2

E 3/ 4
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 so important to you
Model Answer:
The desktop computer I have is very important to me. I spend almost 6-7 hours with this computer which is even
higher than the time I spend with my friends!
My father bought me this computer 3 years back when I got admitted in the university. I have done some partupgrades of it but the main parts of the computer remain same as they were when I purchased it.
I use internet with this computer and thus get lots of helps related to my study and assignments. I maintain the social
networking, update my blogs, play video games, watch movies, listen to music, learn and practice the graphics
designing and programming and many more things in this computer. This computer has become an inevitable part of
my life and I can hardly think of a day without this computer. The references and helps I get from internet regarding
my study is unmatched. This saves a lot of time and helps me do better in the exams as well.
4 /3
Describe a river or a sea you have visited.
You should say:
Where the river/sea is?
What activities you do there?
Who accompany you there?

Explain why you like this particular place and why do you recommend the place for others to visit.
Follow-up Questions:
What are the differences between a road trip and a boat trip?
What are the importances of rivers in your country?

Model Answer:
I have once been at Cox's Bazar for about a week and really enjoyed my visit there. Cox's Bazar is considered to be
the largest sea beach in the world and it is beside the Bay-of-Bengal. We had the trip to visit the sea, beach and
natural beauty of this place.
Three of our friends including me went there in 2010 probably around June. This was a good time to visit the sea
beach. We stayed at hotel which was very close to the sea. We could hear the roaring sounds of the sea from our
hotel especially at night. The sea seems endless and this was my first time to see the vastness of the sea. I tried to
imagine the position of the other shore of the sea and the depth of it and after sometimes abandoned this silly idea! I
was really surprised when we took a motor-boat to visit a nearby island. All I could see was water around us. The
waves were so enormous and high that I thought this would hit us hard and our boat would sink. I am not ashamed
to disclose that I was bit frightened about the big waves and our small boats.
At night I walked beside the sea, I watched the lives surrounding the sea, people and their culture. The moon looked
like a hanging light in the wall on the other side of the sea. The sea looked less formidable at night except the sound
which was louder at night. The people, tourists from different locations, local people, fishermen, the long sea beach
and the sea exposed a life and place that we never knew about. I enjoyed fresh foods and fishes, different culture of
people, the vastness of the sea, the hotel, the working class people and their mildness and have planned to visit the
place again whenever possible.
Tips for answering this cue card question:

You can either talk about your visit to a sea or to a place near a river. Do not describe only the sea or the river as the
cue card expects you to describe your whole trip, not the river or sea only. But as part of your trip you have to
describe how was the sea/ river, where it is, what you did there, how long you stayed their, a bit about your journey
and stay, what different things you observed their, what things you have enjoyed there and who was/ were with you.
If you describe a sea, you should talk about a real sea and give some factual information as people would already
know about this sea. On the other hand, if you talk about a river, you can mention any river you have seen.
Cue Card
Describe a lake, a river or a sea you have visited.

You should say:
Where the lake, river or sea is
How often you have visited it
What activities you do there
Explain why you like this particular place.

Mind Map
As you can see, a story has been added in, and some extra information about 'who', plus
some interesting vocabulary
Its up to you in what order to answer the question. You don't have to follow the card, but
you should try to cover all the points that are on there and your talk must be organized and
coherent.
The mind map or following the card will help with this, plus giving cues to which section you
are on. For example, "I've visited it many times because..." tells the examiner you are
talking about the 'How often' part.
Here is a sample answer. Note how all the points are covered, plus some extra information
that is not on the card but is on the mind map.
Sample Answer using a Mind Map - A Lake You've Visited

Im going to talk about a lake that Ive visited.
The lake is in the Lake District area which is in the North West of England. As you can guess
by its name, its very famous for its many beautiful lakes. The area is also known as The
Lakes and it is a National Park.
Ive visited it many times because I live only a few hours from there. I usually go every
summer, and Ive been going for many years now probably since about 1998. We used to
go a lot in my summer holiday when I was at school. Now Im working I still go, but Ill go
at weekends. I usually go with my family thats my two brothers and my Mum and Dad.
Sometimes we might go with our cousins as well. I have also been with friends quite a few
times.
There are loads of thing to do there. At this lake we go to there are a lot of water sports
and I really like those. Theres jet skiing, sailing and kayaking for example, but you dont
just have to do those things theres plenty to do even if you dont like those kinds of
activities. You can go walking around the lake or further out into the areas around the lake
because there are many areas which are really beautiful. There are also some great places
to eat good food.
One of the best things I have done is a Kayaking trip. It wasnt actually on the lake, but in a
river close by. There are some white water rapids, so I went on those with a friend. We
started it with a group of others at a calm part of the river, with a guide as well to make
sure everyone was safe. Some parts then got quite rough with the water and strong
currents. It was scary but really exhilarating as well. Ill definitely try and go again one day.
The reason why I like this place so much is that although there are lots of exciting activities
that you can do, its also surrounded by lots of breathtaking scenery, with stunning views of
the hills and rivers. So its still really tranquil and relaxing and a really good way to unwind
if you have had a difficult week at work and just want to get away.
So thats the lake that Ive visited and Im sure Ill continue to visit there in the future.
IELTS Speaking part 3: rivers, lakes, sea
1. What do you think are the functions of rivers nowadays?

Rivers have various functions. In the UK, they were probably more important in the past
because they were used for the transportation of goods, but I suppose this is still the case in
many parts of the world. Rivers can be used as a source of renewable energy in the
production of hydro-electric power, and they are also a source of fresh water for drinking and
irrigation. Leisure activities are another function: fishing, canoeing, swimming, bathing... I'm
sure there are many other things I haven't thought of.
2. What do you think of boats and ships as forms of transportation?
I'm not really a fan of boats and ships. If I'm going abroad, I like to get to my destination
quickly, so I prefer travelling by plane. Of course, ships are vital for the transportation of oil
and other heavy cargo.
3. Why do some people like to live near rivers, lakes or the sea?
Well, the view is probably a major factor; most people like to look out to sea, or across a
river or lake. I'd much prefer to look out of my window onto a natural landscape than an
apartment building in a city. Then there's the lifestyle: if you live by the sea, for example, you
can lie on the beach, go for a swim, or do water sports like surfing or waterskiing. I definitely
wouldn't mind living near a beach at some point in my life!
Note:
These answers are less formal than the essays I write for the writing test, and I say things
like "probably" or "I suppose" when I'm not sure about the facts.
CAMBRIDGE 5 TEST - 1
Speaking Part 1 page 31 :IELTS 5
May 30, 2011 by SuLi Hoang
1. Which part of your country do most people live in?

Most people in Viet Nam live in plains like North Vietnamese plain, the Mekong delta. In addition, civilians
settle in beach plains. That there are favorable living conditions galore in plains attracts people to live
there.
2- 2.Tell me about the main industries there.
Some of the major industries in the plain are farming, forestry, mining, and the oil and gas industries to
consume domestic and export. These occupations provide the people with good paying jobs and good
lifestyles. So they help to reduce social evils.
3- How easy is it to travel around your country?
It is very convenient to travel around my country, providing that you can afford to pay for expenses. You
just need to phone the ticket agency to book a seat in advance and the drivers will pick you up at any time
you request. Furthermore, transportation system in my country is getting more and more improved. You
can travel by air route, roads, railway, tunnels, waterways and so on.
4- Has your country changed much since you were a child?
Yes, my country has changed so much that I can not believe it! As I was a child, my country was very quiet
and peaceful. In the past, there were no facilities, infrastructures , banks, hotels, buildings galore. Now
schools and hospitals have been erected in the remote area. Children have more opportunity to obtain
knowledge. Civilians take advantage of being looked after better than in the past.
FAMOUS PEOPLE IN YOUR COUNTRY
What kind of people become famous people these days?
In my opinion, there are two kinds of people who become famous people these days. First of all, people are
famous because of their real talents. They are scientists, inventors, singers, actors, rich and successful
people. The second kind of famous people is people who are known by their scandals. They do anything to
be famous. They do not concern about things they do right or not.
Is this different from the kind of achievement that made people famous in the past? In what
way?
To be a famous person, I think there are ways galore and nowadays, these ways are usually different from
those in the past. As you see, many years ago, a famous person was usually a hero, a heroin, a king and
so on but now, you do not have to fight the aggressors or rule a country to become famous. To be famous,
I think people nowadays can choose many ways such as inventing new things, or showing their talents by
becoming singers or actors and so on.
How do you think people will become famous in the future?
I think that people will become famous or not depends on the way that people want to be famous or not.
Some people do not want to be famous; they just want to be a civilian and live a normal life. On the other
hand, many people want to achieve fame. They want everyone to know them, so they will try to do things
by hook or by crook to become famous.
Being in the public eye
What are the good things about being famous? Are there any disadvantages?
Of course, every thing has two aspects. Being famous can help you have the adherence, everyone will
know and praise you and your name can appear on many newspapers. Moreover, because you want to be
famous, you have to try yourself to achieve it. It helps you show your ability. However, being famous also
brings many disadvantages. You may become a selfish person, you have no time for your family, and
especially you do not know friends around you are good friends or they just take advantage of you. You
may be under fire.
How does the media in your country treat famous people?
Like everywhere else, I think the media in my country also do things that the media in any country do to
treat famous people. When you are famous, they will praise you on their newspaper and they want to know
every thing about you. Even they can follow you every time, every where.
Why do you think ordinary people are interested in the lives of famous people?
I think there are many reasons to explain why ordinary people are interested in the lives of famous people.
The first reason is they are not famous, so they want to know about lives of the famous people. The second
reason is they concern about if famous people commit crimes or harm others lives.
credit: multisource
reup by: lienhoangphuong aka SuLi Hoang
********
PART 1:
1. Which part of your country do most people live in?
Well, as far as I know in Viet Nam the Red River Delta is a place where most people live. The Red River
Delta belongs to the North region of Viet Nam; it includes ten provinces and cities with the average
population of over 19.6 millions in 2009 which accounts for 22.8% of the whole country population.
2. Tell me about the main industry in there?
There are many industries in the Red River Delta such as thermo-electric, metallurgical, mechanical and
chemical industry. However among them, the metallurgical industry is the main industry with a lot of
factories that appear in most provinces. Also the building materials industry and chemical industry are the
main ones in there. Talk about building materials industry, in the Red River Delta, there are many kinds of
land such as alluvial soil, Feralit soil, etc which are the sources galore to serve the building materials
industry. And finally, let us take a look at the chemical industry, we can see that it has been in the Red
River Delta for a long time and nowadays it is strongly developing in various ways. I think in the future it
will be the symbol for this area.
3. How easy is it to travel around your country?
I make sure that when you first plan to come to Viet Nam for a visit, you will have to read various Viet Nam
travel guides as well as surf the internet to find out the information of any tourist attractions in Viet Nam,
and you want to get to know how easy to tour around Viet Nam. I think that is something which you should
have done. In reality, you will be amazed just how easy it is to get around by bus, train, private vehicles
with a driver and domestic flights. All means of transportation are easily accessible, efficient and extremely
good value. In the terms of finance, it is really simple for you to exchange any foreign currency into VND
and you can do that anywhere. The transportation and accommodation options are available and
appropriate to all budgets.
4. Has your country changed much since you were a child?
In comparison with Viet Nam when I was a child, Viet Nam now is a different kettle of fish. When I was
little, Viet Nam is just a newly independent country; there were many troubles in the early stage of the
process of innovation. The economy was slowly developing; the government was still launching the closedoor policy in economy. Nowadays, we are in the modern age. We took the whole country into the stage of
integration with the world economy. Viet Nam extricated from the top of the poor countries and wrote the
name into the list of the developing countries. The country is named as one of the Asian Tigers with the
annual growth rate around 8% per year.
PART 2: Describe a well-known person you like or admire.
Well, I am going to talk about my mathematical idol who has been recently honored at the International
Congress of Mathematicians 2010 held in India. The person that I am mentioning is Professor Ngo Bao
Chau. He was born in 1972 in the capital city of Ha Noi in a studious family. He had showed a special
aptitude for mathematics right from the time he was high school student at the Gifted High School of Ha
Noi National University of Natural Sciences. After graduating from high school, he constantly improved his
talent with the help of many math professors in Viet Nam as well as all around the world. The result of that
occurred on August 19, 2010 with the fact that he won the Fields Metal for his work of proving the basic
result called the fundamental lemma in the Langland program that was thought as an ambitious and
revolutionary theory a long time ago. He gained the greatest prize that many countries desire and he is
the first Vietnamese to earn the honor prize. It is really easy to say that he is a credit to Viet Nam. For that
reason, he earned the respect and admiration of me as well as everyone living in Viet Nam.
PART 3:
1. What kind of people become famous people these days?
Personally, I think nowadays every kind of people can all become famous even they are farmers or normal
workers in factories. However, in my point of view, people who work as a singer would be the easiest ones
to become celebrities because they serve a wide cycle of audience on a regular basis with their emotive
voice as well as their good-looking appearance. Thus, it will be easy for them to earn the respect and
admiration of everyone.
2. Is this different from the kind of achievement that made people famous in the past? In what
way?
As far as I am concerned, the kind of accomplishment that made people well-known in the past is different
from the one these days. You know, people in the modern age are much more intelligent than the ones in
the past. Therefore, if the modern age people want to become celebrities they have to accomplish much
more than what people did in the past. For instance, in the past, Isaac Newton became famous for his
three laws of motion; but nowadays most people all know and apply the three laws of motion but they do
not become renowned at all.
3. How do you think people will become famous in the future?
In my opinion, whether or not people can become well-known in the future is all dependent upon
themselves. If they want to be famous in the future, right now they have to do something that is useful to
build and improve their skills. As they are proficient at their skills, it will be really easy for them to become
celebrities.
BEING IN THE PUBLIC EYE
1. What are the good things about being famous? Are there any disadvantages?
To my knowledge, there are many advantages for being celebrities. The first thing will be money. When
people become well-known, they tend to be much richer than before because they have a wide effect on
public that leads to the publics support for what they do. The second is that being famous people would
have a great opportunity to make advance in career and do charity. On the other hand, being famous also
has a bad thing. Celebrities have to be careful when being interviewed; they have to live an unpleasant life
because something that they show the public can cause the trouble for their promotion in the future.
2. How do the media in your country treat famous people?
You know, the media is a double edged sword. On one hand, thanks to the media, people can become
well known throughout the country even cross the world. However, media is also a major factor that
causes celebrities to forfeit their fans for something such as a sober error in a performance.
3. Why do you think ordinary people are interested in the lives of famous people?
In my point of view, most civilians often have an interest in the celebrities lives because they want to know
what celebrities lifestyle is, how they are living they start considering that whether these things are
useful for being famous people. Yet, sometimes, people are interested in the lives of celebrities with the evil
eye. They want to find something wrong in the celebrities lives and inform the media in order to topple
celebrities.
************
PART 3:
In my opinion, people who become famous these days are singers. Firstly, music entartainment in our
country is developing very fast. Simultaneously, it is also influenced by other developed countries.
Secondly,civilians busy lives and pressure in works make them feel tired. Therefore, those singers with
their good songs helped people feel comfortable and reduce stress.
way?
As I see it, there are many differences between famous people in now and in the past. In the past, people
were teachers, writers or poets. They were famous because og their genuine talents. They had to try and
face to a lot of challenges to achieve what they want. However, time changes and now people who become
famous because of their talents are a rariry. Most are known for good-looking, scandals or something like
that.
In my opinion, there are two ways to be famous. The first way is that people have to come up with their
own abilities. They must prove their talents for everyone to see so everyone will love and support them.
The second way is that people use scandals to have civilians attentions. However, this way is not
permanent because there is a saying: Easy come, easy go.
What are the good things about being famous? Are there any disadvantanges?
I think there are many good things about being famous. Firstly, you wiil be well known with your talents
and you will have many fans that always love and support you with cordiality. Secondly, you can profits
from it and your monthly income is double or triple than the normal. Besides, there are some
disadvantages in this. Because you are the person of public, you will lose the personal freedom. When you
go somewhere, you must be careful about all of your actions to avoid scandals. Simultaneously, you have
to work with a busy schedule from morning to night, even until midnight. This probably will affect your
health.
In my country, journalists are the ones who are the first to have information about famous people. They
always appear at the right time when famous people are in trouble or in the vital events. If the famous
people are successful in their fields or they do right things, journalists will right good articles for them. In
contrast, they are ready to criticize when famous people have scandals.
Personally, I think ordinary people are interested in the lives of famous people because they are curious.
They want to know all things related to famous people such as private lives, private secrets and hobbies.
Even, they wish they could have a luxury life like famous people.
**************
IELTS 5 SPEAKING TEST 1: part 2 & 3 page 31
Part 2: Describe a well-known person you like or admire
Bill Gates was an American business magnate, author and chairman of Microsoft, a software corporation
which he founded with Paul Allen. Financial Times puts him at the top of list not just because his Microsoft
helped to revolutionize the use of PCs and made Bill Gates the worlds richest man but because he used his
wealth to become the worlds greatest philanthropist.
He is one of the best-known entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution. His products are
widespread and user-friendly, such as: Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, Windows, etc which have helped
millions of PC users to do office jobs as well as to manage their businesses everyday. His Microsoft has
created grandiose and durable empire in the software industry. Ask folks to pick one word to describe
Microsofts technology roadmap in the 1990s and you will commonly get CAIRO in response.
In 2000, he formed Bill & Mellinda Gates Foundation which is dedicated to bringing innovation in health,
development and learning to the global community. In 2006, he gradually transferred his duties in Microsoft
to his colleagues and has taken full-time work at this foundation. It has an endowment of 33.5 billion from
Bill Gates as of December 31, 2009. A huge contribution in charity has taken him to the leader of the
worlds greatest philanthropist.
Being famous and rich is a dream of many one of us, however, rarely do we think for the others once we
have a fulfillment of our dream. It is very difficult to convince someone to donate the majority of their
wealth, but Bill Gate is going on different way. He is using his wealth to help unlucky people, to make a
better life for global community. That makes him the greatest man ever!
Part 3:
I think that there are two kinds of people who are able to become famous these days. Firstly, they are real
talents; they have made great effort in long-term for practicing and cultivating their ability. They have gone
a long way to become famous. The second kind is persons who are famous by making effort on scandals.
Probably, they have beauty, money or good relationship, etc nevertheless; they are lacking talents, virtuous
life, motivation spirit, etc and unfortunately, they desire being famous. Therefore, they have done any
ways, any things to be famous.
How do we think people will become famous in the future?
If you want to be well-known in the future, I thought that you have to spend your time finding out what
your abilities are, then learn and improve yourself day by day. Even if you were talent from birth, but you
had overlooked practicing and just chased the fame, your reputation will not be long-lasting.
What are the good things of being famous? Are there any disadvantages?
On one hand, when you are a celebrity, you might get being wealthy, powerful and respectful. Sometimes,
these things are extremely outstanding with others. On the other hand, fame can bring big troubles to your
life, such as being followed everywhere and every time by paparazzi, loosing freedom, and having prudent
word of mouth, etc.When you are famous, you can not live a life of a normal person!
Media is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and Vietnam is not an exception. Nowadays,
media companies have poped up like mushroom, therefore, they have to salvage even tiny mistakes, or
sensitive information of celebrities to occupy more market share. It does not mean that all media
companies gradually become rag, but the majority of them are running after profit by using celebritys
reputation.
______________________
PART 3
As I see it, the kind of people who become famous these days are mostly in entertainment. They can be
singers, actors, actresses or models. They create styles, fashion and trends for our society, first and
foremost teenagers, to follow them.
way?
There are some differences from the kind of achievement in the past. In the past, teachers and writers
were very famous. They were respected for their wide and deep knowledge. Nowadays, however, people
are not roof and branch smart to be famous. Some people are just famous because they are good-looking,
have a little talent and especially because they are wealthy as they think money opens most doors.

I predict that it will have two ways of being famous in the future. In the first one, people will try their
utmost abilities to achieve great success in science, education or work. The other way is that they may
create scandals to attract civilians attention. This way doesnt require much of their efforts, but the fame
will be fragile, as we usually say easy come easy go.
BEING IN THE PUBLIC EYE
It will definitely say that being famous has both boons and drawbacks. Famous people can use their fame
to do charity. Besides, they can be very conspicuous when they are in a multitude. However, the other side
of the coin is that they dont have their own privacies. They are monitored everywhere and everytime. That
is called you cant have your cake and eat it.
Journalists and famous people always have an interdependent relationship. However, media sometimes
abuse their power to pick to pieces shortcomings in others private lives intolerably. They make up unreal
stories to attract readers. Therefore, their articles are usually insipid and shallow. These are things a
famous person who has to please everyone faces.
As we have seen, the lives of famous people usually cleaves to the definition of perfection and
meretriciousness. They always appear in public with the most fashionable and luxurious appearances. It
means that they by chance have interesting private lives for ordinary people to stick on.
_________________________
PART 1: Your country

Which part of your country do most people live in?
As I see it, most people in my country usually live in big cities and main point economic regions, such as,
Ho Chi Minh city, Ha Noi capital, Hai Phong, Dong Nai, Da Nang and so on. It seems that these regions
attract many denizens because they are great economic, industrial and service centers in my country that
make many vocations. Also, people live in these regions have higher living standard.
Tell me about the main industries there

It seems that Ho Chi Minh City where I am living now is the biggest industry center in my country. It is
famous for heavy industries such as, Metallurgy industry, mechanical industry, power industry, etc. Besides,
Ho Chi Minh city is also well-known for gathering many light industries such as, paper industry, milk
industry, garment industry, etc.
How easy is it to travel around your country?

I am not sure but I think that traveling around my country is quite easy. You can use many means of
transport such as, buses, cars, coaches, motorbikes, planes, or even ferry-boats, canoes, etc in waterway
regions However, in my city, traveling is quite hard because of traffic jams.
Has your country changed much since you were a child?

I accede that my country has changed much since I was a child. In the past, people in my country always
lived in destitution, not enough food to eat and enough clothes to wear. However, my country is highly
developed. Therefore, our lives are gradually improved and advanced. Our living standards are higher and
higher year in, year out.
PART 2: Describe a well-known person you like or admire

If I have to describe a well-known person whom I like and admire most, I think that person will be
definitely Barack Obama. I am sure that when I call his name, all of you will think about a person who is
the first African American president, the 44th and current president of the United States. Also, he is known
as one of the youngest president of United States. On 9th October 2009, he was awarded Nobel Peace Prize
for international diplomatic consolidation. Barak Obama is not only a talented lawyer but also an excellent
politician. He is famous for the speech running for the president that mentions about American changes. I
really appreciate him because of his cogent speech. In fact, I usually feel ill at ease when I stand in front of
a multitude because of my timorousness. I want to become a self-confident person and have eloquence
ability , so I consider Barack Obama as my idol I hope that in the future I will become a successful and
proficient person like him.
5/1
PART 1:
Which part of your country do most people live in?
In my country, there is an unbalance in the density of citizens. Most people in my country live in urban
areas, especially in the two biggest cities which are Hanoi and HCMC. It is a normal phenomenon in every
country. Big cities attract people to live in due to their quality of accommodation, the chances of vocations,
etc.
Tell me the main industries there.
In the two prominent cities, the main industries are Economy, Finance and Service. Therefore, it is easy
for you to find many edifices, industrial zones, banks, financial companies and services galore. These
industrial not only bring the cities the faces of modernization and means but also help their civilians
upgrade their standards of living.
How easy is it to travel around your country?
Yes, it is quite easy and convenient for you to travel around my country. It has a net of transportations.
If you want to travel around the cities, you can take buses which are systematic or pedicabs which are
more special and suitable to dawdle. If you want to travel through longer distance, you can take coaches,
trains or planes which are both improved considerably.
Has your country changed much since you were a child?
Yes, I concur with that statement. My country has hanged a lot from the time I was a child. The first
which is also the noticeable change is its economy. About fifteen years ago, Vietnamese people had to
reconstruct their countrys economy from the state of being uprooted by wars, indigence and wrong plans
of the government. However, lets look at what we have achieved nowadays. Year in year out, we have
made the economy more and more developed and modern. Secondly, the quality of living has been
improved more than in the past. Many people have escaped from poverty. Besides, we live in better
conditions than in the past.
PART 2:
The famous person whom I like is a special singer. His name is Ha Anh Tuan. In my opinion, nowadays,
there are lots of singers who sing kinds of music galore. Therefore, it is easy for you to have a person to
admire and so do I. I remember exactly the first time I listened to him. At that time, he was a competitor
in a contest named Sao mai im hn. At that time, the person I wanted to watch was Hoang Hai because
I had read an article saying that Hoang Hai was the prominent candidate. However, inadvertently, I could
not watch Hoang Hais performance but Ha Anh Tuans performance. I really was attracted by the way he
sang. He went to town in every melody. I could say that his performance was out of the world. I have many
reasons why I admire him. Firstly, he has an outstanding way of singing which distinguishes him with
others. It is very natural and simple but precise. Secondly, he is a kind of person who dares to think, dares
to do and dares to accept, which influences me most. He had temporarily abdicated his studying in
Germany to come back to Vietnam to fulfill his passion of singing. Next, I suppose he is an intelligent
singer in the ways of communicating and fashion. And last but not least, what I want to say is that it is
very absorbing to have a person to admire.
PART 3:
In my opinion, nowadays, people have more chances to become famous. Firstly, the people who become
well-known are talents in special fields such as singing, acting, the level of knowledge and Information
Technology. The second which is also a pity is that some become famous due to their scandals which they
may deliberately or inadvertently make up.
way?
Yes, it is. As far as I am concerned, there are more kinds of achievement that made people famous now
than in the past. Firstly, in the past, people were mostly well-known for their outstanding success in
studying or their glorious feat of arms. Comparing to now, people have more ways to become famous.
Secondly, in the past, if you want to become famous for your great ability in acting, singing, dancing, etc,
you must be the best in your country or your regions. Today, you do not need to be the best to become
famous, which makes people famous easily.
I believe that the ways making people famous in the future will certainly differ from now. Firstly, as the
technological age advances, people will probably become celebrities for their achievement of brand-new
technological inventions. Secondly, it is likely that Internet and Social Network will play a vitally important
role in discovering talents and upgrading peoples famousness.
In my opinion, everything always has advantages and drawbacks. Lets talk about the advantages. The
first is that you can earn much money, which helps you become affluent and do almost things which need
to be done. Secondly, If you are a celebrity, you will be admired and loved by a multitude of fans. Lastly,
your luck can rub off on your family. Now, lets turn to the disadvantages. The first which is also most easily
perceived is your private lives. You must be careful in every move if you do not want to have scandals
which are the main topics for newspapers. Secondly, many mean people try to make your acquaintance
because of wanting to take advantage of your fame.
Luckily, the media in my country are not as hostile and strict as those in other Western countries. They
treat well-known people in the gentle environment, which helps them have more chances to upgrade their
talents and fame. However, they are ready to criticize them if possible.
I have many reason for this fact. Firstly, the reason is that ordinary people are curious about their idols
and want to know what famous people is like in genuine lives. Secondly, many people who have sinister
ideas are interested in the private lives of the famous people to find their mistakes so that they can uproot
their fame.
Trich tu trang web: http://www.ielts-simon.com
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a person
Describe a person you admire.
You should say:
who the person is
what he or she is like
and why you admire him or her.
Here are some ideas. Ive underlined the best vocabulary.
Im going to talk about my father because he has been a major influence in my life.
My father was always a good role model for me as I was growing up. Hes hard-working, patient and
understanding; hes also got a good sense of humour and seems to get on well with everybody. Hopefully
Ive inherited some of these traits.
I admire my father because I think he brought me and my brothers/sisters up well; he was quite strict but
always fair, and he has always been someone I can turn to for advice. I think my father set a good example
by working hard and having a positive outlook on life. I remember that he used to leave for work early and
come home quite late, but he always made time for me and my brothers/sisters.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a festival
A common topic for the short presentation (IELTS Speaking Part 2) is describe an important festival in
your country.
My advice is to look for a description of your festival on Wikipedia. Copy the best parts of the description
and make small changes if necessary. As an example, Ive copied a short description of Christmas from
Wikipedia.
TEST 2 IELTS 5
PART 1
Whats your favorite color? [Why?]
My favorite colors are black and white. I like them because they are easy to combine with others when I
wear clothes. Another reason is that they always have straightforward manifestation in everything like the
idiom in black and white.
Do you like the same colors now as you did when you were younger? [Why/Why not?]
My favorite colors have changed from time to time. When I was young, I love pink because it is bright and
youthful. However, when I grew up, I felt that pink is just appropriate for children and I realized that I
preferred black and white to pink as I look more stately when I wear clothes in those colors.
What can learn about a person from the colors they like?
In my view, there are many things we can learn about a person from the colors they like. Each color has a
meaning about persons character, their outlook in a matter or even a culture of a nation. For instance, in
Middle Ages, they believed that yellow was the color of sham, like we say a yellow dog nowadays. On the
other hand, it is also the color of wealth and prosperousness.
Do any colors have a special meaning in your culture?
Yes, we have some colors that cleave to some special meanings. Lets say red. It symbolizes our national
flag and blood. Many of our heroic civilians had shed their blood for the independence of nation. Another
color is green. It is the color of plants and simultaneously, the camouflage battledress of our country during
the war. These are decisive colors from our war time until now. They bring us hope and luck to defeat
strong enemies.
PART 2
Describe a song or a piece of music you like.
I love listening to music and I have many favorite songs. One of the songs I frequently listen to is a French
song named Bonjour Vietnam. It is sung by Pham Quynh Anh, a Vietnamese Belgian girl, who has a
beautiful and pianissimo voice. I knew this song through a newspaper. It has been a phenomenon for a
long time in both Vietnam and overseas. Many people, especially the overseas Vietnamese, got a lump in
their throat, even burst into tears and commended profusely when they heard the song. Obviously, Im not
an exception, every word in this song impressed on my memory with a strange feeling. The word Vietnam,
which is resounded in the end of the song, has brought to every listener a holy feeling. All familiar images
of Vietnam were mentioned in the song with a tenderly love through her voice. The composer got the
sources of inspiration from Quynh Anh herself. He saw an image of Vietnamese women with a graceful act
in her and they have evoked him some heart-breaking memories of the war in Vietnam. Temples, statues of
Buddha, paddy fields and roads, houses are very familiar to us but she has never seen. Thats why the
song has that name like this. She wants to say hello to her motherland, to every simple things in that. The
song is all overseas Vietnameses sentiments that were not born in Vietnam but are always tenterhooks to
come back to their native country. It has contributed to bring pictures of Vietnam to all over the world.
5/3
Do you prefer to spend your free time alone or with other people?
It depends on my mood really. I think most people need some time on their own.
Sometimes my work is quite stressful and I spend a lot of time there with others, so it's
good to just get home and relax and read a book or something. But I get bored if I am
alone too much so I like to go out and meet friends in the evening or play football.
Do you prefer relaxing at home or going out in the evening?
I prefer to going out, After dinner, because I stay inside all day long with my donky work, I always talk a walk
with my mom on the play ground, it is not very hot, and release my all day pressure.Some people like to go to
night market, in Taiwan it is very hot, we can eat many delicious and special food in market and finding a
bargain, maybe 25% off on the clothes shops.
When you go out for evening, what do you like to do?
I love to nursing coffee with my friend and gossiping with my friend about work, some people like to go to see a
movie, enjoying the comfortable seat and the special effects of movie, which made me escape from my day to
day life.
How popular is this in your country?
It is extremely popular in Taipei, as I went to coffee shop, there are numerous people queue up for waiting a
seat, I think that Taipei's coffee shops are decorated with delicate.Some times they keep pets to attract people
who are dogs and cats big fan.

Is there any kind of entertainment you don't like ?
I try to avoid play the video games at home, although playing this games can make me exciting , when the
game over , i always feel emptiness, which have no benefits on my real life.
________________________________________________________
- Do you prefer relaxing at home or going out in evening? When

you go out for an evening, what do you like to do? Given the choice
between relaxing at home and going out in the evening, I would choose
the later. Just because this makes me more comfortable. Whenever I feel
stressful or exhausted, I often give up all my works and go out for a stroll.
Walking on the peaceful streets and looking at some beautiful villas
reminds me about my promise: One day, I will have a happy family and
we will live in a beautiful villa. At that time, I will look out of the window
and smile: I have already done it
- How popular is this with other people in your country? In terms
of this aspect, I am different from other people but not an eccentric. In
the evening, some people relax by watching TV or surfing the internet,
others go to the dense leisure center and others are inseparable with their
lovers. Finally, just only myself wander and look at the villa.
- Is there any kind of entertainment you do not like? Nowadays,
young people are addicted to games online. This is a virtual world where
they waste their time and money to prove In name rather than in fact.
From my point of view, government should have some judicious actions to
prevent this pernicious entertainment. It is crucial that we look at the
facts if we want to make the best possible decisions for the future. It may
be costly to be overly optimistic but more costly still to be too
pessimistic.
______________________________________________
PART 1:
Do you prefer relaxing at home or going out in the evening?
Personally, I prefer relaxing at home in the evening. I have many reasons why I choose this
alternative. Firstly, I have had such a busy day that I just want to relax and enjoy the rest of
the days at home. It is necessary for me to have peaceful minutes in which simultaneously, I
can lie on my couch, have a cup of milk and enjoy my favorite programs on TV. It will be
more wonderful if I enjoy these minutes with my family. Secondly, when going out in the
evening, I may face many inadvertent accidents from traffic problems or something like that,
which leads to the fact that I just want to go home safe and sound as soon as possible.
Therefore, it is safer for me to relax at home in the evening.
When you go out for an evening, what do you like to do?
I feel very interested in this question. The only thing appearing in my mind straightaway is
sitting in a caf with smooth and harmonious music. Concurrently, I enjoy having a cup of
coffee, watching people dawdling outside and thinking of what I have done that day. It will be
happy if I can enjoy them with my chums. We chat and talk about every thing, which helps
me relax and feel comfortable.
How popular is this with other people in your country?
Vietnam is a developing country and is extricating from indigence. Therefore, people in my
country have ways galore when going out for an evening. Going to cafes is also popular for
most of citizens in my country. However, unlike myself, they have a weakness for animated
caf more than quiet cafes. It is the reason why you can see there is an abundant system of
cafes which were overloaded by multitude of people in the evening.
Is there any kind of entertainment you do not like?
Yes, it is. As I see it, one sort of entertainment which need to be mitigated is night clubs. In
night clubs, the music is very loud, dark and people dance unconsciously. With a night at
clubs you must waste lots of money doing useless things. Besides, juvenile delinquency is
mainly originated from night clubs. Therefore, the government should have policy to control
night clubs to lessen their bad influence.
PART 2:
The friend that makes a good impression on me is the friend whom I knew as a child. When I
was about 6 years old, I met her in an inadvertent occasion when I visited my mothers
company every Sunday. She was my mothers friends daughter. We knew each other for just
1 year. She was a little girl with short hair and lovely face. However, what made me
impressed in the first time I met her was her beautiful voice and she went to town in every
melody. We tried to get acquainted with each other with cordiality. Notwithstanding the fact
that we just became friends, we got along very well because of having many things in
common. I felt very excited every Sunday as meeting her. Simultaneously, we sang our
favorite songs and danced together. What I liked most was we were side by side to discover
every corner in our mothers company. Our friendship was very pure and I supposed we
would be chums permanently. However, life was not as good as what we thought. Because of
many reasons, my mother quitted that job and I lost contact with her from that time. Although
we have not seen each other for a long time and we even can not recognise each other if we
see the other on the streets by chance, all things with her are the most beautiful memory in my
childhood.
PART 3:
What do you think are the most important qualities for friends to have?
In my opinion, there are qualities galore for friends to have which depend on individuals
attitude. Personally, the first is understanding. Because of the fact that it is quite common for
friends to have disputes, the understanding is a perfect reconciler. Secondly, I suppose it is
generous. If you are not generous enough to forgive your friends faults, your friendship will
be fragile.
Which are more important to people, their family are their friends? Why?
As far as I am concerned, this question is like a curious chicken and egg conundrum. In my
opinion, both family and friends have a vital influence in our life in different ways. Firstly,
family are our flesh and blood relatives. If the world lets you down, your family are
always ready beside you and raise you up. Secondly, lets talk about friends. They also can
affect our characters and attitude. They are the people with whom you can share things not
told to family.
What do you think causes friendships to break up?
I suppose there are many things making friendships break up. The first is not sharing. if
there are something wrong and you keep them in your hearts and do not tell them to the
others, your sorrow will be bigger and bigger, which uproots your friendship. Secondly, it is
not caring. A good night wish or encouraging words can have surprising results. However,
if there is a shortage of them, your friendship will be easily breakable.
What other types of relationship, apart from friends or family, are important in peoples lives
today?
Apart from friends and family, there are many vital relationships nowadays. The first is the
relationship between teachers and students. It is a good phenomenon that many
undergraduates still keep in contact with their teachers at high schools or universities. The
second is business relationships. For maintaining and upgrading their business, they must
have many crafts to make it better.
Have relationships with neighbors where you live changed in recent years? How?
Yes, they have. As far as I know, the relationships with neighbors in my neighborhood are
not as good and close as those in the past. For example, the first is they do not spend as much
time with others to share everything of their lives as in the past. Secondly, nowadays
neighbors are more hostile than in the past. The reason is the consequences of technological
age. Therefore, people have to spend more time working than improving their surrounding
relationships.
How important do you it is for a person to spend time alone? Why/Why not?
In my opinion, people should spend reasonable time alone. I am a busy person, which
leads to the fact that I really respect every minute alone. Firstly, it gives us a chance to calm
down and let our souls free after hard working day. Secondly, being alone makes us think
about ourselves and everything we have done to improve ourselves.
Describe one of friends.

Each person has many friends, but maybe, he or she just has one best friend. So do I. A
best friend is usually willing to help me whenever, whatever and wherever I need
them
My friend and I knew each other when we were kids. Her family was my neighbours.
She was a nice girl with black eyes, which likely knew everything. She always made
me laugh and I had a warm feeling when we walked side by side. We grew up together
so we experienced many interesting things. We played together when we were young,
studied together when we went to school. I usually told her my problems and she is
always a person giving me a key to solve those problems. In the spare time, we often
went shopping. We liked to see new clothes and tried them joyfully. Sometimes, she
and I argued about something, but we were never sulky in a long time. Because we
thought that each of us had right and wrong things, we looked elsewhere for the
solution. Now, she is living in another country but we usually keep in touch.
I really like my friend. She brings me many pleasures and happiness. She always
knows how to take care of someone. This is very lucky for me. I think that I never find
out a person, who can become my closest friend like her.
Describe your friend?
I will describe my friend Judy, we met each other on the university club , our character are totally different, I am
very talkative, but she is very quiet.Although she is quiet, she is very interesting, I think she is black humor, I
always call her doctor, because she always listen to everybody's mood and give very rational advice, she like a
wind, people who get alone with her feel very relaxing and comfortable, although we are not same type , our
personality are complementary , we would be best and close friends forever.
PART 3
Maybe the most important things are that friends need to share common interests and be
honest with each other. (why?) Friends are people we spend a lot of time with, so it
definitely helps if they enjoy doing the same activities or talking about the same topics as we
do, and of course we need to be able to trust our friends, so honesty is vital for a good
friendship. (alternatives / example?) I think I would struggle to become friends with

someone who didnt have anything in common with me, or who wasnt reliable or
trustworthy.
How important do you think it is for a person to spend some time alone?
Id say that its essential to spend a bit of time alone, even if its just a few minutes a
day. (why?) When you have a few minutes to yourself, its a chance to take stock and reflect
on things. (why?) Most of us live such busy lives that our brains need time to catch up every
now and then. (example / alternatives?)Personally, I try to have a bit of me time every
day; Ill go for a coffee or find a quiet place to sit and read the newspaper. If I never had any
time alone, I think Id go mad!
What do you think are the most important qualities for friends to have? In my opinion,
the most important quality is honesty. If friends have an honest behavior, they can have the
belief in others. This makes people feel secure when they have their friends near them.
Which are more important to people, their family or their friends? Why? In my opinion,
both family and friends are important. Family is the place where I can share my feeling, my own
problems and members of family are always willing to help me. My friends are people who
always help me when my family does not stay near me.
What do you think causes friendships to break up? I think friendships will break up if they
do not have a belief each other. Friends need to understand, share the weal and woe
and sympathize with each other. Those make people feel more secure and create a firm
friendship. If they do not do anything for their friends to make them believe, their friendship will
break up.
What other types of relationship, apart from friends or family, are important in
peoples lives today? Apart from friends or family, the love in couple is important in peoples
lives today. It makes people have many feeling at the same time. It may create magic things or
bad things. When people are falling in love, it is likely that they have all things in the world. But
sometimes, they have some problems, they feel very sad, terrible and their mind is empty.
Although the ending of the love is happy or sad, it always makes this life more beautiful and
meaningful.
Have relationships with neighbours where you live changed in recent years? How? Yes,
they have. In the past, the neighbours cared about one another. They knew clearly their
neighbours, how they were, what happened with them. But now, there is no more care. People
just care about their lives. They do not talk to their neighbours anymore. They go to work, come
home and rarely think about others.
How important do you think it is for a person to spend some time alone? Why/ Why
not? In my opinion, it is important for a person to spend some time alone. People can not spend
all their time in being with other people. They need some time to think about themselves. When
they are alone, they can completely try doing anything and maybe, they are successful.
1.
What do you think are the most important qualities for

friends to have?
Personally speaking, there are two most crucial factors which friends
should have: they are honesty and a sense of humor. Those who are
sincere would build up a strong belief in other people. As a result,
they could motivate long-term relationships. Besides, humorous
friends could help us get over difficult times and find better solutions
for our problems.
2. Which are more important to people, their family or their
friends? Why?
It is hard to consider the role of the family and the friends. They
have different parts in our lives. Family is the firm foundation for any
persons growing from being a child to being an adult. And, friends
are supplementary elements which are not less essential to enable
us to achieve promotion and develop characteristics.
3. What do you think causes friendships to break up?
There may be some reasons breaking friendship. And, betrayal could
be the cause which ruins friendships easily. Without the fact that
friends do believe in one another, they could not have had a strong
relationship.
Other relationships:
4. What other types of relationship apart from friends or
family, are important in peoples lives today?
I think neighbors also whether our lives are good or not. People
would not enjoy their lives if there were unkind neighbors around
them.
5. Have relationships with neighbors where you live changed
in recent years? How?
The relationship among residents who live in the same area has
changed recently. They have tendency to be separate with other
people. Neighborship is not warm and tight as it was in around 10

years ago.
6. How important do you think it is for a person to spend some
time alone? Why/Why not?
Being lonely in a certain time is good for everybody to think about
the last period we spent and intentions we do in the future. It helps
us to have a look at the past in order to see lessons which may be
important experience in our lives.
PART 3 SPEAKING IELTS 5, page 77.

In my opinion, one of the most important qualities which friends need to have is
that they should be interested in each other. Firstly, I think a good friend is a person
who sympathizes with us. We have issues galore in life so we need a friend who is
always listening, willing to be next to us rain or shine and sharing weal and woe with
us. Secondly, they will help us with pleasure when we have troubles in life. They will
try to understand the situation, points of view from their friends and do actions which
show that they care about us.
Which are more important to people, their family or their
friend? Why?
In my opinion, family and friends are the same importance. Family has persons who
we love most. In any circumstances, they are always willing to love, protect and
welcome us back. They dont expect any rewards but they just hope we are happy. On
the other hands, we need friends in society. Good friends and bad friends
existsimultaneously by our side. They can help us with pleasure or harm us because of
a purpose but we can grow up after that. Having best friends is one of the most
happiness in life anyway.
What do you think causes friendships to break up?
I think there are causes galore that make friendships break up. Firstly, it is calmness.
There sometimes misunderstanding between friends, if you lose control of yourself, the
contradiction may be more serious and this makes amities fragile. Secondly, it is
jealousness. When you are jealous with someone, you cant understand and share any
emotions with them even you always have bad thought about them. That is disastrous
so you should know how to get along with other friends.
What other types of relationship, apart from friends or

family, are important in peoples lives today?
In my opinion it is relationship with neighbors because they are persons who we
meet everyday and relate with our familys lives. They share every bowl of rice and
every bit of clothes in hard times with our family. They console and mobilize us when
our family has bad things. They share happiness with us when they or we have a joy,
etc. They make us feel that life is more beautiful.
How relationships with neighbors where you live changed in recent year? How?
It is lucky for my family that we have good neighbors. We have lived in this
neighborhood for 13 years. I feel that the relationships between everyone here have not
changed for a long time. They are still kind-hearted and friendly with each other. We
live in security and good health.
How important do you think it is for a person to spend some time alone? Why/
Why not?
I think everyone should spend some time alone because we need to cogitate
something in our lives. It is also a chance for us to experience harsh trials or spend a
life with nobody in a period of time. We will realize authentic value of relationships in
our lives.
5/4
1. Are clothes and clothing fashions important to you? (Why/Why not?)
No, clothes and fashions are not really important to me. I tend to wear clothes that are
comfortable and practical rather than fashionable.
2. What different clothes do you wear for different situations?

Well, I have to dress quite formally for work, so I wear a shirt and trousers. At home I prefer
to wear jeans and a T-shirt, and on special occasions I might wear a suit.
3. Do you wear different styles of clothes now compared to 10 years ago?
No, not really, because I don't follow fashion. I think I have dressed in a similar way for the
last 10 years.
4. Do you think the clothes we wear say something about who we are?
Yes, they probably do. Some people are really careful about what they wear because they
want to be seen as stylish. Other people wear clothes that show wealth or status, such as
clothes by famous designers.
part 3
Festivals are important event, it will tells the culture and traditions. Festivals tells how
important that day, on that what we can do tells, so important event in working year.
PART 1
How important are clothes and fashion to you[Why/Why not?]
For me, clothes is important when I begin to work. My previous job was teaching in a
college and now I am working in a company. I think, keeping myself clean and tidy is
important. Firstly, it can help me look good and get the respect from others. If you wear
dirty, it will give a bad impression to others. Secondly, suilable clothes, not expensive one,
can give you a happy mood and increase your confidence. So I spend a little time, not
much, paying attention to the clothes and fashion from magazine or TV program and try to
make myself beautiful, why not?
What kind of clothes do you dislike?[Why?]
It is hard to say, I like the clothes suitable for me, dont like those which look too
complicated, too much decoration, too childish. Cloth is also important,I dont like the
clothes made of poor cloth, which looks not good.
How different are the clothes you wear now from those you wore 10 years ago?
10 year ago, I was a student. I like wearing the sportsware,T-shirt, sun-top something like
that. Now I am working, waring the uniform or suit at office. In my spare time, I like waring
comfortable clothes,such as sportware,T-shirt,but in some formal occasion such as wedding,
I need to ware a full dress or a clean and nice dress to make me look mature.
What do you think the clothes we wear say about us?

Clothes says everything, including ur charater,ur experence, ur quality, ur taste, ur hobbies,
ur age, even ur secret. Different people like different clothes, different style,different colour.
Clothes can reflect something, for example, when you are sad or happy, you will choose a
set of clothes suiting ur mood. People of different age wear different clothes and people of
different taste also choose different clothes style. That is the meaning clothes says
everything about you.
PART 2
Describe a festival that is important in your country.
You should say:
When the festival occurs
The festival I prefer to talking about is the most important fesitival in China. It is the Spring
Festival. As everyone knows, Spring Festival is Chinese(Lunar) New Year, which is like
westen countrys New Years Day.
What you did during it
Now the festival environment becomes weaker and weaker. Compared with the time when I
was a child, People now pay less attention to the Chinese New Year. I still remember how to
spend the Spring Festival in my childhood. Every family put a new couplet on the door. I
would be waked up by the sound of firecracker and had my new clothes which mum gave
me as new years present. Mum would give me new years lucky money, I didnt remember
how much, maybe only five yuan, but very rich for a child. I neednt help my parents do the
housework, because mum thought I was too clumsy and awkward to help her. So what
could I was to go out to play the game with other children.
Commonly, most family like eating dumpling, when I grew up and went to college, I often
stayed with parent helping them make dumpling, and watching TV, chatting with each other,
which is really wonderful time for me.
What you like or dislike about it and explain why this festival is important.
I dont like the firecracker, make the festival too noisy, but maybe noisy is one of the
meaning of festival, which most Chinese like noisy festival. Another thing I dont like is too
crowd, wherever, whenever,there are too many people, so staying at home is the wisest
way to spend a festival.
Spring Festival is important to Chinese people, firstly, for most Chinese, Spring Festival
means a new start. Secondly, Spring Festival is a precious chance for the family members to
reunion.
PART 3
Discussion topic:
Purpose of fesitivals and celebrations
Why do you think festivals are important events in the working year?
There are some reasons for that, firstly, festival is a good chance to release yourself
especially for those who live and work in big cities.
Secondly, it is also a precious chance to reunion. You know many people like me went out of
hometown and live in a strange city, they are no more staying with parents and close
relatives, so festival give you the chances to go back to have a look to parents and
relatives.
Would you agree that the original significance of festivals is often lost today? Is it
good or bad, do you think?
Not absolutely, I dont agree, the original significance of festivals is still remained in some
remote regions or some small cities, even in big cities, for example, when festival of
lanterns comes, people in Shanghai can go to the Yu Garden to see hundrens of lanterns
and guess the riddles;and when dragon boat festival comes, people like going to watch the
dragon boat race in some places and nearly all people in China buy or make zongzi to eat at
that day.
I think it is a good thing, for Chinese festival is also a part of Chinese culture which can
distinguish Chinese culture from other countries, we Chinese need to remain it as good as
possible.
Do you think that new festivals will be introduced in the future? What kind?
New festivals have been introduced to China. Some comes from the westen countries like
All Saints' Day, the valentines Day, some from the other Asian countries like The White Day
coming from Japan. I think the phenomenon will continue. We cannot stop it, because of
globalization and commercialization. There are also some other festivals people would like
to celebrate such as the teachers day,the mothers day, the fathers day,the nurses day and
sth like that, which are not Chinese traditional festivals, maybe they all come from foreign
countries.
Festivals and the media
What role does the media play in festival, do you think?
The media plays a positive role in festival, I think. When festival is near, we can feel the
coming atmosphere here and there through the media such as TV, newspapers, magazines
and radios. Many many reports come from the media, making people know what is
happening in different countries in festivals and how different people celebrate the fesitival,
even including the different opinions on the festivals. So people can know more about the
festival.
Do you think its good or bad to watch festivals on TV? Why?
In my opionion, regarding watching festivals on TV. advantages and disadvantages are half
half. As for advantages, the most important one is it is a good way to know more about the
festivals, which include the backgroud, the activities and the celebration performents. You
can learn everything through TV. But the first disadvantage of that is its better for you to
go to the street to feel the festival atmosphere rather than staying at home to watch TV like
a couch potato.if you go to the streets, you can get a real feeling of your own, not the
pictures the TV gives you.
How may globalisation affect different festivals around the world?
In my opinion, globalisation has a great effect on the festivals around the world in different
ways.
Firstly, some westen countries festivals are introduced to China, such as Christmas. It is
also a important festival in China now. The employers working in foreign-funded enterprises
or joint-venture enterprises will have a holiday from Christmas to New year Day. Those staff
also have a holiday in Chinese traditional festival such as Spring Festival and other national
holidays.
Secondly, festivals are parts of culture of a country. Globalisation promotes the
communication of culture among different countries through the festival celebration.
6 /1
PART 1: Dancing
Do you enjoy dancing? Why or why not?
Yes, I do. I am very interested in dancing. Dancing is not only an artistic genre but also a sport that brings
healthy benefits and body beauty. Dancing is a good sport exercise. When you are dancing, muscles are
runned, energy is worn out, body is resistant and slender. If you practice dancing frequently, you will have
a permanent elegant figure day by day.
Has anyone ever taught you to dance?
No. I like to dance very much, but I have not had chance to learn dancing yet.
Tell me about any traditional dancing in your country?
There is very little chance that I am able to know traditional dancing galore, but I think that my country
has 54 ethnic groups and every ethnic group has a particular traditional dancing. I have only seen the folk
dancing in my country.
Do you think that traditional dancing will be popular in the future?
In my point of view, traditional dancing will be more and more popular in the future.
From the artistic angles, you can see that traditional dancing is fact which defines the cultural character of
every nation. Moreover, the traditional dancing helps us to relax. Wallowing in music and flexible steps
brings us comfortable mind and body beauty.
PART 2: Describe someone in your family who you like
In my family, my mother is a person whom I like and respect most. In my view, she is the most wonderful
woman. When I was a child, she was always the person who took care of me considerably, every meal,
every sleep as well as my study. Year in, year out, she always gave me useful hints as well as
encouragements. When I had troubles, she usually helped me to stand up, extricated and gave me faith in
my life, which made me dance to another tune. Although she was a bit trying with housework and the
sewing, she still spent time talking to my younger sister and me frequently. She said that we were feathers
in her cap, which helped us to exert ourselves very much. She had deep eyes and tender looks. Her long
black hair and tall nose made her nicer. She is an ordinary and simple woman, but to me, she is the most
splendid person. She is an industrious, clever woman and always keeps whole the housework. I wish to
become a woman like her. My mother is the most influential and important woman to me.
PART 3: Family similarities
In what ways can people in a family be similar to each other?
People in a family can be similar to each other in appearances or characters. For example,in my family, my
younger sister takes after my Mom while I take after my Dad in appearance. Besides, in characters, my
sister and I are similar to my mother. Sometimes, I am timorous.
Do you think that daughters are always more similar to mothers than to male relatives?
I dissent to you that daughters are always more similar to mothers than to male relatives. I think that
there are still cases that daughters are more similar to fathers than to mothers like my aunts family. In her
family, in spite of being female, the daughter is similar to her father while the son is similar to his mother.
However, we cant deny having many cases that sons are still more similar to their fathers than to their
mothers. For example, my boyfriend is really a chip off the old block.
In terms of personality, are people more influenced by their family or by their friends? In what
ways?
I think that people are more influenced by their family when they were young. For the reason, when they
were young, their parents frequently got in touch with them in order to take care of or educate them.
Therefore, they were affected by their parents personalities. However, when they are grown up and go to
school, they are usually influenced by their friends in many aspects, especially characters. If you are in a
group, you often have behaviors like them because you regularly get in touch with them.
Genetic research
Where can people in your country get information about genetic research?
People in my country usually get information about genetic research in hospitals or professional
universities, such as, Medicine University, or genetic research institutes and so on. However, in my country,
getting information about genetic research is not common as in Western countries. When we have related
incidents, we think of taking information about it.
How do people in your country feel about genetic research?

Although genetic research is an advanced scientific achievement that is important to human beings, in my
country it is really not developed. It is very likely that people are really not interested in surveying about
genetic research in my country. However, I think that genetic research is more and more popular and
developed, year in, year out.
Should this research be funded by governments or private companies? Why?

In my point of view, genetic research should be funded by government because of its importance to my
countrys development. I think that it is necessary that government should concern about it considerably.
6 /2
IELTS Speaking Part 1: musical instruments
For IELTS speaking part 1, remember to give short, simple answers. Answer the question
with a full sentence and give a reason for your answer. Here are some example questions
and answers about musical instruments (from Cambridge IELTS book 6):
1. Which musical instrument do you like listening to most? (Why?)
My favourite musical instrument to listen to is the guitar. I like the fact that there are different
types of guitar, like classical, acoustic and electric. I love the variety of sounds a guitar can
make.
2. Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument?
I took some guitar lessons when I was younger and still have a guitar at home. I don't play it
much nowadays. I wish I had more time to practise.
3. Do you think children should learn to play an instrument at school?
Yes, I think it's a great skill and it's really enjoyable to be able to play a musical instrument.
All children should be given this opportunity.
4. How easy would it be to learn to play an instrument without a teacher?
It would probably be more difficult without a teacher. You need someone to show you what
to do and correct your mistakes. You need a lot of discipline to teach yourself.
Part 1:
-Which instrument do you like listening to most? [Why]
The instrument I like listening to most is piano. Its sound is so soothing. Its so beautiful and you can
imagine any picture. When I have stress and feel tired after busy days, I usually listen to piano music and
subsequently find my mind relaxed.
-Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument? [Which one]
I have never learned to play a musical instrument. I want to try learning how to play piano if I have time
because I think it is interesting.
-Do you think children should learn to play a musical instrument at school? [Why / why not]
At school, I havent been taught how to play any musical instrument yet; therefore I think it is better if
children learn to play a musical instrument at school. The reason for this is they can relax after hard
studying time. In addition, it may help children augment their creativity.
-How easy would it be to learn to play an instrument without a teacher? [Why]
I think it is not easy to learn an instrument without a teacher if we know nothing about it. We can learn
from books, websites and so on. However, we cant recognize our mistakes in order to correct and improve
technique slowly. As for me, it is necessary to learn how to play a musical instrument from teacher.
Part 2:
Describe something healthy you enjoy doing
There are many ways to be healthy. I enjoy eating fresh fruits and drinking water every day. Fruits contain
vitamins galore which help us have nice skin and a well-proportioned body. Every morning, after having
breakfast, I drink a cup of water since I used to hear my teacher taught that in this way, we could keep
healthy. We should also control our regimen. It isnt good if we eat so much food we enjoy and never eat
food we abhor. In addition, it is good to exercise every day. My avocation is swimming, I often go to
swimming with my friends every morning so as to keep healthy, augment my height and relax. In my
opinion, it is not hard but very easy to have healthy life in this way. Besides, there is no need to worry
about spending money galore to have good health because it comes from simple things every day.
Part 3:
Keeping fit and healthy
-What do most people do to keep fit in your country?
In my country, there are many ways to keep fit. The popular way is practicing exercise every morning or
going to the gym in order to participate in some kinds of sport such as yoga, badminton and so on. Another
way is eating much vegetable because it contains all necessary nutrients.
-How important is it for people to do some regular physical exercise?
In my view, doing some regular physical exercise is a good way to keep fit and be healthy. You neednt
spend much money buying physical machine but still have a well-proportioned body. In addition, it is easy
to exercise and have good health.
Health and modern lifestyles
-Why do some people think that modern lifestyles are not healthy?
Nowadays, life is more modern than in the past so people live more conveniently and their needs are
satisfied. However, there are some disadvantages with modern lifestyle; therefore, some people think that
life like this is not healthy. Although there are many changes helping us improve our life, people are
affected by some bad things. For example, environmental pollution brings out serious consequences such
as strange diseases, the death of many creature, holed ozone layer and so on. In addition, people want to
find much money so they try to work and study even not relax. I think it makes them stress and not enjoy
their life.
-Why do some people choose to lead unhealthy lives?
We cant answer exactly why some people choose to live unhealthily. In my view, a part of reason for this is
satisfying the needs of people. To pay for their needs, they think they cant choose any other ways but only
earn much money. It means that they must abdicate entertainment and relaxation after hard days in order
to spend time working. It is easy to lead to stress because of dispensing with taking a rest after strenuous
work.
-Should individuals or governments be responsible for making peoples lifestyle healthy?
I think that both individuals and governments should be responsible for making peoples lifestyle healthy.
Each person wants to have things what they want so they try their best to achieve their purpose even not
take care of their health. Besides, governments cant resist making themselves responsible for this. People
are under influence of their policies and controlled by laws
.
-What could be done to encourage people to live in a healthy way?
In my view, there are some ways to encourage people to keep healthy life. Firstly, we should show and
elucidate how the healthy life is and what advantage it leads to. Secondly, governments hold programs
about healthy life in order to help people aware of it. In this way, all people live in a healthy way in the
future.
Speaking IELTS 6 TEST 2, page 54

Part 1:
Which instrument do you like listening to most?
As I see it, there are many musical instruments but my favorite one is piano. I like it because of many
reasons. Firstly, it makes me unwind when listening; I can forget all of my sorrows and feel comfortable.
Secondly, when playing it, I can imagine the sounds of many things such as birds, stream etc. Lastly, I can
concentrate on my homework; it helps me solve many problems.
Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument?
When I was young, I desired to play a musical instrument, so my parents allowed me to learn piano. At
first, I found it hard to play piano but when seeing my favorite singer who can play it skillfully, I wanted to
play it like he does. From that time I said to myself that I should surmount my difficulties and try to do it
although it was not a piece of cake for me. Finally, my effort was worth, I succeeded and could make my
dream come true.
Do you think children should learn to play a musical instrument at school?
I think they should learn to play a musical instrument at school. There are many reasons why I think so.
Firstly, it is a popular way for them to relax after studying hard. Secondly, playing a musical instrument will
be helpful for them to improve their agility. Lastly, when playing those, children can listen to music that
makes them develop their brains.

How easy would it be to learn to play an instrument without a teacher?
I think children can easily play instruments themselves because there are many modern instruments which
are easy for them to play. Besides, many programs on television teach audiences to play certain
instrument. However, sometimes, they can see many difficulties to play them; therefore, it is better to
learn an instrument with the help of teachers.
Part 2:
Describe something healthy you enjoy doing:
You should say:
What you do
Where you do it
Who you do it with
and explain why you think doing this is healthy.
When I was a child, I always admired one of the most famous athletics in basket ball field. As I grew older,
I like playing basket ball so much. Every day, I often go to a vacant stadium near my home. At first, I
played it very badly because I was not tall and skillful enough. But when seeing my idol played it easily I
said to myself that I should overcome my difficulty. With the help of my brother, I always practiced playing
basket ball when I had free time. Finally, as people usually say: every dog has his day I succeeded and
played it well. At weekends, I often invite my best friends to go to my home and play ball. This is a good
chance for us to meet each other and chat about everything. There are many reasons why I like playing
basket ball. Firstly, I think it is a helpful way for me to keep healthy. Secondly, it is an easy way for me to
develop my height. Lastly, when playing ball, I feel very comfortable because I can forget all my stress and
sorrows.
Part 3:
What do most people do to keep fit in your country?
In my country, there are many ways to keep fit that people usually do. The old do exercise in clubs for the
old-aged every day. The young also practice to keep healthy in many clubs, such as swimming pools, gym
clubs etc. But young people do not have much time to do that on weekdays; therefore we can see that
there are many young people do those at weekends.
How important is it for people to do some regular physical exercise?
Doing some regular physical exercise is very vital for people. Firstly, it helps the young to develop their
muscles. Through that way their bodies become brawnier. Secondly, they can improve their healthy.
Besides, it can prolong the olds age for many years and makes them always feel happy and love their
lives. Lastly, it is a good way for both of them to forget their stress and sorrows in their jobs and lives.
Why do some people think that modern lifestyles are not healthy?
In my opinion, there are many reasons why they think that modern lifestyles are not healthy. Our society is
developing. Therefore our jobs demand us to spend much time finishing them. After our office hours, we
still have many things that pull all of our energy into, such as taking care of our family, doing housework
etc. Between jobs and family, we do not have enough time to relax and do exercise. Therefore, people
sometimes think that the modern life is not healthy.
Why do some people choose to lead unhealthy lives?
People do not have many choices. They spend much time doing their jobs in their offices as well as their
homes. After finishing all jobs, they become tired and need the rest little for a time to watch television, to
listen to music and even to sleep. For those reasons, people choose to lead unhealthy lives.
Should individuals and government should be responsible for making peoples lifestyle healthy?
I think both individuals and government should be responsible for making peoples lifestyle healthy. To
individuals, they should arrange their office jobs as well as family jobs appropriately. For instance, they
could have a timetable of their own jobs and try to have a short time on weekdays to do exercise. Besides,
they can join in many healthy clubs in their areas. To government, they should have many policies to
improve the health of their citizens and encourage people to play sports through propaganda.
What could be done to encourage people to live in a healthy way?
In my opinion, government has to encourage people to innovate their health. Firstly, they must have an
annual budget to improve many old sports instruments. Secondly, they have to hold sporting events for
every one to join in. Lastly, children should understand more about benefits of doing exercise through
education, and have many chances to play sports, so when they grow up, they will get use to playing
sports.
6/3
Speaking test 3 Ielts Cambridge 6 Page 77
PART 1
How do most people travel to work where you live?
In my area, most people travel to work by their motorbike. However, there are some commuters who work
far from home. They have a tendency to use public transportation to travel to work. By using public
transportation, they can save money, save fuel, which is not only beneficial to them but also good for
environment.
What traffic problems are there in your area?
In the place where I live, traffic problems are not too severe but that does not mean there is none of them.
Traffic jam sometimes occurs in Thuduc crossroad and Hanoi highway. The reasons for this problem are
varied. They can be the traffic accidents or the situation of lacking electricity for the traffic light. In
addition, traffic accidents are also a problem that needs to be paid attention to. However I think that not
only do the traffic accidents occur in my area but it is also a common problem of traffic in everywhere year
in year out.
How do traffic problem affect you?
Every day, I go to the bus station early to catch the number 6 bus to travel to the university. Traffic
problem, especially traffic jam, can make the bus be delayed. Then, I will be late for school; I will miss the
lectures of professors and sometimes I cant even find a vacant seat in lecture hall. At the end of a day,
traffic problems take me much time to go home. That leads to the state that I dont have enough time for
myself and my family.
How would you reduce the traffic problem in your area?
To reduce the traffic problem in my area, I think we should start with ourselves. When using vehicle, we
should abide by the traffic rudes. Besides, we can participate in some voluntary activities such as Green
summer. The people participating in Green summer can help police to control the traffic in the crossroads.
Thereby, the traffic jam can be reduced. Moreover, the green summer soldiers can come to primary schools
and secondary high schools to teach teenagers about traffic rudes.
PART 2
Describe a game or sport you enjoy playing
Sport is not my interest. Therefore, I do not like any of them. In contrast, I feel extremely interested in
some smart games. One of them is puzzle. Puzzle is known as a smart game that can develop swift and
critical mind. Moreover, it also helps practice memory.
A puzzle set comprises a picture that is separated into many pieces. There can be 10 to 100 pieces or even
300, 400 pieces. The task for players is to find and arrange all of the pieces for the right positions. There
are many types of puzzle, but I do not know exactly how many types the puzzle has. I have just played two
types of them, which are the puzzle made from paper and the puzzle made from wood. The puzzle made
from wood is less popular than the other is. It is often made for little children with 10 or 15 pieces and the
size of a piece is definitely bigger.
When I have not attended classes at the university, I have more leisure, I often play puzzle with my
younger sister every weekend. Now I do not have enough time, so I just play puzzle once or twice a
month. Sometimes if my mother has free time, I also play puzzle with her.
Playing puzzle, I feel very happy. It makes me relax after school time. Moreover, it is good for my mind.
Especially, it is greatly economic. When playing puzzle, I do not have to pay more fee, just paying one time
for the first.
PART 3
Childrens games
How have games changed from the time when you were a child?
Nowadays, games have changed dramatically from the time when I was a child. 10 years ago, children
often played the games that are smooth and simple. These games had a tendency to be friendly and
educational. They could help children to develop some skill and play a part in building childrens mind. Now
games are too complicated and self-centered. Most of the games that children are playing every day are
computer games. That means children play with a machine and they do not have any chance to
communicate directly with other people. They will close down their mind and become an isolated island.
Do you think this has been a positive change? Why?
I think this change is both negative and positive. If we consider the development of technology, it is a
positive change. Without the dramatic development of technology, we cannot make many of the attractive
games. In contrast, if we consider the consequence of games, I think that this has been a negative change.
There are so many reasons for this. Firstly, modern games with computer will make children give their
creativity up. Secondly, modern games will wear communicating skill out. Thirdly, modern games make
children be diverged from the real life.
Why do you think children like playing games?
In daily life, a child just can be a child or even a poor child. However, in games a child can be a queen, a
prince, a princess, a king or even a killer. What is greater than the ability to become whatever you want,
especially with a child, it is a magic. The other reason is that when playing games children can relax after
school. Moreover, with the jolly sounds and colorful images, games definitely become one of the childrens
interests.
Games and competition
Do you think competitive games are good or bad for children? In what way?
I think that competitive games are both good and bad for children. About good effect, it stimulates the
individual ability of children. We know that development just occurs whenever competitions exist. About
bad effect, competitive games can make children become eager for success. The person who is eager for
success will have a tendency to be self-important. That is not nice at all.
How can games sometimes help to unite people?
When a group of people plays a game together in a team, the team spirit will have chance to develop.
Thereby, people in this group can be united. Especially with the competitive games, the team spirit is
promoted considerably.
Why is competition often seen as important in todays society?
We know that development just occurs whenever competitions exist. In todays society, there are more
people but fewer opportunities. Therefore, competition plays an important role as the driving force to make
anyone work hard to success. Moreover, when everybody works hard, we can increase many of the good
things for our society.
6/4
PART 1: Your friends
Do you prefer to have one particular friend or a group of friends? Why?
Personally, I prefer to have one particular friend. Firstly, I had a very close chum and we have played
together for seven years. Secondly, I feel very lucky to have a great friend who has the same hobbies,
understands me and will be next to me rain or shine. Lastly, when I have something sad, my friend is
alwayls listening, sharing and giving me many useful comforting words.
What do you like doing most with your friends?
I have activities galore with my friend. Sometimes, especially free time, my best crony and I go out and
paint the town red to relax after hard studies. We can share everything such as happiness, sorrow and talk
about some boys around us. We also usually spend a day exchanging the lesson at school.
Do you think it is important to keep in contact with friends you knew as a child? Why?
I concur with that statement. Firstly, it is quite hard for us to find the genuine amities through many years
which are worth being preserved. Secondly, if you have many friends in your life, you will not feel lonely.
Therefore, it is essential for us to keep in contact with friends we knew as a child and try to last make it
forever.
What make a friend into a good friend?
In my view, one of the factors which makes a good friends is that they should be interested in each other.
You can not be a good friend if you do not help your friends in difficult stages because there is a saying: A
friend in need is a friend indeed. Secondly, it is confidence. There is sometimes misunderstanding between
friends. Therefore, if you do not have enough confidence with your friends, you will argue with them. This
makes amities fragile. And last but not least, you should be willing to forgive all the faults of your friends
when they intend to reconcile.
PART 3:
What are the typical choices people make at differrent stages of their lives?
Our lives are divided into three major periods. The first is when we are children. Most of our choices are
very simple and made by our parents. The second is when we are teenagers. The changes and decisions in
this period are complicated and vital. All choices must be reflected before we decide anything such as what
school to go, which friends to play, what to wear and what to eat etc. The last when we are adults and the
decisions are equally important such as vocations, loves, marriages and so on.
Should important choices should be made by parents rather than by young adults?
In my opinion, crucial choices should be made by both parents and young adults because each generation
has various and diversified opinions. Our parents are the ones who have experienced in life and young
adults are the ones who have a part same characters and hobby similar to us. Therefore, we need to collect
all opinions and then scrutinize to make the best choices.
Why do some people like to discuss choices with other people?
It appears that people like to discuss choices with other people because they want to consult more
opinions. It is so hard for us to know whether choices are right or wrong. When discussing with others, we
can have their advice to make the best choices. However, reference is just reference so we must make
decisions for ourselves.
What kind of choices do people have to make in their everyday life?

As I see it, people often have various choices for their own in daily lives, However, there are many choices
that people must do the same such as what to eat, what to wear, where to go etc. These choices are
necessary elements to live and survive. Therefore, do not think these choices are boring but we had better
make them possitively for a better life.
Why do some people choose to do the same things everyday? Are there any disadvantages in this?
I think some people choose to do the same things everyday because they do not feel confident enough in
themselves to face the new challenges of changes. They just want to remain what they are possesing and
do not want to have more progress. There are some disadvantages in this. Firstly, the more progressive
society is, the more modern people need to change. If they do not change, they will not keep up with the
development of society. Secondly, the change is inevitable in current life. It can be stimulating and
energizing for individuals when facing with new challenges.
Do you think that people today have more choices to make today than in the past?
I concur with that statement. Society now is more developing and competitive than that in the past. For
example, work, accommodations, food, garments are clear evidences. If people do not have more choices
to make, they will not achieve what they want. Hence, people had better give more alternatives to get the
best for both mentally and physically life.
7/1
Cambridge IELTS 7:Test 1:PART 1:Keeping in contact with people
How do you usually contact your friends?[Why?]

I usually contact them using my cell phone. By using this I can contact them anywhere.
If they do notanswer I can always leave a voicemail and they can get back to me later.
Sometimes I use instantmessengerbecause it allows me to see when my friends are

available and to talk to many people at thesame time.
Do you prefer to contact different people in different ways? [Why?]
Yes, I usually can use e-mail or instant messenger to contact my friends. For adults
I usually writeletters or call on the telephone. This is because many older people are
unfamiliar with new technology.Also at work I would tend to use e-mail more because
it allows messages to be saved as well as transferpertinent data.
Do you find it easy to keep in touch with friends and family? [Why?/Why not?]
I find it easy to keep in touch with my friends because there are many different
modes ofcommunication available. Also I find it easy to stay in touch with them
because we have many similarissues we like to talk about and we contact each other
more often because of this. I do not find it as easyto stay in touch with my family
because of the generation gap. While I love them I find less need to callfor frequent
discussion. I usually just contact them once a week.
In your country, did people in the past keep in contact in the same ways as they do
today?[Why?/Why not?]
People have definitely changed the ways they stay in contact. While they used to
write letters that tookdays to arrive at their destination, now people send e-mails
which arrive instantly. Even phones havechanged. People used to have land lines in
their homes but now this is not necessary because peoplecarry cell phones with them
all the time.
PART 2:
Describe a party that you enjoyedYou should say:
Whose party it was and what it was celebrating
Where the party was held and who went to it
What people did during the party
And explain what you enjoyed about this party
One of the most enjoyable parties I attended was the 90th birthday party of
a neighbour. It was quiteamazing!! His younger sister aged 87 travelled hundreds of
miles to be there and the guests were agedfrom about 1 year old to even older than
90.I am sure that there were over 100 people there, bothfriends and family.The party
was held in a hotel ballroom and everyone soon got to know the other guests. After
themeal, different people stood up to do something to entertain the others.
Some guests sang songs,others told funny stories and some played music. I played some
Scottish dance music on my fiddle(violin) and people clapped their hands and tapped
the floor with their feet. Later I played the fiddleagain for people to dance.At the end
of the evening, the 90 year old man's friend from schooldays--now aged 92 told stories
ofwhat they had both done when they were little boys at school and everyone laughed.
After this theman's sons and daughters all stood up and said how important their
father had been to them and howmuch they loved him.At the very end of the evening
we all drank toasts to the health of the man and all this made him cry.There was one
sad note at the end, when the old man spoke; he wished that his wife had been
there toshare in all this, but she had died 9 years previously.
PART 3:Discussion topics:Family parties:
What are the main reasons why people organize family parties in your country?
The main reasons why people would organize family parties in my country would be to
reunite afternot seeing each other for a long time. The party would provide an
opportunity to tell stories and learnwhat they have all been doing since we last saw
each other. We also try to provide guidance to eachother and settle any concerns that
we might have.
In some places people spend a lot of money on parties that celebrate special family
events. Is thisever true in your country?
Do you think this is a good trend or a bad trend?
Yes, it is true that we will spend a lot of money to celebrate family events such as
a new baby,marriage, a new job, or getting into a good school. I believe that though it
is necessary to spend moneyto organize the party and provide food, drinks, etc. it is
just as important to remember why we arethere. It is more important to have quality
time with family. The interaction happiness of family life iswhat is important not the
money.
Are there many differences between family parties and parties given by your
friends? Why do youthink this is?
There are many differences between my friends parties and that of my family. My
family parties tend to be more formal and focused on the event that we
are celebrating. My parties with my friends tend tobe more casual and the main
objective is to have fun. I think that while I have fun in both cases they aredifferent
types of fun.
National celebrations:
What kinds of national celebrations do you have in your country?
We have several main national holidays in our country. The first and most important is
the SpringFestival. This is to celebrate the end of the Chinese lunar year. Another
is the Dragon Boat festival. Thisfestival celebrates a famous Chinese poet named Qu
Yuan. Still another is Mid Autumn day. During thisholiday we eat a traditional dish
known as moon cake.
Who tends to enjoy national celebrations more: young people or old people? Why?
I think that older people tend to enjoy national celebrations more than the younger
generation. Olderpeople tend to value traditional holidays because they feel
more connected to them. The younger
people like western holidays such as Valentines Day because they like the romantic aspects that are
not
present in national holidays. Also because of an interest in different cultures they like
to celebrateholidays that are not part of the Chinese calendar.
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?
No, I do not believe that spending money on government celebrations is a waste of
money. Nationalholidays are an important part of our culture and help to create a sense
of being Chinese. There proudpatriotic feelings are shared by all people and the
celebrations are for everyone. While some peopleview the money as misspent, I
believe that it is important to properly celebrate our culture and identity.
7/2
IELTS Speaking Part 1: laughing
1. What kinds of thing make you laugh?
I laugh most when I'm with friends talking about funny things that have happened to us. I
also like watching comedians and comedy films.
2. Do you like making other people laugh?
Yes, it's a nice feeling when you can make someone laugh because you can see that you've
made them happy. It's great to share a funny moment with someone.
3. Do you think it's important for people to laugh?
Yes, of course. It's important to see the funny side of things; humour helps us not to take life
too seriously. I think that laughter is good for our health.
4. Is laughing the same as feeling happy?
It's not exactly the same because you can be happy without laughing, and sometimes we
laugh when something bad has happened; a sense of humour can help us to cope with
difficult situations.
Cambridge IELTS 7 Practice Tests | Speaking Test 2 Sample

Answer
IELTS Speaking Test Part 1
What kinds of things make you laugh?
Funny things! I suppose there are many different kinds of things that make
me laugh: something silly, something stupid, or jokes if theyre good, and
sometimes just ridiculous things that you see happen in everyday life. The
last time I had a good laugh was just yesterday when I watched a video of
George Carlin, an American comedian, who was talking about saving the
planet. Hes a really funny guy, but you never know when something funny
will happen sometimes when you least expect it.
Do you like making other people laugh? [Why?/Why not?]
Ive never really thought about it. I used to make people laugh a lot with
some of my comments, but Im not sure if making people laugh is
something really important to me, so I dont think I would say that I like to
or dont like to make people laugh its not that important to me. I guess
its more a case of, if I say something and someone laughs because they
think its funny, then fine, thats great and Im happy that they thought it
was funny and theyre laughing about it, but I dont go around trying to
make people laugh on purpose or trying to be funny all the time.
Do you think its important for people to laugh? [Why?/Why not?]
Personally I think its quite a good thing to laugh, it relaxes you. Someone
once said that laughing is like internal jogging its good for you. But you
can only laugh if you find something funny, right, and there are some
people who just dont laugh much naturally, but I dont think thats a
problem because everybodys different. Some people seem to laugh at
almost anything and others are generally more serious and rarely laugh.
Is laughing the same as feeling happy, do you think? [Why? / Why
not?]
No, I dont think it is the same. Im happy most days, but I dont go around
laughing all the time. Maybe you show that youre happy when you are
laughing, but I think you can feel perfectly happy without laughing. Its like
if you have a good your job and things are going well in your life, then
youre naturally going to feel happy, but it doesnt necessarily mean that
you have to go around laughing in front of everyone. Happiness and
laughter are quite different, although the two are often combined.
- See more at:
http://ieltsspeakingquestions.blogspot.com/2012/12/laughing-and-feelinghappy-ielts.html#sthash.yUscwFRF.dpuf
IELTS Speaking Test Part 3 | Discussion topics

Some people think that education should be about memorizing the
important ideas of the past. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Personally I think its important to understand the ideas of the past. History
can show us what has been successful and what has failed previously.
There are many lessons to be learned, and history has a habit of repeating
itself throughout life. If we understand what has been good and bad for us
based on past experience then I think we can better shape our future.
Simply memorizing facts about things that happened in the past isnt
enough to plan for the future. We need more understanding of past events
and why they happened, the consequences and how we can learn from it.
Its all about thinking skills not memorizing.
Should education encourage students to develop and share their own
ideas?
I think thats the general consensus nowadays. Theres a certain body of
knowledge that students need to acquire, but the education system should
be focused on developing their creative thinking skills and then developing
the practical competences to allow them to implement their ideas in the
real world. I think its clear that the young generation is all about sharing
knowledge and ideas. You can see that through social media and many
other examples. Its going to become even more so in the future.
Knowledge sharing and working together to solve problems is more
common now than in previous years.
How do you think teachers could help students to develop and share
their own ideas?
I suppose they could design more creative based tasks and project work
for students to do and make sure that students are positively encouraged
to come up with new ideas and try them out. It probably requires more
time and effort, but at the end of the day, theres little point in all the
students working on the same thing. Diversity and the ability to think
differently are premium skills in the employment market nowadays so its

also important that students learn how to be more independent in their
thinking while at school or college. By trying out many different ideas
students can soon find out what works and what doesnt and then
hopefully their natural curiosity can help them try other things, other
methods and techniques until they produce something they are happy
with. When it comes to sharing, I think there could be more use made of
communication through the internet to share student generated ideas with
other students in different parts of the country, or even world.
Ideas in the workplace

Should employers encourage their workers to have new ideas about
improving the company? Why?
Well, this is pretty normal nowadays isnt it? I mean, most companies
nowadays actively encourage their employees to get involved with things
and try to improve the various processes and functions of the company to
achieve better efficiency and savings for the benefit of everyone. Its
important that employees feel involved and an important part of the
company they work for because it gives them a bigger stake in the
company rather than just working for a wage.
Do you think people sometimes dislike ideas just because they are
new? Why?
Yes, I think thats very evident and has always been the case. People in
general dont like changes or new ideas, but eventually we adopt them and
they become normal. If you look back at some of the things we have today
which are now considered normal, many of them were originally
considered radical ideas and there was a degree of resistance to them
when they were first introduced.

What is more difficult: having new ideas or putting them into
practice? Which is more important for a successful company?
It could be that both are equally difficult. A lot depends on circumstances.
Some people are very creative and can come up with new ideas all the
time, but if they dont have the means or the knowledge to put them in to
practice then the idea goes nowhere. Other people have the resources and
technical skills to make things happen but they maybe arent so good at
thinking of new ideas. It takes both of these kinds of people or
organizations to come together to actually implement an idea, because
until a new idea becomes something in reality it is just an idea and nothing
else. - See more at:
http://ieltsspeakingquestions.blogspot.com/2012/12/ideas-in-educationworkplace-ielts.html#sthash.EovEZleX.dpuf
IELTS Speaking Test Part 2

Describe an idea you had for improving something at work or college. You should say:
- When and where you had the idea
- What was your idea
- Who you told about your idea
and explain why you thought your idea would make an improvement.
Sample Answer
Ok, so some years ago I used to work at this company, which was quite small, where we
provided multi-level training courses on a particular subject, and used to employ
people who had been trained in various different places throughout the world and with
different backgrounds and professional experience. Our clients were locally based so
there were sometimes cross-cultural problems which impacted on how effective the
end results of the training were.
Although most of the new employees who were contracted had the same basic
technical or theoretical knowledge, it seemed that there was always the problem that
they found it difficult to adjust this to certain cultural aspects of their new position as
most of them had never worked in that part of the world before, so I thought it would
be an idea to put together a training course showing how some of their previous
training needed to be adapted to their current working environment and how they
could apply it more successfully with local clients.
One day after a conversation with a client about an interesting situation which had
happened during a training session given within the company where he worked, I
started thinking that there must be something that could be done to improve the
situation and help prevent this type of thing happening again.
I came up with the idea of an add-on to the minimal induction training which existed in
the company at that time, and suggested the idea to my boss. He was interested but
didnt have time to implement it so he decided to give me the responsibility for it, and
he said that he would help out when he could.
Together we worked on compiling some core training modules to show employees how
some of the local idiosyncrasies affected what they were trying to do and how by just
making some simple changes in their method of presentation and application
techniques they could become much more successful in terms of results with their
clients.
It took as about three months to put it all together and check it before we tried it out
with a new group of employees. We got some feedback from clients we were working
with at the time and they thought that the new method of delivery was much better
than they had experienced from new employees previously.
We implemented this new training course as a standard part of new employee
induction training and the new employees seem to appreciate it also because it makes
them more effective and makes them aware of certain things that they wouldnt
normally have considered, but would have learned by simply observing or talking with
employees who had spent longer working in that particular environment.
As an add-on, the employees leaving the company after their contract were also
quizzed about their experiences; a sort of brain picking session so that we could add
any lessons learned through their experience to the training course and make it even
more effective and useful for new employees arriving.
7 /3
Part 1:
Have you ever been in very cold weather?[when?]
No, I have not. I have lived in the south of a tropical country, Vietnam,
which is near from the equator. So, I have not once spent the feeling of
a cold weather.
How often is the weather cold where you come from?
I live in Soc Trang province which is in the south of Vietnam. Obviously,
a cold weather is a rarity here. However, it gets a little colder in winter.
Are some parts of your country colder than others?[Why?]
Of course, there are many places which are colder than my home place
because my province is not so near from the North Pole as other parts
of the country. And the cold place I like to mention is Sa Pa. Sa Pa town
is one of the coldest places in Vietnam since it is a high area in the
north. Snow used to fall here.
Would you prefer to live in a hot place or a cold place?[Why?]
Given the choice between a hot place and a cold place, I would prefer
to live in a cold place. As I feel very uncomfortable in the heat which
often makes us easy to get angry and difficult to think. So, I think the
little colder weather is good for me to work and makes me feel more
comfortable.
Part 2:
Describe a competition that you took part in
There are many competitions that I took part in. And a competion Id
like to talk about is a game called Big game. In a camping trip to Phan
Thiet with my classmates in the university last year, I played this game.
It took place at 12pm sharp. There were five teams and each one had
about 8 to 10 people. We had to pass seven stations and at each one,
there were some requirements for each team to do. These requiments
themselves made this game interesting. First, we did something such as
using hands to pour the water into the bottle, using mouth to hold a
spoon to move a lemon to other members and solving a secret letter at
last. After that we moved to other station. It was so funny. We felt very
happy to do these with our team. We were closer and knew more about
the others. These are also the reasons why Id like to take part in this
game. At that time, my team won the game but that was not the most
important. The prize was a package containing a lot of cake and sweet.
And we had memories that we never forget.
Describe a competition (TV, college/work or sports competition)
that you took part in.
Last semester, my school organized an annual learning competition
named FESE. This is a competition not only for students in my school
but also for students who major in economics of some universities in Ho
Chi Minh City. It was financed by stock companies such as HSC, Viet
Capital, VN Direct, etc. FESE imitated a stock exchange transaction in
reality but your accounts were imaginary and time exchanges as well as
some rules were easier for you investors. Almost students who
majored in finance banking in my school had to take part in this
competition including me. Firstly, I had to buy an account to
transactions. Secondly, I took part in seminars and seven constant
transaction sessions as well as online transaction. Until the competition
finished, the organization board would pick out 10 accounts which were
the most profitable to award the prizes. The winner could receive the
biggest prize worth 3 million VND and opportunities to be on probation
in finance companies. As the slogan of the competition: FESE where
you build your dream I had interesting experiences galore about
eventful stock market. I realized that I had to take the bull by the horns
when I got into a situation from which I would not be able to extricate
myself. I was sitting pretty and also blew it but everything was good.
Although I didnt get any prizes, I would try my best next year.
PART 3
Competitions in school
Why do you think some school teachers use competitions as
class activities?
Personally, the competitive activities in class are an effectively
educated method. Firstly, this teaching way is useful to train some
essential skills such as confidence, activeness and will to overcome
oneself and others. Secondly, the competitive games are also the
strong motivation to help studentsimprovement. Finally, teachers can
guide them how to play fair through the conflict contest. Day by day,
the experiences in class games become valuable lessons in their real
lives.
Do you think it is a good thing to give prizes to children who

do well at school? Why?
From my point of view, a coin has two sides. First, it is a good way to
encourage students developments. When giving the prizes, it makes
the competition more interesting and students have more motivation.
However, the prizes may become the final target of many students and
then whatever it can happen they try any way to get it.
- Would you say that schools for young children have become
more or less competitive since you were that age? Why?
7/3
IELTS Speaking Part 3: competitions
The following questions come from Cambridge IELTS 7. I've underlined some of the good
words and phrases in my answers.
1. Why do you think some school teachers use competitions as class activities?
I think teachers use competitions to motivate the children in their classes. I'm sure that
teachers try all kinds of activities to engage their pupils, and competitions might be one of
the best ways to keep children interested or get them excited. Children love winning things.
2. Is it a good thing to give prizes to children who do well at school? Why?
It might be a good idea to encourage children to do well in games or sports, but I don't think
we should give children prizes for their academic work. Children need to learn that the
reason for studying is to learn useful things that will help them in their lives. I don't like the
idea of children thinking that they will only work hard if there is a prize.
3. Would you say that schools for young children have become more or less
competitive since you were that age? Why?
I'd say that they have become more competitive since I was young. Children now have to
take exams from a much younger age, so I think there is more of a focus on doing well in
tests. Parents also seem to be getting more competitive; I think that many parents push their
children to do extra homework rather than letting them play with friends.
SPORTING COMPETITIONS
4. Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of intensive training for young sports people?
A: Young athletes are going to get a lot of professional advice from their coaches or trainers. Their body
structure is going to be stronger and their achievement is going to be better. As for the drawbacks, I think
the biggest disadvantage will be the possibility that some people may get injured in the process of
intensive training.
5. Q: Some people think that competition leads to a better performance from sports stars. Others
think it just makes players feel insecure. What is your opinion?
A: Competition is quite indispensable for the sports stars. Without the competition, they would be
satisfied with their status quo. After they lose a match to another athletethey would make great
6. Q: Do you think that it is possible to become too competitive in sport? In what way?
A: I dont know about other countries, but in China, this is definitely the case. The athletes have to be
competitive to do well in sports. We just train the elites for a certain sport. We want champions in sports
instead of the commoners.
7/4
How do you usually travel to work or college?
I usually drive to work because I work in several different locations and its not easy to use
the bus or train to get to where I want to go.
Have you always travelled to work/college in the same way?
No. Years ago I used to go to work on the train every day, but that was because I was working in a
different place and the train was both the quickest and cheapest option to
travel to work at that time.
What do you like about travelling to work/college this way?
Well, there are several reasons why I like travelling by car to work.
Its more convenient because I can leave when I want and stop off where I want. My work takes me
all over the country sometimes so its nice to have the flexibility that a car offers. Its more
comfortable
than going on a bus or train and it saves time too. I also love driving so even though I do alot of
travelling sometimes, I find it quite relaxing.
What changes would improve the way you travel to work/college?
Really the only problem I come across regularly is the traffic. Its not so bad out on the
open road, but in the major cities it can be quite frustrating sometimes, so if trafficcongestion could
be eased, then it would make travelling by car easier and more pleasant.Apart from that, I think
under the circumstances, travelling by car is pretty good and itwould be difficult to improve it.
Describe a piece of electronic equipment you find useful. You should say:
- what it ishow you learned to use it
- how long you have had itand explain why you find this piece of electronic equipment
useful.
Well, the internet is essential, but thats not really equipment, so Id have to say my
laptopcomputer. I use it for work and a lot of other things too so Id be really lost
without it. Ive hadone for about 10 years. Ive had different makes and models, but I
think Id have to say that Imusing it more now than ever before. Like I said, I use it
for work everyday, so thats a lot of hours I spend using it, and then I also use it for
personal reasons, you know, emails, chatting orcalling my friends, surfing on the
internet for information, banking transactions, booking ticketsand many other things.
I dont really think I learned to use it, thats to say I didnt take any classes or
anything, its more a case of over the years Ive discovered just what you can do with
some of the applications. Imnot a tech geek or anything like that, so unless I need to
do something I wont bother to find out about it. When I have a need to do something
then normally the first thing I do is to look on theinternet to find out about it, then
when I find the information I need or an application I can use Idownload it and start
experimenting with it until I can do what I wanted to do. The good thing about the
internet is that theres a lot of advice and information about almost anything you
mightneed to do, so it never takes long to find out how to do something new.
As I said earlier, Id be lost without it. A big part of my day revolves around my laptop
and in many cases it really is essential for many of my daily activities. Sometimes its
difficult to eventry and imagine life without it. So in terms of being useful, really, its
essential and I think that the fact that its become such a big part of my daily life just
shows how technology really doeschange the way we live and work, as ten years ago I
lived quite happily without one.
Part 3 |
Technology and housework
What kinds of machine are used for housework in modern homes in your country?
Well, we have the normal things like vacuum cleaners, automatic washing machines
and forhelping in the kitchen the usual microwave oven, blender and other electric
kitchen appliances.
How have these machines benefited people? Are there any negative effects of using them?
Certainly I think the vacuum cleaner has made life much easier for people who have
carpets intheir home. I mean, can you imagine trying to clean a carpet without one. It
must have been a lotof work before they were invented. I think many people would say
that the automatic washingmachine has maybe had the most impact in terms of saving
time and energy for washing clothes
on a regular basis. Its so easy now just to put the clothes in and leave them and then
return laterand take them out and thats it
- done. In fact, we take it for granted, but only a couple ofgenerations ago we were still
washing clothes by hand, which must have been very timeconsuming.
I dont think there are any negative effects of using such machines, apart from the
increased
energy con
sumption, but really, nowadays most people dont have the option of doing things in
the same way as their grandparents did. I mean, the pace of life is so fast now that
people needall the help they can get from machines, to help save them time.
Do you think all new homes will be equipped with household machines in the future? Why?
Thats a distinct possibility, that homes will come with everything you need in terms
ofautomation as an integral part of the package, so you wont need to go and buy any
of th
esemachines, they will come as part of the home. It would make a lot of sense in most
cases, and Ithink that in the future we will have even more machines helping us as the
way we live continues
to change and evolve. Lets face it, doing housework is nei
ther interesting nor fun, and there areso many other activities that you could be
spending your time on which are much moreworthwhile.
Technology in the workplace
What kinds of equipment do most workers need to use in offices today?
I guess the usual office equipment such as computers, fax, maybe printers and
scanners, data
terminals and the like. Itd depend on exactly what they do for work.
How have developments in technology affected employment in your country?
Well, its certainly increased effici
ency in a lot of cases, and that has led to some redundanciesand lay offs while in other
areas the development of technology has actually helped to create new
jobs for people. Im
not sure if you could say that employment has increased or decreased as a
direct result of technology, but the pattern of employment has certainly changed. More
andmore people are now employed in technology and service based jobs using technol
ogy and fewer people are employed in traditional manual work. Weve seen
technology based customer service or technical support jobs established and then
outsourced overseas, but at the same time weve seen new technology development
based jobs created here, so I think it all balances out over a
period of time. However, its clear that most
jobs nowadays include more technology than before.
Some people think that technology has brought more stress than benefits to employedpeople
nowadays. Would you agree or disagree? Why?
I wouldnt agree with that personally. Technology isnt the problem its the way
some peopledeal with it or struggle to adapt to it thats the problem and the real cause
of stress. I mean, lets just imagine for a moment that to send a message to someone
you still had to write it on a pieceof paper, then mail it to the recipient, then wait for
them to read it and write a response and mail it back to you. Thats how it used to be
done, and it worked fine. People did business and mademoney and created products
and jobs, but it was all a lot more labour intensive and people werestill stressed then
too. That same process now is done in a couple of minutes usually throughemail. I
think we need to realize that technology is not the problem; it is the way we manage
it,or incorporate it into our lives. Look at all the things we do using technology in a
typical day. Nobody says that using a microwave is stressful or that watching TV
or listening to music on an iPod is stressful. Only when were talking about the
workplace do people start to see technology as being a source of stress. As I said, I
personally think its a lack of ability to change our working habits and to evolve with
technology that can cause some people to see it as a source ofstress, rather than being
something beneficial.
Technology and housework
What kinds of machines are used for housework in modern homes in
your country?
In England we use many different types of machines for doing the housework. The mostcommonly
used are, the washing machine to clean the clothes, the tumble dryer to dry theclothes, the dishwasher
to wash the plates and cups and the vacuum cleaner to clean the carpet.
How have these machines benefited people? Are there any negative
effects of using them?
I think these machines have benefited people because it enables the housework to be
completedquicker and therefore gives us more time to relax. The negative side of these machines is
thatthey are expensive so not everybody can afford them.
Do you think all new homes will be equipped with household machines
in the future? Why?
Yes, I think all homes will because the machines are efficient and make life somuch easier!
Technology in the work place
What kinds of equipment do most workers n
eed to use in offices today ?
They use computers and communicate via email. It is also a very handy way tosource information as
the whole internet is at our fingertips.
: In offices today workers use many different types of technology. Themain types include the
computer, the photocopier, the telephone and the faxmachine.
How have developments in technology affected employment in your
country?
It has created a lot of jobs because there is a big demand for the technologythat China supplies. New
technology has enabled companies to do businesswith other companies all over the world and at a
faster speed but the negativeside of this new technology is that sometimes these machines have been
usedto take the job of a real person.
Some people think
that technology has brought more stress thanbenefits to employed people nowadays. Would
you agree or disagree?Why?
I agree that the development of technology has brought more stress thanbenefits for a number of
reasons. As a result of increased pressure to completework at a faster rate people are taking their work
home with them, therefore,having less free time to relax and spend with their family. They are
becoming24 hours a day on call and reachable by the office at anytime.Increased developments in
technology have also meant that human interactionis becoming less and instead of communicating
with a person we are leftlistening to a pre recorded message. This can become
quite frustratingespecially if you are time restricted and have a specific query that needsanswering
CAMBRIDGE 8 TEST 1
How well do you know the people who live next door to you?
I know them quite well because weve lived beside each other for a couple of years now. The people
who live to the right of me, well, its a family with young kids, and on the other side
theres a young couple, I guess theyre in their thirties, but no kids.
How often do you see them? [Why?]
Well that depends. Sometimes I see them almost everyday when Im at home,
but I travel a lotfor work so sometimes Im away for three or four days at a time
so I dont see them at all. I
suppose I see them more at the weekends than any other time.
What kinds of problem do people sometimes have with their neighbours?
I suppose the most common problems would be noisy neighbours, you know,
maybe playing
loud music all the time or doing something else thats annoying. Ma
ybe if they have a dog which barks all the time that could cause a problem for
the other neighbours, or if you have neighbourswhose kids keep kicking their
football into your garden or something like that, or parking in your parking space
for example.
How do you think neighbours can help each other?
I think it depends if they are good neighbours or not, but in general they could
possibly helpwhen you have a problem, for example: if you lock yourself out of
your home or if you needsomeone to be there t
o accept a package delivered when youre out or even watch your kids for a
couple of hours.
Describe a time when you were asked to give your opinion in a questionnaire or
survey.You should say:
-
what the questionnaire or survey was about
why you were asked to give your opinions
what opinions you gaveand explain how you felt about giving your opinions in this
questionnaire or survey.
Generally I hate doing surveys, but I did do one a couple of months ago. It was
about the use ofinternet services. I was asked to participate in the survey
because I had just had a new internet
package installed in my apartment and was a new customer for the comapny.
Well, thats the
reason that they gave me anyway.They did the survey by internet, like live chat
so at least
they didnt stop me in the street or come
knocking on my door and disturbing me. In fact, that was the main reason I
agreed to do it, because it just happened to be convenient. The girl from the
internet company asked me somequestions about how I used the internet: for
pleasure, for work etc. and also when I used it themost, you know, during the
day, at night or at the weekends.She also wanted to know how happy or satisfied
I was with the sales service and installationservice of the company. So I guess I
spent about fifteen minutes or so explaining to the girl abouthow and when I
used the internet, why I had chosen that particular company and that specific
internet package and all that, and that I had been impressed by the quick
installation of the equipment and that I was very happy overall with their
service.
Like I said before, I dont like doing surveys or questionnaires in general, so I
usually avoid them, but because this time I could do it while sitting at home
and I could also choose when to do it, it wasnt a problem, and they didnt try to
sell me anything like some of these surveycompanies do. So all in all it wasnt so
bad and it didnt take up much time, so Id probably do it again if they ask me in
the future
What kinds of organisation want to find out about people's opinions?
Well, I think lots of organisations do surveys to find out what people think about
different things.There are groups that ask you your opinion about the
environment, or local government servicesand of course politics, but probably
the most common are the large manufacturing companieswho want to learn
what people think about their products or services. Almost every weekend
youcan see them in supermarkets and shopping malls armed with their
questionnaires ready to ask people lots of questions.
Do you think that questionnires or surveys are good ways of finding out people's
opinions?
Well, its one way of doing it, and I think a questionnaire or survey is a good idea
because
companies should know or be aware of what customers or potential customers
think or how they
feel about something: its an essential part of their market research. I think the
problem for many
people is the way they go about it. They always stop you and try to ask you all
these questionswhen
youre busy doing something else or when youre out with your family at the
weekend. I
think they should maybe try to find less intrusive ways of finding out what
people think. Thereare many surveys on the internet now, especially through the
Facebook page of a company and Ithink these are more popular for many people
than being stopped outside a store or on the streetand asked if they would like
to answers a few questions.
What reasons might people have for not wanting to give their opinions?
I think the most common reasons would be that people just arent interested, or
theyre busy or they just
cant be bothered at the time when they are asked. Lets face it, when youre
out
shopping or just walking along the street the last thing on your mind normally is
answering somequestions about a product or service. I also think that maybe a
lot of people think that there is anulterior motive for the survey or that they will
be persuaded to buy something.
Do you think it would be a good idea for schools to ask students their opinions
aboutlessons?
Well, it would certainly be interesting wouldnt it? I mean asking all the students
what they
thought youd be sure to get some very interesting answers. Yes, I think it is a
good idea,
because in any other aspect of life organisations are interested in what the
customer or end userthinks and feels about their product or service, and in the
case of schools its the students who are consuming the service provided,
but nobody really seems interested in finding out what theyactually think of it.
What would the advantages for schools be if they asked students their
opinions?
I think the main advantage could be that schools or education departments
could get a better in sight into what students think about the education they
receive, what they expect, and just how well received or not the
supposedly carefully designed education curriculum is by the very people who
use it. I mean, its common sense that students wont enjoy something if they
dontfind it interesting and if they dont think its interesting then theres little
chance of them actually
learning it, or learning it well. I think that finding out more about how students
think could help
authorities improve how they deliver education services. I mean its not as if
they have to changeeverything, but Im sure they could certainly make some
improvement based on students
reactions.
Would there be any disadvantages in asking students' opinions?
Well, Im sure that some students would just say they dont like things or they
do like things andwouldnt be able to quantify or justify their answers and if its
the education authorities who ask the questions they may well get some
answers from the students that they dont like, but thenthats all part of the
process. Its what they do with that information thats important, how theyfilter
it and if they act upon it. As I said, just because theyre only students doesnt
mean thattheir opinions shouldnt be sought.
After all, it could only make things better if their answerswere taken into
account when planning future education changes or curricula
CAMBRIDGE 8 TEST 2
reading newspapers andmagazines

Which magazines and newspapers do you read [Why?]
I only read magazines and newspapers if Im waiting someplace and they are there, and there
isno other alternative. I prefer to get my news from the internet. I tend to read the news online
regarding whichever country Im in at the moment, as I travel a lot, so its nice to keep up
withwhats happening wherever I am. As for magazines, I used t
o subscribe to several in the past, but
not any more. Its just so much easier to find the information online nowadays, not to mention
how much paper it saves not having old newspapers and magazines lying around the apartmentfor
months.
What kinds of articles are you most interested in? [Why?]
Really, it depends, as I said, if Im travelling then Ill try to gen up on whatever are the latestevents in
whichever country Im visiting
the latest news and articles of interest, that sort ofthing. Other than that, I read what I need to for
work, which covers many different areas and
can be very diverse most of the time. For pleasure, I prefer to read either a good novel or maybesome
of the alternative media coverage and their reports about world events. Most of my readingis for work
though, background research and such like, so I would have to say that I read morefactual articles
than anything else typically
Have you ever read a newspaper or magazine in a foreignlanguage? [When / Why?]
Yes, all the time. I lived in another country for several years, so reading in a foreign languagewas a
normal activity for me, not just newspapers and magazines, but all kinds of documents andliterature. I
still do it to maintain my reading skills.
Do you think reading a newspaper or magazine in a foreignlanguage is a good way to learn the
language? [Why / Whynot?]
Yes, but it depends on your language level. If you are just beginning to learn the language then itcan
be very difficult and frustrating
certainly not the best way to try and learn a foreignlanguage
but as you progress and develop your vocabulary it is a good way to learnexpressions and phrases
related to common topics in the news and current affairs, or related to aspecific topic in the case of
magazines.Describe a restaurant that you enjoyed going to. You should say:
- Where the restaurant was
- Why you chose this restaurant
- What type of food you ate in this restaurantand explain why you enjoyed eating in this restaurant.
Part 2 sample answer
About a year ago, I was invited by a friend of mine to go for lunch at a local restaurant. He
actually chose it, not me, but it was very good and it is one of the best that Ive ever eaten in.
Everything was excellent, the service, the ambience, the food, and obviously good company aswell,
so it was a perfect afternoon we spent together.The restaurant was maybe about 5km outside of the
city where we live. It was in the country andsituated next to a lake with a beautiful view of the
surrounding countryside. Like I said, it wasactually my friend who chose the resta
urant. I didnt even know about it, although I had heard
several people mention its name before. It truly was a spectacular location, quite breathtaking in fact.
Maybe thats why so many people are enthusiastic about the place.
The food they offer is what would be classed as traditional food or home cooking but its of a
very high standard and superb quality. The menu is varied and includes something for everyone.There
are traditional meat dishes, different types of fish and they cater for vegetarians too with
plenty of variety available for those who dont want to eat meat or fish.
I decided to have one of the local salmon, which is supposedly caught from the lake in front ofthe
restaurant. My friend had a steak, he likes his red meat! The food was excellent; I couldntfault it for
anything. It was served quickly and was delicious. Its a place I will definitely berecommending to
other people now that Ive been and tried it for myself.
The whole experience was very good, from the food, the scenery and of course having anopportunity
to catch up with my friend, so there were many reasons that I enjoyed eating there,and it was actually
better than I thought it would be which is always a nice surprise!
part 3
Restaurants
Why do you think people go to restaurants when they wantto celebrate something?
I guess everyone has their own reasons, but probably because its not something they do every
day, so it seems more special, especia
lly if its an important occasion. The other big benefit is
that nobody has to do the cooking or clearing up afterwards so everyone can simply enjoy the
celebration or event whichever it is. Nobody has to do anything. Its always nice to be waited on,
so I
think thats why most people prefer it.
Which are more popular in your country: fast foodrestaurants or traditional restaurants?
Theyre both popular, but in different ways and for different reasons. I think fast food restaurants
are popular for grabbing
a quick bite or snack, as they are fast and you can usually find one
nearby. Traditional restaurants are more popular for special occasions or going out for lunch or dinner
at the weekend when people have more time to sit and enjoy the food and the ambience or
atmosphere of the place. They usually cost more too, so maybe people dont go as often, but theyre
still popular. I dont think anyone would consider gong to a fast food place for a special
occasion unless it was a kids birthday party or something similar, in which case it makes a lotof
sense, as some of these places cater specially for such events.
Why do you think that is?
Why are they both popular? I think its because they both have good and bad things about them
they both cater for different needs and situations, and they both do what they do well, I suppose it
depends what you are looking for when you want to eat.
Some people say that food in an expensive restaurant isalways better than food in a cheap
restaurant
would youagree?
In my experience its not that simple. Ive has some amazingly good food in cheap restaurant sand
some disgustingly bad food in a supposedly classy and expensive place. I think thats why 'word of
mouth' advertising is so important in the restaurant business. You simply cant guarantee that a place
that looks expensive and charges a lot of money will indeed offer a betterdining experience than a
cheaper restaurant with fewer frills. The service can be just the sameand the quality of food the same
too it might only be the surroundings that are more upmarketin reality.
Producing food
Do you think there will be a greater choice of food availablein shops in the future, or will there
be less choice?
Thats hard to say, but I think that due to the fact that
most industries are becoming more andmore consolidated and there are less and less independent
producers of anything, you couldsafely say that the choice will probably be less, as it will be dictated
by only one or two giantglobal conglomerates in the food industry.
What effects has modern technology had on the way food isproduced?
Well, apart from mechanization and the implementation of technology at the cultivation level,such as
in agriculture, I think the biggest impact on food production, as it is already, is the
genetic modification of food for human consumption. Weve already seen it become common place
and more and more of our everyday food is being tampered with without our
knowledge. Food is now less natural than before and is full of things which we know nothing
about. This obviously makes more money for the food production companies but we still dont
know what the long term effects are for us the final consumers.
How important is it for a country to be able to grow all thefood it needs, without importing any
from other countries?
In recent times it hasnt been that important as its been easy enough to import anything that was
required. Maybe in the future there will be more emphasis on being independent in terms of
food production, as well as other essential resources such as energy and fuel. The way things aregoing
in the world at the moment it looks like there are going to be some major changes whichcould affect
everyone in terms of how we look at out ability to survive in the event of anotherworld conflict where
food and possibly water become scarce certain areas of the world where ithas never been the case
before.
Cambridge IELTS 8 speaking sample answers part 1

reading newspapers and magazines
Which magazines and newspapers do you read [Why?]
I only read magazines and newspapers if Im waiting someplace and they
are there, and there is no other alternative. I prefer to get my news from
the internet. I tend to read the news online regarding whichever country
Im in at the moment, as I travel a lot, so its nice to keep up with whats
happening wherever I am. As for magazines, I used to subscribe to several
in the past, but not any more. Its just so much easier to find the
information online nowadays, not to mention how much paper it saves not
having old newspapers and magazines lying around the apartment for
months.
What kinds of articles are you most interested in? [Why?]
Really, it depends, as I said, if Im travelling then Ill try to gen up on
whatever are the latest events in whichever country Im visiting the latest
news and articles of interest, that sort of thing. Other than that, I read what
I need to for work, which covers many different areas and can be very
diverse most of the time. For pleasure, I prefer to read either a good novel
or maybe some of the alternative media coverage and their reports about
world events. Most of my reading is for work though, background research
and such like, so I would have to say that I read more factual articles than
anything
else
typically.
Have you ever read a newspaper or magazine in a foreign language?

[When / Why?]
Yes, all the time. I lived in another country for several years, so reading in a
foreign language was a normal activity for me, not just newspapers and
magazines, but all kinds of documents and literature. I still do it to maintain
my
reading
skills.
Do you think reading a newspaper or magazine in a foreign language

is a good way to learn the language? [Why / Why not?]
Yes, but it depends on your language level. If you are just beginning to
learn the language then it can be very difficult and frustrating certainly
not the best way to try and learn a foreign language but as you progress
and develop your vocabulary it is a good way to learn expressions and
phrases related to common topics in the news and current affairs, or
related to a specific topic in the case of magazines.
Describe a restaurant that you enjoyed going to. You should say:
- Where the restaurant was
- Why you chose this restaurant
- What type of food you ate in this restaurant
and explain why you enjoyed eating in this restaurant.
IELTS speaking test | Part 2 sample answer

About a year ago, I was invited by a friend of mine to go for lunch at a local
restaurant. He actually chose it, not me, but it was very good and it is one
of the best that Ive ever eaten in. Everything was excellent, the service, the
ambience, the food, and obviously good company as well, so it was a
perfect afternoon we spent together.
The restaurant was maybe about 5km outside of the city where we live. It
was in the country and situated next to a lake with a beautiful view of the
surrounding countryside. Like I said, it was actually my friend who chose
the restaurant. I didnt even know about it, although I had heard several
people mention its name before. It truly was a spectacular location, quite
breathtaking in fact. Maybe thats why so many people are enthusiastic

about the place.
The food they offer is what would be classed as traditional food or home
cooking but its of a very high standard and superb quality. The menu is
varied and includes something for everyone. There are traditional meat
dishes, different types of fish and they cater for vegetarians too with plenty
of variety available for those who dont want to eat meat or fish.
I decided to have one of the local salmon, which is supposedly caught from
the lake in front of the restaurant. My friend had a steak, he likes his red
meat! The food was excellent; I couldnt fault it for anything. It was served
quickly and was delicious. Its a place I will definitely be recommending to
other people now that Ive been and tried it for myself.
The whole experience was very good, from the food, the scenery and of
course having an opportunity to catch up with my friend, so there were
many reasons that I enjoyed eating there, and it was actually better than I
thought it would be which is always a nice surprise!
Part 3
Restaurants
Why do you think people go to restaurants when they want to celebrate
something?
I guess everyone has their own reasons, but probably because its not
something they do every day, so it seems more special, especially if its an
important occasion. The other big benefit is that nobody has to do the
cooking or clearing up afterwards so everyone can simply enjoy the
celebration or event whichever it is. Nobody has to do anything. Its always
nice to be waited on, so I think thats why most people prefer it.
Which are more popular in your country: fast food restaurants or

traditional restaurants?
Theyre both popular, but in different ways and for different reasons. I
think fast food restaurants are popular for grabbing a quick bite or snack,
as they are fast and you can usually find one nearby. Traditional
restaurants are more popular for special occasions or going out for lunch
or dinner at the weekend when people have more time to sit and enjoy the
food and the ambience or atmosphere of the place. They usually cost more
too, so maybe people dont go as often, but theyre still popular. I dont
think anyone would consider gong to a fast food place for a special
occasion unless it was a kids birthday party or something similar, in
which case it makes a lot of sense, as some of these places cater specially
for such events.
Why do you think that is?
Why are they both popular? I think its because they both have good and
bad things about them they both cater for different needs and situations,
and they both do what they do well, I suppose it depends what you are
looking for when you want to eat.
Some people say that food in an expensive restaurant is always better than
food in a cheap restaurant would you agree?
In my experience its not that simple. Ive has some amazingly good food in
cheap restaurants and some disgustingly bad food in a supposedly classy
and expensive place. I think thats why 'word of mouth' advertising is so
important in the restaurant business. You simply cant guarantee that a
place that looks expensive and charges a lot of money will indeed offer a
better dining experience than a cheaper restaurant with fewer frills. The
service can be just the same and the quality of food the same too it might
only be the surroundings that are more upmarket in reality.
Producing food
Do you think there will be a greater choice of food available in shops in the
future, or will there be less choice?
Thats hard to say, but I think that due to the fact that most industries are
becoming more and more consolidated and there are less and less
independent producers of anything, you could safely say that the choice
will probably be less, as it will be dictated by only one or two giant global
conglomerates in the food industry.
What effects has modern technology had on the way food is produced?
Well, apart from mechanization and the implementation of technology at
the cultivation level, such as in agriculture, I think the biggest impact on
food production, as it is already, is the genetic modification of food for
human consumption. Weve already seen it become commonplace and
more and more of our everyday food is being tampered with without our
knowledge. Food is now less natural than before and is full of things which
we know nothing about. This obviously makes more money for the food
production companies but we still dont know what the long term effects
are for us the final consumers.
How important is it for a country to be able to grow all the food it needs,
without importing any from other countries?
In recent times it hasnt been that important as its been easy enough to
import anything that was required. Maybe in the future there will be more
emphasis on being independent in terms of food production, as well as
other essential resources such as energy and fuel. The way things are
going in the world at the moment it looks like there are going to be some
major changes which could affect everyone in terms of how we look at out
ability to survive in the event of another world conflict where food and
possibly water become scarce certain areas of the world where it has never
been the case before.
IELTS 8 TEST 3
IELTS 8 speaking sample answer | flowers
Flowers
Do you like to have flowers in your home?
[Why / Why not?]
Answer A: Yes, I do. I think they add a lot of color to the place. Theyre a nice natural
touch andas they only last about a week I usually replace them with some other flowers
so theres always
something different to look at. They bring a bit of life to the apartment, which is
something Ilike.
Answer B: Personally I dont really bother with flowers where I live. I just dont think
they are
important enough to go and buy them, then arrange them, and water them everyday. I
like
flowers, but I cant be bothered having them around the house. If I want to add a
splash of colorId prefer to buy a painting or something similar for my home.
Where would you go to buy flowers?
[Why?]It would depend on the occasion or event, and who I was buying them for. If it
was just a small
gift for someone and it wasnt a particularly special event or anything like that then Id
probably pick some flowers up at the supermarket because they usually have a good
selection and theyre
always fresh and good quality. If it was for a special event, or someone really special,
then I
guess Id go to a florist and look for something appropriate for the person or event. I
think each
place is good depending on what you need. The supermarket is convenient and the flo
wers aregood, but at the florist you can usually find something a little different or out
of the ordinary, andthey usually deliver them as well.
On what occasions would you give someone flowers?
Flowers arent always my first choice
as a gift, so it would depend on the event and
the person, but I usually take flowers with me when I visit my mother for example, bec
ause she
loves flowers. I would also buy them for my girlfriends birthday and any other special
occasion
because she really adores them. Then there are events such as funerals when flowers a
renormally sent or delivered to the family, and maybe other special occasions such as
thegraduation of my sister or cousin from university, because they both like flowers.
Are flowers important in your culture?
[Why / Why not?]
Personally, I dont think they are very important in the culture. They may be popular,
especiallywith women, but apart from the well accepted traditions of roses for romantic
occasions, I cant
really associate a particular flower with any important special event or meaning. I think
givingflowers is a common thing, many people do it regularly, but as for any special
significance, I
cant really think of any. Theyre a very popular gift to give someone but lots of
people prefer to
give and receive other types of gifts too, so I dont think they are really that important
in terms of
the culture, unlike in some other countries may be
Describe a meeting you remember going to at work, college or school. You should
say:
- when and where the meeting was held
- who was at the meeting
- what the people at the meeting talked aboutand explain why you remember going to
this meeting.
Sample answer |describe a meeting
I remember a meeting I attended about 3 months in particular, because it was a very

long oneand a lot of people were getting stressed out during it. The meeting was at
work, in theconference room where we all gathered to discuss some problems with a
very important projectwe were working on.There were about eight people who
attended the meeting; the general manager, the head of thedesign department, the
company accountant, the project manager and two of the companydirectors, my boss
who is the president of the company, and me as one of the project engineers.Basically
the project we were working on was not going well; it was overdue and over budgetdue
to some unforeseen problems and delays with suppliers and contractors.The worst
thing about that particular project was that it was for our most important client, I think
thats why the directors were at the meeting, because it was causing problems for
potential new projects that we were trying to obtain from the same client, so the
consequences of not deliveringthe project as promised could have had serious long
term effect for the company as a whole.The meeting started with an update of what had
been completed so far and the unexpected
problems encountered and already solved. The project manager and design engineer pr
esentedsome information about some existing problems and some possible ways of
how they could besolved. The accountant took her turn to explain various aspects of
the budget and how costs hadexceeded the project budget so far, and the final part of
the meeting was all about forming anaction plan to get the project back on track and
hopefully recover some of the overspending inthe final stages of the project.
As I said, I remember it very well because I dont think anyone really enjoyed that
meeting.
Most of the people who participated were very nervous about the situation and several
times theytried to blame other people and other departments for the delays and cost
overruns. Even the directors didnt look comfortable because so much was at stake for
the company. It wasnt the worst meeting Ive been to but neither was it the best,
however, we did eventually solve a lot of
problems so it was certainly productive even though it lasted for over 5 hours.
I think if we hadnt organized it and got everyone together and finally hashed out all
the
problems, the whole project could have been a disaster in the end. I dont normally lik
e meetings, but this was one example of just how important it can be to get everyone
involved insomething together at least once to discuss all the different aspects and
come up with workablesolutions which can then be actioned.
8/4
part 1
Examiner: Lets move on to talk about television.
How often do you watch television?
Candidate: I usually watch TV only in the evening for about one or two hours a day.
Examiner:
What kind of shows do you like?
Cadidate: I am fond of the talk shows, such as Oprah. I think this show is very inspirational for many
people around the world and this show can heal some people who have suffering in their lives as well.
Examiner: Has television helped you to improve your English? Why or why not?
Candidate: Yes, absolutely. It has helped me to develop my ability of English. For instance, listening
because I can become familiar with English peoples accents. Furthermore, I can practice speaking while
I am watching news or television shows.
Examiner: Do you ever watch movies on television?
Candidate: Yes, of course. I used to watch many movies on television. Such as; A Walk to Remember,
Titanic and Music and Lyrics
Talk about your favourite TV channel

You should say:
What is it
How often do you watch it
What type of programmes does it broadcast

and explain why do you like this TV channel
Model Answer:
I do not watch TV that much but it is a great electronic media for education and entertainment. Sometimes I watch
TV, mostly in my free time and among the channels I watch, 'Discovery Channel' is my most favorite. Whenever I
held the TV remote control in my hand, I look for either a news channel or Discovery channel. This is the channel I
watch more often than any other channels. I watch it for 4-8 hours per week. On my day off, if I am in front of TV, I
watch the great educational and recreational programs that this channel broadcasts.
It broadcasts mainly documentary programs focusing on popular science, technology and history. But recently they
have started showing some other types of programs like reality show and pseudo technology and entertainment.
There are some unique programs that they present to their audiences like Myth Busters, Unsolved History,
automobiles, and occupations etc. This channel started broadcasting from 1985 and has become one the most
popular TV channels in the world because of their emphasizes on high quality programs.
I like this TV channel because of the programs and documentaries they present. Most of the programs are
thoroughly enjoyable and offers lots of information to the audiences. This is one of the great sources for me to learn
history, technology and other educational knowledge. The picture quality is really nice and this channel is easily
available via the cable service providers. I found this channel really interesting and I can learn many new things
watching it.
part 3
1. What do you think makes someone a good friend to a whole family?
Wow, this is indeed difficult to answer. People would have a whole lot of different ideas when they look at
it through their own perspectives. I cant guarantee I can give a satisfying answer, but I guess a person
would be surely considered as my family friend if he/she has helped my family when we are in great
needs.
People become friends for many different reasons. But what make someone a family friend often has
something special, like helping to look after the old, extending a helping hand when the family is in great
danger and stuffs like this.
2. Do you think we meet different kinds of friend at different stages of our lives? In what ways are
these types of friend different?
I guess so. We all had playmates when we were young. Then when we grow up a little, we had teachers
who can guide our life and study, buddies who can share the joy and sorrow of our heart. When we go to
work, we had friends who could really help us in need, as well as fair weather friend. Anyway, this is just
part of life. People change as you age, and your world will never be the same again.
I dont think so. No matter what stage you are at, you always have true friends and fair weather friends at
the same time, but you wouldnt be able to tell, not until the time of test, which is when you need some
help. Yes, it proves the sayinga friend in need is a friend indeed.
3. How easy is it to make friends with people from a different age group?
Its generally believed to be true that the more age difference between two people, the more difficult it is
for them to become friends, considering their discrepant ways of thinking and language patterns. The
biggest problem might just lie in communication.
I guess it shouldnt be a big problem as long as they share the same interest, same hobby. There are
countless numbers of examples in proof of this. Just like love transcends cultures, friendship also
transcends ages.
4. Do you think it is possible to be friends with someone if you never meet them in person?
Well, there are examples where people become really good friends through the Internet and emails. Plus
a lot of people have once had pen pals and kept that relationship for quite a long time. So I believe its
totally possible.
I never doubt the possibility of becoming friends over internet. I even call it digital friendship. But there are
admittedly lots of dangers. So caution must be used when you want to try it out.
5. Is this real friendship?
Well, yes and no. Yes, because as long as their relationship is true and cordial, it is considered friendship.
No, because it is still different from the conventional type.
Like an old saying puts itthe benevolent see benevolence and the wise see wisdom, different people
have different judgment. Well, I would like not to judge, lest me myself is judged.
6. What kind of influence can friends have on our lives?
Friends influence our lives in many different ways. First, everyone needs friends. They cheer you up
when you feel down; they share your joys and sorrows; they help you out of troubles; they point out your
mistake when you dont feel like admitting it. Anyway, friends are an indispensable part in life.
You may not realize to what extent friends may influence you. Friends add meaning to our life, they enrich
our experiences, bring joy, and share our problems. If there were a fourth need besides food, water, and
shelter, we could say it would be the need for human interaction, closeness, and friendships.
7. How important would you say it is to have friend from different cultures?
I always feel blessed enough to have had the opportunity to interact with people from many different
cultures. Though sometimes we struggle because I dont know enough about their customs, religion, laws
or culture and sometimes say or do wrong things, its ever a good experience to learn new things about
other cultures. Despite the differences, I love all them and they also love me thats what matters.
Its a good thing to have friends from different cultures in that they teach you to look at the world through
abiggerperspective. Its also a good opportunity to reflect upon ourselves and our own cultures, and
helps to get rid of our cultural bias when we look at or do things.
roaden, interact, custom, reflect, mirror, cultural bias, prejudice, narrow-
Part I
Examiner: Good morning, my name is...........
Can you tell me your full name please?
Candidate: My name is Ladda Boonmee
Examiner: Can you tell me where you come from?
Candidate: I come from Bangkok which is the capital city of Thailand. It is very convenient city because it
has a very good transportation system, such as; sky trains, buses and sea buses. Moreover, there are
many big department stores for people who like shopping.
Examiner: Can I see your identification please?
..................................
Lets talk about what you do.
Examiner: Do you work or do you study?
Candidate: I am a student at the moment. I used to study with English tutors for 6 months. Furthermore, I
have studied English with GV English centre for 1 month.
Examiner: How long have you been doing this course?
Candidate: I have been doing this course for 1 month.
Examiner: What do you plan to do in the future?

Candidate: I would like to be a nurse in Vancouver. Therefore, I have studied English for many years.
Nevertheless, I dont have a definite long term plan because I think my present plan is more important.
Examiner: What the most difficult thing about your course?
Candidate: In my opinion, I think reading comprehension is the most complicated. I had to study very
hard and got up so early in the morning to practice before I could achieve my success.
Examiner: Why did you choose to study this subject?
Candidate: I chose to study IELTS because I would like to immigrate to Canada and apply to be a nurse
in Vancouver. Furthermore, English is very necessary for me which helps me to communicate with
English patients in Thailand.
Examiner: Lets talk about your eating habits:

How many meals do you eat in a day?
Candidate: I eat 3 meals a day which contain protein, carbohydrates, vitamin, minerals and calcium.
However, I eat fruit and vegetables in the evening rather than meat and flour because they will not make
me overweight.
Examiner: What kinds of food do you like the most? Why?
Candidate: I am keen on eating Thai food the most because it has balanced nutrition in one meal and it is
very tasty. For example; our lunch that contains grilled chicken, sticky rice and papaya salad is nutritious,
delicious and balanced.
Examiner: Are there any foods you dont particular like? Why?
Candidate: I dont like India food because it has a strong smell and it is too heavy for me. For example,
Roti and Mussamon curry which is made from flour, sugar, coconut milk and beef.
Examiner: What are the advantages of cooking your own food?
Candidate: I think there are three benefits of cooking my own meal.
Firstly, I can save on my budget because I dont have to pay for the restaurants services.
Secondly, I know exactly that my food is beneficial to health because I can choose the ingredients by
myself.
Thirdly, I dont have to worry about the quality and cleanliness of the food.
Examiner: Lets talk about going out with friends.

How often do you go out with friends?
Candidate: I usually go out with friends on the weekend.
Examiner: Where do you and your friends usually go? Why?
Candidate: My friends and I usually go to see a movie at IMEX theatre because we are keen on watching
comedy movies. Therefore, we always get in touch on Friday to make our plans.
Examiner: Do you prefer to go out with your friends, or invite them over to your house? Why?
Candidate: I would rather go out with my friends because it is convenient that I dont have to prepare food
for them. Moreover, I can explore many new places.
Examiner: Would you rather go out in a large group, or just get together with one or two friends?
Why?
Candidate: I prefer to go out with a couple of friends because it is easier to get along with some friends
than in the large group. For example, I went shopping with my two close friends who were very easygoing last week. We did not get frustrated with each other because we had the same taste. On the other
hand, if we go out with a large group, we have to cope with different ideas of all the people.
IELTS Speaking Test - How to Get a Good Score

Examiner: Can you describe with place youve living now?
Candidate: Iam living in an apartment on Main Street and 6th AVE, which is very peaceful and close to
nature. I am very comfortable living here because the transit is very convenient. Moreover, my neighbours
are very warm-hearted.
Examiner: Do you have anything on the walls?
Candidate:
I have some flower pictures on the walls. I think these pictures make me happy and relaxed.
Examiner: How are the transportation services where you live?
Candidate: They are very convenient and punctual. I can manage my time which makes me happy and
not be bad-tempered.
Examiner: Are there any sports facilities near where you live?
Candidate: Yes, there is one facility near my home. However, I have never been there because I have
been very busy with my English lessons.
IELTS Speaking
Examiner: Now lets talk about jewelry.
Examiner: Do you wear any jewelry? Why or why not?
Candidate:I wear some jewelry, such as; earrings and necklaces. I think earrings can make women more
attractive and the necklace, which I wear, is from my father.
Examiner: What kinds of jewelry do people in your country wear?
Candidate: Many people in my country like to wear earrings and necklaces because it is convenient to
purchase them. They are available everywhere. Furthermore, some of them are not very expensive which
makes it easy for people to afford.
Examiner: Would you ever buy a piece of jewelry? Why or Why not?
Candidate:I always buy earrings because I am keen on wearing of this type of jewelry. There are many
style, colours and designs.
Examiner: What kind of jewelry do you like to see on other people?
Candidate: Earrings, which I like to see on someone else, are the most attractive. In my opinion, I think
men or women can wear earings j because some styles of them make people look more interesting.
IELTS Speaking-TIPS
Examiner: Lets talk about libraries.
Examiner: How often do you go to the library?
Candidate: I always go to the library after school because it is a very good place to study and gain more
knowledge.
Examiner: Do you ever study at the library? Why or why not?
Candidate: Yes, of course. I think the best place for studying is the library. I have three reasons to support
my idea.
Firstly, it is a very quiet place and people respect each other.
Secondly, we can go pick any useful books right away.
Thirdly, we can use the complimentary internet.
Examiner: Does your hometown have a good library?
Candidate: Yes, actually we have one in Bangkok city which is the biggest one in Thailand. However, it is
not as big as in Vancouver. I went there a long time ago. It contains any kind of books, especially books
for young people who are studying in school or university.
Examiner: Do you think people should get a library card? Why or why not?
Candidate: Yes, I think people should have it because it has many advantages. Firstly, people, who are
keen on reading, they can save on their budget instead of buying their favourite books.
Secondly, students dont have to pay for very expensive books that they actually wont use very often.
Moreover, they can use the complimentary internet for searching useful information.
Examiner: Lets move on to talk about television.

How often do you watch television?
Candidate: I usually watch TV only in the evening for about one or two hours a day.
Examiner:
What kind of shows do you like?
Cadidate: I am fond of the talk shows, such as Oprah. I think this show is very inspirational for many
people around the world and this show can heal some people who have suffering in their lives as well.
Examiner: Has television helped you to improve your English? Why or why not?
Candidate: Yes, absolutely. It has helped me to develop my ability of English. For instance, listening
because I can become familiar with English peoples accents. Furthermore, I can practice speaking while
I am watching news or television shows.
Examiner: Do you ever watch movies on television?
Candidate: Yes, of course. I used to watch many movies on television. Such as; A Walk to Remember,
Titanic and Music and Lyrics
Examiner: Now lets discuss health.

Examiner: What do you do to stay healthy?
Candidate: For myself, firstly, I always eat a good diet because it is beneficial to health. Secondly, I
always do yoga for exercising in the morning. Thirdly, when I have to face a miserable situation, I am fond
of doing meditation because it can make me calm, relaxed not be a stressed person.
Examiner: What kinds of exercise are best for your health?
Candidate: I think yoga suits me the most because I can do it everywhere and I dont need expensive
tools. In addition, I am able to do it alone. Therefore, I dont have to ask my friends, who have many
businesses to deal with, to be my partner. I also dont have to spend money going to the gym.
Examiner: Do many people in your country smoke?
Candidate: Yes, many people still smoke in Thailand. Even though the government tries to find many
solutions to solve this problem, it seems to have improved a little bit. However, I think nowadays the
amounts of people smoking are decreasing in numbers every year.
Examiner: Have you ever had to go to the hospital?
Candidate: Yes, I went to the hospital many times because my mother, who had a heart disease, she had
to go and check her condition every month.
Examiner: Lets move on to talk about history.

Examiner: Do you study history in school? Why or why not?
Candidate: Yes, history is a necessary part of our subjects in school because there are many historical
places in Thailand. Furthermore, I think the studying of history is important for any generation because it
can remind young people of their ancestors, who were fighting for their country, and how they lived.
Examiner: Do you think children should be taught about history? Why or Why not?
Candidate: Yes, I think young children should get to know about their countries history because they will
be aware of the valuable historical places. They should be aware of the traditions in the past and keep
them alive for the next generation so they are not lost.
Examiner: Do you think your countrys history is interesting? Why or why not?
Candidate:I think Thailands history is fascinating because our country has never been in any other
countries control. Therefore, learning about our ancestors, who protect our country, is very exciting.
Examinar: Would you like to study history?
Candidate: Yes, I would love to know about Canadas history because I have been living here for almost 2
years but I havent had a chance to learn about this countrys history yet.
Examiner: Now lets discuss using cell phones.

Examiner: Do you have a cell phone? Why or why not?
Candidate: Yes, I do because it is the easiest way to communicate with other people and get in touch with
them. Especially, when I have to live in another country, which is far away from my family, my cell phone
helps me to keep in touch with them.
Examiner: Is a cell phone useful? Why or why not?
Candidate: Yes, I think it is very functional because we can use cell phones for many functions. For
example; using the internet, calculation, setting an alarm clock and watching movies or even to remind
ourselves of appointments and phone numbers.
Examiner: What are cell phones used for in your country?
Candidate: In Thailand, we used cell phones for many purposes. Such as; watching movies, surfing the
internet, setting an alarm clock, reminding us of appointments. Nevertheless, the main purpose is that we
can get in touch with people.
Examiner: Are cell phones expensive in your country
Candidate: It used to be very high-priced for many years. However, nowadays it is not very expensive
anymore because there are many cell phone companies available. Therefore, they have to create
effective products, which are cheap in price to compete.
Talk about a place of natural beauty you would like to visit

You should say:
What is it
Why would you like to visit
When would you like to visit

And explain why it is a place worth visiting
Sample Answer:
The natural place which I think is very beautiful and would like to visit is (say a place name you know is naturally
beautiful). It is a place that gives the impression of natural beauty, serenity and divinity as it a vast green area
besides the hills and a beautiful river has passed besides it. The flowers and fields are like scenery painted by a
professional painter. The butterfly, the birds, the bushes, the long trees and tea garden makes it a place worth
visiting.
I have heard the impeccable beauty of this place from my friends and everyone who went there has recommended it
as a must visit place. I have also read few articles about the tourist attraction and natural beauty of this place. The
writers describe it as a adventurous pace as hill tracking, swimming in the river, visiting the lightened caves at night
are all adventurous activities that tourists mainly like to do there.
I have a plan to visit this place in the near future when I would have a vacation of more than 7 days. The local foods
of this place especially the fried fishes and shrimps are famous and thats why I want to stay there for few days. Most
possibly I will visit this place next December.
This is a worth visiting place because it is one of the greatest naturally stunning and beautiful place. There are lots of
activities to do, lots of things to see and several famous menus to test. Since lots of people visit this place and highly
recommend it to others, I am sure this is a place that worth a visit.
Describe a city you have visited /

Describe your favourite City.
You should say:
what is the name and where is it
when you visited it.
why did you like it
what are the attractive places of this city

and explain what influence did the city have on you
Follow-up Questions:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a big city?
What changes have you observed in your city in past 5 years?
Name some good tourist spots in your city?
Why do you think living in your city is a good choice?
Model Answer:
Sydney is my most favorite city among the cities I have visited. Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales of
Australia. This city is situated in the bank of Tasman Sea and has around 4.6 million people. I have visited this city in
2008, after I finished my graduation and loved my stay there. Sydney had many attractive natural area, botanic
garden, parks, and high rising buildings. This city has many heritage listed building that attracts the tourists and
visitors. The Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognized landmarks in Australia and is a great place to visit.
This city is known for the dynamic cultural hub and it has many famous museum, galleries and art galleries as well.
Because of the great architecture, warm weather and hundreds of tourists attraction more than 11 million
international and domestic tourists visit this city each year. I had been there for about 15 days and I really enjoyed
everything about this city. I stayed at a 20 storied hotel that offered a really amusing sight views. The transportation
system of the city is better than many other cities and I could have been maintaining the track and time of my
schedules because of that. I loved being at open & wide spaces in the gardens and parks. People are welcoming
and friendly there. A tourist can get plenty of helps both from people and the authority and can roam easily without
any interruption. I saw 2/3 art museum and some cultural festivals and those were awesome.
There are so many places to be, so many things to do in Sydney. Some of the attractive places are: Royal Botanic
Garden, Hyde Park, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney Town hall, Macquarie Lighthouse, Australia Square, Sydney
Opera House and many more.
I had a tremendous vacation in Sydney and I liked most of the places there and I enjoyed so much that I did not
even notice how quickly the 2 weeks scheduled time has passed.
Tips for Answering this Cue Card Topic:

Talk about any city that you have really been to and tell the details of this city as well as your experience of this visit.
Do not just talk about any random city that you have never been to as this might arise question to the examiners
mind. If you have not been to a foreign country ever, talk about any city in your country.
Mention the following points to make it a good answer:
1.
Name of the city & country it is in.
2.
If there are more than one city with the same name (which might be the case in many countries) clearly state
which one you have visited.

3.
Give the reason of your visit (Travel, visiting someone, tour, business visit etc.)
4.
Who was with you?
5.
When you planned to visit this city and when you actually visited it.
6.
If you have visited this city more than once, try to describe your latest visit experience there as that would give
more accurate information of this city.

7.
Things to watch, do and other activity of this city. Famous places of this city and tradition of this city.
8.
Mention your attachment and liking of this city. Give reason why you like this city.
If the topic is Your favourite city, you should slightly change the way of speaking about this topic. Start by saying
that this is a city that offers many recreations, tourists activity and your memory regarding this city. Also mention the
historical and traditional culture of this city and why it is a good city to visit and stay.
Talk about a peaceful place that you like

You should say:
Where is the place located?
What is this place?
How did you come to know about the place?

and explain why do you like that place
Model Answer:
My grandfather's house is a peaceful place that I visit around 2-3 times a year and like very much. This is in the
village (...say a village name...). My grandfathers house is a big house with lots of open spaces and a river is flowing
nearby.
In this big house only 3-4 people and 2-3 servants live as my grandparents are no longer in this world and my
uncles, aunts are mostly living in different big cities.
There are 7-8 rooms in the house and a big garden in front of the house. The servants take care of the garden and
keep the place neat and clean. Since I live in a city and work for a big company where I have lots of responsibilities
to perform, the city life seems very busy and even sometimes chaotic to me.
Whenever I visit my grandfathers house, I get an impression that I have come to the most peaceful place in the
world. I have not seen many places and have not travelled extensively but in my experience the peace and mental
tranquility I enjoy being here is unmatched. One of the reasons can be my childhood memories; as I have spent my
childhood at this very house and whenever I go there, lots of memories flash back and give me a pleasure that I do
not get from elsewhere.
I know this place from my childhood as I was born and grown up here. This place is different to me. I leave behind
my busy life and come here to relax both mentally and physically. The memory of my departed grandparents, my
childhood and other happy events are related to this place. I can get fresh air, meet some of my relatives, enjoy the
country life and stay close to nature here and for all those reasons, I like this place very much.
It is a place that gives the impression of natural beauty, serenity and divinity as it a vast green area besides the hills
and a beautiful river has passed besides it. The flowers and fields are like scenery painted by a professional painter.
The butterfly, the birds, the bushes, the long trees and tea garden makes it a place worth visiting.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a place

In part 2 of the speaking test, you might have to describe a place. There are several
possible questions about places. For example:
1.Describe a place you have visited.
2.Describe a historic place.
3.Describe a holiday.
4.Describe a place you would like to visit.
5.Describe somewhere you have lived or would like to live.
My advice is to prepare a description of one place that you could use to answer all of these
questions. Then search the Internet for some good vocabulary.
For example, here are some ideas I found to describe London:
Adjectives: it's exciting, busy, hectic, cosmopolitan, multicultural, unique. It's
historic but modern at the same time, it's a thriving, prosperous city, it's
fashionable, lively, fun...
Activities: London is famous for its history, culture, art, museums. Tourists go there
to see Big Ben, The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square etc.
You can get a fantastic view of the city from the 'London Eye'. It's also famous for
its theatres and shows in the West End, its shops, restaurants and nightlife. There
are endless things to see and do.
Negatives: London is expensive, crowded, stressful, polluted. The underground
system is dirty, travel is overpriced and unpleasant. The cost of living is high
(shopping, house prices etc.), the locals are always in a hurry and can be
unfriendly, there are social problems (like you can find in most big cities).
IELTS Speaking: 'future aim' answer
Last month I forgot to write a sample answer for the question below.
Describe an aim or goal that you hope to achieve in the future.
You should say
- what the aim is
- when you hope to achieve it
- what you need to do to reach your goal
- and why this goal is important to you.
Here's my answer. Can you find any 'less common vocabulary' in it?
Im going to describe a future aim of mine, which is to write a book. Id like to write a novel,
so the story or plot would be fictional, but it would probably be influenced by some of my
own experiences, ideas and views.
Unfortunately I have no idea where to start or what my novel would be about, so I cant
imagine achieving this aim until later in my life. Maybe it will be something that I do as a
hobby when I retire, or I might suddenly be inspired to start writing much sooner. Its just a
vague objective at the moment.
I think it must be extremely difficult to find the motivation to write a novel, so more than
anything I would need time, commitment and the passion to keep working until I finished. I
would probably need to set a goal of writing for a certain amount of time each day, and of
course Id need a good idea for a story in the first place.
This goal interests me because Ive always wondered how people manage to create a work
of fiction from nothing; Ive always wondered whether I could do the same, and whether Id
be capable of bringing a story to life. Ive always enjoyed reading, and Id like to follow in
the footsteps of my favourite authors.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'parks' answers
Here are my sample answers for last week's questions. Remember that part 1 answers are
supposed to be short and direct. You don't need to 'show off' in this part of the test!
1. Do you like parks? Why / why not?
Yes, I like parks because they're great places to relax or go for a walk. I think every city
needs some green space where people can escape from the crowds.
2. How often do you visit parks?
There's a park very close to where I live, so I probably go there once or twice a week if the
weather's nice.
3. Why are parks an important part of many towns and cities?
Parks are like an oasis where people get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. They
are where people go to have lunch, to take some exercise, or to forget about work for a
while.
4. What do you think could be done to make parks better?
The parks in big cities are already really good in my opinion. If I think about the famous
parks in London, Paris or New York, I can't imagine what I would do to improve them.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'community' answers
Here are my sample answers for the part 3 'community' topic:

1) What are some of the ways people can help others in the community? Which is the
most important?
I think there are many ways to help others in our local communities. For example, where I
live, some people volunteer to run activity clubs for children, or they help out in residential
homes for elderly people. Others give money, food or clothes to organisations that support
people living below the poverty line. In my opinion, there isnt a scale of importance when it
comes to helping others; all forms of help are positive.
2) Why do you think some people like to help other people?
Most people get a good feeling when they help others, and they understand that we can all
experience difficult times in our lives when we might need support. For example, we all grow
old, and we all run the risk of losing our jobs or having a health problem that affects our
ability to look after ourselves. So, I think people help others because they empathise with
them.
3) Some people say that people help others in the community more now than they did
in the past. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
I disagree with that kind of opinion. Its impossible to generalise about how much people
help in their communities from one generation to the next, so I dont think we should try to
judge or compare how altruistic people are now or were in the past. There have always
been those who help others and those who dont.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'indoor game' answer
Describe an indoor game that you enjoyed as a child. You should say
- what the game was
- where you played it
- who played this game with you
- and why you liked it
As a child I enjoyed playing chess. I think chess is probably the best known board game in
the world. Its a game for two players, and the aim is to defeat the other player by taking
his or her pieces and eventually trapping his King. This final move is called checkmate.
I remember that it was a classmate of mine at primary school who first taught me to play
chess. He had a small, portable chess set, and once I knew how each piece moved, we
started playing at break and lunch times; we played in our classroom or outside on the
school playground. Later my parents bought me my own chess set as a birthday present
so that I could play at home.
I taught my younger brother to play, and at some point I joined the school chess club. There
I had the chance to hone my skills against some of the older pupils, and in my final year of
primary school I made it onto the school team. There were five of us on the team, and we
competed against children from other primary schools in the same town.
I liked playing chess because I enjoyed the challenge of thinking ahead and trying to outwit
my opponent. I was probably seven or eight years old when I started playing, and it
seemed like a very mysterious and intellectual game at that time. Also, although I loved
winning, chess taught me to learn from my losses and to congratulate the person who had
beaten me.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: sample answers
Remember to keep your part 1 answers short and direct; the examiner will interrupt you if
you don't. Here are my sample answers to the 'house or apartment' questions from two
weeks ago:
1. Do you live in a house or an apartment?
I live in a semi-detached house with three bedrooms in a suburb of Manchester. I've lived
there for just over a year.
2. Which is your favourite room in your home? Why?
I don't really have a favourite room. But if I had to choose, I'd say the living room because
that's where I go to sit and relax.
3. Would you change anything about your home? Why / why not?
Yes, I've been meaning to redecorate it since I moved in last year. It needs a new kitchen,
so that's what I'd change first.
4. Would you like to move to a different home in the future?

Yes, I'd definitely move again at some point if I could afford to. I'd like to live in the
countryside, or maybe in a different city or country.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'advice' answers
Here are my sample answers for the 'advice' questions from this lesson:
1. Is it better to get advice from a friend or from a family member?
I think it depends on the kind of advice that you need. Parents and grandparents probably
have more life experience than a friend, and so you might get a wiser or more sensible
answer from them. On the other hand, friends are less likely to become too worried if you go
to them with a problem. For example, I probably wouldnt want to burden my parents with a
financial problem.
2. What would you say are the characteristics of a good adviser?
Well, firstly, a good adviser should be a good listener, someone who takes the time to
understand the situation before offering advice. Secondly, an adviser should try to be
objective, and avoid judging the person who is seeking help. Finally, I think the best advisers
have the ability to ask the right questions and encourage others to find their own answers.
3. Should people make their own work and career decisions, or is it a good idea to
ask for advice about this?
Id say that its a mixture of both things. Most of us talk to family, friends, teachers or
colleagues before we make career choices. However, I believe that the final decision should
rest with the individual; we all need to take ultimate responsibility for the big life choices that
we make.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'school' topic
Describe a school that you went to when you were a child. You should say
- where the school was
- when you went there
- what the school and the teachers were like
- and explain whether you enjoyed your time there.
Here's my sample (band 9) answer:
Im going to talk about my primary school. The school was called ..... and it was in the town
of ..... . The location of the school was great because it was within walking distance of our
family home at the time. The route to school was all downhill, which made it an easy walk
in the morning, but a tiring journey on the way home in the afternoon!
I was a pupil at ..... school between the ages of 5 and 11 - the full 6 years of primary
education. From age 11 onwards, I went to a nearby secondary school.

My primary school seemed like a big place at the time, but it was actually quite a small
school, with only six classes. I remember there being a large room called the assembly
hall, where the whole school gathered every morning to hear messages from the
headmaster. I also remember spending a lot of time on the playground and on the sports
field. I liked all of my teachers; they were caring but strict at the same time, and I think
they fostered a positive and fun atmosphere in the school.
I have really fond memories of my primary school years, mainly because of the friends I
made and the fun I had. One of my most vivid memories is of performing in the school
play in my final year. I had to learn lines and play the part of a character in a traditional
childrens story. It was a nerve-racking experience, but it felt like my first real achievement.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: games
Here are my sample answers to last week's questions:

1. What games are popular in your country?
Well, if we can consider sports as games, then football is definitely the most popular game
in my country, but we also love board games like chess.
2. Do you play any games?
Not regularly these days. I play the occasional game of tennis with my brother-in-law, and I
recently played a bowling game on the Nintendo Wii with my nephew. I wasn't very good at
it.
3. How do people learn to play games in your country?
I think children teach each other to play games. I remember a friend at primary school
teaching me to play chess, for example.
4. Do you think it's important for people to play games?
Yes, it's really important, especially for children. I think research has shown that play can
improve brain development, intelligence, creativity, and the ability to cooperate with others.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'reading' topic
Here are some part 1 questions with example answers. Remember to keep your part 1
answers short and simple.
1. Do you like reading?
Yes, I like reading a lot. I read all sorts of things, including novels, newspapers, magazines,
and online articles.
2. Do you usually read for leisure or for work purposes?
Well, I have to do a certain amount of reading as part of my job, but I probably read more for
enjoyment. I pick up a newspaper most days, and I usually have a book on the go.
3. What was your favourite book or story when you were a child?
The first book that I remember really enjoying was '..........'. It only took me a few days to
read because I liked it so much that I couldn't put it down.
4. Do you think it's important that children read regularly?
Definitely. I think reading is possibly the most important skill that children learn. The ability to
read opens the door to all aspects of education.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: family celebration
Describe a family celebration that you remember. You should say

- what you were celebrating
- who was present
- what you and your family did to make the celebration special
- and why you enjoyed the occasion.
Here's my sample answer:
Im going to describe my sisters wedding day, which took place a few years ago in the town
where I grew up. For my sister it was the biggest and most important day of her life.
I think there were around 100 people at the marriage ceremony, which was held in a
church. Even more people came to the party, or the wedding reception as we call it, after
the ceremony. Of course, most members of my family were there, as well as the grooms
family and a collection of the bride and groom's friends and colleagues.
To make the celebration special, we did what families normally do. My mother made sure
that the church and the reception venue were nicely decorated - there were flowers
everywhere! Obviously we all dressed for the occasion, and there were bridesmaids, gifts,
a huge wedding cake, and so on.
I enjoyed the occasion because it was great to see my sister so happy on her big day. The
ceremony was perfect, and we all had a fantastic time at the reception. Its rare for me to
see all of my family and friends together in one place, so thats probably what made the
day so memorable for me.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'positive experience' answer
Describe a positive experience that you had as a teenager. You should say
- what the positive experience was
- where you were
- who you were with
- and explain why you found the experience positive.
Here's my sample answer, taking some of the ideas from this lesson.
Im going to describe the first time I visited Englands capital city, London, on a school trip
when I was a teenager. I had never been to London before, and it was great to share that
experience with my school friends.
The positive experience wasnt confined to one particular place in London. As far as I
remember, I enjoyed the whole trip, from the coach journey to the visits to various tourist
attractions. We got off the coach near the Houses of Parliament, and so one of my first
memories was seeing the famous Big Ben clock tower. We also visited the Tower of
London, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.
As I said earlier, it was a school trip, and I think there were around thirty of us, including two
teachers. I was with a group of close friends, which made the experience more enjoyable.
What really struck me about London was that it was historic but modern and thriving at the
same time. It seemed to me to be a lively, fashionable and cosmopolitan place. Coming

from a relatively small town, the experience made me keen to visit more capital cities in
the future.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: home town
Here are some part 1 questions and answers on the topic of 'home town'. Try changing the
answers to similar ones about your own town or city. Keep your answers short, simple and
direct.
1. Where are you from?
I'm from Manchester, which is a city in the north west of England.
2. Do you like your home town? (Why?)
Yes, I like living in Manchester because it's where most of my friends live, and because
there are plenty of things to do there. The only thing I don't like is the weather.
3. Would you prefer to live somewhere else? (Why?)
For the moment I'm happy living here, but at some point I'd like to live in a country with a
warmer climate, and I'd like to live near a beach!
4. Do you think your home town is a good place for young people? (Why?)
Yes, Manchester has lots of things for young people, such as sports facilities, music and
cinemas.
IELTS Speaking: 'hospitality' topic
1. In your country, how do people treat visitors from abroad?

I think we treat visitors well. People in the UK are very open-minded and welcoming, and we
enjoy the mix of cultures that immigration and tourism bring. Most UK cities, for example,
are really cosmopolitan, and you can meet visitors from every part of the world.
2. Do you think hospitality towards visitors is less important than it was in the past?
In my city, maybe its true that hospitality is less important nowadays, but thats only
because we are so used to seeing visitors from different countries, so we treat it as a normal
part of life and nothing too special.
3. What are the advantages of staying with a friend compared to staying in a hotel
when visiting a foreign country?
If you stay with a friend, you benefit from someone with local knowledge of the best places
to visit. You can also get to know the character and customs of the local people, and for me,
this is one of the most interesting aspects of a visit to another country. On the other hand, if
you stay in a hotel, you are forced to discover the new place on your own, so its more of an
adventure.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: sample answer
Here's the question we've been looking at in recent weeks:

Describe a subject that you think should be removed from school education
programmes. You should say
- what the subject is
- why you think it is unnecessary for children to study it
- and explain what you would replace it with.
Here's my sample answer with band 7-9 vocabulary underlined:
Im going to suggest that art could be taken out of the school curriculum. In my experience,
art lessons at school tend to include drawing, painting, and the making of collages using
paper, fabric and other household materials.
There are a few reasons why I think that school art lessons are unnecessary. Firstly, I dont
believe that drawing and painting areessential skills that children will need when they
leave school. Children might find these activities enjoyable, but its unlikely that they will
need them in the working world. Secondly, children can draw, paint and make collages in
their own time at home; parents can encourage this, and they can even join in.
Finally, remembering my own art lessons at school, I dont think we learnt any real art
skills; the teachers left us to draw or create things, but they didnt provide much technical
instruction.
Instead of art lessons, children could do more work on core subjectslike maths, science or
language. These subjects are more likely tohelp children in later life when they enter the
job market, and I think both children and their teachers would benefit if more time were
devoted to them.
Question:
In your opinion, are newspapers important?
Example student answer:
Yes, in my opinion newspapers are very important (why?) because they give us information
about what is happening around the world. (why?) They are a vital source of knowledge
about education, technology, medicine and many other fields.
This is a good start, but let's try to raise the answer to band 9 level.
Example answer with 'alternative' and 'example':
Yes, in my opinion newspapers are very important (why?) because they give us information
about what is happening around the world. (why?) They are a vital source of knowledge
about education, technology, medicine and many other fields. (alternative?) If newspapers
didnt exist, I think the quality of news coverage would suffer because there would be fewer
professional journalists.(example?) We would have to rely, for example, on unpaid bloggers
who do not have the budgets to carry out detailed research before they write an article.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'cooking' topic
Here are some recent part 1 questions, with my example answers.

1. Do you like cooking? Why / why not?
Sometimes. I like preparing a special meal for family or friends who visit, but everyday
cooking is a bit boring; it's something that has to be done, but it's not really fun.
2. Who did the cooking in your family when you were a child?
My mother almost always did the cooking when I was young. I don't think she trusted my
father to make a nice meal.
3. Do you think that it's important to know how to cook well?
I'm not sure whether it's important to cook well, but I do think that everyone should know the
basics. It definitely isn't healthy to rely on pre-prepared meals or fast food.
4. Do you think that children should be taught cookery at school?
Yes, that's probably a good idea. If all children knew how to cook a few basic, healthy meals,
that would surely be a good thing.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'walking' topic
Remember to keep your part 1 answers short and 'to the point'. Here are my example
answers for some questions about walking:
1. Do you like walking?
I'm not one for going on really long walks in the countryside, but I don't mind walking when
I'm in a town or city, for example when I'm sightseeing in a new place.
2. Do you think walking is important?
Yes, I think it's important to be active, and walking is the most basic physical activity that we
can do.
3. Do you think walking in the countryside is better than walking in the city?
Personally, no. As I said before, I like walking in the city, especially if it's somewhere with a
lot of history like London or Paris. I've done quite a lot of walking in those cities.
4. What could be done to improve the experience of walking in cities?
I suppose the main issues are space and safety. Pavements need to be wide enough to
accommodate lots of pedestrians, and we need safe places to cross the street.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a conversation
Describe an interesting conversation you had with someone you didn't know. You
should say
- who the person was
- where the conversation took place
- what you talked about
- and explain why you found the conversation interesting.
Here's my sample (band 9) answer:
Im going to talk about an interesting conversation that I had a couple of weeks ago in a
music shop. I was walking along one of the main shopping streets in the city centre, when
a large window displaying all sorts of musical instruments caught my eye. Out of curiosity,
I decided to go in and have a look around.
The person I ended up speaking to was a shop assistant on the second floor, in the area of
the shop dedicated to acoustic guitars. I hadnt intended to speak to anyone, but the
assistant approached me in a friendly way and asked whether I had any questions.
I explained to the assistant that I hadnt played the guitar for years, but that I wondered
what the differences were between the various acoustic guitars on show. He talked to me
about the different makes and models, whether they were factory or hand made, the
woods and varnishes used, the variation in sound quality, and of course the price range.
I found the conversation fascinating because the shop assistant was so knowledgeable. It
was obvious that he had a passion for the guitar, and he didnt mind talking to me even
though I had made it clear that I didnt intend to buy anything. He even picked up and
played three or four of the instruments to demonstrate the differences in their sound.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: giving negative answers
It's fine to give negative answers in part 1 of the speaking test. Here are some example
negative answers for people who don't like sport:
1. What sports or physical activities do you regularly do?
Unfortunately I don't have time to do any sports or physical activities because of my work
commitments. I'd like to find more time for regular exercise.
2. Which sport or game would you like to be good at?
I'd like to be good at tennis. It must be great to be able to hit the ball as hard as you can and
watch it land exactly where you wanted it to.
3. Do you prefer watching or playing sports?
I don't watch much sport on TV and I'm not a big sports fan, so I think I would probably enjoy
doing sports more than watching them.
4. Do you think children should be encouraged to do more sport?
Yes, I think that sport is really important for children. Sports and games teach children to
play together and try their best.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'future plans' answer
Here's my answer to the future plans question:

Im going to talk about a future plan that I have, which is to buy a good camera and to
become a better photographer. At the moment Im just using the camera on my mobile
phone, but Ive realised that it has its limitations.
I thought of this plan when I was at a friends wedding a few weeks ago. I got some great
pictures of the bride and groom and their guests celebrating, but I did notice that with my
phone camera I wasnt able to capture longer range photos, or photos in darker
conditions; the phones zoom and flash arent very good. Next time Id like to be able to
capture a special occasion in higher quality images.
Obviously this plan depends on whether I can save enough money to buy the camera Id
like. Also, before making a decision about which camera to get, Ill probably talk to a friend
who knows more about photography than I do.
In terms of buying a camera, Ill achieve this plan if I can save some money! In terms of
becoming a better photographer, I think Ill achieve that goal by experimenting with my
new camera and by learning as I go along.
Example question
Do you think the seasons still influence people's behaviour?
Example answer
Yes, I do think the seasons affect how we behave. (how?) We still wear different clothes
depending on the weather, and clothes shops change what they sell according to the
season. We also adapt our habits and daily routines according to the time of
year. (example) For example, people in my country like to eat outside in their gardens in the
summer, but we can't do that during the other seasons. (opposite) On the other hand, I
don't think we notice the change in seasons when it comes to food; the big supermarkets
import food from around the world, so most people don't buy seasonal fruit and vegetables
any more.
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Describe your favourite season in your country. You should say

- when that season is
- what the weather is like at that time of year
- how that season is different from other seasons

- and why it is your favourite season.
My favourite season in England is winter. A typical English winter would last around
4 or 5 months between November and March, but when I say that I like the winter,
Im really thinking about the coldest month or two each year.
During those really wintry months, the temperature drops below zero and it often
snows. Over the last few years weve had periods of quite heavy snowfall, to the
extent that roads have been blocked and schools have had to close. Last winter I
remember looking out of the window one morning and seeing everything covered
in a layer of white.
Obviously the snow is what differentiates winter from the other seasons, but when it
doesnt snow there isnt much difference between winter, autumn and spring;
winter is just a bit colder.
The reason Ive chosen winter as my favourite season is because I like the snow. I
live near the countryside, and the landscape looks beautiful when everything is
covered in white. We also celebrate Christmas and New Year in the winter, and
these are my favourite festivals.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'shopping' topic
Here are some questions and sample answers for the 'shopping' topic. Remember that part
1 answers need to be short, direct and simple.
1) Who does most of the shopping in your household?
There isn't one person who does most of the shopping. I'd say it's a shared responsibility
because we tend to go shopping together as a family.
2) What kind of shopping do you like doing?
I quite like shopping for presents for people's birthdays or for Christmas. My favourite type of
shop would have to be a bookshop.
3) Is shopping a popular activity in your country?
Yes, it's very popular. Saturday is the busiest shopping day, and lots of people treat
shopping as a kind of leisure activity, rather than something practical.
4) What types of shops do teenagers like best in your country?
I'm not an expert on teenage behaviour, but I guess they like buying clothes, music,
gadgets... that kind of thing.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: "it depends"
Many students answer questions in IELTS speaking part 3 by saying "it depends".
"It depends" is not a full answer. What does it depend on, and why?
Example question:
Do you think it's important to find a job that you love, or is it more important to earn a good
salary?
Don't say:
"It depends. Some people prefer to find a job they love, but other people want to earn a
good salary." (This answer just repeats the question)
Do say:
"Personally, I'd prefer to do a job that I really enjoy; as long as I earn enough to live
comfortably, the salary is less important. However, I can see the benefits of doing a job that
you don't like if it pays well. With a good salary, you can probably do more enjoyable things
in your free time."
IELTS Speaking Part 3: verb tenses
In part 3 of the speaking test, it's common to get questions about the past and future, as well
as questions about 'now'. The examiner will be listening to your use of verb tenses:
What types of transport are there in your town?
In Manchester I think you can find every form of transport apart from an underground
system. You can drive around the city by car or get on a bus; thereare even free buses that
take people between the train stations. Manchester alsohas a tram system, and of course
there are taxis too.
How has transport changed since your grandparents were young?
Well, they had cars, trains and planes back then, and London already had the underground
system, but I suppose the difference is that technology has movedon. Having said that, the
transport system is not necessarily better nowadays; people travel a lot more, and I'm sure
we spend more time stuck in traffic.
What types of transport do you think we will use in the future?
I'm not sure, but hopefully we'll have cars that drive themselves and never crash. I
think we'll probably fly more, and it might become normal to have your own plane. On the
other hand, many cities are building more bicycle lanes, so maybe we will use cars less for
getting around towns and cities.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'toys' topic
I've already done lessons about 'toys' for part 2 and part 3 of the speaking test, so let's try
some part 1 questions about this topic. Notice that my part 1 answers are always short and
direct.
1) Did you play with toys when you were a child?
Yes, of course. I loved playing with toys when I was a child; I think all children do.
2) What kinds of toys did you like?
As far as I remember, I mostly played with toy cars, planes and action figures from films or
cartoons. I also liked building things with Lego.
3) In your country, do boys and girls play with the same types of toys?
Not really. I think boys like the kinds of toys that I mentioned before, whereas girls play with
dolls. My niece, for example, doesn't like toy cars; she prefers dressing dolls in different
outfits.
4) Do you think that toys help children to learn?
Yes, I do. All toys encourage children to use their imagination and creativity. Even with
simple toys, children imagine situations and invent games and rules.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a market
Describe an open-air or street market which you enjoyed visiting. You should say:
- where the market is
- what the market sells
- how big the market is
- and explain why you enjoyed visiting it.
Here's my description. It includes several examples of 'band 7-9' vocabulary that I took from
the websites I listed in last week's lesson.
Im going to describe a street market that Ive enjoyed visiting many times in Manchester.
Its the Manchester Christmas Market, and it comes to the city for about a month from the
end of November every year. The market stalls are spread across several sites in the city
centre, but the centrepiece is the large European market in Albert Square next to the Town
Hall.
The Christmas Market stalls sell an array of Christmas gifts and mouth-watering food and
drink from all over Europe. Its a great place to find handmade crafts such as jewellery,
ornaments, wooden toys and other souvenirs, but its the food and drink that seem to be
most popular. Probably the biggest seller is the Gluhwein, a hot, sweet wine which is sold
in a souvenir mug.
The market was originally quite small, occupying just one of the central squares in
Manchester, but its grown quickly in recent years, spilling over into maybe five other
pedestrian streets and a few other squares. Apparently there are over 200 stalls now, so
its become a really big event attracting thousands of visitors.
The main reason Ive always enjoyed visiting the Christmas Market is the fantastic
atmosphere. When I went there last December, it didnt matter how cold or wet the
weather was, Manchester seemed to come alive when the market opened; the streets
were bustling with people and there was a real festive feel to the city.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: make it personal
In part 3 of IELTS speaking, it really helps if you give personal examples:

1. Do you think it's important for people to have hobbies? Why?
Yes, I think people need to have hobbies because we all need to do things we enjoy in our
spare time. In my case, I find that playing football once a week with some friends helps me
to relax, keep fit and forget about work. I think it's the same for everyone.
2. Can hobbies have any negative effects?
Yes, if you spend too much time on your hobby, it can affect other parts of your life. I
remember that one of my friends spent most of his time at university playing computer
games instead of studying. In the end, he failed most of his exams.
Describe a recent journey.

Im going to talk about a recent journey to London. It was a couple of weekends ago, and I
decided to visit the capital with some friends. I had never been before, so I wanted to go
there to do some sightseeing. I dont have a car, but my friend does, so he volunteered to
drive. He had done the trip a few times before, so he knew the way. Maybe it was a bad idea
to travel by car because the traffic between Manchester and London was terrible. We spent
a lot of time sitting in traffic jams, which were due to roadworks and minor accidents, and
it took us the best part of an afternoon to get there.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'telephoning' topic
Here are some part 1 questions and sample answers from Cambridge IELTS book 9.
Remember to make your part 1 answers short and simple. Just give a direct answer,
followed by a reason or one extra piece of information.
1. How often do you make telephone calls?
I probably make three or four phone calls every day, usually just to make arrangements with
work colleagues or to speak to family and friends.
2. Who do you spend most time talking to on the telephone?
I think it would be one of my closest work colleagues. We often call each other rather than
meeting face-to-face.
3. When do you think you'll next make a telephone call?
My family are expecting me to phone them as soon as I finish this exam. They'll want to
know how it went.
4. Do you sometimes prefer to send a text message instead of telephoning?
Yes. I prefer to send a text message when I'm arranging something simple, like a time to
meet someone. In those situations, a phone call isn't necessary.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: funny situation
Describe a funny situation that made you laugh. You should say
- when this situation took place
- what happened
- how you reacted and why you found the situation funny.
Here's my example answer. It's a true story!
I'm going to talk about a funny thing that happened to me a couple of weeks ago. I think it
was a Saturday morning, and I was sitting having a coffee in a caf near where I live.
I was on my own so I decided to read the newspaper while drinking my coffee. I must have
been quite engrossed in what I was reading because the time passed quickly, and I
suddenly realised that I needed to get going. What I didn't realise was that I had been
sitting with my legs crossed, and one of my legs had completely gone to sleep. As I stood
up to leave the caf, I quickly became aware that my left leg was 'dead', but it was too
late; I started to fall. I thought I could catch myself on the table, but the table tipped over
and I fell to the floor in front of everyone in the caf!
I can remember being on my knees in the middle of the caf, looking up at the staff and
customers around me. I felt really embarrassed and I expected the other people to find it
funny, but to my surprise nobody was laughing. They were all worried that something
really bad had happened to me! As I got up from the floor, I had to explain to the whole
caf that I was fine. I was embarrassed at the time, but I laughed about it later!
IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'friends' topic
In part 1 of the IELTS speaking test, remember to keep your answers short and simple. Here
are some example questions and short answers:
1. Are your friends mostly your age or different ages?
Most of my friends are about the same age as me because we met at school or university.
I've got one or two friends who are older or younger that I met through work.
2. Do you usually see your friends during the week or at weekends?
I tend to meet up with my friends at weekends because everyone's too busy during the
week.
3. The last time you saw your friends, what did you do together?
It was one of my friends' birthday last weekend. Six of us went out for a meal to celebrate.
4. In what ways are your friends important to you?
I think it's important to have friends that you can talk to and share experiences with. My
friends make me laugh, but I know I can also rely on them whenever I need help or support.
Friday, March 22, 2013
IELTS Speaking Part 3: more long answers
Here are two more answers using the techniques I explained last week:
Maybe the most important things are that friends need to share common interests and be
honest with each other. (why?) Friends are people we spend a lot of time with, so it
definitely helps if they enjoy doing the same activities or talking about the same topics as we
do, and of course we need to be able to trust our friends, so honesty is vital for a good
friendship. (alternatives / example?) I think I would struggle to become friends with
someone who didnt have anything in common with me, or who wasnt reliable or
trustworthy.
How important do you think it is for a person to spend some time alone?
Id say that its essential to spend a bit of time alone, even if its just a few minutes a
day. (why?) When you have a few minutes to yourself, its a chance to take stock and reflect
on things. (why?) Most of us live such busy lives that our brains need time to catch up every
now and then. (example / alternatives?)Personally, I try to have a bit of me time every
day; Ill go for a coffee or find a quiet place to sit and read the newspaper. If I never had any
time alone, I think Id go mad!
Question:
Do you think that school children should be encouraged to have their own ideas, or is it
more important for them to learn what their teachers give them?
Answer:
I think that we should definitely allow children to be creative and have their own
ideas. (why?) Children need to develop the ability to think for themselves and solve
problems (why?) because as adults they will not always have somebody to guide them or
tell them what to do. (alternatives?) If we don't allow children to have their own ideas, they
will be less successful in the adult world; they will be too reliant on others. (example?) A
doctor, for example, might encounter a situation that he or she hasn't been trained for, but
will still be expected to make a decision that could save someone's life.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: team project
Describe a team project that you worked on. You should say:
what it was
what you did
and how you felt about it.
Example answer (band 9):

Id like to talk about a team project that I was involved in during my final term at business
school. There were four of us on the team, and our task was to work with a local company to
research a new market, in a European country, for one of their products or services. Our
objective was to produce a report and give a presentation.
The first thing we did was split into two groups of two. We had been assigned a company
that produced a range of bicycle accessories, so two of us spent some time getting to know
the company while the other two researched the market and the competitors in the target
country, which was Germany. In the end, I think it was a successful project because we
managed to identify a possible gap in the market in Germany for one of the companys
products. Our group presentation also went really well.
Until that point, the course had been all about business theory, so it was quite a learning
experience to work with a real company. I felt a real sense of accomplishment when we
handed in our report and delivered our presentation, and I think all of us were proud of what
we had done.
IELTS Speaking: if you don't know the answer
How do you answer a question when you don't know anything about the topic?
There are 2 things you can do:
1. Be honest and explain why you don't know
2. Guess, and tell the examiner that you are guessing
Example question:
How has technology affected the kinds of music that young people listen to?
My answer, using both tips above:
(1) To be honest I don't really know the answer to that because I'm completely out of touch
with what young people are listening to, and I'm not a fan of pop music.
(2) However, I suppose that technology must have affected music. Maybe young people are
listening to music that has been made using computer software instead of real musical
instruments like the piano or guitar.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: questions about the future
When the examiner asks a question like the one below, you know that you are being tested
on your ability to express ideas in the future tense.
How do you think the design of homes will change in the future?
Example answer:
I don't think there will be much change in terms of what houses look like from the outside. In
this country, people still like traditional brick or stone houses. Having said that, the design of
apartment blocks will probably continue to develop, with more and more experimental or
futuristic buildings made of glass and metal. Iimagine that it will be the insides of homes that
change the most; houses will no doubt be full of technological devices to make our lives
easier. Maybe we'll havethings like voice-controlled doors, lights and appliances.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: musical instruments
For IELTS speaking part 1, remember to give short, simple answers. Answer the question
with a full sentence and give a reason for your answer. Here are some example questions
and answers about musical instruments (from Cambridge IELTS book 6):
1. Which musical instrument do you like listening to most? (Why?)
My favourite musical instrument to listen to is the guitar. I like the fact that there are different
types of guitar, like classical, acoustic and electric. I love the variety of sounds a guitar can
make.
2. Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument?

I took some guitar lessons when I was younger and still have a guitar at home. I don't play it
much nowadays. I wish I had more time to practise.
3. Do you think children should learn to play an instrument at school?
Yes, I think it's a great skill and it's really enjoyable to be able to play a musical instrument.
All children should be given this opportunity.
4. How easy would it be to learn to play an instrument without a teacher?
It would probably be more difficult without a teacher. You need someone to show you what
to do and correct your mistakes. You need a lot of discipline to teach yourself.
IELTS Speaking: describe a piece of furniture
Here are some ideas for last week's question:

I'm going to talk about my favourite chair. It's a big, leather armchair that sits in my living
room at home, just under my living room window.

I didn't actually buy the armchair. One of my friends was moving house and was going to
buy some new furniture. I had always liked his leather armchair, so he said I could have it
if I managed to move it. The chair wouldn't fit in my car, and it was tricky to get it out of my
friend's apartment. I had to hire a small van to take the armchair home.
Obviously I use the armchair for sitting! It's my favourite place in the house to relax, read a
book, watch TV or even do some work; the chair's arms are quite wide and flat, so my
laptop fits nicely on either of them. Last night I fell asleep in my armchair while I was
watching a film.
The main reasons why I like this piece of furniture are that it's comfortable and it's in the
perfect position in my living room. The only drawback might be that I enjoy sitting in the
armchair too much, and sometimes I think it makes me lazy!
IELTS Speaking Part 1: clothes
1. Are clothes and clothing fashions important to you? (Why/Why not?)

No, clothes and fashions are not really important to me. I tend to wear clothes that are
comfortable and practical rather than fashionable.
2. What different clothes do you wear for different situations?

Well, I have to dress quite formally for work, so I wear a shirt and trousers. At home I prefer
to wear jeans and a T-shirt, and on special occasions I might wear a suit.
3. Do you wear different styles of clothes now compared to 10 years ago?
No, not really, because I don't follow fashion. I think I have dressed in a similar way for the
last 10 years.
4. Do you think the clothes we wear say something about who we are?
Yes, they probably do. Some people are really careful about what they wear because they
want to be seen as stylish. Other people wear clothes that show wealth or status, such as
clothes by famous designers.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'communication' topic
Here are some more examples for IELTS speaking part 1. Remember to give short, easy,
direct answers.
1. How do you usually keep in touch with members of your family?
I mostly keep in touch with my family by phone, and I've started using the Internet to make
video calls. I also try to visit members of my family in person as often as I can.
2. Do you prefer to speak to people by phone or by writing emails?
It depends on the situation. I use email and text messages to communicate with friends, but
my parents prefer it if I phone them.
3. Do you ever write letters by hand? (Why / Why not?)
No, I don't write letters by hand because it's so much easier to send an email that will arrive
immediately.
4. Is there anything you dislike about mobile phones?
Well, I don't like listening to other people's conversations in public places, and I don't like it
when someone's phone rings in the cinema or during a lesson.
IELTS Speaking: useful expressions
In this lesson I want to draw your attention to a few useful expressions that I used in last
week's answers. Maybe you could try using them in your own answers.
1. An alternative way to say "and":
- Just as individuals can learn from their mistakes, societies can (also)...
- Just as we need to exercise the body, we also need to exercise the mind.
2. A nice way to introduce a personal example or opinion:
- From what I've read in the newspapers,...
- From what I've heard / seen / experienced,...
3. Giving an opinion when you're not sure:
- If I had to guess what might happen in the future, I'd like to think that...
- If I had to give my opinion, I'd say...
IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'history' topic
Questions in part 3 of the speaking test follow on from the topic you were given in part 2. So,
after last week's historic event question, you might be asked some further questions about
history and events. For example:
1. What do you think we can learn by studying events of the past?
I think we can learn a lot by studying history. Just as individual people learn from their
mistakes, societies can learn from the mistakes made by previous governments or leaders.
For example, from what I've read in the newspapers, many economists are looking back to
the time of the Great Depression, around 80 years ago, in order to understand the financial
crisis that is currently affecting many countries around the world. Even if we don't always
learn from mistakes, I think it's fascinating to study history because it gives us an insight into
who we are and where we come from.
2. What important events do you think might take place in the future?
It's really difficult to predict what will happen in the future; most of the big, historic events of
the past would have been impossible to foresee. For example, I don't think that anyone
living 100 years ago could have imagined that people would one day walk on the moon! If I
had to guess what might happen in the future, I'd like to think that scientists will invent cures
for diseases like cancer, and we'll all live longer.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: old building description
Describe an old building that you like. You should say:

where it is
what it is used for
and why you like it.
The answer below is adapted from the modern building description I wrote last year. Can
you spot some of the vocabulary that I've recycled?
1. I'm going to describe a very famous building in New York: the Empire State Building. People
might not think of it as an old building, but the Empire State Building was built in 1931, so I
don't think it can be classed as new. It's located on Manhattan island and it's probably the
most distinctive and recognisable building when you look at New York's skyline.
2. As far as I know, the Empire State Building is an office building, but visitors can go up to an
observation deck on the top floor, which is the 102nd floor. There's also a 360-degree
observation area on the 86th floor. Apparently, the building makes more money from the
sale of tickets to the observation floors than it does from office rentals.
3. I think the Empire State Building is still one of the most impressive skyscrapers in the world.
It's such an iconic structure, and it's amazing to think that it was built around 80 years ago.
The best thing about the building is the viewing deck on the top floor, which offers
spectacular views of the city; it's definitely the best vantage point in New York. I'd
recommend anyone who visits the city to go there and experience the view.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'difficult' questions
Students tend to worry about 'difficult questions', but questions are often much easier than
they seem. For example:
Describe a law in your country.
Many students think they don't know anything about laws. However, there are some easy
examples that they could choose:
1. In many countries it is now illegal to use a mobile phone while driving. You could start by
talking about the popularity and benefits of mobile phones, and explain that people want
to be able to answer calls wherever they are. Then you could explain the dangers of being
distracted while driving; this law could reduce the number of road accidents, and therefore
save lives.
2. If you feel confident talking about the 'education' topic, you could choose the 'compulsory
education' law. This is the legal requirement that children up to a certain age must attend
school. In the UK, for example, children are required by law to continue in education until
they are 16 years old. This is a good topic because you can talk about the benefits of
education.
Of course, you could choose a more obvious law (it is illegal to steal, carry a gun etc.) but
you might have more ideas and good vocabulary if you choose a typical IELTS topic like
number 2 above.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: negative answers
How do you answer questions about a topic that you are not interested in? For example,
many people have no interest in dancing, so what should they say?
My advice: just tell the truth. It's fine to say you don't like something. Read my examples
below:
1. Do you like dancing?
No, I don't like dancing. I'm not a big music fan, and dancing just makes me feel
uncomfortable and self-conscious.
2. Has anyone ever taught you to dance?
No, I've never been interested in learning to dance, so I've never taken any lessons or
asked anyone to show me how to do it.
3. Do you think that traditional dancing will be popular in the future?
I'm afraid I have no idea because I don't follow what's happening in the dancing world! I
suppose it will always be popular with some people.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: TV channel
Last week we looked at this question:

Describe a TV programme or channel that you enjoy watching regularly.
What it is called and what is it about?
When do you usually watch it?
Why do you prefer it to other programmes or channels?
Here's a sample description with the best vocabulary underlined:

I rarely watch traditional television channels nowadays; I much prefersearching for
interesting programmes or videos online. So, although its not a normal TV channel or
programme, Id like to talk about a website which I think is kind of a modern version of a
TV channel. Its called TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and its
a great place to watch short talks and presentations about all sorts of interesting topics.
The good thing about the videos on TED is that I can watch them whenever I want. I have
ted.com saved as one of my favourites on my laptop, and I tend to visit the website every
few days to check whether there is anything new. I often watch TED videos on my phone
while Im travelling to work on the train.
The reason I like watching online videos on TED is that I learn something new every time I
watch one. The tagline for the TED website is ideas worth spreading, and this
really sums up the appealof the site for me. Instead of watching meaningless soap
operas and talk shows on TV, Id much rather spend 10 minutes watching someone talk
about a breakthrough in technology, science or healthcare.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a vehicle
Describe a vehicle you would like to buy in the future. You should say
what kind of vehicle it is
what you would use it for
and why you would like to buy it.

If I had the money, Id like to buy my own helicopter. I recently saw a TV programme about
someone who flew around in his own helicopter, and I remember thinking that it would be
great to have one. The helicopter on the programme was a small, blue, two-seater and it
seemed quite easy to fly - that's the kind of thing I'd like to buy.
Ideally, Id use my helicopter instead of a car. First, Id need to learn to fly it, but then Id use
it to go on short trips or holidays. It would be fantastic to be able to avoid traffic jams, and
get everywhere in a fraction of the time it normally takes. Id take friends and family
sightseeing, over cities or mountain tops, and maybe I could even use it to do the
shopping!
The reason Id like to buy a helicopter is that you can park one almost anywhere. You dont
need to find a runway or an airport like you would for a plane. So Id be able to park my
helicopter in my garden - if I had a bigger garden. Also, Ive always been intrigued by
those helipads on the tops of tall buildings - I think it would be fun to land on top of a
building. A helicopter probably isnt a realistic choice of vehicle, but you never know - I
might win the lottery!
IELTS Speaking: add detail
Many students worry too much about grammar. For speaking parts 2 and 3, it's more
important to worry about the quality of your answers. The best way to improve the quality of
your answers is by adding detail.
Example:
Describe your best friend. Say when you met him/her.
Short answer about when we met:
I met my best friend at school when I was 11 years old.
Detailed answer about when we met:
I met my best friend at school when I was 11 years old, so we've known each other for ...
years. I remember we sat next to each other in my first science lesson at secondary school,
and we had to work together to do an experiment. We got on straight away, and we've been
friends ever since.
Notice that by adding more information I've also used more/better vocabulary and grammar.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'politeness' topic
Two weeks ago I showed you a part 2 question about a situation in which you were polite.
Let's have a look at some related questions for part 3 of the test:
In your countrys culture, how do you show that you are being polite?
We really value politeness and good manners in the UK, and there are many types of polite
behaviour. One of the first things we learn as children is to say "please" and "thank you". As
adults, I think we are careful not to be too direct in the language we use. For example, we
would never say "Bring me the bill" in a restaurant because this kind of direct instruction
would sound rude. It would be much more polite to say "Could we have the bill, please?".
Are we less polite with members of our families than with people we dont know?
I suppose it's normal to be a bit more relaxed about politeness with family members. Most
people tend to speak in a more informal way at home; in the UK, we still say "please" and
"thanks", but it's fine to use colloquial language and things like nicknames that you would
never use with someone you didn't know.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: comparing past and present
In part 3 of IELTS speaking, you might be asked to compare the past with the present. The
examiner will be listening to your use tenses. For example:
Are there any differences between the types of people who were seen as celebrities
in the past and those who are celebrities nowadays?
Yes, I think there have been some big changes in the types of people whobecome famous.
In the past, before the invention of television, I suppose therewere very few national or
international celebrities; maybe kings and queens, military, political and religious
leaders were the only household names. With the advent of TV and radio, performers such
as actors and musicians became more well-known. However, we now seem to have a
completely new breed of celebrity as a result of 'reality' television programmes; these are
people who don't really have any special skills as performers, but who are famous for just
being themselves.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'work' topic
Here are some example questions with short, direct answers. Remember that part 1 is like a
warm-up; you are not expected to give long, complex answers for this part.
1. Do you work or are you a student?
Im a qualified doctor, but at the moment Im studying English so that I can work in this
country.
2. Do you enjoy your job?
Yes, I really enjoy my job. Ever since I was a child I have always wanted to be a doctor; Ive
always wanted to be able to help people.
3. What's the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is that I can make a difference in peoples lives. Its a great
feeling to see someone recover after an illness because my colleagues and I were able to
help.
4. Do you prefer working alone or with others? Why?
In a hospital you have to work as part of a team. Ive got used to working with others, and I
think you can achieve a lot more as a team than you would alone.
Why do you think some people prefer to buy products from their own countries
rather than imported items?
(idea) I suppose its because those people want to support the economy of the country they
live in. (explain) If they buy something that was made in their own country, they know that
they are contributing to the salaries of workers within the same
country, (alternative) whereas if they buy imported items, a foreign company and its
employees will benefit. (example) For example, if I buy some meat that originates from a
local farm rather than a farm in another country, Im helping one of my fellow citizens to
carry on in business. (another idea) Also, I think that trust is an issue; people might feel that
they can trust domestically produced items more than imported ones.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: foreign culture
Here are some ideas for last week's question.

1. Which culture and how I know about it
I'm going to talk about France and French culture. I know France quite well because it was
the first foreign country that I visited as a child. I've been on several family holidays there,
and I lived and worked in Paris for a while after finishing university.
2. Cultural differences
The first thing that comes to mind when I think about France is the bread! I love the fact that
French people buy fresh baguettes every morning, usually from small local bakeries or
'patisseries'; it makes a change from the loaves of sliced bread that most of us buy from the
supermarket here in the UK. One slightly negative difference I noticed in Paris is that
Parisians don't seem to make friends with their work colleagues to the same extent as we
do here.
3. What I like about it

I really like the caf culture in France. You can always find somewhere interesting to sit and
have a coffee and chat to friends or just watch the world go by. I actually put on a bit of
weight when I lived in France because I got into a habit of having a croissant or a cake in
every nice caf that I found. Another thing I could mention is that the last time I went to
France on holiday, I played a game called boules every day. The game consists in throwing
metal balls as close to a target ball as possible. Its the perfect game for a relaxing afternoon
when the weathers hot.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'accommodation' topic
Here are some questions that I found on the official IELTS website, ielts.org. The answers
below are my examples. Remember to keep your part 1 answers short and simple. You
don't need to show off in part 1.
1. Tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in.
I live in a house that has a living room, a kitchen, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a small
garden. It's not a very big house, but it's just right for me.
2. How long have you lived there?
I've lived there for about five years. It's the first house that I've owned; before that I was
renting an apartment.
3. What do you like about living there?
I like living there because I think the house reflects my personality: I decorated it myself, I
chose all the furniture, and everything is where I want it to be.
4. What sort of accommodation would you most like to live in?
If I could, I'd buy a bigger house near a beach or in the mountains, preferably somewhere
with a warm climate.
Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | P
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a website
In Part 2 of IELTS Speaking, you might be asked to describe a website that you use:
Describe a website that you often use. You should say:

what type of website it is
how you found out about it
what it allows you to do, and why you find it useful.
Here are some ideas, with some of the band 7-9 vocabulary underlined:
1. Facebook is a social networking website. It's a free website that allows you to keep in
contact with friends or find people you've lost touch with. It's one of the most popular
websites in the world, with millions of users in different countries.
2. All of my friends use Facebook. One of my friends sent me an email inviting me to join. I
signed up and I've been using it ever since.
3. Facebook allows you to keep up to date with what friends are doing. You have a profile
page with information and status updates so that you can tell everyone what you're doing.
You can post messages toother people's pages. You can upload photos and videos. I find
Facebook most useful for organising my life, keeping in touch with friends and storing
photos. I think social networking websites have become part of everyday life.
Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permal
IELTS Speaking Part 3: common question types
Here are 3 common question types that the examiner could ask you:
1. Compare and contrast.
2. Give an opinion.
3. Imagine.
If the topic is 'cities', the examiner could ask:

1. How is life different in cities compared to rural areas?
2. How do you think life in big cities could be made easier?
3. What do you think cities will be like in 50 years time?
In my answers below I've underlined a few 'markers' that show comparisons, opinions and
future predictions.
1. Firstly, the cost of living in cities is much higher. Housing is muchmore expensive in
cities compared to rural areas; everything costs more. I think life in cities is more difficult.
There are more people, so there's more competition for jobs. Life is a lot slower in rural
areas, everyone knows each other and there's a sense of community. I don't think rural
areas experience the social problems that you find in cities, like crime and homelessness.
2. In my opinion cities need to be well-planned. Good public transport can definitely make life
easier because there are so many people and it can be really stressful just to move
around. Public areas like parks are also important because people need space to relax,
and I think cities should be made into healthier places to live and work.
3. I imagine cities will be less polluted because we'll have electric cars and better public
transport. More people might work from home so maybe cities won't be so busy. But I
think there will probably still be problems because more and more people are migrating to
cities. SoI'm not so optimistic about issues like crime, homelessness and unemployment.
IELTS Speaking: use real examples!
To improve your IELTS speaking score, use good examples to extend your answers. Real
examples or stories about yourself are the best.
Use examples in part 2 when you need to make your presentation longer. Use them in part 3
to support your opinions.
Here's an example that helps me to extend a part 2 presentation about my mobile
phone:
"For example, yesterday I used my phone to call some friends to arrange a get-together this
weekend. Some of them didn't answer, so I either left a message in their voicemail or I sent
them a text. I also replied to a few emails while I was waiting in a queue at the bank."
Do you prefer home-cooked food or food from restaurants?

I prefer home-cooked food because I think it's healthier and you know exactly what
you're eating. I also enjoy cooking for family and friends.
You don't need to say any more than this. Just answer the question with a full sentence, give
a reason, and maybe add one extra piece of information. Then stop speaking. Stop with
confidence and look at the examiner, ready for the next question.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: emails and handwriting
At work or in your studies, do you often write things?

Yes, I write a lot of emails as part of my job. I work for a company that has offices in several
countries, so we use email to communicate.
How often do you send e-mails?
I probably write between 5 and 10 work emails every day, and I send emails to friends or
family a few times a week.
Do you prefer to write by hand or on a computer?
It depends what Im doing. I prefer the computer for most things because its faster and you
can save or copy things, but I still like making notes or writing ideas down by hand.
Do you think computers might one day replace handwriting?
No, I think we will always write by hand as well. I think its an important skill, and schools will
continue to teach children to write by hand before they learn to type.
IELTS Speaking part 3: rivers, lakes, sea
1. What do you think are the functions of rivers nowadays?

Rivers have various functions. In the UK, they were probably more important in the past
because they were used for the transportation of goods, but I suppose this is still the case in
many parts of the world. Rivers can be used as a source of renewable energy in the
production of hydro-electric power, and they are also a source of fresh water for drinking and
irrigation. Leisure activities are another function: fishing, canoeing, swimming, bathing... I'm
sure there are many other things I haven't thought of.
2. What do you think of boats and ships as forms of transportation?
I'm not really a fan of boats and ships. If I'm going abroad, I like to get to my destination
quickly, so I prefer travelling by plane. Of course, ships are vital for the transportation of oil
and other heavy cargo.
3. Why do some people like to live near rivers, lakes or the sea?
Well, the view is probably a major factor; most people like to look out to sea, or across a
river or lake. I'd much prefer to look out of my window onto a natural landscape than an
apartment building in a city. Then there's the lifestyle: if you live by the sea, for example, you
can lie on the beach, go for a swim, or do water sports like surfing or waterskiing. I definitely
wouldn't mind living near a beach at some point in my life!
IELTS Speaking: another garden description
Last week I described a famous garden. Martin, an IELTS teacher who often contributes to
the comments on this site, sent me a description of his own garden. You might find it more
useful than my famous garden description!
Martin's description:
Today I'd like to describe my home garden, which I think is a beautiful one and which I like
very much. The garden is part of my home's backyard, and my house is located in the
suburbs, about a 1-hour drive from the city of San Francisco. There is a big tree right in the
middle of my garden, which is surrounded by a hot tub, a small water fountain, several
bushes, a section for vegetables, and different kinds of flowers.
This garden was actually one of the reasons why my wife and I chose to buy our house
because it had been beautifully maintained by the previous owners gardener and
landscaper. Its been only 1 year since we bought the house and now we are taking care of
the garden ourselves. Even though we are not experts in gardening, we still try our best to
plant things that we like, such as roses and tulips, and we even grow our own tomatoes.
Whenever family and friends come to visit us, we invite them to have a relaxing time in our
hot tub, and enjoy the view. So in other words, our garden has also become a kind of resort!
It definitely requires lots of hard work to properly maintain the garden, but it gives us a great
sense of accomplishment to decorate it the way we like.
All in all, the garden is one of the best features of my home and it is a place where I can
relax after a long day of work or during the weekends.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a garden
Describe a beautiful garden that you like. You should say

- where it is
- what you can see there
- what people do there
and explain why you like it.
Here are some ideas:
1.
The garden I'm going to describe is famous because it

belonged to the French painter Claude Monet. It's in a place called Giverny, which is in
northern France, about an hour away from Paris in the province of Normandy.
2. There are actually two gardens at the Monet house in Giverny: a flower garden, and a
Japanese inspired water garden. Apparently, Monet designed the gardens himself; he
even had the pond and the famous Japanese bridge made. After creating the gardens,
Monet painted some of the most well-known paintings in the world, such as those of the
waterlilies below the bridge on his pond.
3. Thousands of people visit the gardens at Giverny to see the magnificent scenes that
inspired Monet's paintings. Visitors can walk around the gardens and take pictures, which
is what I did when I went there.
4. I like Monet's gardens because they are such beautiful creations, and it's amazing to see
the 'real thing' having seen the famous paintings so many times.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: competitions
The following questions come from Cambridge IELTS 7. I've underlined some of the good
words and phrases in my answers.
1. Why do you think some school teachers use competitions as class activities?
I think teachers use competitions to motivate the children in their classes. I'm sure that
teachers try all kinds of activities to engage their pupils, and competitions might be one of
the best ways to keep children interested or get them excited. Children love winning things.
2. Is it a good thing to give prizes to children who do well at school? Why?
It might be a good idea to encourage children to do well in games or sports, but I don't think
we should give children prizes for their academic work. Children need to learn that the
reason for studying is to learn useful things that will help them in their lives. I don't like the
idea of children thinking that they will only work hard if there is a prize.
3. Would you say that schools for young children have become more or less
competitive since you were that age? Why?
I'd say that they have become more competitive since I was young. Children now have to
take exams from a much younger age, so I think there is more of a focus on doing well in
tests. Parents also seem to be getting more competitive; I think that many parents push their
children to do extra homework rather than letting them play with friends.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'emotions' topic
The following questions follow on from this topic.

Do you think its good to show your emotions when youre angry?
I think it depends on the situation and how you show your emotions. I find that if Im angry
with a friend or someone in my family, its best to tell them what the problem is and try to
express how I feel. However, I dont think it helps to argue with people when youre angry;
its better to control the anger and explain whats wrong.
In your opinion, do women show their emotions more than men?
The stereotypical view is that women are more emotional, and in my experience there is
some truth in this; my mother, for example, tends to show her feelings much more readily
than my father. However, Im sure that there are exceptions to the stereotype.
Why do you think men tend to show their emotions less than women?
Maybe its because of the way we are brought up. I think that boys are often taught from an
early age not to cry. Also, boys are aware that their friends might see it as a sign of
weakness if they show their feelings. Perhaps girls are brought up to be more sensitive to
their friends' feelings.
Do you think people had easier lives 50 years ago?

Yes, maybe life was simpler and less stressful 50 years ago. The mobile phonedidnt exist,
so I suppose it was easier to forget about work at the end of the day because
people couldn't contact you so easily.
Do you think life will be more stressful in the future?
Yes, it probably will be more stressful. As the world gets smaller, employees willprobably
have to travel to different countries more often and stay in touch with colleagues and clients
all over the world. There will also be more competition for jobs and the cost of
living will keep going up.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: leisure activities
Here are some questions that a student sent me, with example answers below.
1. What is the relationship between leisure and the economy?
Well, people spend a lot of money on all sorts of leisure activities nowadays, so I think
leisure is a very important part of the economy of most countries. Leisure could be anything
that people do in their free time, such as eating out, going to the cinema, watching a football
match, or staying in a hotel. Millions of people are employed in these areas.
2. How does the economy benefit from people's leisure activities?
The leisure industry makes a huge contribution to the economy. As I said before, it keeps
millions of people in employment, and all of these employees pay their taxes and have
money to spend on other goods and services. At the same time, most people spend some of
their earnings on leisure activities, and this money therefore goes back into the economy.
3. Do men and women enjoy the same type of leisure activities?
Yes and no. I think both men and women enjoy things like eating in restaurants or going to
the cinema, but I'm sure there are other activities that are more popular with one gender. For
example, I think more men than women go to football matches.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a hobby
"Describe a hobby" seems like an easy topic. However, students often have difficulty
speaking for 2 minutes when the topic is easy.
Here are 3 pieces of advice to help you to speak for 2 minutes:
1. Think about question words: What, when, where, why, who with:
One of my hobbies is photography. Ive got two digital cameras: one small pocket-sized
camera that I carry around with me, and one bigger, more expensive camera that I use on
special occasions. I take photos so that I have a record of the things Ive seen or done. Most
of my photos are of friends and family, but I also take pictures of interesting things that I see.
2. Describe opinions and feelings:

I like photography because its a creative hobby and it makes you notice the world around
you. I love capturing special moments or unusual or beautiful images, and its a great feeling
to be able to look back through my pictures and relive different experiences.
3. Tell a story related to the topic:
The last time I took photos on a special occasion was at my friends wedding a few weeks
ago. I got some great pictures of the bride and groom and their guests celebrating. After the
wedding I made an album of all the best pictures and sent it to my friend as a present.
Note:
You don't need to tell the truth (I exaggerated my interest in photography) but it's usually
easier to tell a story if it's real.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: something that made you angry
Describe a situation that made you angry. You should say

- when it happened
- what happened
- how you felt
Here are some ideas. Notice that I answer by telling a story, and that my ideas are not
'academic' or 'formal' because it isn't an academic topic. Study my answer carefully - it's full
of good words and phrases.
Band 9 answer:
A recent situation that made me angry was getting stuck in a traffic jam on the way to meet
some friends. It was last Sunday lunchtime, and I didnt expect there to be much traffic;
people dont work on Sundays, so the roads arent usually very busy.
Everything was going well until suddenly I saw a queue of cars on the road in front of me. I
had no choice but to join the queue and wait to get past whatever was causing the delay. It
turned out that it was caused by some roadworks, and it took me an extra 30 minutes to get
past them.
Getting stuck in traffic congestion doesnt usually make me angry, but this time it did, mainly
because I wasnt expecting it and I knew that my friends were waiting to meet me for lunch. I
felt frustrated and powerless because there was nothing I could do to change the situation,
and I had no idea how long I would be sitting there waiting. When I finally saw the reason for
the congestion, I was relieved that I was close to getting past the roadworks, but I still felt a
bit stressed knowing that I was half an hour late.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: laughing
The following questions are taken from Cambridge IELTS 7, page 55. The aim in part 1 is to
give short, simple answers. Don't worry about using 'difficult' grammar.
1. What kinds of thing make you laugh?
I laugh most when I'm with friends talking about funny things that have happened to us. I
also like watching comedians and comedy films.
2. Do you like making other people laugh?
Yes, it's a nice feeling when you can make someone laugh because you can see that you've
made them happy. It's great to share a funny moment with someone.
3. Do you think it's important for people to laugh?
Yes, of course. It's important to see the funny side of things; humour helps us not to take life
too seriously. I think that laughter is good for our health.
4. Is laughing the same as feeling happy?
It's not exactly the same because you can be happy without laughing, and sometimes we
laugh when something bad has happened; a sense of humour can help us to cope with
difficult situations.
Friday, October 14, 2011
IELTS Speaking: advice about grammar and vocabulary
It's difficult to think about grammar when you're trying to speak. I think it's much easier to
improve your vocabulary score than your grammar score.
Remember:
Grammar is only 25% of your speaking score.
If you are thinking too much about grammar, you will lose fluency.
If you try to use memorised grammatical structures, your speech will not sound 'natural'.
You will not avoid small grammar mistakes unless you have lived in an English speaking
country for many years.
I've taught many students who have achieved a score of 7 or higher, and they all made
small grammar mistakes. They got their high scores because we focused on vocabulary,
ideas, opinions and fluency.
Have a look through my speaking lessons, and you'll notice that the focus is usually on
vocabulary.
Friday, October 07, 2011
IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'parties' topic
In part 2 of the speaking test you might be asked to describe a party. Here are some part 3
questions that could follow that topic:
1. What types of party do people have, and why are parties important?
People have parties to celebrate special occasions like birthdays, weddings, or the
beginning of a new year. I think it's important to celebrate these things because they
are landmarks in our lives. Parties are a good way to bring people together, and they're an
opportunity to let off some steam.
2. Why do you think some people like parties but others hate them?
Most people like parties because they have a good time at them - eating a nice meal,
chatting to friends, or having a dance. People who don't like them mightfind social situations
difficult because they are shy, or maybe they don't enjoy having to make small talk with
people they don't know.
3. Do you think parties will become more popular in the future?
No, I don't think anything will change. People have always had parties, and I'm sure they
always will in the future. Humans need to socialise and enjoy themselves, and parties are
one of the best ways to do that.
PS. I've underlined the band 7-9 phrases.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: travel habits
Remember that Part 1 questions are supposed to be easy. Just give a simple answer and a
reason.
1. What form of transport do you prefer to use? Why?
I prefer to travel by car because it means that I have my own space. Also, the buses and
trains in my city are usually overcrowded; my car is much more comfortable.
2. How much time do you spend travelling on a normal day?
I probably spend about an hour and a half travelling to and from work. I travel during the
rush hours, so there is quite a lot of traffic.
3. What do you do while you are travelling?
I usually listen to the radio or a CD. In the morning I like to listen to the news to find out what
is happening in the world.
4. Do you ever have problems with transport?
Yes, as I said, I get stuck in traffic on my way to and from work. I used to get annoyed by
traffic jams, but now I'm used to them.
A few important points:
In the answer to question 4, can you see the difference between "I used to" and "I'm used
to"?
Notice the good vocabulary: 'have my own space', 'overcrowded', 'to and from work', 'rush
hour', 'find out what is happening in the world', 'get stuck in traffic'.
If the examiner asks a question that you have already answered, just say "as I said" and
repeat your answer.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'wildlife' topic
Here are some Part 3 questions and band 9 answers for this topic. I've underlined the 'band
7-9' vocabulary.
What effects do you think humans have on wild animals?
Humans have a huge impact on wild animals. We have destroyed a lot of natural habitats,
and many animals are in danger of extinction. Tigers and rhinos, for example,
are endangered species because of humans. The pollution and waste that we produce also
have an effect on animals. In some places there are no fish in the rivers.
What measures could we take to protect wildlife?
I think we need stricter rules to protect natural areas and the wild animals that live there. For
example, we should stop cutting down trees in the rain forest. National parks are a good
idea because they attract tourists while protecting wildlife.
Is it the responsibility of schools to teach children about protecting wildlife?

Yes, schools can play a big part in educating children about this issue. Children should learn
how to look after the natural environment. I think schools already teach children
about endangered species and the destruction of rain forests, so hopefully future
generations will do a better job of protecting wildlife.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: sports
In the example answers below, I've underlined some of the phrases that examiners would
like. They might seem easy to understand, but they are the kind of natural phrases that
native speakers use. My answers are at band 9 level.
1. Why do you think sport is important?
I think sport is important for different reasons. For me, doing a sport is about having fun.
When I play football, for example, I forget about everything else and just enjoy myself. Also,
doing a sport helps you to keep fit and healthy, and it's a good way to socialise and make
friends.
2. Do you think famous sportspeople are good role models for children?
I think that sportspeople should be good role models. Children look up to their favourite
football players, like David Beckham for example, so I think that these people have an
enormous responsibility. They should try to be a good influence, and behave in the right
way.
3. Do you agree that sports stars earn too much money?
In my opinion, it's fair that the best sportspeople earn a lot of money. Being a top
sportsperson requires hours of practice, and there are millions of sports fans who are willing
to pay to see them play. If we don't want sportspeople to earn so much money, we shouldn't
go to watch them.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: artist or entertainer
The following question is a variation on the "describe a person" topic.

Describe an artist or entertainer you admire
You should say
who they are and what they do

how they became successful
how you found out about them
and why you admire them
I've tried to write a general example description that might help you with some ideas. In your
description you must give the name of the person.
Im going to talk about a musician that I admire, called... Hes a singer who also plays the
guitar and writes his own songs. I think he recorded his first album about 10 years ago,
and hes released several other CDs since then.
He became successful after many years of writing songs andperforming live in small
venues all over the country. Gradually he built a following of people who liked his music. I
think the key to his success was one of his songs that was used on a TV advertisement.
This meant that more people became aware of his music.
I found out about... because one of my friends got tickets to see him in concert. I hadnt
heard any of his music before, but I went along to the gig and really enjoyed it. After that I
bought the first CD, and now Ive got all of them.
The reason I admire... is that he has worked hard for his success: it takes years of
practice to become a good singer and guitarist, and he spent several years playing to very
small audiences before he became successful. I also like the fact that he writes his own
music. I admirepeople who have worked hard to get where they are.
Note: I've underlined the best vocabulary. 'Gig' is an informal word for concert or
performance, but it's fine to use it in this context.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: adding details
These are the 3 techniques I use to create longer, more detailed answers:
1. Explain why
2. Give an example
3. Explain the alternatives
Question:
Why do you think friendship is important?
Answer:
I think friendship is important for all sorts of reasons. (why?) We need friends to share
experiences with, to talk to, and for support. (example?) In my case, I like to meet up with
friends at the weekend to do something enjoyable, like see a film or go out for dinner. I like
chatting with my friends about what we've been doing during the week, or about what's
happening in the world. (alternatives?) Without friends to talk to, life would be dull and
boring; we would only have our families to talk to.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'lessons' topic
The following answers are at 'band 9' level. Which words and phrases help my answers to
get such a high score?
1. What do you think makes a good lesson?
I think a good lesson is one that is interesting and engaging. By 'engaging' I mean that the
students should feel involved in the lesson; they should feel that they are learning something
new that is relevant to them. In my opinion, a lot depends on how the teacher delivers the
content of the lesson in a way that students like. My favourite teacher at university used to
involve the students by making us teach some of the lessons ourselves.
2. Do you think it's better to have a teacher or to teach yourself?
Well, there's no substitute for a good teacher. I think you can teach yourself, but you can
learn a lot more quickly with the guidance of a teacher. For example, when learning a
language, you really need someone to correct your mistakes; you can get the grammar and
vocabulary from books, but books can't tell you where you're going wrong.
3. Do you think the traditional classroom will disappear in the future?
I don't think it will disappear, but it might become less common. I think more people will
study independently, using different technologies rather than sitting in a classroom. Maybe
students will attend a lesson just once a week, and spend the rest of their time following
online courses or watching video lessons.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a lesson
Speak for 2 minutes about the following topic.

Describe an interesting lesson that you attended.
You should say
where you attended this lesson
what it was about
and why you found it interesting
Here are some ideas for a description of a science lesson:

1. I'm going to talk about an interesting science lesson that I attended at secondary school
when I was 14 or 15 years old.
2. It was quite a long time ago, so I can't remember every detail, but the lesson was about
respiration. We learnt about how the lungs work, how we breathe, and how oxygen
passes into the blood. The science teacher also talked to us about the effects of smoking
on the lungs.
3. I found this lesson interesting because my science teacher, Dr. Smith, always introduced
new topics by showing us a video. We watched a short film about how respiration works,
and I found this much easier to understand than a science textbook. The film showed
diagrams of the lungs to explain the breathing process. Later in the lesson we saw real
photos of healthy lungs and lungs that had been damaged as a result of smoking; they
had turned black. I think the image of a smoker's lungs is the reason why I remember this
lesson.
I could also give more information about the teacher, his personality and why I liked him.
The key is to tell a story and add details until the time runs out.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'numbers' topic
One of my students had these questions in her exam last week. I've put an example answer
below each one.
1) Do you have a favourite number or a number that is special to you?
Yes, my favourite number is... because it's the day I was born on, and it's my lucky number.
2) Do any numbers have special importance in your country?
Yes, certain ages are special. For example, your 18th birthday is important because it's
when you are considered to become an adult.
3) Are you good at remembering numbers? Why / why not?
No, I'm not very good at remembering numbers. I don't think it's necessary to learn them by
heart; I just save them on my phone.
4) What numbers do people often have to memorise?
The most important number to remember on a daily basis is the pin number for your bank
card. Without this you can't pay for anything or get cash out.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a building
Describe a modern building. You should say:

where it is
what it is used for
and why you like/dislike it.
Here's my example description of a building in Manchester:

1. I'm going to describe a modern building in Manchester. It's called the Beetham Tower, and
it's the tallest building in the city, with about 50 floors.
2. Although it's called the Beetham Tower, most people know this building as the Hilton Hotel.
In fact, the bottom half of the tower is the hotel and the top half is apartments. The
apartments are expensive because the location and views make them very desirable.
3. I'm not sure if I like the design of the building, it's just a huge glass tower, but it definitely
stands out. It has become a famous landmark in the city. You can see it as you approach
Manchester, and it's an easy place to meet people because it's so distinctive and easy to
find. The most interesting thing about the Beetham Tower is that there is a bar/restaurant
on the 23rd floor which has spectacular views of the city; it's definitely the best vantage
point in Manchester because there are no walls, only huge windows, so you can look out
over the city in any direction. I'd recommend anyone who visits Manchester to go there
and experience the view.
Friday, May 20, 2011
IELTS Speaking: 'questionnaires' topic
IELTS speaking part 2:

Describe a time when you were asked to give your opinion in a questionnaire.
Advice: Say that your were given a questionnaire at the end of one of your school or
university courses. Say that the questions asked for your opinions about the teaching,
materials, facilities, level of difficult, how much you enjoyed the course etc.
IELTS speaking part 3:
What kinds of organisation regularly conduct questionnaires?
All kinds of organisations and companies use questionnaires to find out what people think
about them. For example, university lecturers often ask their students to answer questions
about their courses. Someone from a Starbucks cafe stopped me in the street yesterday to
ask me about my coffee drinking habits.
Do you think schools should ask children for their opinions about lessons?
On the one hand, it might be useful for teachers to get feedback from children about how
much they learnt and how enjoyable they found the lessons. However, children don't
necessarily know what's best for them, and it might do more harm than good to allow them
to give opinions about their teachers.
IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'neighbours' topic
I've recently bought Cambridge IELTS book 8. Below are some questions and example
answers from the first speaking test in the book. Remember that part 1 is supposed to be
easy, so you should give short, direct answers.
1. How well do you know your next-door neighbours?
I know my neighbours quite well. They're really nice people, and I always stop to talk
whenever I see them. I think it's important to get on well with the people who live next door.
2. How often do you see them?
I see my neighbours at least a few times a week. We usually see each other when we're
leaving for work in the morning or coming home in the evening.
3. What problems do people sometimes have with their neighbours?
I think the most common problem is probably noise. It's difficult to live next to people who
have a dog that barks at night, or who play loud music or have too many parties.
IELTS Speaking: an important conversation
IELTS Speaking Part 2:

Describe an important conversation you had.
IELTS Speaking Part 3:
What are the differences between men's and women's conversations?
What do you think are the characteristics of a good speaker?
For the part 2 question:
My advice is to speak about a conversation you had with your father or mother about your
education or career. If you are studying in a different country, describe a conversation about
the decision to study abroad. Then you can use ideas from the 'study abroad' topic and the
'higher education' topic (you can find these topics in my Writing Task 2 lessons).
For the first question in part 3, my advice is to use 'stereotypes':
"I think it depends on the people who are having the conversation, and it depends on the
situation, but most people would say that men talk more about sport or cars, whereas
women talk about their friends, family and relationships. Women are supposed to be better
at expressing their feelings, while men prefer not to talk about themselves."
For the second question in part 3, use adjectives and examples:
"I think good speakers are confident and passionate about the subject of their speech. They
need to be interesting and engaging. I think a speaker's body language is also really
important. A famous example of a great speaker is Barack Obama; he seems to be a
naturally inspiring speaker, but I'm sure that practice and preparation are more important
than natural talent."
IELTS Speaking: work or study
These are common questions at the start of the speaking test:

1. Do you work or are you a student?
2. Do you like your job / course? Why / why not?
Example answers:
1. Before I came to England I was working as an accountant, but at the moment I'm studying
English because I hope to do a Master's here.
2. Yes, I really like my job because it's interesting and I work with a great team of
people. OR: Yes, I enjoy studying English, but my real aim is to do a Master's and then
find a job in an international company.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a skill
Describe a practical skill that you have learnt (e.g. cooking, driving).
You should say
what the skill is
how you learnt it
why you learnt it
and how this skill has helped you.
Advice:
You need to make a quick decision, so I'd choose one of the given examples (cooking or
driving). Then try to expand on each point.
1. I'm going to talk about driving, which is a practical skill that I use almost every day.
2. I learnt to drive a car by taking lessons when I was 17. My parents paid for me to have
lessons with a professional driving instructor. I learnt by practising: first I had to get used
to steering, changing gears and using the mirrors, then we practised things like reversing
and parking. I also had to learn the highway code.
3. As a 17-year-old, I wanted to have the experience of driving a car, and I was fed up with
having to walk or take the bus or train whenever I wanted to go somewhere. I also knew
that driving would be an extremely useful skill.
4. Being able to drive has helped me in so many ways. The public transport where I live isn't
very good, so I travel to work by car most days. Having a car makes my life much easier
when it comes to things like shopping or visiting family and friends. (Last week, for
example,...)
IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'difficult' questions
Last week I wrote about 'using what you know'. Here are some more quick examples of how
you can make a 'difficult' question much easier:
1) Describe something that you collect.
Most students panic because they don't collect anything. But this question is easier than you
think. If your hobby is listening to music or reading books, just tell the examiner that you
collect CDs or novels. You could talk about your "collection" of clothes or shoes. Everyone
has a collection of something, even if you don't call yourself a collector.
2) Describe an important decision that you made.

Easy. Just talk about the subject you chose to study or the career you decided to pursue. If
you moved to live/study in a different country, you could talk about that.
3) Describe an important letter you received.
Use the answer you gave for number 2 (with a few small changes). Talk about the letter you
received confirming your place on a university course, or confirming a successful job
application.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe an event
Describe a recent event that made you happy.

You should say:
when and where it was
who was involved
what happened
and explain why it made you happy.
The following description contains the kind of phrases that native speakers (like me) really
use. I've underlined the best vocabulary.
1. When and where: my friend's birthday party, last Saturday evening, we went for a meal in
an Italian restaurant.
2. Who: there were about 10 of us, he invited some close friends and work colleagues, most
of them were people I've known sinceuniversity.
3. What happened: we met at the restaurant, I gave my friend a present and a birthday card,
we ordered some food, while we ate dinnereveryone chatted, after the main course the
waiter brought out a cake and we sang 'Happy Birthday', everyone went home quite late.
4. Why it made me happy: it was great to get together with old friends, I had some interesting
conversations, it was a good opportunity to catch up with what my friends had been up to,
it was a nice way to wind down after a hard week at work, the food was delicious, I went
homefeeling full after a fantastic meal.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: technology at work

1. What technology or equipment is used in most workplaces nowadays?
2. Does technology help workers, or does it make their lives more difficult?
3. What effect does new technology have on employment?
1. Advice: give a list of different technologies, then talk about one in detail:
In most workplaces people use equipment such as computers, phones, printers, fax
machines and photocopiers. I think the computer is probably the most essential piece of
equipment because we rely on it for almost everything: communicating by email, writing
reports, organising data, and finding information on the Internet.
2. Advice: talk about the positives AND the negatives:
Technology definitely helps workers because it makes many tasks so much easier. For
example, email is such a useful tool for communication between employees in different
offices, or even in different countries. On the other hand, technology can make life more
difficult, especially when it goes wrong. It causes a lot of stress when the Internet is down or
a computer crashes.
3. Advice: give the good effects AND the bad effects:
I think technology is often responsible for people losing their jobs. Machines have replaced
people in areas like manufacturing and agriculture, and whenever a new technology is
introduced, there are redundancies. At the same time, jobs might be created thanks to a
new technology; there would be no computer programmers if the computer hadn't been
invented.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a person
Describe a person you admire.

You should say:
who the person is
what he or she is like
and why you admire him or her.
Here are some ideas. I've underlined the best vocabulary.

I'm going to talk about my father because he has been a major influence in my life.
My father was always a good role model for me as I was growing up. He's hard-working,
patient and understanding; he's also got a goodsense of humour and seems to get on well
with everybody. Hopefully I've inherited some of these traits.
I admire my father because I think he brought me and my brothers/sisters up well; he was
quite strict but always fair, and he has always been someone I can turn to for advice. I
think my father set a good example by working hard and having a positive outlook on life. I
remember that he used to leave for work early and come home quite late, but he
always made time for me and my brothers/sisters.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a festival
A common topic for the short presentation (IELTS Speaking Part 2) is "describe an important
festival in your country".
My advice is to look for a description of your festival on Wikipedia. Copy the best parts of the
description and make small changes if necessary. As an example, I've copied a short
description of Christmas from Wikipedia.
Describe a festival: Christmas
Christmas is an annual holiday that, in Christianity, commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.
Popular customs of the holiday include gift-giving, music, an exchange of greeting cards,
church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of various decorations; including
Christmas trees, lights, nativity scenes, and holly. In addition, Father Christmas (known as
Santa Claus in some areas) is a popular figure in many countries, associated with the
bringing of gifts for children.
Over the Christmas period, people decorate their homes and exchange gifts. In some
countries, children perform plays re-telling the events of the Nativity, or sing carols that
reference the event. Christmas, along with Easter, is the period of highest annual church
attendance.
A special Christmas family meal is an important part of the celebration for many, and what is
served varies greatly from country to country. In England and countries influenced by its
traditions, a standard Christmas meal includes turkey, potatoes, vegetables, sausages and
gravy, followed by Christmas pudding, mince pies and fruit cake.
Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | C
IELTS Speaking Part 3: How will the Internet affect our lives?
The "perspectives technique" for generating ideas (see 6th October) can also be useful in
the IELTS speaking test. Here's an example:
How do you think the Internet will affect our lives in the future?
Personal perspective:
I think the Internet will have a huge impact on our lives. More and more people are using
social websites to keep in touch with friends. I think the Internet will probably replace TV
because most channels are already available online.
Economic perspective:
Also, I think we'll do more online shopping. Web-based companies like Amazon are already
really successful. In the future, there will probably be more companies that only sell via the
Internet, and I expect we'll spend more money online than in traditional shops.
Educational perspective:
Schools and universities might also use the Internet to provide courses, so online learning
will probably become a normal part of life.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe an advertisement
Describe an interesting advertisement that you have seen. You should say:
where you saw it
what it was about
why you think it was an interesting advertisement.
Choose something simple. Here's an example with the "band 7" vocabulary underlined:
1.
I'm going to talk about an advertisement for Coca-Cola,

which is one of the biggest brandsin the world. I've seen Coke advertised everywhere, on
posters and TV commercials.
2. The advert shows a picture of Santa Claus smiling and holding a bottle of Coke. I think the
aim is to target children and associate (link/connect) the brand with Christmas time.
3. The advert is interesting because the company is deliberately trying to influence and
attract children. The marketers are trying to capture young customers. They are
presenting the drink as something special, a gift for Christmas. However, Coca-Cola is not
necessarily a healthy drink for children; it contains a lot of sugar. Maybe this kind of
advertising manipulates children and encourages them to pester their parents.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: status symbols
In part 3 of the IELTS speaking test you should try to give longer answers with opinions,
reasons, comparisons and examples. Here are some example questions and answers
related to last week's part 2 topic:
In your country, what possessions show a higher status or position in society?
In my country, people who are wealthy tend to buy big houses and cars. Certain makes of
car such as Mercedes or Ferrari are status symbols. They let other people know that you
are important or powerful. People who want to give this impression often wear expensive
designer clothes, or watches by brands like Rolex.
Do you think we place too much importance on possessions?
Probably, yes. Some people are obsessed with showing off their new mobile phone or
wearing the latest fashions. I think it's a problem for teenagers because there's a lot of peer
pressure to follow fashion or buy the latest gadget that their friends have got.
Do you think things were different 50 years ago?
Yes, maybe people were less materialistic. I think they bought things that lasted longer; my
grandparents talk about how they repaired things rather than throwing them away. Maybe
brands and advertising weren't as powerful as they are now.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe an object
In IELTS speaking part 2, you might be asked to describe an object. For example:
Describe something you bought recently.
Describe a gift you gave or received.
Describe something you own which is important to you.
Choose something easy, like a mobile phone:

I'm going to describe my mobile phone. I bought it online / in a mobile phone shop / it was a
present from...
I use the phone to keep in touch with friends and family, for communication by voice, text
and email. It has various features like video, MP3 player, wireless Internet, digital camera
and games. It's easy to share photos and music. I use it for almost everything, it even has a
calendar that reminds me about appointments.
My phone is an essential part of my life. It holds my contacts, my photos, my music

collection. I've got instant access to my favourite websites. It's like having my whole life in
my pocket. I couldn't live without it.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: children's toys
Here are some questions related to last week's part 2 topic:

1. Do you think it's important for boys to play with "boys' toys" and for girls to only
play with "girls' toys"?
I think boys naturally seem to prefer playing with "boys' toys" and girls with "girls' toys".
When I was young I had toy cars, trucks, guns and things like that, whereas my sister
always wanted to play with dolls. I don't suppose it really matters if a boy plays with a doll or
a girl plays with a toy car, but children learn quickly what toys are supposed to be for boys
and for girls.
2. Do you think it's good if parents only buy "educational" toys for their children?
No, I don't agree with only giving children educational toys. In my opinion, children learn by
playing with whatever interests them. Children invent their own games, even if they don't
have any toys at all. It's important for children just to have fun; there will be plenty of time for
parents to worry about education when their children get older.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
IELTS Speaking: describe a toy
Below, you can read an example description of a toy (for IELTS speaking part 2). See
yesterday's lesson for the full question.
Lego Car Description:
One special toy that I remember getting was a Lego car. It was a birthday present from my
parents. I can't remember exactly how old I was, but I was probably about 10 or 11.
The special thing about this car was that I had to build it myself out of hundreds of pieces of
Lego. The pieces came in a box with a picture of the finished car on the front, and I had to
follow step-by-step instructions to put all the pieces together in the correct
way.
This wasn't an easy task because the car even had an engine,
movable seats and gears. It took me a day or two to make, and required a lot of
concentration.
When the car was finished it looked great, and I felt a sense of accomplishment. I seem to
remember that I didn't play with the car very much; the fun part had been the process of
building it.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe an animal
Several students have asked me about this question:

Describe a wild animal from your country.
You should say
what the animal is and what it looks like
where it lives
and explain how people in your country (or you) feel about this animal.
You might not be able to copy my example because I've described an animal that is
common in the UK. However, hopefully my description will give you some ideas.
1. I'm going to describe the 'robin' which is a wild bird that is common in the UK. The robin is a
small bird with brown and white feathers and an area of bright red colour on it's face and
on the front of its body. The area of red colour makes robins very easy to distinguish from
other birds.
2. Robins are common garden birds. Many houses in the UK have a garden, and you can
often see this bird sitting in a tree. They make their nests in trees and go looking for food.
You might also see a robin if you go for a walk in the countryside or in a park.
3. Robins have a special place in British culture. They are considered to be christmas birds,
and are often used on christmas cards. Many people leave food in their gardens for robins
and other small birds to eat.
IELTS technology and relationships essay

This is one of my model IELTS essays lessons where you can
read the essay

do a vocabulary exercise
get a link to a full lesson on double question essay tasks
Read the technology and relationships essay

Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of
technology.
In what ways has technology affected personal relationships ? Has this become a
positive or negative development?
Advances in technology have without doubt influenced the way we communicate with each other
in a number of different ways. While some of this change can have a negative influence on the
we way interact, my view is that overall modern technology typically improves communication in
personal relationships.
It is clear that technology has changed the way we communicate in several respects. Perhaps
the clearest example of this is that nowadays many people prefer to keep in touch to their friends
and relatives using applications and social networking sites like FaceTime, Skype and
Facebook. Another way this change is evident is how the email and texting have almost
completely replaced the letter as the primary form of written communication. Because these
modern forms of communication are typically much more convenient and instant, one result is
that we can communicate more easily with people who we do not see on a daily basis.
I would argue that these innovations have mostly improved personal relationships. The principal
benefit is that it just so much easier to stay in touch with people we might otherwise lose contact
with. It is for example now very straightforward to keep in contact with friends from university
who move to different cities after they graduate and this means relationships last longer. The
only real drawback is that sometimes people become so addicted to their online social networks
that they stop communicating with friends in the real world. That, however, is a minor issue.
My conclusion is therefore that new forms technological communication have in fact largely
improved human interaction because emails, texting and social networks enable us to maintain
friendships which might otherwise be lost.
(278 words)
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IELTS Writing Task 2: 'technology' essay

Several people have asked me about this question from Cambridge IELTS 8. I wrote the
essay below with the help of some of my students. A few simple linking features are
highlighted.
Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of
technology.
In what ways has technology affected the types of relationships that people
make? Has this been a positive or negative development?
It is true that new technologies have had an influence on communication between people.
Technology has affected relationships in various ways, and in my opinion there are both
positive and negative effects.
Technology has had an impact on relationships in business, education and social life. Firstly,
telephones and the Internet allow business people in different countries to interact without
ever meeting each other. Secondly, services like Skype create new possibilities for
relationships between students and teachers. For example, a student can now take video
lessons with a teacher in a different city or country. Finally, many people use social
networks, like Facebook, to make new friends and find people who share common interests,
and they interact through their computers rather than face to face.
On the one hand, these developments can be extremely positive. Cooperation between
people in different countries was much more difficult when communication was limited to
written letters or telegrams. Nowadays, interactions by email, phone or video are almost as
good as face-to-face meetings, and many of us benefit from these interactions, either in
work or social contexts. On the other hand, the availability of new communication
technologies can also have the result of isolating people and discouraging real interaction.
For example, many young people choose to make friends online rather than mixing with
their peers in the real world, and these virtual relationships are a poor substitute for real
friendships.
In conclusion, technology has certainly revolutionised communication between people, but
not all of the outcomes of this revolution have been positive.
(257 words, band 9)
Model Essay 16 - Internet Essay

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument to an educated reader with no specialist
knowledge of the following topic.

According to a recent study, the more time people use the
Internet, the less time they spend with real human beings.
Some people say that instead of seeing the Internet as a way
of opening up new communication possibilities worldwide,
we should be concerned about the effect this is having on
social interaction.
How far do you agree with this opinion?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your
own experience or knowledge.
You should write at least 250 words.
Internet Essay - Model Answer

It is evident that, at present, people are spending a considerable amount of time on the
Internet, and thus spending less time with real people. I strongly agree that although this
use of the Internet has greatly increased the level of communication available, it has also
had detrimental effects on the amount and type of social interaction that takes place.
The benefits of the Internet in terms of increased communication are clear, with people
connected across the globe. In the past, communication was only possible by phone or mail,
which entailed time and expense. It also usually meant just keeping in contact with those
people already known to you. With the internet, this has changed dramatically. Email and
social networking sites such as Facebook and MSN have created online communities that
are global in scale, and they have fostered communication between people and countries
that we would not have thought possible in the not too distant past.
That said, there is no doubt in my mind that this has had negative impacts on social
interaction. People, especially the younger generation, spend hours of their time online,
chatting and on forums. Although this can be beneficial, it is certainly not the same as real
interaction with human beings and does not involve the same skills. It is important that
children have and maintain real friendships in order to develop their own interpersonal
skills. Not only this, it can also have negative effects on local communities if people are
spending most of their time communicating online and not mixing in their neighbourhoods,
and possibly lead to feelings of isolation for those individuals who do not have a real
person to turn to in times of need.
To conclude, I believe that the internet has undoubtedly been beneficial, but there are good
reasons to be concerned about social interaction in our societies. It is therefore important
that we maintain a balance between our online life and our contact with real human beings.
(328 Words)
In the last 20 years there have been significant developments in the field of
information technology (IT), for example the World Wide Web and communication
by email. However, future developments in IT are likely to have more negative
effects than positive.
To what extent do you agree with this view?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience
or knowledge.
You should write at least 250 words.
The last two decades have seen enormous changes in the way people's lives are affected by
IT, with many advances in this field. However, while these technological advances have
brought many benefits to the world, it can be argued that future IT developments will
produce more negative effects than positive ones.
To begin, email has made communication, especially abroad, much simpler and faster,
resulting in numerous benefits for commerce and business. Furthermore, the World Wide
Web means that information on every conceivable subject is now available to us. For
example, people can access news, medical advice, online education courses and much more
via the internet. It is evident that these improvements have made life far easier and more
convenient for large numbers of people and will continue to do so for decades to come.
Nevertheless, the effects of this new technology have not all been beneficial. For example,
many people feel that the widespread use of email is destroying traditional forms of
communication such as letter writing, telephone and face-to-face conversation. This could
result in a decline in people's basic ability to socialize and interact with each other on a dayto-day basis.
In addition, the large size of the Web has meant that it is nearly impossible to regulate and
control. This has led to many concerns regarding children accessing unsuitable websites and
viruses. Unfortunately, this kind of problem might even get worse in the future at least until
more regulated systems are set up.
In conclusion, developments in IT have brought many benefits, yet I believe developments
relating to new technology in the future are likely to produce many negative effects that
must be addressed if we are to avoid damaging impacts to individuals and society.
People attend college or university for many different reasons (for example, new
experiences, career preparation, increased knowledge). Why do you think people attend
.college or university? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer
:
1

.
.
There are many reasons why people decide to go to college or university. I believe that
people attend college or university for three reasons: to obtain knowledge, to experience
.new things, and to earn a degree
Firstly, a college or university can provide a variety of classes for its students, and people
can choose any class if only they have interests in it. In addition, erudite professors and
superb libraries are excellent resources and appeal to students. All of these make a college
.or university a priority for people when they intend to enrich their knowledge
Second, people attending a college or university may also look for opportunities to
experience new things. Many students have to leave their homes and parents to live
in dorms or apartments. This change of living environment allows them to experience a new
lifestyle. In addition, there are more opportunities to meet new people and to engage in
different activities that are different from those they are accustomed to. Enlarging a social
.circle, as matter of fact, can be also good preparation for their future lives
Third, people attend college or university to accomplish an ultimate goal: to earn a degree.
Because the world today put so much values on people's educational backgrounds when
hiring for a job, a college degree is almost a necessity when applying for a job. Many studies
have shown that people with a degree have better chances of getting hired than those
without. Furthermore, even after the employment, income values vary among those with a
.degree and those without
In conclusion, although people attend college or university for many different reasons, I
think it is to obtain knowledge, to experience new things, and to earn a degree. I believe
that these three reasons are what most people look for when deciding to attend a college or
university. However, whatever their reasons are, a college education leads to a better
.and more successful life
Some British families decide not to buy televisions because they influence the development
?of the creativity of children. What do you think
With the rapid development of science and technology, television, as a new invention in the
20th century is becoming very populous in peoples life. People can be informed of the latest
news and enjoy the colorful programs at home. In my opinion, television will not affect
.childrens creativity as exaggerated
Firstly, television is the most effective tool to inform children of the latest news and scientific
development over the world. Television tells us the recent development of some researches,
such as clone technology, Genetic breakthroughs, the new computing technology and so on,
which can stimulate the imagination of children and encourage them to carry out relevant
. experiments, making new findings and breakthroughs in their study
Secondly, some programs like adventures and geography can enlarge childrens knowledge
of scope. With the emerge of information technology, the knowledge in textbooks cannot
satisfy childrens curiosity any more. Children need to learn wider knowledge and know
more about our world. Programs like adventures can cultivate childrens creativity and the
ability to tackle difficulty; programs like geography can teach children knowledge about
different countries in the world and initiate their aspiration to know about the nature;
.programs about science can inspire childrens interest in science and technology
However, the improper programs on television sometimes play negative role in the growth
of children. The shots about violence, crimes and pornography contents are making children
.walk on the criminal road
To sum up, I believe that television will not influence childrens creativity. But meanwhile,
the government and the whole society should do their utmost to prohibit the unhealthy
contents on TV and provide the children with a clean growing environment
Some of the methods used in advertising are unethical and unacceptable in

todays society.
To what extent do you agree with this view
%100
.
The world that we live in today is dominated by advertising. Adverts are on television, on
the World Wide Web, in the street and even on our mobile phones. However, many of the
strategies used to sell a product or service can be considered immoral or unacceptable.

.
To begin with, the fact that we cannot escape from advertising is a significant cause for
complaint. Constant images and signs wherever we look can be very intrusive and irritating
at times. Take for example advertising on the mobile phone. With the latest technology
mobile companies are now able to send advertising messages via SMS to consumers
phones whenever they choose. Although we expect adverts in numerous situations, it now
seems that there are very few places we can actually avoid them.
A further aspect of advertising that I would consider unethical is the way that it encourages
people to buy products they may not need or cannot afford. Children and young people in
particular are influenced by adverts showing the latest toys, clothing or music and this can
put enormous pressure on the parents to buy these products.
In addition, the advertising of tobacco products and alcohol has long been a controversial
issue, but cigarette adverts have only recently been banned in many countries. It is quite
possible that alcohol adverts encourage excessive consumption and underage drinking, yet
restrictions have not been placed on this type of advertising in the same way as smoking.

(However, In addition, Therefore)

(A further aspect of advertising that I would consider unethical. ..)

(...encourages people to buy products they may not need or cannot afford)
( Children and young people in particular, are influenced by adverts)
:
(It is quite possible... Many people consider. .. It is certainly true to say.. .)

It is certainly true to say that advertising is an everyday feature of our lives. Therefore,
people are constantly being encouraged to buy products or services that might be too
expensive, unnecessary or even unhealthy. In conclusion,many aspects of advertising do
appear to be morally wrong and are not acceptable in today's society.
Some people think that family life and parents have great influence on childrens
development, while others consider that external influence plays a more important
role in childrens life, discuss both views and give your own opinion.?
Human development is a complex interplay of many factors. Some individuals are of
the opinion that family life and parents have the most significant role in a childs
development whereas others opine that friends and other environmental factors such
as TV have a more important role. It is necessary to look at both arguments before
forming an opinion.
Parents have direct interactions with the children. They provide a sense of
identification to the child. These have their greatest effect on intellectual
development and character traits. They also play a very important role in the
socializing process of the child. Right from the bed time stories to the behavioral
habits parents play a very important role in making a child a responsible citizen. They
know their childs temperament better than anyone else. They can provide critical
input better than anyone else. That is why it is believed by some that parents have
the strongest role in a childs development.
Friends, on the other hand, are important in order to help children grow emotionally
and socially. Children find out who they are by comparing themselves to others. They
learn about attitude, character and personality. Building good relationships boosts a
childs self-esteem and they find comfort in those friendships when things get tough
such as losing a pet or facing family problems. Therefore, friendships are essential to
assure children develop a healthy psyche. When kids are surrounded by friends or
have one close friend, they have better self-esteem, feel a sense of well-being and
experience fewer social problems.
In my opinion, we cannot generalize as to what has more significance. In the early
years family generally has more impact but in adolescence external factors may
impact more. It appears that the power of the peer group becomes more important
when the family relationships are not close or supportive. For example, if the parents
work extra jobs and are largely unavailable, their children may turn to their peer
group for emotional support.
In conclusion, I believe that, behavior is affected by a complex interaction of many
different factors such as parents, peers and environment. All these are inextricably
linked in the development of children. There is individual variation and therefore it is
difficult to generalize which factor plays the most significant role.
Some people think that computers and the Internet are more important for a childs
education than going to school. But others believe that schools and teachers are
essential for children to learn effectively. Discuss both views and give your own
opinion.?
Some individuals opine that computers and the internet have become an indispensable part of
education and therefore schools and teachers do not play a significant role in education. Others say
that for effective learning, schools and teachers are still indispensable. In the following paragraphs, I
intend to discuss both views followed by my opinion.
It is an undeniable fact that teachers can never lose their importance. In learning and practice of more
complex ideas, the computer is not adequate. It can tell if the answer is right or wrong but it cannot tell
where the student went wrong. Tasks involving reasoning cannot be taught using computers.
Moreover, teachers add their own knowledge gained through experience to that of books and other
resources.
Furthermore, teachers can stimulate interest and it is an undeniable fact that interested stimulated
people tend to learn more. They can keep students focused on study. They can provide a faster and
simpler way to present information to the students. They can come down to the level of a student and
so are definitely better than computers. What is more, teachers are role models for students. They are
scholars in action. They not only teach academic subjects, but also many social skills.
Schools are places where students learn many social skills apart from academic education. There are
also practical subjects which students can learn best from the teacher. For example, experiments of
physics and chemistry are best learnt by the teacher guiding you at every step in the school setting.
What is more, teachers in schools give assignments and regularly check them. This helps the teachers
to recognise the weak points of students and guide them accordingly. All this cannot be done by the
internet and computer.
On the other hand, it is also true that the internet is an ocean of knowledge. You can get information
about any topic on Earth from the internet. But there is no authenticity of this information. What
information to get and from where to get requires a lot of expertise. Students still need the guidance of
the teachers at all stages of learning. Teachers can make even the dull and boring subjects seem
interesting. So definitely students learn more from teachers.
In conclusion, I can say that, no doubt computers and internet have become important in education but
the role of schools and teachers can never be undermined.
Some people think that introducing new technology can improve peoples quality of life in the
developing countries. However, others believe that free education should be offered. Discuss
both views and give your own opinion.?
Education and technology are instruments for accelerating development in the developing
countries. The issue of debate is whether new technology should be provided in developing
countries or free education should be offered. I believe that a combination of education and
technology has to be given.
Those in favor of providing free education say that these countries need education before
anything else. For the majority of underdeveloped countries, the quality of life is deteriorating
despite several decades of development efforts. The gap between the developed and
underdeveloped countries is therefore widening by the minute. It is very imperative that swift
steps be taken to bridge this knowledge gap without which the economic and social disparity will
widen even more rapidly. A good educational system should focus on laying the best foundation
of knowledge and skill that are laid during the first years of education. What these countries need
is good education and training that can match the technology revolution.
Supporters of technology say that most educational institutions in these countries lack quality
educational materials. Library collections have become out of date and the laboratory equipment
is most often old. Therefore, it would seem almost impossible for these countries to setup
efficient educational systems without the availability of multimedia and information technology.
What is more, students can use technologies to access courses not available at their school; rural
students can complete their studies without leaving their communities, and adults can take
advantage of a more flexible study schedule. Cultural development will also benefit as knowledgebases of art, culture and history can be easily created, made widely accessible and easily
updated.
In conclusion, I believe that, the best possible thing to do would be to provide both education and
technology simultaneously. It would also be a much cheaper alternative to provide education with
the help of technology.
Some people think parents should read or tell stories to children, while others think
parents need not do that, as children can read books, watch TV or movies by themselves.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.?
It has been rightly said that There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there
have been no societies that did not tell stories. The question of debate is whether parents should
read or tell stories to children or whether children should come to know about stories themselves
by reading books or by watching TV or movies. In this essay I intend to discuss both views
followed by my opinion.
There are many benefits of reading bedtime stories to children. First of all, it encourages family
bonding. In this day and age of hectic lives and busy schedules, reading together is a simple and
enjoyable way for parents to take time out and focus on the family. Children also feel wanted and
loved. What is more, it moulds children into becoming readers, and this significantly increases
the childs potential for academic success as well as lifelong success in general. It also helps
children master language development as by listening to stories, children learn pronunciation and
vocabulary. It also builds listening skills, increases a childs attention span, and develops the
ability to concentrate. It develops childrens ability to express themselves more confidently,
easily, and clearly in spoken and written terms. It develops and fosters a childs natural curiosity.
Furthermore, it develops creativity and a childs ability to use his own imagination. It expands
childrens horizons by exposing them to new situations, and teaches them appropriate behavior.
Reading childrens stories to children provides the best opportunities for true teaching moments
as most of these stories have morals. Reading picture books develops a young childs
appreciation for the arts through exposure to many different styles of art and illustrations.
On the other hand, some opine that children should themselves read stories from books or watch
them on TV and in movies. This would be much easier for the parents who are too busy
nowadays, but then all the above benefits would not ensue. What is more, parents can start telling
stories to children much before children can themselves read. Watching TV does not help the
child to develop imagination and this may be detrimental in the long run. Moreover, it would be
difficult to monitor what children are actually learning.
To sum up, I believe that, it is always better for the parents as well as the children, if parents read
aloud to their children. This would give them quality time together and loads of other benefits
which I have discussed above. I pen off with a famous quote of Robert Mackee Stories are the
creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They
are the currency of human contact.
Some think that children should start school as early as possible, while others believe that they
should start school at the age of seven. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.?
Education is very important for everyone. Some people think that children should begin their
formal education at a very early age whereas others opine that they the age of seven years is the
best for young people to commence educational studies. I agree with the latter view for several
reasons, which I will explain below.
It is irrefutable that children who begin to study at a very early age have more chances to succeed
in the future. It is a well known fact that the younger an individual is; the easier it is for him to
acquire new knowledge and information. Such children get a head start in learning which will
definitely give them an advantage in their later school years. They gain more knowledge and
experience which are priceless and valuable. However, I think that every child must have his or
her childhood. Children should learn through playing and communication with their friends and
parents. Childhood comes but once in life and should be spent as much as possible with parents.
I think that such basic qualities as kindness, self-confidence and just a good sense of humor
cannot be gained from studying.
Another important aspect of this is that children at their early ages need more exercise because at
this age the development of their body is a very essential aspect. The stress of school and
homework stifles the growth of many children. As it is, there are very many years of schooling for
children even if they start at seven.
In conclusion, I believe that, children should have their careless childhood with no
responsibilities. Moreover, I am sure that playing helps them develop not only their bones and
muscles but their ability to make decisions, analyze things, make conclusions, which is very good
for their future.
10
Some people believe that women should play an equal role as men in a countrys police force or
military force, such as the army, while others think women are not suitable for these kinds of jobs.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.?
Increasing numbers of women are choosing to work in the police and armed forces nowadays and
have showed their mettle in these fields. Some individuals opine that women should be able to
work shoulder to shoulder with men in these fields. Others disagree and say that women are not
suited for such jobs. In the following paragraphs I intend to discuss both views.
Nowadays we are heading towards an egalitarian society in which all should have equal rights.
Therefore, women should have the same right as men to choose their profession. People should
be chosen for jobs based on their skills, qualification and character. So if a woman has enough
ability to join armed forces, she should be welcome to become a soldier or a police officer.
Gender should not come in the way of the selection process.
On the other hand some people say that women lack physical strength and therefore they are not
fit to be in the army or police as these jobs require physical strength. I would however, argue that
it would be wrong to say that women are less able than men in certain jobs. In fact, women may
be better at controlling a situation by communicating more effectively. Police and military jobs
require more than just physical strength. Teamwork, leadership and communication may be just
as important.
It could be argued that even physical strength can be increased by effective workouts and muscle
training. Women who join such jobs do undergo rigorous training and are no less than men when
they are on the job. It is also a matter of personal choice. More and more men are now entering
fields such as nursing and teaching which were earlier thought to be a womans domain. So, it
should come as no surprise if women choose to enter the police and armed forces.
In conclusion, I believe that, women should have the same role as men in police and armed
forces. It is the need of the times.
11
Some people think that politicians have the greatest influence on the world. Other people,
however, believe that scientists have the greatest influence. Discuss both of views and
give your opinion.?
It is irrefutable that both scientists and politicians have made great contributions to the societies
worldwide and it would be difficult to say whose influence is greater. In the following paragraphs, I
would highlight the role of both, politicians and scientists in our lives.
Politicians are elected by citizens to work for the betterment of the masses by enforcing
regulations to maintain social harmony and law and order in the country. They represent the
common man and do their best so that no one is devoid of their fundamental rights. They also
represent their countries in matters where global co-operation is needed. They have the power to
change the standing of their nation in the whole world. For example, the economic policies of our
Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh have brought India way up in the eyes of the whole world.
On the other hand the contribution of scientists cannot be under estimated. They have made great
progress in the field of medicine. Today, there is a cure for many fatal diseases such as cancers.
Scientists all over the world are toiling whole-heartedly to find a cure for problems such as AIDS.
It is the contribution of scientists that we have electricity and the automobile. The contribution of
scientists in the field of communication has shrunk the whole planet Earth into a global village.
The satellite TV and the internet have brought the world into the common mans bedroom.
Because of scientists contribution, education has reached the remotest corners of the world,
thereby reducing the gap between the rich and the poor. Scientists are working on fighting global
warming. They are working on space tourism and exploring other planets for evidence of life.
In conclusion, I believe that, no doubt, politicians are very important for people but the
contribution of scientists is much more. They have converted yesterdays fiction into todays
reality.
12
Nowadays more and more young people hold the important positions in the government. Some
people think that it is a good thingwhile others argue that it is not suitable. Discuss both these
views and give your opinion.?
Running a nation is an arduous task and in the present times more and more young people are holding
top positions in government offices. Some people opine that this situation is good where as others are
skeptical about it. In the following paragraphs, I intend to discuss both views followed by my opinion.
There are many advantages if young people hold the positions of power. To begin with, they are
enthusiastic and zealous. They have a great vision and the spirit to take the nation forward. They are not
confined to conventions and are willing to try new things. They are ready to face challenges. Secondly,
they are better physically which enables them to fulfill some tough jobs.
What is more, young leaders could be a source of inspiration for the youth to step forward and do
something for the benefit of the country. Finally, the young have a clean track record and the younger
leaders are less prone to corruption and similar asocial activities than the old ones whose aim is to be in
the seats of power somehow. Only youth has the innocence which can drive the motor of our country.
On the other hand, some argue that it is not proper to give the reins of the nation in raw hands. They feel
that the young are impatient and lack social experience. Any of their hasty decisions may have serious
consequences. They believe that the important posts should be in the hands of the more experienced
sexagenarians and octogenarians. What they fail to see is that an emerging nation may not be able to
cope with their conventional style of functioning.
In conclusion, I believe that, in the present scenario, it is better to let the emerging youth take the nation
forward by offering them important posts in the government.
13
Scientists say that junk food is harmful to peoples health. Some say the way to ask
people to eat less fast food is to educate them, while others say education does not work.
Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.?
It is irrefutable that junk food is harmful to peoples health. It contains a lot of fats and salts which
are detrimental to health. Therefore some people say that people should be educated and made
aware of its harmful effects. However, others opine that education does not help in making people
eat less junk food. In the following paragraphs I intend to discuss both issues and finally give my
opinion.
Some opine that educating people about the harmful effects of junk food can help in reducing its
use. The fact is that people dont actually know what goes in the making of fast food. Fast foods
are high in calories and low in nutrition. These foods are rich in harmful substances such as fat,
salt, and sugar. Preservatives are also added in junk food. All these things can cause heart
diseases, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Obesity is one of the major problems in the world today. It
is very important to reduce eating Junk foods for the healthy life. So, if people are warned about
their bad effects, they would eat less of it. This can be done with the help of media such as TV
which is ubiquitous nowadays.
On the other hand some believe that educating people wont help because junk food is very
cheap, tasty and readily available. After a hectic days work no one is in a mood to spend time in
the kitchen and so junk food is very convenient. It is also not very expensive and children love it.
What is more, fast food outlets spend a lot to lure people with their ads. What people dont realize
is that the celebs they use in these ads hardly ever eat such food themselves and if they do, then
they also spend hours working out in the gym every day.
After considering the convenience of fast foods, I believe that educating people would not help. It
would be better if these fast food outlets were educated about making fast food healthier. Strict
rules should be laid down against using trans-fatty acids and saturated fats. Whole wheat breads
could be used instead of white breads. Use of preservatives should be lessened and juices
should be served along with such foods instead of carbonated drinks.
In conclusion, I believe that, fast food is harmful but still people eat it. Therefore, educating
people would not help. Measures should be taken to improve the fast food. After all, all fast food
is not bad.
14
Some people think that robots are very important to humans future development, while
others think they are dangerous and have negative effects on society. Discuss both
views and give your opinion.?
Robots are artificially created intelligent electro-mechanical devices. They are designed by
human beings to assist in performing some activities that are considered tiresome and boring
and at times risky. Some individuals opine that these robots would be pivotal in the future
development of mankind. However, others are skeptical and fear that these robots will have
negative effects on society. In the following paragraphs, I intend to discuss both views.
To begin with, robots speed up the production process and are very good in repetitive tasks. For
example, it is a well known fact that the leading products made in the developed countries like
Japan are made by the help of intelligent machines or robots. What is more, robots can be
operated 24 hours per a day which can also raise the productivity of the companies. Secondly, in
the field of medicine, robots have been used to do complicated surgeries. For instance, in robotic
eye surgery there are no tremors in the hands of robots and therefore the scope of serious errors
is much reduced with the help of robots.
Robots can also work in extreme conditions where humans are helpless. For example, robots
helped a great deal in the rescue operations due to the tsunami and were used in nuclear
environments to close the reactors of Fukushima. Robots will change the way we live in many
ways by lifting more and more tasks off our shoulders. Robots can help us to do household duties
like cleaning our house or washing dishes. This way, we have more time to do useful work, or
spend the time with family or friends. Robot toys can play with children and help them in their
development. Home security can be done by a robot, which can keep his attention up constantly
and look out for unfamiliar situations like a fire or burglar.
However, there are some who think that robots may negatively affect peoples life and also be
extremely dangerous. There could be increase of unemployment in the future. It is expected that
robots could replace many people at their working place. One of evidence for this is that few
robots have already started to teach children at schools, others have been working as servants
for several families. And it is clear, that some employers will choose cheap robots instead of
humans, as they would work round the clock and also not take sick leave or coffee break.
In the near future, robots will join in our lives in various ways, and play a role of growing
importance. Robots will make our lives easier and increase our general living comfort. We have
created the robots and we should know where to draw the line in their use so that we get the best
out of them minus their disadvantages.
Now we'll move on to the influence of the internet.

Do you think people take notice of advertisements on the internet?
Despite the fact that there are many adverts on the internet these days, I think actually
many people tend to ignore them, or at least that is my experience. People usually go onto
the internet to find something specific that they are looking for, which may be a product, or
to read about something, so they will ignore what is not relevant to that. But of course
there is no doubt that some people take notice of them. Advertising on the internet is a
practice most companies partake in now, and they have to pay quite substantial sums to
advertise on highly ranked sites. Of course they would not do this if it were not attracting
customers for them.
How do you think it will change people's buying habits in the future?
Buying from the internet is becoming more and more popular. For example, weve seen
many book shops close down because people can buy online at cheaper prices from sites
such as Amazon. It makes life much easier if products can be delivered direct to our door,
especially with our busy modern lifestyles. I think this will only increase in the future as
more people feel safe to buy online and online shops make it easier to purchase this way.
Also, I think our lives are only going to become busier, so more people will choose to shop
this way.
Are there any disadvantages to shopping on the internet?
There certainly are some. Firstly, buying clothes can be a problem. When you go into a shop
you can check what you are buying fits you and suits you, but it is obviously not possible to
do this online. Shopping does not become less hassle if you have to send something back in
the post. Another problem is the security. We have to give out our bank details to people we
dont know. There have been several recent reports in the press about sites that have had
their security breached and credit card details have been stolen. So far this is fairly
uncommon, but it is a risk none the same. Another disadvantage is to society as it could
destroy local shops and businesses if people are not going out to shop in their local town.
sample
IELTS Speaking Test Part 3 Questions
What mode of travel do you prefer? Why?
Actually, I quite like most types of transport, so when I travel I enjoy going by plane or
train or even boat sometimes. It depends where Im travelling to. Generally, flying is the
easiest for longer distances, transatlantic for example, but within a country anything
from buses to cars to motorcycles are great for seeing different places and getting a
feel for a different country and its culture.
IELTS Speaking Test Part 2 Question Problematic Equipment

Describe a time when you had a problem with a piece of equipment (For example, a TV or a washing
machine)
You should say:
what equipment it was
what problem you had
when you had this problem
and explain what you did about this problem. (How you fixed or resolved the problem)
Example Answer
I remember once, a few years ago it was, when I had a problem with my washing
machine. It was quite an old machine but it had always worked very well and was
effective at washing clothes, sheets and such like.
IELTS Speaking Test August Questions & Answers about

Travelling
Do you think people like to travel far away from home? Why?
Yes, some people do, but not everyone does. Some people dont like travelling
outside their own country, or even their city. A lot of young people like travelling
to places far away because they see these places as being more exotic or exciting
because everything is different there.
IELTS part 3 discussion questions about education on TV and

academic research
(Sample questions from a recent IELTS interview in the USA)
Why are quiz programs popular these days on TV?

Maybe its because people are competitive. They like to participate and possibly
win the main prize which is usually quite a lot of money on the most popular quiz
shows.
They might also be popular because
IELTS speaking test Part 3 questions about memory

Do you think memory is important?
Yes, I do. If we couldnt remember certain things, life would be very awkward and
difficult. Our memories hold a lot of important information we use all the time,
every day, just to live.
Do you think it's important to have a good memory?
It can certainly help make things easier. If you can remember things easily and
not forget them it can be very beneficial. Activities such as studying and learning
seem much easier, for example, learning English is much easier if you can
remember all the vocabulary and grammar you learn and how to use it correctly,
and if you can recall things easily it can save you a lot of time instead of having to
look up information or ask someone else if they know.
Part 1 IELTS Speaking Test UK

What is your full name?
My name is Christina Antonescu
Can I see your ID?
Yes, here you are
Where are you from?
Im from Bucharest, in Romania
Do you work or study?
Im studying at the moment, here at the university.
What subject are you studying?
Im doing a masters degree in international business.
Do you really enjoy this course?
Yes, I really like it because its very interesting.
IELTS speaking questions young people's expenditure

How can (or, how do) young people learn to manage their
financial affairs?
Generally, I suppose they learn from their parents as the first
example. If their parents are very careful and manage their finances
well, then young people will probably adopt some of their parents
habits, if not all of them.

On the other hand, if parents are very free and easy with
their money and dont plan or save anything, its likely that their
children will have a similar attitude
IELTS Part 3 questions about credit cards

Are credit cards used very much in your country?
Yes, theyre common now; most people who are working have at least
one or two of them. People mainly use them in stores to pay for goods
and for online shopping, but thats not as popular here as in some
other countries.
Which is better for saving money, using a credit card or using

cash?
Its probably better to use a credit card than cash, but only if you pay
the outstanding balance each month and dont incur any interest on
what you spend. It used to be that many stores preferred cash and
would offer cash discounts but now thats not normal anymore. By
using a credit card you can find better prices by shopping online
sometimes, so if youre a smart shopper you can actually save
money.
Many credit cards also have rewards schemes where they give you
points for spending money. You can cash in or redeem these points
for special offers; thats another way you can save money. Some
credit card companies also advertise special promotional offers with
stores or companies they have alliances with yet another way to
save money by using a credit card. The important thing is to avoid
paying interest on what you buy with a credit card, because if you
have to pay interest, then it will probably be more expensive in the
long run than simply paying in cash.
What changes have resulted from the use of credit cards?

In general, it has made shopping and buying things easier than it was
in the past. Its also made it possible to buy things when you havent
actually got the money. Many people spend more than they should
because its so easy when you have a credit card. You cant do that
when you only use cash. You can only spend the cash you physically
have. Credit cards are also one of the key components of online
shopping, which would be almost impossible to do without one. So all
in all, credit cards have transformed the way people shop, buy things
and spend their money.
IELTS Canada speaking test Part 3 questions about saving

money
Do you think it's easy for (young) people to save money?
A lot depends on their circumstances; I mean if they arent working
and only receive money from their parents then it could be quite
difficult for them to save money. On the other hand, if a young person
has a part-time job, they might find it quite easy to save some money
each week or each month.
It also depends on their outlook, whether they plan for the future or
see everything in the short term. There are a lot of things young
people can spend their money on, but saving money is also important
to help purchase larger items or do things in the future. Parents can
also have a great influence over if their children develop a habit of
saving money regularly or not. Once a person has the habit, its quite
easy to do, even if its only saving a little money regularly rather than
spending it all.
Do young people nowadays believe in saving money?
In general, there is a lot of pressure for people, not just young people,
to spend all they have or earn and then some more. Thats why credit
cards are so popular and easy payment terms in stores.
Many companies want you to buy their products now, not six months
in the future when you have saved up enough money. Some young
people have seen the problems which people experienced because of
the financial recession in recent years, when many people had
borrowed more than they really should have and then found
themselves in an impossible situation trying to pay back too much
debt. I think many young people now are a lot wiser about how easy it
is to take on too much credit and not save any money for
emergencies or unforeseen circumstances.
I think most people believe that saving money is a good idea, but
actually developing the discipline to do it over a long period of time is
what most people find difficult to do.
In your opinion, why do many people derive pleasure from spending
money?
It makes us feel good when we can buy things, or maybe spend money
on our friends. When we buy something new, clothes or gadgets or
whatever, we usually feel happy with what weve bought for a short
time. Its a bit like eating your favorite food or something like that.
You feel good for a while, but then later you want to buy something
else because that happy feeling has disappeared.
What do young people in your country save money for?

Some of them save for going to college, buying a car or maybe going
traveling when they graduate from school. My sister has started
saving to buy an apartment, shes been doing it for 5 years now and
hopefully next year shell have enough to think about buying one.
Im saving for two things; for when I go to college and also for a
vacation when I graduate. I plan to travel with some of my friends for
six months so were all saving as much as we can at the moment.
Who do you think places more importance on saving money, men or
women?
Im not sure. I have friends who save money and friends who just
spend all their money. I dont think there are more men than women
who save or the other way round.
Maybe women are more impulsive when it comes to shopping and
spending money. But, for example, my girlfriends and I often spend
money on clothes but my brother always seems to be buying gadgets
and computer stuff. He might save money for a few months and then
spend it all, but I save some of money every month and never spend
it so we have different habits.
Its difficult to say if men or women think saving money is more
important.
Why do some people find it hard to save?
Well, first, you need to have some extra money. Its almost impossible
to save anything if you need to spend everything you have just to
cover the cost of living. So to be able to save, you need to have a little
extra, more than you need for the necessities of life.
Then you have to be disciplined and get into the habit of putting some
money away each week or month, either in a savings account in the
bank or even just keeping it safe at home. The other difficulty is that
we are constantly tempted to spend money on things we see in the
stores or on television so learning to control your buying impulses is
important too.
Some people just cant resist buying everything they see and want
and so end up with no savings. But if you get into the habit of regular
saving, then it becomes a habit for life something my grandmother
taught me.
Which do you think is better for the economy of a country or area,
people saving money or people spending money?
I suppose its a good thing for the local economy if people are
spending their money. It means that they are buying things and that
in turn means that people in stores and service companies have work.
The whole manufacturing and supply chain depends on consumers
consuming.
When people save their money, and dont spend it, then only the
banks win really. In an ideal economy, people would have enough
money to spend on buying products and services and also save
money. That would be the best scenario. Its important for people to
do both activities.
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IELTS speaking test Canada Part 2 question about saving

money to buy something special
Describe something (special) that you saved money to buy. You
should say:
what it was
how long it took you to save enough money to buy it
why you wanted to buy this thing
how you got (or, earned) the money
and explain how you felt when (or, after) you bought it.
sample answer
Ill tell you about my first car. I bought it when I was 17 years old so it
was very special for me because it changed my life. I became more
independent and went to all kinds of places I wouldnt have gone
without it.
I had decided to buy a car about six months before I actually bought
it. I wanted to have a car because where I was studying was quite far
away and getting the bus everyday was a bit of a hassle. At that time,
I was also working part-time in a local restaurant at nights and
sometimes we used to finish working quite late and getting a bus
home was a problem. Quite often one of the other workers had to
give me a lift or I had to take a taxi, which was expensive. So I
basically wanted to be more independent and not have to worry
about using public transport anymore.
Obviously, I couldnt afford a new car, but I started to save as much

money each week as I could. I even took on an extra part-time job at
the weekends which helped me to save even more money faster. I
stopped going out so much and was very careful with the money I
spent on other things while I was saving. After about six months, I
realized I had enough to think about buying a second hand or used
car. I spent some time looking through the local paper to see what
was available and went to a couple of local car dealers with a friend
to look at some cars for sale.
In the end, I finally bought a used car from a man who lived quite
close to me. It was an old car, but it was in good condition and he had
looked after it well. He had been the only owner of the car since it
was new, so that made me feel confident that it would be a good buy.
Not surprisingly, I was very excited after buying it and spent all my
spare time driving around visiting places or taking my friends out for
trips. It was great to be able to go anywhere, anytime without having
to worry about buses or taxis again. I kept that car for around two
years and it never gave me any problems. Eventually, I decided to
exchange it for a newer and better model once
I had saved up some more money, but Ill never forget my first car it
was a really important change in my life.
IELTS Speaking Test Part 2 | question about bad weather

and sample answer
Weather Related Questions | Part 2 of IELTS Speaking Test
Describe an experience you had with bad weather. You should say:
what sort of bad weather it was
when it happened
where you were when it happened
and explain how it affected you and what you did.
Have you told anybody else about this experience, such as your
classmates or friends?
IELTS part 2 weather question : sample answer

I remeber once, about 5 years ago, in our English school we
experienced something very strange. The weather had been very bad
all week, especially the heavy rain. It was at the end of the week, I
think it was maybe Thursday evening, while we were in English class
and a terrible storm was happening outside. There was thunder and
lightening and extremely heavy rain.
As we were sitting there in the class, some water started to drip
throught the ceiling into the classroom. At first it didn't seem very
serious and the teacher called for someone to come and clean it up
while we continued with the lesson. But within about 10 minutes we
had to evacuate the classroom because the slow drip started to
become much worse. We were standing outside in the corridor while
the teacher went to try and find an alternative classroom so we could
continue without any more problems, when we all heard a loud crash
from inside the classroom. When we looked inside we couldn't believe
our eyes - a large part of the ceiling had fallen into the classroom and there was debris everywhere.
When the teacher came back a few minutes later we told her what
had happened. She looked in the room and then started to laugh.
Then we all started laughing and saying how lucky we were to have
left the room before it happened. Then the manager of the school
appeared to see what was going on and when he saw the big hole in
the roof, he had a look of amazement on his face.
After a few minutes we relocated to another classroom and continued
our lesson, while some of the staff in the school tried to clear up some
of the mess and collect the water that was coming in through the big
hole in the roof. Luckily the next few days were dry, the storm had
passed, and the school had to close off that section so that they could
repair the roof outside. But we'll never forget what happened - we
could have been sitting there in the room when it happened if we
hadn't decided to try and find another room.
Of course, I had to tell my parents all about it and some of my other
friends too...they thought I was very lucky.
Part 3 IELTS speaking test discussion questions - cameras in

mobile phones, professional photographers, the media
Is it really necessary to have a camera in your mobile phone? Why?
Yes, I think it is nowadays. There are so many apps and platforms
where you can video chat with your friends and it's also really useful,
for example, if you have an accident in your car you can take photos
of the scene to show what happened. Because so many people are
using their smartphones to access the internet, having a camera as
part of your phone makes sense.
Is it a better idea to have a camera separately? Why?
No, I don't think so, unless you are a serious photographer. It's just
something else to carry around with you, and you can lose it or leave
it somewhere if you're not careful. It's much more convenient to have

a camera in your phone. If you do photography as a hobby then it
makes sense to have a professional camera because the quality is
better and you can do more things with it... but if you just want to
take photos of your friends and things that happen, then a camera
phone is normally good enough.
Is it better to look at your photos on screen or in albums in your view?
I think it's almost the same, if you want to show your friends who are
with you some photos you have to pass them the album or pass them
your phone so they can see the photos. The big advantage of a camera
phone is you can post your photos to your Facebook and Twitter
accounts and share them with everybody easily... they don't need to
be beside you to see your photos.
Is it really necessary to have professional photographers in the
media? Why?
Yes, because not everyone is very good at taking photos. Photography
is a skill and so a professional photographer will always be able to
take better or more interesting pictures than an amateur. And
professional photographers get paid to take photos of many different
things, not just their friends, family or places they visit. They
sometimes have to travel and research the things they photograph so
that's why they get paid.
Do you think that some pictures in the media are taken by amateurs?
It's possible, I suppose, if a person just happens to be in a certain
location when something happens then they may be the only person
who takes a photo of the event so the picture appears in the media.
We've seen examples of that when natural diasters happen or even
when a particular celebrity appears someplace and someone who is
not paparazzi or a professional photographer happens to take a photo
or make a short video of whatever or whoever it was.
IELTS UK speaking test Part 3 questions - conversations

with strangers and networking on Facebook and Twitter
What might be a reason for a person to start a conversation with a
stranger?
Well, I suppose one of the most common situations would be when
you might want to ask someone for directions or for help if you are
lost in a strange place. You could need to find out about something
and need to ask for information about a product or service and so
start a conversation with a customer service representative or
salesperson. And you might find yourself waiting or stuck in a place
with some other people unexpectedly and just start talking or
complaining about the situation, as a way of killing time until the
situation is resolved.
Do you like to start conversations with strangers? [Why/Why not?]
Personally, no, I generally dont mind if someone talks to me first, but
Im not the one who usually starts a conversation. Im quite shy and
reserved so I prefer to listen to music or read a book if I have to wait
somewhere. I only start conversations with other people if I find
myself in a situation as I metioned earlier and I need some
information or help.
How often do you do that?
I suppose it doesnt happen that often, maybe once or twice a month.
I remember the last time was a couple of weeks ago when I was going
for an interview for an internship and I got confused about the
address. I had to ask two different people to help me find the right
building where the interview was to be held, even though I managed
to find the correct street on my own.
What is the advantage of network communication, for example

through Facebook or Twitter?
The main advantage is probably the fact that you can talk and
communicate with people from all over the world. And its usually
instant or certainly easier than arranging to meet to have a chat.
There are no geographical boundaries so you can be in contact with
many more people than those you would normally come into contact
with personally in your everyday life. I regularly chat with people in
other countries and I know that Ill probably never meet them in
person, but its interesting all the same.
IELTS speaking test Part 3 questions and sample answers how children learn to help
Children Learning to Help
In what ways do parents want their children to help them (around the
home)?
I suppose it depends on how old the child is, I can think of a couple of
examples; traditionally parents might encourage their children to
help do some simple chores around the home such as helping to
prepare for meals. This might include helping with some simple food
preparation tasks or putting the plates, knives, forks and spoons and
other things on the table. Also, parents usually try and get their
children to tidy their rooms once they are old enough to manage it, or
they will teach younger children to at least put their toys away after
playing with them.
Do parents in your country expect their adult children to give them

help?
When the children are grown up it depends a lot on how close the
family is and where the children live. Adult children who still live at
home are expected to help out with certain things at home. It might
be cooking, cleaning, washing or anything else that needs done. Or if
the family have animals, the children may take over looking after
them rather than leave it for their parents to do. Another example,
and I have a friend who does this, is helping with younger siblings, she
helps look after her little brother who is still a small child. She does
lots of things with him like collecting him from school and helping
him with his homework.
In general, who do you think is more willing to help with the
housework, boys or girls?
In my country its more traditional that girls help with it than boys.
Boys arent really encouraged much to help with such things,
although some do it. I think if there are maybe physically demanding
tasks to do then boys are usually more willing to get involved, they
seem to like that sort of thing better than girls.
In general, who do you think is more willing to help others, boys or
girls?
Generally, girls like helping others more. They seem to have a natural
instinct for it whereas boys are more competitive, so helping
someone else isnt always their first choice, but it depends on who the
other person is. Theres a big difference between helping a family
member, helping a friend at college or university and helping
someone you hardly know. I think boys are more likely to help their
brothers, sisters and friends than other people they maybe dont
know so well.
Do you think children naturally want to help others, (or do they need
to be taught this)?
No, I dont think its anything natural - its something we are taught is
a good thing to do. If you watch two young children playing, they will
often be very competitive and even fight over certain toys. Its the
parents or teachers who teach children that its better to share things
and help each other. Eventually it becomes a natural instinct as an
adult to help someone if we can see that they are having difficulty.
How can parents teach their children to help others?
Like most things, children learn by example so if parents make sure
that their children see them helping other people, their children
should learn that it is normal and expected of them as they grow up.
How can parents teach their children the value of helping others?
There are many childrens stories about helping, sometimes its
friends helping each other, sometimes its animals, like in many
Disney movies. It can be difficult for parents to try and explain why
people help each other to a young child, but through stories and
movies children can see quite quickly the advantages of having
friends, helping people and many other aspects of life. Parents should
show their children that helping is a good thing in as many ways as
possible, through their own actions, through stories and other
examples.
Do you think children can learn about helping from other children?
Yes, its possible, for example, if a child receives some help from
another child and they feel good about getting that help because it
enables them to do something they were having difficulty with,
maybe they will want to try and help another child themselves in a
similar way. Helping people makes the person giving the help and the
person receiving the help feel good so when a child experiences that
it should reinforce the idea that helping in general is a good thing to
do.
IELTS Part 3 speaking questions: Doing things together as a

family
Part 3 questions | Doing Things Together as a Family
How often are you together with other members of your family?
Almost every day, I usually eat breakfast with my mother and
sometimes my father is there if he hasnt already left for work. Then
in the evening we usually eat dinner together and that would include
my sister and brother as well as my parents so we are together at
least once every day normally.
When do you get together with other members of your family?
More often than not its at meal times, usually in the evening when
we eat dinner. At weekends we may spend more time together as we
usually have lunch and dinner together if we arent out somewhere.
What sorts of things do the people in your family do together?
We eat together as a family and I like to go shopping with my sister.
My parents do lots of things together, they go out dancing, they take
vacations together without us sometimes but usually once a year we
all get together as a family and go on vacation for a week.
In your country, what sorts of things do people do together as a
family?
Generally, people spend time together at weekends. Lunchtime is an
important event for many families as it may be the only time that
grown up children visit or extended family members come together to
share some time in the family house. Family get-togethers usually
revolve around food, lunch or dinner, and of course then there are
special occasions such as birthdays and when someone graduates
from university. Just last week we had a family get together to
celebrate the birth of the familys first grandchild. My older sisters

first baby, it was a wonderful day.
What do you think are the benefits of doing things together such as
walking in the street together as a family?
Firstly, I think its nice to do things together as a family, even just
walking along together, it helps keep the family together just like any
relationship when you share experiences and memories. Sometimes
the simple activities like walking or going shopping together can be
fun and relaxing and it also gives families a chance to talk or discuss
things between them.
Do people do things together as a family when you have festivals in
your country?
Yes, normally if its a religious festival or special day then parents
wont be working so they spend their time with their children if
theyre young ones. They might go to church or an event related to
the festival or they may plan to take them out someplace special or
do some kind of activity together to take advantage of the extra free
time together. Even when children have grown up theyll usually
visit and spend time with their parents if they can to celebrate the
day if its a special day or an important holiday.
Do people do things together as a family when you have holidays in
your country?
Yes, generally, families will plan to spend some time together. Maybe
its not always possible to travel to visit if children are grown up and
living in another part of the country but especially if the holiday falls
on a Monday, the long weekend makes it easier to plan a trip to visit
other family members. They might plan a special day out or simply
plan to spend the day with their family at home.
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Describe something you own which is very important to you

where you got it from

How long you have had it

what you use it for

You should say:

Where the river/sea is?

What activities you do there?

Who accompany you there?

What are the importances of rivers in your country?

Tips for answering this cue card question:

Describe a lake, a river or a sea you have visited.

Explain why you like this particular place.

Sample Answer using a Mind Map - A Lake You've Visited

IELTS Speaking part 3: rivers, lakes, sea

1. What do you think are the functions of rivers nowadays?

1. Which part of your country do most people live in?

How do you think people will become famous in the future?

PART 1: Your country

Tell me about the main industries there

How easy is it to travel around your country?

Has your country changed much since you were a child?

PART 2: Describe a well-known person you like or admire

who are dogs and cats big fan.

- Do you prefer relaxing at home or going out in evening? When

Describe one of friends.

friendship. (alternatives / example?) I think I would struggle to become friends with

What do you think are the most important qualities for

people. Neighborship is not warm and tight as it was in around 10

PART 3 SPEAKING IELTS 5, page 77.

What other types of relationship, apart from friends or

2. What different clothes do you wear for different situations?

What do you think the clothes we wear say about us?

How do people in your country feel about genetic research?

Should this research be funded by governments or private companies? Why?

Speaking IELTS 6 TEST 2, page 54

makes them develop their brains.

What kind of choices do people have to make in their everyday life?

How do you usually contact your friends?[Why?]

Sometimes I use instantmessengerbecause it allows me to see when my friends are

Cambridge IELTS 7 Practice Tests | Speaking Test 2 Sample

IELTS Speaking Test Part 3 | Discussion topics

differently are premium skills in the employment market nowadays so its

Ideas in the workplace

when they were first introduced.

IELTS Speaking Test Part 2

Do you think it is a good thing to give prizes to children who

what the questionnaire or survey was about

why you were asked to give your opinions

reading newspapers andmagazines

Cambridge IELTS 8 speaking sample answers part 1

Have you ever read a newspaper or magazine in a foreign language?

Do you think reading a newspaper or magazine in a foreign language

- Where the restaurant was

- Why you chose this restaurant

- What type of food you ate in this restaurant

and explain why you enjoyed eating in this restaurant.

IELTS speaking test | Part 2 sample answer

breathtaking in fact. Maybe thats why so many people are enthusiastic

Which are more popular in your country: fast food restaurants or

I remember a meeting I attended about 3 months in particular, because it was a very

Talk about your favourite TV channel