hints for speaking ielts tests

8/4/2019 Hints for Speaking IELTS Tests

1/39

East China University of Science And Technology

Hints for Speaking Test

School of Business

ECUST

Lin Wei


2/39

1. Be prepared and try to relax

The test: a fairly formal interview, notlike an ordinary conversation

The first impression: important

Body language: important

The process is recorded: dontworry

Greet the examiner: in anappropriate way


3/39

2. Be willing to talk and bepositive

Try to talk for at 75-80% of thetime; the examiner will do aslittle talking as possible.

Take advantage of everyquestion to show: you are aninteresting and informed person.

Be confident and think about

what you want to say.


4/39

Q: How often do you go to the cinema?

A: Once a month.

Q: Whats your favorite colour?

A: Well, to be honest, I dont really have

an actual favorite colour but I guess thatif I were buying clothes, then Id usually

go for something like blue or grey youknow, kind of dull colours, nothing toobright.

4

7+The more the better?


5/39

3. Standardized questions

A frame used by examiner: a set ofpre-determined questions on atopic

Four areas of speaking ability areassessed when examiners gives ascore:

1) Fluency and coherence

2) Lexical resource3) Grammatical range and accuracy

4) Pronunciation


6/39

The Test The test consists of three main

sections and lasts for 11-14 minutes.-- In part 1, you are asked to talk on

familiar topics such as your work,study, experience, family, interests

or hobbies etc.-- In part 2, you are asked to talk on a

particular topic for one to twominutes. You have one minute to

prepare.-- In part 3, you are asked to discuss

more general issues related to thetopic in part 2.


7/39

Strategies: Part 1

Introduce yourself in a relaxed, friendly

manner

Produce basic information about yourselfsimply, accurately, and as fluently aspossible.

Make full use of the questions asked.Answer questions clearly and in somedetail (using at least two or three

sentences).

Present yourself as a person who is willingto talk and has interesting things to sayabout yourself


8/39

Strategies: Part 1

Do not tell the examiner that you are nervous,or blink your eyes and move about too much. Do not cut the interview questions short with

one-word or very short answers. Do not wait for another question- the

examiner wants you to answer each questionin full. Do not be afraid to correct yourself, e.g. if

you make a grammatical mistake, but fluencyis just as important.

Do not take too long to answer each questionat this stage let the examiner guide you.You should sense when the examiner wantsto move on to the next question.


9/39

Tell me something about

Your university

Your leisure time activities

The food of your hometown

The transportation in your city

Hometown

study


10/39

What do you like about yourhometown?

A1:My hometown is Wuhan. Wuhanis very modern so I like thebuildings. All over the city there are

lots of new interesting buildingsbeing built. When I was youngermost of the buildings looked the

same so it wasnt as attractive as itis nowadays.


11/39

What do you like about yourhometown?

A2: Well, my hometown is Wuhan andyou might not know this but Wuhan isvery modern. Actually, all over the city

there are lots of new and interestingbuildings being built. In fact, it is quiteinteresting to recall that when I wasyounger most of the buildings looked

the same, so you see it wasnt asattractive as it is nowadays.


12/39

Practice:What kind of sports do you like?

A: I dont like sports. I like computergames. My favorite computer gameis Counter Strike and this game is

very popular in China. I like itbecause it is very exciting.


13/39

Strategies: Part 2

Talk in some detail with little or no hesitationabout the topic referred to on the card you aregiven.

Try to give an organized answer by followingthe instructions written on the card. Use thepreparation time to think about your answer.

Keep talking about the topic with no helpfrom the examiner for at least 1 minute and upto 2 minutes, about 30 seconds on eachinstruction.

Be aware of how long you have been talkingand make sure you have answered all that isrequired on the card.

Be prepared to answer a couple of questionsat the end.


14/39

Strategies: Part 2

Do not digress, i.e. do not talk of thingswhich are not directly related to the topicon the card.

Do not hesitate for too long in your answer.It is better to speak about anything thannot to speak at all.

Do not be afraid to correct yourself, but toomuch correction will make it difficult foryou to be understood.

Do not expect the examiner to give youfeedback on your talk.

It is fine to prepare something, but do nottry to repeat what you have memorized.

Lift your voice a little higher.


15/39

Strategies: Part 3

Try to talk around a difficult question byspeculating (guessing), using simplewords if you can to express complex ideas.This is much better than trying to impresswith big words that you may use

incorrectly. Always attempt to answer a question as

fully as possible and the best way you can. Use a variety of introductory phrases to

begin expressing the possibility or a future

situation occurring, (e.g. Ithink/believe/guess/suppose that; In myopinion/view; as far as Im concerned; Itseems to me; If you ask meetc.)


16/39

Strategies: Part 3

Dont repeat information you gavein part 2.

Do not worry if you cannot answereasily. The examiner is asking more

difficult questions in par 3 and istrying to find your ceiling thepoint at which you cannotcommunicate easily for lack ofvocabulary or some other speakingskill.

If asked to talk about the future, donot overusewill.


17/39

Possible issues that could be

linked to the topic Wild Animals

Loss of places to live

Human population takes over

Animal rights? Public attitude?

Numbers now Our responsibility?

past / future Protection?

Human exploitation: Government measures?

food/leather/experiments

Wild animal


18/39

Part 1: Sample Questions

1. How do you usually contact yourfriends? (why?)

2. Do you prefer to contact different

people in different ways?3. Do you find it easy to keep in

contact with friends and family?

4. In your country, did people in thepast keep in contact in the sameways as they do today? (why/whydot?)


19/39

Practice: Part 1

Keeping in contact with people

1. How do you usually contact yourfriends? (why?)

Example:

Well, I usually chat with my friends by MSN

messenger or by email as I spend a great deal of

time on the computer every day. But if theres a

serious matter to talk about, I will choose face-

to-face communication, you know, eye contact

and body language can avoid misunderstanding.


20/39

Part 1

2. Do you prefer to contact different people in

different ways?

Example:Yes, I do. For those acquaintances, I dont

see them face-to-face very often, just greetthem on some festivals by telephone. I liketo meet friends at weekends because Iknow they are my real friends and will lastforever.


21/39

Part 1

3 Do you find it easy to keep in contact with

friends and family?

Example:

Yes. Its easy for people to keep in touchwith each other in many ways: letters,digital cameras, cell phones, blogs, and soon. Email is the most convenient way tocontact people if you have their email

addresses. But the only pain for me is thatsometimes I have to email too many peopleback.


22/39

Part 1

4 In your country, did people in the past keep

in contact in the same ways as they dotoday? (why/why dot?)

Example:

people in the past mainly contacted eachother by writing letters. Today, emails areused more, which convenient and quick.But getting a handwritten letter seems tospark a more personal feeling. I think it is alost art in this modern world of textmessaging and emails.


23/39

Part 2: Description

Instructions:

You will have to talk about the topic for one to twominutes.

You have one minute to think about what you aregoing to say.

You can make some notes to help you if you wish.

Task: Describe a party that you enjoyed.You should say:

Whose party it was and what it was

celebratingwhere the party was held and who wentto itwhat people did during the party

and explain what you enjoyed about this party.


24/39

Part 2: Task Analysis

Start with an appropriate sentence

State the purpose for the gathering

/ partyTell about the place of the party

and the participants

Describe the activities

Explain why you enjoyed the party


25/39

Part 2: Sample Answers

Start with an appropriate sentence

Ok, Id like to talk about a family party I went to

last year. It was enjoyable.

State the purpose for the gathering / party

One thing our family does every year is thatwe all come together in my grandmothers

house to celebrate her birthday, which is inDecember, just two days after the Christmas.


26/39


Tell about the place of the party andthe participants

The whole family was there. I mean my entireextended family, including my uncles, aunts,cousins and grandparents. We go to mygrandparents house because their house islarge, very large, and since my grandmother isold and she finds it difficult to travel very far.Soits easier if we all go to her house.


27/39


Describe the activities

As usual, we had a huge meal with my

grandmother, and everyone helped in the

cooking. We sat around our dinner table,eating delicious food and catching up onall our news. Every family member gavemy grandmother a gift and a best wishes.


28/39


Explain why you enjoyed the partyI love these big family get-togethers. Its theonly time I get to see some of my relatives aswe live far from one another. So without family

events like this one, we might not see eachother at all. I like the way everyone is relaxedand enjoying themselves and not thinkingabout the pressures of work and life. It was

rather a family party than a birthday party forus. Its great for everyone to come together asa family. We also played games together and

had fun.


29/39


Family parties1 What are the main reasons/why people

organize family parties in your country?

2 In some places people spend a lot of money

on parties that celebrate special familyevents. Is this ever true in your country?Do you think this is a good trend or a badtrend?

3 Are there many differences between familyparties and parties given by friends? Whydo you think this is?


30/39


National celebrations

1 What kinds of national celebrations doyou have in your country?

2 Who tends to enjoy national celebrationsmore, young people or old people? Why?

3 Why do you think some people think that

national celebrations are a waste ofgovernment money? Would you agree ordisagree with this view/ Why?


31/39


Family parties1 What are the main reasons why people organize familyparties in your country?

Example:

Its great to see everyone again and enjoy one

anothers company. Its also a great way to share thelove everyone has for the family, which brings uscloser together. People say You can choose yourfriends, but you cant choose your family, whichmeans even the family members are annoying you

cant change the situation. Sometimes there can bearguments and disagreements. Stillits difficult to getaway to do your own things if theres so muchpressure to be together as a family on theseoccasions.


32/39


2 In some places people spend a lot of money on partiesthat celebrate special family events. Is this ever true inyour country? Do you think this is a good trend or a badtrend?

Example:

This does happen somewhere in China. I think the mainreason people tend to spend a lot of money for special familyevents like weddings is that its a unique event in that peoplethink that will only happen once in their lives. They want tomake it special and something to remember. Another factoris the desire to impress all your friends and relatives who will

come to the family events. Not only do you want to have funand enjoy the occasion but you also want to show off a bit. Idont think its a good trend to splash too much on theseevents.


33/39

Part 3: Sample Answers3 Are there many differences between family parties and

parties given by friends? Why do you think this is?

Example:

At gatherings with friends, you feel more

relaxed and theres so much you can do, discoor bowling or singing, and its more interestingand more fun. Family parties are a bit boringbecause there are usually food and talking. Also,friends parties can reinforce the bonds of a

social group. In some contexts, it can strengthenbusiness related bonds, and strengthen a senseof team and make contacts to further onescareer.


34/39

Part 3: Sample Answers National celebrations

1 What kinds of national celebrations do you have inyour country?

Example:

There are quite a number of national holidays in

China. New Years Day is a grand occasion for

the Chinese people. They celebrate the new yearlike people all over the world. The Spring Festivalis the most important festival for the Chinesepeople. Its on the first day of the first lunar

month, which usually lasts for more than a week.October the first is the National Day. On that dayyou can enjoy various kinds of entertainments,and sinceits a holiday of 5-7 days, many peoplelike to take the chance to travel.


35/39


2 Who tends to enjoy national celebrations more:

young people or old people? Why?Example:

I will sayolderpeople. Kids today are not taughtwhat our national celebrations mean. I mean whatthey truly mean. Its one thing to say we got our

National Day on Oct. 1st, but the youth of todayare not taught or experienced enough to enjoythem other than as a day-off. Older people, on theother hand, have in many cases served in the

army, or have good friends who have, or livedthrough a war. Seniors understand andappreciate our national celebrations more, sothey maybe not enjoy parties, but revere them

more.


36/39

Part 3: Sample Answers3 Why do you think some people think that national

celebrations are a waste of government money?Would you agree or disagree with this view/Why?

Example:

I quite agree with that. I dont like those never-ending national celebrations. Spending too muchmoney on vanity projects is extravagant , and itsa waste of the taxpayers money. The

government should use this money to help thosein need. Anyway, what is taken from the peopleshould be used in the interests of the people.


37/39

Part 1

Tell me about your career

Tell me about an important decision youmade

1.Think about what to say

2.Find the words and expressions to say

what you want to say3.Work with a partner and write a

paragraph

4.Talk to each other on the topic


38/39

Part 2

Describe one of your friends.

You should say:

how you met

how long you have known each other

how you spend time together

and explain why you like this person

1 Think about the topic (for one minute)

2 Talk about the topic to your partner fortwo minutes.


39/39

Part 3

Discussion topics:

Quality of friends

What do you think are the most importantqualities for friends to have?

Which are more important to people, family orfriends? Why/

What do you think causes friendship to breakup?

1 Think about the questions

2 Work in pairs, one as examiner, the other examinee.

hints for speaking ielts tests

Documents