any chance when texting someone is better than calling him?
 Have you ever had difficulty replying?
 How often do you send text messages?
Memorising
 What do you remember to do every day?
 What helps people to remember things?
 Why do old people forget about things easily?
 Have you ever forgotten something important?
Friend
 How often do you like to hang out with friends?
 Who do you usually like to hang out with?
 Where do you like to go hang out with your friends?
 Do you like to go out with a big group or just few friends?
Travelling
 Do you like travelling?
 In which seasons do you prefer to travel?
 Would you say your country welcomes travellers? (or tourists)?
 Would you say your country is a good place for travellers to visit?
Transportation
 What’s the most popular means of transportation in your hometown?
 How often do you take buses?
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 Can you compare the advantages of planes and trains?

 Is driving to work popular in your country?
 Do you think people will drive more in the future?
 Would you ride bikes to work in the future?
 What will become the most popular means of transportation in china?
 Do you prefer public transportation or private transportation?
Letters or Emails
 Do you write many letters or emails?
 What do you usually write to?
 Do you prefer to write letters by hand or to use a computer?
 How often do you write an email or a letters?
 What are the differences between emails or a letters?
 Is it hard to think of what to write?
 What kinds of letter/ email do you think is the hardest to write?
 How do you feel when you receive a letter or email?
 What sorts of letters or emails (or letters) do you receive that make you
feel excited?
 Which do you prefer to make a phone call or write an email?
 Do you think people will still write letters in the future?
 How do you communicate with others at work – by emails or is it more
convenient to communicate face – to- face?
Swimming
 Can you swim?
 Are there many places to swim near you?
 Do you think everyone should learn to swim?
Photography
 Do you like to take photographs? (why?)
 Do you prefer to take photos yourself or to have other people take
photos? Why?
 How long have you liked taking photographs?
 How (why) did you become interested in photography?
 How often do you take photographs?
 In what situations do you take photographs?
 What kind of photos do you like to take?
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 Do you prefer to take pictures of people or scenery?

 Who do you take photos of?
 How do you keep your photos?
 Do you keep your photographs on your computer?
 Are there any photos on the walls of your home?
 Do you frame (of have you framed) any of your photos? (if yes, which? &
why?)
 Do you prefer to send postcards to people or to send photos that you
took yourself?
Help
 Do you like to help others?
 When was your last time you helped others?
 Did your parents teach you the importance of helping others?
 Have you ever refused to help others?
 Would you like to keep helping others in future?
History
 Do you like (to learn about) history?
 What historical event do you find most interesting?
 Do you think history is important?
 Do you like to watch programmes on TV about history?
Handwriting
 Do you often write things?
 Do you write every day?
 What do you usually write?
 Do you like writing to people?
 How often do you send e-mails?
 What are your main reasons for using e-mails?
 Do you like to send e-mails?
 Do you usually write by hand or write using a computer?
 Nowadays how do most people write things?
 Do you think computers might one day replace handwriting?
 When do children begin to write in your country?
 How did you learn to write?
 Do you think handwriting is very important (nowadays)?
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 How can children today improve (or, practice) their handwriting?

 What impression does a person’s handwriting have on other people?
Colours
 What’s your favourite colours?
 Are there any colours you dislike (why?)
 Are colours important to you?
 Were colours important to you when you were a child?
 When you are buying something, is the colour important to you?
 Do you usually wear clothes in your favourite colours?
 Is colour very important to you when you are buying clothes?
 Do you prefer light or dark (or, bright) colours?
 Are there any colours that have a special meaning in your country?
 What colour would you choose to paint the walls of your country?
 Is there any colour you would not want your walls to be? [why?]
 Do you think different types of people like different colours?
Teacher
 Do you have a favourite teacher?
 Why do you like the teacher?
 How does (did) this teacher help you?
 Do you think you could be a teacher?
 Would you like to be a teacher?
Being alone
 Do you like to be alone?
 What do you like to do when you are alone?
 Do you like to spend time with your friends or just stay at home on your
own?
 When was the last time you were being alone?
Teamwork
 When was your last time worked with a team?
 Do you like to work or study with others or just by yourself?
 What’s the most important thing for teamwork?
 Do you like to be a leader?
Countryside
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 Would you like to live in the countryside in the future?

 What do people living in the countryside like to do?
 What are the benefits of living in rural areas?
 What are the differences between living in the city and the countryside?
Social network
 What kinds of social networking websites do you like to use?
 Are you a social person?
 What kinds of people do you like to make friends with on those
websites?
 Is it good to find real friends on social network?
Hanging out with friends
 How often do you like to hang out with friends?
 Who do you usually like to hang out with?
 Where do you like to go when you hang out with your friends?
 Do you like to go out with a big group or just few friends?

IELTS Speaking Part – 2

 Use the preparation time wisely: useful notes will help you speak for longer.

 Refer to the task card as you talk: The points on the task card are designed to
help
you structure your talk.
 Be aware of how long 2 minutes is. You need to produce a rounded talk that
is
long enough, but not too long.
 In this part, the examiner will give you a cue card in which a topic will be
mentioned. You will then be given 1 minute to practice for the answer and also
be provided with a pencil and paper to note down the important points. After the
1 minute of preparation time, you will be expected to speak for 2-3 minutes on
the topic after which the examiner will ask questions based on the topic.

This part test your ability to speak about a given topic by using proper
language and putting forward the ideas coherently.

Tips for part 2

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1. Use the one minute preparation time well

- 10 seconds getting your idea (the first one that is good enough)
- 50 seconds thinking about the structure of your answer
2. Focus on the idea; for example – Describe an interesting person (teacher,
parents) you know.
3. Focus on the structure
- Who is she
- Why he is interesting
- How you feel
- You can use the bullet points on the task card
4. Use examples and short anecdotes
5. Get to the point
6. Stay on topic
7. The examiner may interrupt you – not worry
8. Don’t memorise whole answer
9. Imagine
Show of…
- Complex lg
- Longer sentences
- Intonation
- Coherence

How long is IELTS speaking part 2?

 IELTS speaking part 2 lasts 3 to 4 minutes
This means, in addition to the examiner talking, you have
- One minute to prepare your task
- 1 to 2 minutes to talk about the topic
 I recommend you for at least 1 minute and 30 seconds.
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 You can carry on speaking for 2 minutes but if you stop after 1minute and 30
seconds, the examiner will ask you a short follow up answer. Either way, the
examiner will stop you speaking after 2minutes.
 You will be given paper and pencil to make notes. You can keep both the
task card (cue card) and your notes to look at throughout your talk.
 You only give them back after you have finished your part 2 talk.

What not to do in IELTS speaking part 2?

 Don’t memorise your full 2minutes answer.
 Don’t try to learn lots of expressions that are far above your level.
 Don’t waste your 1minute preparation time, use it wisely.
 Don’t rush; instead, breathe and begin slowly. Choose your words carefully
at the start to give you a solid beginning.
 Don’t give the task card back as you start speaking, keep it and use it to help
structure your task.

Some advices
 In order to prepare well, I suggest you get familiar with the common IELTS
speaking part 2 topics that appear in the test.
 You don’t need to know all the specific questions. You just need the
language to talk confidently and flexibly about these topics.
 Don’t memorize answer, as you will be penalized for this.
 There are so many topics for part 2 of the speaking test, that it is almost
impossible to prepare each one.
 It can be useful to start your preparation by putting the topics into these five
categories.
 I would say, just about all topics can be put into one of these categories.

 People
 Places
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 Events
 Activities
 Things

IELTS speaking category: People

In your 2 minutes talk you can say:
 Who (they are)
 How (you know or met them)
 Feel (how you feel about them)
When talking about who they are you can use adjectives like these:
 Personality
Extremely friendly, out-going, a real extrovert, timid, quite shy, a bit of an
introvert, diligent (hard-working)
 Appearance
Plump, slightly overweight, quite slim, rather tall, a bit taller than me
When talking about how you know or met them, you can talk about their job,
role and relationship
She’s my
 Boss
 Ex-boss
 Colleague
 Workmate
 Classmate
When talking about how you feel about them, you can use expressions like
these:
 I was excited to see them
 I was thrilled to meet them again
 I was delighted to spend time with them again
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 I was over the moon to see them again

Idiomatic expressions about people

They are like two peas in a pod!
(They are very similar)
 He is as sharp as a knife
(He is very clever/ intelligent)
 He is not the sharpest tool in the shed
(He isn’t very clever/intelligent)
 Calm and collected = (very calm)
 We are like chalk and cheese
= very different
 Come rain or shine
(At any time/ no matter what happens)
Example: she is very helpful, Come rain or shine
 He’s big-boned (He is fat)
 She is getting on a bit (she’s old)
 You could say, she is vertically challenged (She is short)

Proverbs
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
(If you don’t try or take risks, you won’t succeed)
 Eg: My uncle runs restaurant. He believes nothing ventured, nothing gained
 Where there is a will, there is a way (if you really want to do something, you
can)
Eg: My uncle, who runs a restaurant, believes where there is a will, there is a
way. So despite obstacles when he set up his business, he managed to do it.
 To go back a long way
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(we have known each other for a long time/we are old friends)
Example: we go back a long way
 A man/woman after your own heart (you think in a similar way/ you admire
that person was of thinking)
Example: you are a man after my own heart
(we think in a similar way)
TEMPLATE: People
Who
How you know them
Describe them
 Describe a friend that you feel proud of
 Describe a person who travels a lot by plane for work purposes
 Describe someone you know who spends their free time helping Other

Who?
X was a former colleague
X is a classmate of mine
X is one of the most intelligent people I know
(Beautiful, handsome, diligent, generous)
How you know them
I first met X 2 years ago.
I have known X for donkey’s years.
We have back a long time.
Describe them
X is a real extrovert. (n)
X is pretty gregarious. (adv)
X is a little withdrawn. (adj)
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Describe a friend that you feel proud of.

I am going to talk about TOM who was a former colleague of mine back in the
day. When I was working for a law firm in London so, we have known each
other for donkey’s years, and I think we first met I 2010.
We were working in the same department and got on really well, we really hit it
off from the start.
He is arguably the most intelligent guy I’ve ever met; I mean he’s sharp,
really sharp! He’s pretty gregarious, but much focused.
Anyway, he left that company to set up his own business, and he made a real
success of it.
He went from being one man, to now having a team of 10, and being known as
one of the leading laws firms in his area.
I feel extremely proud of him, because he deserved to do well, I am sure he
will continue to grow and do well.

Speaking template: Events

 Describe a happy day you would like to have.
 Describe a colorful event that you enjoyed.
 Describe a time you were with people and got bored.
 Describe a time when you heard someone talking on the phone
 A time I received a bad service

Describe a time you were with people and got bored

You should say
 Where you were
 Who you were with
 Why it was boring
And explain what you did

Events
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Setting
People
Happened
Setting: language
 When I was living/working in…
 I was living/working/travelling in X at the time
 I used to live/work in…
 I would always/often/usually…

Past perfect
 The event happened in March of 2017.
 I was living/working/travelling in X at the time.
 I had moved there a few years earlier.

People: personality
 He was so talkative, rude, thick-skinned
 She was quite polite, sensitive, thoughtful

Happened: language
 I was doing…, when X happened.
 I did A I did B and then I did C
 I wish I had known…, then I wouldn’t have gone
 Looking back, I wouldn’t do that again

Describe a colourful event that you enjoyed.

 A while back, I went to see a show called the lion king. I was travelling in
holiday in London at the time with my family. I had heard about that show,
so I decided to get tickets for us all. My daughter was dead excited about it. She
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was seven at the time, so she was really into animals. My wife was pleased as
punch, because she had never been to a show in London before. She said I
have been very thoughtful and considerate buying tickets for us.
So, we arrived at the theatre, gave in our tickets and sat down. We were struck
by the size of it. The hall was huge. The stage was closed by this large red
curtain, and the auditorium had these lovely golden arches in the galleries. Our
seats were really comfy, with nice blue covers.
After a few minutes the show started and it was wonderful. The costumes were
striking, full of different colours and textures. There was an array of lights,
reflecting the various colors of Africa. You really felt like you were there. We
loved it, and if I had known it was going to be that good, I would have forked
out a bit more money to gets seats closer to the stage.

Speaking template: place

 Describe your place where you read and write (not your home)
 Describe your public building you would like to visit
 Describe a place you have visited with friends
 Describe an open air market you enjoyed visiting
Places
 Where
 What it looks like
 What to do
 Feel

Where
 It can be found….
 It is a little - known place…
 It is hidden away in…
 It is tucked away in the back streets…
 It is slap bang in the middle of the city…
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What it looks like

Buildings
 A fully furnished house
 A high-rise concrete building
 A palatial building/house
 It has spectacular architecture
Cities/towns
 A picturesque town
 A bustling, vibrant city
 An unspoilt neighbourhood

What to do
 You can… (go hiking, get away from the crows…)
 It’s a great place to… (get away from it all, try new food…)
 People typically like to (see the sites, eat out, shop…)
 It’s well known for its (shops, cuisine, tranquil atmosphere…)
Feel
 I love /adore it
 I reckon it’s awesome, fantastic, outstanding, out of this world
 I fell head over heels with it

Describe a place you have visited with friends.

 So, a few months ago my family and I went with some friends to visit a cave
not too far from where we live. It’s really hidden away in the mountains, but
only about a half-hour’s drive from our home. So, the cave is actually closed to
the public, but they have built a replica in a kind of museum right next door. It
is an impressive, modern building, slap bang in the middle of the most
picturesque scenery you can imagine. It’s what you might call a ‘smart’
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building; so, lights go on when you enter a room. It has automatic sliding doors,
and the cave area has self-regulating air conditioning.
So, you can visit the cave and see all the cave paintings, well copies that date
back thousands of years. There’s a cafeteria where people typically have a tea or
coffee after seeing the cave, and of course there is the shop where you can pick
up a souvenir to remember your visit I loved the place, I felt it was realistic and
it’s a smashing place to take kids as it takes them on a very vivid journey into
the past. I would recommend it.

IELTS speaking: Things

 Describe something you borrowed which was useful.
 Describe your favourite item of clothing.
 Describe a movie you recently saw.
 Describe a photograph in your home.
 Describe a toy you had as a child.

Things
 How you got it
 Description
 Why important

How you got it: Language

 I came across it (found it)…
 I picked it up (bought it)…
 I got my hands on it (got it)…
 … When I was …
 It was a gift/present from someone
 I got it as a gift off someone
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Description: language
 It’s reddish, bluish, greenish…
 It’s square-shaped, round-shaped, pear-shaped
 It’s state of the art, high-tech…
 It’s unique, one of a kind

Why important: language

 It means a lot to me because…
 It has a lot of emotional/sentimental value
 It’s unique, one of a kind
 I couldn’t live/ do without it.

Describe a toy you had as a child.

 When I was kid growing up, I didn’t really have a lot of toys, I do remember
one that I was particularly fond of. It was an action figure a soldier
I recall that I got it as a gift off one of my school mates. My parents had
organized a birthday party at home for me, and everyone had come round to the
house and in the middle we had the present giving bit. I was so pleased to get
my hands on it, because I had always wanted one of these action figures.
So as I said, this toy was a toy soldier it was called ‘action man’. It wasn’t state
the art at all. Just a very simple plastic figure. He had two different outfits so
you could dress him to fight in the jungle or in the snow. The jungle outfit was
basically a greenish top, with black trousers and a camouflage jackets. Oh yes,
and he had a little, round-shaped back-pack, and a rifle.
I probably only played with it for a few months, but I kept it for years. It was
unique or valuable, so many kids had an action man, but I think it had
sentimental value for me. It reminded me of that birthday party. It was one of
the best I have ever had.

IELTS speaking: activities

 Describe a time you looked at the SKY (day or night)
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 Describe an indoor activity or game

 Describe your experience of learning a new language
 Describe a practical skill you have learnt
 Describe an activity you do when you are on your own

Activities
 What
 How
 Challenges
What: Language
 It’s highly popular
 It’s all the rage
 It’s really trendy now
 It tends to be popular with…
 It isn’t the most popular/useful/interesting (language, game) in the world,
but…

How: Language
 You need patience/dedication (nouns)
 You need to be patient/persistent/dedicated (adjectives)
 It’s not for everyone
 It’s a piece of cake

Challenges: Language
 The difficult/tricky things about it is …
 The biggest challenge/obstacle/hurdle with this is ….
 X poses a few challenges
 It is challenging, but it’s worth it
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Describe your experience of learning a new language:

After leaving university I went on holiday to Spain, and fell in love with the
language. I decided there and then, I was going to learn it. It was quite trendy
language in England then, because more and more people were going on
holiday there and wanted to speak the lingo.
Now, it is not the easiest language in the world, especially when it comes to the
grammar, and I know learning a language is not for everyone, but I wanted to
give it a go.
So, I bought some books and audio recordings and set to it. On top of that, I
actually also signed up for some face to face classes. Every day, I would read,
listen and write lots. It took a while but eventually I started to pick it up. The
big thing I discovered was that we need patience to learn a language. It seems to
take for ages.
For me one of the trickiest things, without a doubt, was the grammar. It is so
complex. That said, the biggest hurdle was actually not giving up. Several times
I wanted to pack it in, because I felt I was not progressing. But I stuck at it and
eventually felt I had reached a good level.
Me it has a great experience and it has turned out to be really useful. I always
use it when on holiday in Spain. Learning a language is challenging, but it is
really worth it.
Set to it – to begin
Pick it up – to learn (informally)
Pack it in – to give up/stop

Part 2 questions
People
 Describe an interesting old person you know.
 Describe a character from a film.
 Describe a person you met at a party who you enjoyed talking with.
 Describe a friend from your childhood.
 Describe a person who inspired you to do something interesting.
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 Describe a person you know who is from a different culture.

 Describe a person you know who is from a different culture.
 Describe a person you know who loves to grow plants.
 Describe a person who likes to dress fashionably.
 Describe a neighbour you find interesting.
Places
 Describe a city you would like to go to for a short time.
 Describe a place you visited that was affected by pollution.
 Describe a new development in your area of a shopping mall.
 Describe a place in your home where you like to relax.
 Describe a place in your country that you would recommend to visitors.
 Describe the home of someone you know well and often visit.
 Describe a city you would recommend as a nice place to live (not your
hometown).
 Describe a house or an apartment you would like to live in.
 Describe a time you visited a new place.
Things
 Describe an unusual meal you had.
 Describe a website you often visit.
 Describe a piece of technology that you feel is difficult to use you should
say:
 Describe a gift you received.
 Describe an important thing you learned (not at school or college)
 Describe a story or novel you have read that you found interesting.
 Describe a movie you watched recently and would like to watch again.
 Describe a TV program you like to watch.
 Describe a photo you took that you are proud of.
 Describe a traditional product in your country.
 Describe a special gift you have given someone.
 Describe a toy you liked in your childhood.
Activities
 Describe something you did with a group of people.
 Describe your first day at school.
 Describe a time when you taught a friend or relative something.
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 Describe a historical period that you are interested in.

 Describe something you did that made you feel proud.
 Describe an activity you enjoyed in your free time when you were young.
 Describe the daily routine you enjoyed.
 Describe a time when you helped a child.
 Describe something you do to keep fit and healthy.
 Describe a positive change that you made in your life.
Experiences
 Describe a time you were late for a meeting.
 Describe a piece of good news that you heard about someone you know
well.
 Describe a complaint that you made that and want to get were satisfied
with the result.
 Describe an ambition that you haven’t achieved.
 Describe a time you made a decision to wait for something.
 Describe a disagreement you had with someone.
 Describe a time when you helped a child.
 Describe a time when you saw a lot of plastic waste.
 Describe an occasion when someone gave you positive advice about
your work/study.

IELTS Speaking part -3

In the last part, you will have to discuss with the examiner, the issues related to
the topic, given in part 2 of the IELTS speaking test in a more general and
appropriate way as well as going in - depth on the topic. This part takes 4-5
minutes to complete. This is to assess your ability to justify opinions and to
analyse and discuss the issues.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 is your chance to really show off your ability to use
English flexibly to discuss a topic in detail and in depth.
We will be expected to use a variety of more complex functions such
as speculating, evaluating and justifying ideas and opinions.
Unlike IELTS Speaking Part 1 and Part 2, this part is not really about you and
your life, but rather about more abstract and general ideas.
What Happens in Part 3?
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After you have finished your ‘long turn’ in Part 2, the examiner goes on to ask
you more questions on a topic related to Part 2.
For example, if your Part 2 question was –
‘Describe a time someone helped you achieve a goal’
In Part 3, you may discuss more about
 setting goals
 reaching goals
 being successful
 motivation
 motivating children and adults to learn

How Long is IELTS Speaking Part 3?

IELTS Speaking Part 3 lasts 4 to 5 minutes. The examiner will usually aim to
ask around 4 to 6 questions.
Some of the questions are scripted, but the examiner may also ask some
impromptu (made up) questions based on your last answer.
You need to give longer answers than in Part 1. Your answers may last between
30 to 60 seconds.

How Can I Answer IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions?

In Part 3 comes straight after Part 2 and you have no time to relax, so it’s
essential you stay calm but keep focused.
In order to answer Part 3 questions effectively, you need to give longer answers
and develop your ideas.
To develop your ideas there are different approaches, but my favorite is to
follow these 3 steps (O.R.E.) and give your,
1. Opinion
2. Reason
3. Example
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So, let’s say the examiner asks

‘How have newspapers changed in recent years?’

You might say,
‘Well, I’d say the biggest change is that they have moved online’ (opinion)
‘Because they have had to keep up with social media as a means of spreading
news’ (reason)
‘For example, I used to read the Guardian newspaper, the paper version, but
now I read it via their app on my mobile phone’ (example)
This kind of structure will help you develop your topics for better fluency, and
also develop more complex structures (by having more clauses) and so
produce higher level grammar.

You can extend this idea and also add a 4th step (O.R.E.C.), giving your,
1. Opinion
2. Reason
3. Example
4. Consequence

You answer might now be,

‘Well, I’d say the biggest change is that they have moved online’ (opinion)
‘Because they have had to keep up with social media as a means of spreading
news’ (reason)
‘For example, I used to read the Guardian newspaper, the paper version, but
now I read it via their app on my mobile phone’ (example)
‘I think, by moving online, the big newspapers have been able to actually grow
their readership’ (consequence)

Part 3 Sample Questions

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It is impossible to know what questions you will get in IELTS Speaking Part 3
because it is more of a natural flowing conversation. At times, the examiner
may make up questions, reacting to what you have said.
At the same time, it is useful to be familiar with the kinds of questions you may
get in Part 3.
Here are some examples of IELTS Speaking Part 3 common questions types
QUESTIONS
1. How has ___ changed in recent years?
2. How will ___ change in future?
3. How could we make ___ better?
4. Why do people do ___?
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of ___?

EXAMPLES
1. How has shopping changed in recent years?
2. How do you think the family will change in future?
3. How could we make our cities better?
4. Why do people throw rubbish on the streets?
5. What are the pros and cons of globalization?