Speaking Part 2

Common themes
Let’s try to There are 100s - yes 100s! - of possible IELTS
Part 2 questions. Does that mean you have to
make life a think up 100s of possible answers?
little easier for
ourselves Short answer: No

Many of the questions are quite similar and

knowing how to talk about one particular thing
could help you answer a number of these if you
are clever about it.
Can you think
of one person One of your
relatives
in your life
who could be
the answer to
all 3 of these? ? Someone
An old
who
person you
influenced
know
you as a child
Answer: Your 4
Let’s say you decided to choose possible people in your life
Grandfather and learned how to describe them clearly, in depth and
accurately, using a wide range of vocabulary.
perhaps?
 Your Grandfather
 Your Mother
 Your best friend
 A classmate

How many Part 2 questions do you think you could answer

using just these?
 someone who is your hero, is the hero of someone you know,
s s c ho o l
v io u
or is a hero of many people

on
a t a p r e
d

so
Describe: ha

eo
yo u

me
assm a te a perso
c l

fy
on
n whom

s om
a yo u l i k

ew
et

ou
et o work

eon
e or stud

ho
a cla nm y with

r
of t
e
a friend you often spend time with

ew
ssm

is w

rel
ate, y ou

ho
collea e u

el l
goulleeag

ati
l oo
or a

kn
rc

ve
o cqu

ked
te someone who influenced you when you were a child

o
a aint so

Quite a few!

wn
s m ance

s
as y me
cl l

afte
la r on

in
a u
someone you k r ti c ey

yo

r
a ou

t
now who h p

ou
you
i s kn

ur
h o a s a n i n t e re s t i n

ab
w ow

to
t g job

wh
u wh

ow
o

wn
a b oh

en
w

kn
no ra as

,a
r k o al

or
you
o f

r ea
w d ot

ow
uk
n o
rh
a
someone you know or know about of

wer
re

or
g

kn
e yo t h i n d o sp
on

co
on some

ou
a
who does his or her job particularly

e yo
e h sib

un
m e

ny
so ul at a v ilit

tr
y

u ng
f

rso
ki l h

y
s ou well ur life

pe
y y o

er
rt i n
d e ant pa

old
n p o r t
f rie tim ay ed an im

an
l
a ng w h o has p
lo a frien
d
someone you used to play with when you were younger
Try the A place you
next few often go in
your free time
as well…

A place ?
A place you
which you
think is
think is
relaxing
beautiful
 An item that is
important to
you

One of your ?
A recent
possessions
technological
you couldn’t
advance
live without
 A party you
have been to

A typical ? A special
festival or event that
celebration in takes part in
your country your country
Perhaps think
about the item An item of A possession that
clothing that you you have had for
you love most often wear a long time
in the world
and see how My Nike
that can help Trainers
you answer a
variety of Part Something you
A present you would particularly
2 questions. received like to purchase
 a short
term goal
or
Or choose an ambition
you have
experience that you a subject another
you would language
often talk about. like to you would
study in like to
the future learn
Now see how many
questions your ability Learning
to talk about this Dutch
particular subject a foreign
a long
matter would answer. language
apart from term goal
English that or
you are ambition
Example: Learning interested in
learning you have
Talk about
Dutch one thing
you are
planning to
do after this
test
 Sometimes you will get a Part 2 questions that you have not thought about:

Expect the
unexpected Describe:

1. a wild animal in you country.

– and prepare 2. a pet you have or have had.

for it. 3. a time when you helped someone.

4. a piece of equipment you often use at home.
5. a plant that grows in your country.
6. a piece of advice you received recently.
 Nothing can replace the need to improve your speaking
For those fluency and your ability to respond naturally to any
looking for a question you might be asked.

shortcut, bad
However, there is plenty of preparation you can do to
luck! ensure you feel more comfortable around the standard
questions you will normally be asked and even making
sure you know how to respond to those slightly awkward
ones.
 We often talk about the same things, over and over!

We’re fairly
What are your hobbies?
predictable… What do you spend the vast majority of your time doing outside of
school?

Can you talk about these subjects in depth and accurately?

If not, why not?

The answer is often fairly simple:

You’re not speaking enough!

 What you
Subjects
wish to
you are
Do these topics study at
studying
University
cover 75% of what Let’s choose one of
you talk about with Your
these as an example:
Your
friends and family? favourite
holiday favourite
destination possession
What you
wish to
If not, why not put study at
your own list Your
Your family
University
hometown
together?
Example Answer:
What Business and Economics
Things to you do in at UvA
do in
Amsterdam your free
time
 What?
Question time
Why? Who?
We took the example
of you wanting to
Putting together a small
study Business and questionnaire on your own
Economics at the or, even better, with a
University of classmate or friend is one
Amsterdam. When? way to get chatting. How?

Well, how much could

you say about it? How
Where?
long?
1. What does [insert 5. Where would
9. How have you
bachelors course here] you like to study it?
involve? prepared for it?
Why?

10. Who do you

2. Why did you 6. How long is the know that has
choose to study it? course? studied this
course?

11. What kind of

3. What do you like 7. When does the job are you hoping
about it? course start? to do after this
course?

4. Who first told

8. When did you 12. How will this
you about it?/How
make the decision course prepare you
did you first find
to study it? for this job?
out about it?
 Describe:
Continue
practicing by
1. a building that has made an impression on you.
choosing one
2. somewhere foreign tourists would enjoy going in
thing that your country.
could be an 3. an historical place you have been to.
answer to the 4. an interesting building.
following sets
of questions: Possible answer to all 4: The Rijks Museum
Describe:
• a friend who has played an important part in your life.

?
• a friend you have had or had for a long time.
___________ • a friend you often spend time with.
• someone you used to play with when you were younger.

• one of your relatives.

?
• an old person you know or know about.
___________ • someone who looked after you when you were younger.
• someone who influenced you when you were a child.
Describe: • someone who is well known in your town, area or country.
• a famous person you have met or know about.

___________ ? • someone who is your hero, is the hero of someone you know, or is a
hero of many people.
• a well-known person.

• a classmate you had at a previous school.

___________
? • a classmate or colleague you often meet.
• a classmate, colleague or acquaintance.
• a person whom you like to work or study with.
Describe: • someone you know who has an interesting job.
• someone you know or know about who does his or her job
particularly well.

___________ ? • someone you know or know about who is particularly skilful at

something.
• someone you know who has a lot of responsibility.

• a place you often go.

?
• a place you think is relaxing.
___________ • a place which you think is beautiful.
• a park or other green space in your hometown or where you are
living now.
Describe: • a building that has made an impression on you.
• somewhere foreign tourists would enjoy going in your country.

___________ ? • an historical place you have been to.

• an interesting building.

• a foreign country you are interested in but have never been to.
• a place you want to go but have never been to.

___________ ? • your next trip abroad.

• the next time you will go away on holiday.
• a town or city you would like to visit.
Describe:

• a place you have stayed in on holiday.

• a foreign country or other distant place you have been on holiday.

___________ ? • a long distance journey you have been on.

• a place you have only been to once in your life.
• a place your parents took you to.
• a holiday you have had.
• a journey you remember well.
• an interesting place you have visited as a tourist.
 A park in Any
your holiday
hometown destinati
Now choose -on

one of the
following Amsterdam/ Playing
hometown Squash
topics and
prepare some
vocabulary you Learning Your
smart
Your 18th
Dutch birthday
might need to phone

describe or talk
about it:
New Year
A park in your Describe:
hometown
1. a place you often go in your free time.
2. a place you often go.
3. a place you think is relaxing.
4. a place which you think is beautiful.
5. a park or other green space in your hometown or
where you are living now.
6. a place you often went as a child.
Pick any
destination Talk about:

1. a foreign country you are interested in but have

never been to.
2. a place you want to go but have never been to.
3. your next trip abroad.
4. the next time you will go away on holiday.
5. A town or city you would like to visit.
Hometown/ Describe:
Amsterdam
1. a store in your hometown or the place you are living
now.
2. some countryside near you’re your hometown or the
place where you are living now.
3. a day trip you have been on from your hometown or
the place where you are living now.
4. the transport system for commuters in your city or
country.
Playing Describe:

squash 1. a sport you did or were interested in as a child.

2. a hobby you are interested in but have never
tried.
3. talk about something you are planning to do or
might do next weekend.
4. talk about a sport you are interested in but have
never played.
 Talk about:
Learning
Dutch 1. a test in English or another language you have taken at school
or elsewhere.
2. one method of learning English or another foreign language
you have used.
3. a foreign language apart from English that you are interested in
learning.
4. another language you would like to learn.
5. a subject you would like to study in the future.
6. a short term goal or ambition you have.
7. a long term goal or ambition you have.
8. one thing you are planning to do after this test.
Your smart
phone Describe:

1. an item that is important to you.

2. an electronic item that is important to you.
3. something you use for your work or studies.
4. one of your possessions you couldn’t live without.
5. talk about something that is important to take with
you when you go on holiday.
6. something that is in your bag or pocket now.
7. a recent technological advance.
 Describe:
New year
celebrations 1. a future festival or celebration in your family or your
country.
2. a time when you visited someone else’s house.
3. a party you have been to.
4. a typical festival or celebration in your country.
5. talk about your favourite day of the year.
6. talk about how your family usually celebrate the New
Year.
7. a special event that takes part in your country.
My 18th Talk about:
Birthday
1. an important day in your life.
2. an important celebration in your life.
3. a birthday you remember well.
4. your last or recent family gathering.
And finally… Describe:

1. a television programme that you watch.

Always be 2. a film you enjoyed.

3. the kind of book you like.
ready with a 4. one of your favourite books/films.
book/film or
type of music
Now have a go
at the real Describe your favourite photograph

thing:
You should say:

You have 1  Where the photo was taken

minute to  Who took the photo
prepare…  What can be seen from the photo
 Explain why it is the favourite photograph for you.
Describe the subject you are studying

You should say:

• What the subject is.

• What the subject is about.
• How you feel about it.
• Explain why you are interested in it.
Describe something you own which is very important to you.

You should say:

 where you got it from

 how long you have had it
 what you use it for; and
 explain why it is important to you.
Describe a happy childhood event.

You should say:

 When it happened.
 Who was involved.
 How you felt at the time.

Explain why you remember this particular occasion.