IELTS Speaking

3 PARTS 11-14 minutes

Part 1 - questions & Part 3
answers (around 12
questions on 2-3 Discussion (based on a
topics) topic from Part 2)

4-5 mins 3-4 mins 4-5 mins

Part 2 - monologue (a card)

● Preparation 1 min
● Speaking 1-2 mins
● Some questions (rarely)
 CRITERION What does it mean?

Fluency and Coherence Do you speak in a fluent way

that is easy to understand? Do
you link your ideas together
clearly?

How is my Lexical Resource Can you accurately use or

attempt to use a wide range of
vocabulary accurately and
Speaking effectively? Can you explain
your ideas even if you do not

assessed? use higher-level vocabulary

accurately?

For more details check IELTS Grammatical Range Can you use a wide range of
grammatical structures rather
Speaking band descriptors and Accuracy
than repeating basic structures?
(public version) Are your sentences accurate?
Or do you often make
grammatical mistakes?

https://www.ielts.org/-/media Pronunciation Is your spoken language clear

and easily understood? Do you
/pdfs/speaking-band-descript use stress and intonation to add
ors.ashx?la=en extra meaning? With individual
words, do you use stress
accurately?
 ➔ Speak as much English as you
can.
➔ You need to sound natural and
Speaking Tips not as if you have learnt
answers by heart. Be
spontaneous and relevant.
➔ Be positive.
➔ Use a wide range of vocabulary.
➔ Practise speaking clearly. This
does not mean slowly, but
naturally and evenly.
➔ Concentrate on the planning
and organization.
➔ Keep eye contact with the
Examiner, even if he/she looks
away or makes notes.
Part 1: possible topics
Study Leisure time
Work Music
Hometown/ Living place Neighbours & Neighbourhood
Home/ Accommodation ● Actually Newspapers
● in fact
Family Pets
● to be honest
Friends ● you know Reading
Clothes ● Well Music
Gifts ● for example Shopping
Daily routine ● and another Sport
Daily activities thing is that TV
Food/ Cooking ● But Transport/Travelling
● Also
Going Out Weather
● such as = like
Hobbies Culture/Tradition
Internet
 Neighbours

Part 1 Questions 1. Do you know the people who live next door to
you?
2. How often do you see each other?
3. What kind of relationship do you have?
4. How can neighbours be helpful?
5. What kind of problems can people have with
➔ 4-5 mins their neighbours in a big city?
➔ 2-3 different topics
➔ Roughly 2-3 sentences to each
question Food
➔ Avoid one-word answers
1. Do you enjoy cooking?
➔ State your answer and then 2. What type of things can you cook?
expand, if possible. 3. What kinds of food are popular in your
➔ Give examples & create ideas country?
(never say ‘I don’t know’) 4. Is it an important part of your culture to have
➔ Use synonyms, if possible dinner parties?
5. Do you prefer to eat with other people or on
➔ Paraphrase the question, if your own?
possible
Saying something negative For example = for
Things you like
I’m sorry but … instance = to illustrate =
I’m afraid (to say that) … let’s say = imagine = a - I love / enjoy something
To be (perfectly) honest, … / doing something
good example of this is
I’m not so sure that . . . - I like ... more than
I’m not convinced that . . . = the best example anything else / I like ...
the most.
- I am into … / I am
interested in
Adding more - I am passionate about
Also, … … / I am a fan of … / I
Comparing with the past Another thing (as well) is … am fond of ...
But when I was (a bit) younger I What else? Oh, I …
used to …
But in my school days I used to …
But back in the day I used to … Expressing a hope
But I’d like to try it if I ever get the chance.
But it would be nice to try it someday.
But hopefully luck will shine on me one
day. (= Hopefully I’ll get the chance.)
Benefits = advantages = positive
aspects
Part 2 - a card
1. You have 1 minute to prepare -
PLAN - BRAINSTORM - WRITE KEY
WORDS (15-20 words)
2. If you lack ideas ask yourself the
following questions:
- what
Describe an environmental problem that has been - who
in the news. You should say: - when
● when this was - where
- how
● where the event happened - why.
● what actually took place
and say how you felt about this problem. 3. SPEAK from 1-2 mins (cover all
points and speak as long as you can)
4. USE linking words to make your
speech logical and organized.
5. Paraphrase and use synonyms
6. If you don’t know what to say -
imagine it (you can lie as long as
you’re confident and use a good
language)
 Introductory Developing Sth made an
prompt phrases ideas impression on you
- made an impression on me
- I'd like to talk about ... - First of all, Secondly, - influenced me
- I'm going to talk - also / as well as / and - had an (enormous) impact on
about/describe how to - what's more / moreover me / impacted me
- I want to talk about … - another thing is / - affected me
- What I'd like to talk another reason / another - had an effect on me
about is ... reason why - brought home to me
(* Her passionate speech about the
- because / since / as environment really brought the
- And why do I like it so importance of conservation efforts home
much? Well, it ... to me)
- changed the way I look at
things
- moved me (to tears)
Benefits = advantages = positive - impressed me
aspects - touched me deeply
- disturbed me.
Ways = measures = steps =
courses of action = solutions
 Well … there are so many issues I could think of … natural
PLAN disasters like earthquakes and floods seem to be in the news
almost every year … but there was one story recently about
some animals that were under threat …

it wasn’t focused on one place in particular … it was looking at

Many issues -- various animals that could actually become extinct in
ANIMALS
EXTINCTION 4.SAD/DEPRESSED different African countries … if we don’t take steps to protect
them … these were really iconic animals like gorillas …
1. RECENTLY 2.AFRICAN
leopards … rhinos … and apparently they’re now listed as
COUNTRIES endangered species … what made it really depressing was
3.IN DANGER (DUE
TO ...)
they were in danger thanks to us … in some cases it was due to
gorillas/leopards/ a loss of habitat either because people need more agricultural
rhinos production … or even worse I think … because of hunting and
Loss of poaching …
habitat/hunting
/poaching
DON’T PROTECT
I hate to think of future generations being robbed of the
--- ENDANGERED chance to see creatures like these in their natural
FOCUS ON -
WILDLIFE environment … it’s lucky we have lots of organisations that
CONSERVATION focus on wildlife conservation … hopefully with their help we
can put pressure on those in power to do something to help
creatures like these not die out …
 Part 3: Two-way discussion

➔ Listen carefully to the Examiner's questions. ➔ The questions will be of an open kind:
➔ Try to be fluent and don't focus on your ● What kind(s) / sort(s) / type(s) / benefit(s) / effect(s)
mistakes . of ... are there? What kinds of things ... ?
➔ Concentrate on the organization and being ● What changes/ advantages / disadvantages /
coherent. differences / ways ... ?
➔ Keep to the topic. Think of your answer as the ● Why do you think ... ?
Examiner is speaking. ● How important / useful / beneficial / essential ... ?
● How does ... ?
➔ If you don't understand the Examiner's
● (A statement) Why do you think this is?
question, ask him/her to repeat it. There is no
● What will happen in the future?
point answering a question you do not
● Can you give me some examples?
understand. ● Do you think ... ? Why?
➔ Develop your ideas. ● What is the role of ... ?
How can I develop my ideas?
1. Put your list into an order: The main advantage, I think, is... and give one or more
reasons: ... because ... and it …
2. ANSWER + REASON + EXAMPLE (The main way/step/measure / think, is to/ ... because
this will/can lead to/and also/For example/And another way is/I also think/feel/believe
... In my opinion/From my point of view).
3. State different sides of an argument (To some people ... is a
downside/drawback/disadvantage, but I think …/however/nevertheless)
4. Talk about possible results or consequences: and so/therefore ...
5. When you are asked to speculate about the future, use (will/going
to/might/could/should).
 Part 3 Questions
- What do you think is the main danger the Well … climate change is a real issue … in my country
world faces in terms of the environment? we have flash floods and heatwaves on a yearly
basis … so yes … I think global warming is the biggest
issue.
- What examples are there of how we There are so many examples … there are factories
damage the natural world? that empty toxic waste into rivers and oceans … oil
spills that damage the coastline … the way we
destroy vast areas of land and rain forests in search
of fossil fuels or to increase agricultural production.

- In which ways do we respond well to Well … on one hand there are various worldwide
environmental problems? agencies that are always the first on the scene with
humanitarian aid after natural and man-made
disasters … and on the other hand we have
environmental pressure groups that are constantly
raising awareness of issues and trying to stop
disasters happening.