Speaking Practice Questions and Answers

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Sample IELTS Speaking Topics

Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking Module consists of personal questions about you, your family, your work, your education or other familiar topics. A categorized list of such topics and questions is given below. You can use these sample questions to rehearse for this part of the oral interview. Make sure you can speak correctly, clearly, and with ease and confidence in response to each question. Remember to make your answer interesting by providing more than the most basic information. Some of these sample questions are highly likely to appear on your exam, so review them well. YOU Describe yourself. FAMILY

o Describe your family? o Do you have a large or small family? o How much time do you spend with your family? o What do you like to do together as a family? o Do you get along well with your family? o Are people in your country generally close to their families?

WORK o What do you do? o What are your responsibilities? o How many hours do you work each day? o Do you enjoy your work? o Is there some other kind of work you would rather do? o If you could change your job or profession, what would you do? o Describe the process of getting a job in your country. o Describe the company or organization you work for. o What is your position? o What do you like about your job? o What do you dislike about your job?

EDUCATION o Describe your education. o What kind of school did you go to as a child? o Did you go to a co-educational school? o What was your favourite subject as a child? o Who was your favourite teacher? o What is the education system like in your country? o Do you think your country has an effective education system? o

STUDIES o What are you studying now? o What is your area of specialization?

HOMETOWN o Describe your hometown. o What’s special about it? o Where is your hometown located? o Is it easy to travel around your hometown? o What is it known for? o What do people in your town do?

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o What are the main industries in your hometown? o What problems face your hometown? o What languages are spoken in your hometown? o What are the advantages of living in your hometown? o What are some problems faced by your hometown? o Compare your hometown with another city. o What are some environmental problems faced by your hometown?

WEATHER o What’s the weather like in your country? o Does the weather affect your mood? o How do rainy days make you feel? o What’s your favourite season of the year? o What do you like to do when it’s hot? o What do you usually do in the winter? o How many seasons does your country have?

HOME o Describe your home. o What kind of building do you live in? o How long have you lived there?

WEDDING o Have you ever been to a wedding? o Whose wedding was it? o Where was it held? o What clothes do people wear? o Describe the wedding ceremony. o What sort if gifts do people buy for the bridal couple? o What kind of clothes did the bride and groom wear?

TRAVEL o Do you like to travel? o What kind of places have you visited in your life? o Which place would you really like to visit? Why? o What’s the best place you’ve ever visited?

COMPUTERS o Do you think computers help society? o Do you think computers are bad for health? o How do you think computers have changed the world?

INTERNET o Do you use the Internet much during the day? o What do you usually do on the Internet? o What are some advantages of the Internet? o What are some disadvantages? o Do people in your country use the Internet a lot? o Do you do any shopping on the Internet?

EMAIL o Do you send and receive email regularly? o Who do you usually communicate with? o How often do you check your email? o Do you think writing email has strengthened or weakened people’s

writing skills? o What are some disadvantages of email?

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FRIEND o Describe a friend. o How long have you known each other? o What do usually do together? o What do you like the most about him / her? o How often do you see each other?

PLACE o Describe a place you like to go. o Why is this place special to you? o When did you first visit this place? o Where is this place located? o What language is spoken here? Do you speak this language?

SMOKING o What do you feel about smoking in public places? o Do you think smoking should be banned in people’s homes?

MARRIAGE o What is the attitude toward marriage in your country? o Do most young people plan on getting married in your country? o What are some of the advantages of marriage? o What are some of the disadvantages? o Is the divorce rate high in your country? o Do you think people should be allowed to get divorced?

HOBBIES o Do you have any hobbies? o What are some of your hobbies? o When did you first develop tis hobby? o What are some of the advantages of having a hobby? o How much time do you spend on your hobby?

FILMS o Do you enjoy watching movies? o What’s your favourite film? o Who are your favourite actors? o How often do you watch films?

SHOPPING o Do you enjoy shopping? o How do you feel about shopping? o Do you like shopping on the Internet? o Do you have any favourite stores? o What don’t you like about shopping? o Which is the most popular place to shop in your hometown?

SPORTS o Do you like sports? o Do you enjoy watching sports? o Do you enjoy participating in any sports? o Which sports are most popular in your country? o What’s your favourite sport/ o When did you first become interested in sports? o How often do you participate in sports? o What equipment do you need for your favourite sport?

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FOOD o What are some of your favourite foods? o What foods are popular in your country? o What are some of the famous dishes of your country? o Do you enjoy cooking?

FESTIVAL o What’s the most important festival in your country? o How do people celebrate this festival? o What special food is associated with this festival? o What special activities are associated with this festival? o What do you enjoy most about this festival? o Do you think festivals are important for a society?

TELEVISION o Do you watch television a lot? o What do you usually watch on television? o How many hours of television do you usually watch? o What are the most popular shows in your country? o What kind of shows do you like to watch? o What are some advantages of television? o What are some of the disadvantages of television? o What did you last watch on television? o Why do you think certain TV shows are so popular?

TOURISM o Which places would you recommend to a visitor to your country? o Do a lot of tourists visit your country? o What do they usually do there? o How has tourism changed your country? o Is your country expensive for most tourists? o What are some famous landmarks in your country?

DAILY ROUTINE o Describe your daily routine. o What do you usually do? o What do you do on the weekend? o What is you typical weekday like? o Does your life change much from week to week? o Do you have any free time during the week?

YOUR COUNTRY o Which country are you from? o Where is this country located? o Which part of the country do most people live in? o What are the main industries in your country? o Is it easy to travel around your country?

CLOTHES o What type of clothes do you like to wear? o What kind of clothes do people in your country usually wear? o How important is fashion to you? o What kind of clothes do you dislike? o Do you think people behave differently in different kinds of clothes? o What kind of clothes do people wear to work in your country? o Are clothes expensive in your country?

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GOING OUT o Do you like going out or staying at home? o What do you like to do when you go out? o How often do you go out? o Do people in your country go our a lot? o How and where do people in your country usually socialize? o What kind of entertainment is popular in your country?

GAMES o Do you enjoy playing any games? o What kind of games do you play? o Do you think adults should play games? o What do children learn from games? o What kind of games did you play when you were a child? o What games are popular in your country today? o What kinds of games were popular when you were young? o Do you think mental games like chess are good for you?

COLOURS o Do you have a favourite colour? o What are your country’s colours? o Do you think colours affect our moods? o Can you learn anything about a person from the colours he / she likes? o Do you like the same colours now as you did when you were a child?

MUSIC o Do you like music? o What kind of music do you like? o When do you usually listen to music? o What kind of music did you like when you were younger? o What kind of music is popular in your country? o Do you play any musical instruments? o Do you wish you could play any musical instruments? o Which is your favourite instrument?

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IELTS Speaking Module - Part 2 - Sample Topics

In Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking Module, you need to give a short talk, of about 1-2 minutes, on a simple topic. The questions do not require any specific knowledge, but are based on personal experience. You are handed a card with the topic and you have one minute to prepare your talk. You can make notes and use these notes during your monologue. The examiner will not ask you any questions during this part of the test, so you must know how to answer all parts of the question you are given and speak fluently for a few minutes by yourself. Sample IELTS Speaking Module topics (for Part 2) are given below. It is quite likely that you will be given one of these topics or something very similar, so make sure you can speak confidently and clearly on each one. 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 explain why you admire them

Describe a subject you enjoyed studying at school. You should say:

• When and where you started studying it • What lessons were like • What made the subject different from other subjects • And explain why you enjoyed the subject

Describe an important choice you had to make in your life. You should say:

• When you had this choice • What you had to choose between • Whether you made a good choice • And explain how you felt when you were making this choice

Describe a job you have done. You should say:

• How you got doing the job • What the job involved • How long the job lasted • Describe how well you did the job

Describe an area of countryside you know and like. You should say:

• Where it is • What its special features are • What you and other people do in this area • And explain why you like it

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Describe an object you particularly like. You should say:

• What it is and what it looks like • What it is made of • What it is for • And explain why it is special for you

Describe a newspaper or magazine you enjoy reading. You should say:

• What kind of newspaper / magazine it is • Which parts of it you read regularly • When and where you read it • Explain why you enjoy reading it

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

Describe a game or sport you enjoy playing. You should say:

• What kind of sport it is • Who you play it with • Where you play it • And explain why you enjoy playing it

Describe someone in your family who you like. You should say:

• How this person is related to you • What this person looks like • What kind of person he/she is • And explain why you like this person

Describe a museum or art gallery that you have visited. You should say:

• Where it is • Why you went there • What you particularly remember about the place.

Describe an enjoyable event that you experienced when you were at school. You should say:

• When it happened • What was good about it • Why you particularly remember this event.

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Describe a song or piece of music you like. You should say:

• What the song or music is • What kind of song or music it is • Where you first heard it • And explain why you like it

Describe a festival that is important in your country. You should say:

• When the festival occurs • What you did during it • What you like or dislike about it • And explain why this festival is important

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IELTS Speaking Samples The following IELTS speaking samples will give you an idea of how to get a high score on Part 2 of your IELTS speaking test. This part of the test is also known as the long turn. This is where you need to speak by yourself for 1-2 minutes on a given topic. Make sure you cover all the points mentioned on the card you are given. In addition, you should develop the topic into a well-structured answer. Please look over our list of free IELTS speaking topics for parts 1 and 2. Then, familiarize yourself with the type of topics, and practice as many of them as you can. This way you will be more comfortable, relaxed and confident on the day of the exam. Sample IELTS Speaking Topic 1: Describe a game or sport you enjoy playing. You should say:

o What kind of sport it is o Who you play it with o Where you play it o and explain why you enjoy playing it

Sample IELTS Speaking Response: I enjoy playing various kinds of brain games online. There are a number of different websites I visit on a regular basis in order to play these games by myself. The objective of the games is to exercise different areas of your brain so that you preserve and enhance your memory and also expand and develop your brain capacity. The games are of various kinds. Some enable you to practice your verbal skills. Others test logical reasoning, spatial skills and visual memory. I can keep track of my scores, so that each time I play, my goal is to do better than in the past – to outdo myself, so to speak. In addition, if I want, I can compare my scores to others who play online. This aspect is intriguing, but frankly it doesn't interest me much. I don&'t regard this as a competition with anyone else. It is something I do simply to sharpen my mental abilities and improve myself. In fact, one of my favorite games is supposed to be the best for brain fitness. It involves solving a number of simple math problems using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division as quickly as possible. I really hope these games will enable me to preserve my intellect and my memory into old age. Sample IELTS Speaking Topic 2: Describe someone in your family who you like. You should say:

o How this person is related to you o What this person looks like o What kind of person he/she is o and explain why you like this person

Sample IELTS Speaking Response: The person in my family I really like and also love is my mother. She is a very special person and I cannot imagine what I would be without her. Physically, my mother is petite. She is only about 5 feet tall, and weighs about 110 pounds. She has fine, black hair and a fair complexion. One thing people often notice is that my mother always takes pride in her appearance. Even now, at the age of 80,

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my mother is a well dressed, well-groomed and elegant woman, with her fine choice of clothes and matching accessories, jewelry and shoes. Intellectually, my mother always loves learning. Even after her busy day, she won't go to bed without reading the newspaper. She was one of the few members of her family that completed university. She also has many creative and cultural interests such as literature, music and dance. Through her own enjoyment, she passed on this love of culture to all her children, including me. Emotionally, my mother has a heart of gold. All her life, she has been ready, willing and able to help anyone who needs anything, with a smile on her face. She is of the old school - she remembers to wish friends and relatives on their birthdays and anniversaries, she attends their weddings, dinners and parties, and she visits them when they're hurt, unwell or in mourning. In fact, my mother has always been a kind soul and people of all ages love her as soon as they meet her. I think this is because she is good-hearted from her core, and her authenticity is what everyone relates to. She has taught me the meaning of being compassionate, loving, kind, helpful, and supportive and so much more. In fact, thanks to the unconditional love of both my wonderful parents, I feel I've been truly blessed in this lifetime.

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IELTS Speaking: Sample Answer to Spoken Topics

Special gift Describe the best present/gift you have received:

1. Who send it? What is the gift? What is it for? 2. When did you receive it? 3. Detail information about the present.

Last year, my wife celebrated my birthday at home. She bought a electronic dictionary as birthday gift. I like the electronic dictionary very much. It's blue and quite small. It fits into my pocket. I remember at that time, my wife said to me :"she decided to immigrate to Canada with me. In future, we must study very hard .And she hoped that the electronic dictionary could help me to improve my English." On that day, I was very happy because my wife agreed to immigrate to Canada finally. Also, with the help of the electronic dictionary, I made such rapid progress that before long I began to write articles in English. 1) In China, when will people send the present? Oh, attend the party, such as Wedding Party, Birthday Party. During Spring Festival, people give presents each other, including clothes, books, flowers and foods. 2) Compare the gift which people have received 10 years ago to the present that people now are receiving, what's the difference between them? ( try to compare the gift you received in your teenage with the gift children received now ) Oh, I think the gift was monotonic before. For example, I often received a notebook as gift. But now, there are various gifts to choose from. Such as flowers, wine, food, clothes etc. 3) Just image the gift in the future children will receive. In the future, I think more and more children will receive intellectual gifts, such as electronic dictionary, notebook computer and so on. 4) Just image the gift in the future people will receive. In the future, oh, in most case, people will give flowers each other. I think flowers will be the most popular present.

Building 1. What is the interesting building in your country? 2. What is it located? 3. What is it used for? 4. Explain why you think it is the most interesting?

I think the interesting building is the Great Wall. It runs across north China like a huge dragon. It was used to enemies. Soldiers used to keep watch on the Great Wall. When the enemy came , fires were lit to warn other soldiers. I think the Great Wall is the most interesting building. Because it is one of the wonders of the world and it was one of the few man-made objects on earth that could be seen by the astronauts who landed on the moon. Also, the Great Wall has become a symbol of both China's proud

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history and its present strength. 1) Are there some old buildings in your hometown? Where and Describe it? Wenfeng Tower, built in 1420, is located in the southern of Anyang City. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, people came to the tower to worship the God of Heaven and pray for a good harvest. Nowadays, it serves as a museum of history. Murals of Wenfeng Tower give visitors a feel for the great artistic achievements of ancient Chinese civilization. In a word, I think the Wenfeng Tower is the most interesting building, and it is the oldest building in my hometown. 2) Compare the differences between the constructions in your city with them in 20 years ago? Describe the building styles in detail? The traditional buildings are made of the red brick and always have curved eaves. Thousands of buildings look the same. But now, various buildings with different colors and styles have been going up in my hometown. In addition, room is equipped with kitchen and bathroom. This is very convenient. 3) What are people's attitudes to old building today and that of our later generation? Should we protect them? Why? People, including our later generation, advocate that government should protect old buildings .Because old buildings represent the great artistic achievements of ancient Chinese civilization. 4) What role do you think the old and modern buildings play in the society? Oh, modern buildings are for us to live and work, while old buildings are for us to visit and research. 5) Compare the differences between house and apartment? In China, there is a big yard beside house, where we can plant some flowers and trees etc. But house is more expensive. Apartment is convenient and cheap but small.

Friend 1. Who is your best friend? 2. How did you meet? 3. What do you do with your friend?

Tell me the way you make friends with others and youu think what people should be your friends? My best friend is xxx. We were in the same class for 5 years. At that time, we often gather together to study and play. Now, we work in the same company. Friendship is extremely important to me. It’s like being brothers or sisters, but even more than that. I mean, I would do nearly anything for my friend, and I would expect that he would do the same for me. If he didn't help me when I was in need, then I would not consider him a good friend. I have a lot of different kinds of friends. Some are loud, others are shy. I prefer having a real variety of friends. 1) Do you think it is easy to make friends in China? Yes, of course. Nowadays, transportation and communication are easy and convenient. We have more opportunities to meet all kinds of people and make friends

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with them. 2) what do you think the difference between adults and children making friend? The difference is attitude or mindset between adults and children making friend. In general, children like to make friend with good students because they can help each other in studying. But adults make friends with anyone they like. 3) How do children make friend? Children to children. 4) What is the most important thing in friendship? Trust. 5) What is the second important thing in friendship? Helping each other. 6) What makes friendship break up? Misunderstanding. For example, when I studied in Chongqing University, one day, my roommate lost his watch. He thought I had taken it. At that moment, I was very angry but I said nothing, and then I helped him to look for the watch. Finally, we found it in his pocket. My roommate apologized to me. I forgave him his rudeness. So, I think trust is the most important thing between friends.

Festival There are many festivals in China, such as Spring Festival, National Day and Yuan Xiao Festival etc. The Spring Festival is the biggest festival in China. I suppose it's somewhat like Christmas is in western countries. Spring Festival is the only time when all families gather together and stores and business are closed for several days. During the Spring Festival, we eat delicious food, visit relatives and friends, and watch TV to welcome the New Year. I also like to try and contact some friends before and see how they’re doing and what they’ re up to. We give each other presents for the New Year.

Travel Describe your latest interesting travel in detail.

1. When and where you go? 2. Whom you go with? 3. What things you do?

Last year, I went to Shilin with my wife. Shilin, is located about 80 kilometers from Kunming. Kunming is the capital city of Yunnan Province .It took us 3 days to get Shilin. Shilin is famous for its large areas of stone forests. All stones in Shilin are vividly shaped, resembling various figures. Some stones look like a monkey, and some stones look like a bird. In a word, the stones are fantastic. In addition, I met a classmate of Chongqing University in Shilin. We talked about the things and persons which we remembered in school. I think that is an interesting trip.

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1) Describe some interesting things happened during your travel. Can u describe it for me? Ok. I met a classmate of Chongqing University .We talked about the things and persons which we remembered in school. I think that is an interesting thing. 2) What is your goal to travel and your reason to travel is I enjoy traveling. It is so interesting to see how other people live, and it is really an amazing way to learn about different cultures. 3) Describe the advantage and disadvantage of travel for the country Tourism is a useful source of foreign currency for the country, but sometimes so me visitors destroy cultural heritage. 4) Why China can attract people to travel? A 5,000--year cultural heritage attract more people to China. 5) Do Chinese people like to travel now? Yes, of course. Since the opening-up, transportation is easy and convenient. Also, we have ample money for the journey. 6) Which festival do people travel in and where do people travel to? We often go to resorts around National Day, such as Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and Temple of Heaven in Beijing. 7) Compare the difference about traveling among Chinese people between 100 years ago and now? 100 years ago, transportation was very difficult; few people could travel in China because most of people were very poor. But now, transportation is easy and convenient and we have ample money for the journey.

Natural scenery 1. What is the most beautiful natural scenery you have ever seen? 2. What is the specific point? 3. Where did you see it? 4. Who did you go with?

Last year, I went to Shilin with my wife. Shilin, located about 80 kilometers from Kunming. Kunming is the capital city of Yunnan Province. It took us 3 days to get there. Shilin is famous for its large areas of stone forests. All stones in Shilin are vividly shaped, resembling various figures. Some stones look like a monkey, and some stones look like a bird. In a word, the stones are fantastic. Also, there is a lake in Shilin. Surrounded by green mountains and forests, the lake is not destroyed by any pollution. Travelers can row a boat on the lake or stroll on the shores to enjoy its special quiet beauty. 1) What measures does your government take to protect natural scenery? The government establishes protective zones of natural scenery. Educate people to protect natural environment. People who destroy natural scenery will be punished.

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2) Do you think it is effective? Yes, of course. Establish protective zones can prevent pollution. 3) What role does tourism play in your country's economy? Tourism is playing a more and more important role in our country's economy. Since the opening up, the number of tourists has increased quickly, and this is a useful source of foreign currency for the country. (159 Also, tourism can accelerate other industry to develop.) 4) What should you pay attention to in travel? Safety, weather, and I think it is necessary to bring some medicine.

Transportation Give me some opinion on the transportation in your city? In my opinion, one of the biggest problems of transportation is traffic jams in Anyang city. It has become common to see passengers and drivers having to wait in long lines of buses and cars moving at a snail's pace on the streets during the rush hours. There are several reasons for this problem. First, the number of vehicles is increasing much more rapidly than the building of roads. Second, there seem to be too many private cars and not enough public buses. Third, many people, including drivers, pedestrians and cyclists do not obey traffic rules properly, especially at busy intersections. In my opinion, one of the biggest problems of transportation is traffic jams in Anyang city. In view of the seriousness of this problem, effective measures must be taken before things get worse. On the one hand, the government should invest more money in the building of new roads and the repairing and maintenance of old ones, particularly those in busy areas of the cities. On the other hand, the number of private cars in urban areas should be limited while the number of public buses should be increased. At the same time, it is essential that stricter traffic rules and regulations be issued to strengthen traffic control. 1) Compare the different transportation, such as between plane, train and car. Drive car to travel is convenient because we can set out at any time. But it is too slow and it may spend us much more time. Plane ticket is more expensive. So, I think train is the best transportation for me. 2) Can you just image the transportation in the future and describe it for me? In the future, the speed of car, train and plane will be faster. And, the transportation will be easier and convenient. 3) Just compare the transportation in the past and now? What transportation do you like and why? Nowadays, we have more choice on the transportation than the past. Such as tube, plane etc, even though in the small city. I like tube, because tube is safety and tube ticket is cheap.

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Music What role do you think music plays in our life? Just as other kinds of art, music has become an indispensable part of human culture. It brings us with nutritious spiritual foods, enriches our leisure life .In addition, music can do good to us very much. It can elicit the imagination of us. And, it teaches us how to distinguish beauty from nature. Listening to the music, I am sure you will soon be refreshed from a day's hard work and relax. 1) Can you tell me the western music's impact on the world music? Oh, it is a difficult question, the western music is definitely great, and it plays an important role on the world music. Many musical talents and eminent musicians have been trained in western country, such as Beethoven, Mozart and so on. 2) Do you think it's necessary to open a music course in high school? Yes, of course. There is usually 1 or 2 hours each week used for teaching music. I think there should be more, such as at least 3 or more. 3) What effects will take place u think to let children (students) study an instrument? Music can do good to children (students) very much. It can elicit the imagination of children (students). Also, it teaches them how to distinguish beauty from nature. 4) It’s often more easy for children to learn music than adults. Can you tell me why? Oh, that’s because it’s important to have soft fingers and palm to learn a music mechanism, such as guitar. Children have more flexible fingers and they are more likely to find the correct feeling. 5) Do u like music or not? Why? I like music. I like singing, especially in front of many people. I often sing for my friends. When they praise me, I feel happy. Also, listening to the music, I am sure you will soon be refreshed from a day's hard work and relax. 6) Describe the music you like most and tell me why? I like classic music. It usually has a slow rhythm and a pleasant melody. Listening to the music; I can soon be refreshed from a day's hard work and relax. 7) What are the differences in music between China and western countries? Oh, it is a big question; in general, the symphony of western countries is long while most of Chinese music is small piece.

Clothes What clothes do you like? Clothes aren't only used to keep us warm. It has become a important part of modern civilization. Different nations have different styles clothes. And different styles clothes represent different cultures. All people want their life to be filled with variety, color and comfort by wearing clothes. We will have a good mood when we wear beautiful clothes. I like leisure clothes very much. Because it is not only cheap but also convenient to wear. (In addition, the material of leisure clothes is more

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environmentally friendly.) But I must wear work clothes when we are working. Otherwise, I will be fined. 1) What's the prescript on clothes when you are working? and just the prescript on clothes in school. We must wear work clothes ( a school uniform ) when we are working (in school). Otherwise, we will be fined.. 2) The different between the older and younger people on clothes. The older people think a lot of style and material. But the youger people would like to follow the fashion. Personality is the first consideration when younger people choose clothes. 3) Compare the differences between the clothes in ur city with them in 20 years ago. In the past, the colors and styles of clothes were very monotonic. Thousands of people look the same .But now, we can wear clothes with different colors and styles.

Think of a person in your family that is the most similar to you 1. Who is this person? 2. How is he/she similar to you? 3. What kind of family is yours? Is it of a typical family structure in China?

My family is a typical family in China. There are grandparents, parents, a brother, my wife and I in my family. I look just like my father. Medium build, pointed nose and dense black hair. My father is very kind and easy going. His love is the most selfless love. I am luck enough because I have a good father. My father has been specially thirsty for knowledge as he had only a few years of schooling himself. He believe that knowledge can change fate. So, my father offer more opportunity for me to study (no matter how poor my family was) To sum up, my family is harmony and our life is very happy. 1) What do you think are the differences between families in and past and today, and what have caused these changes? In the past, there were several children in a family. But now, government has is sued "one - child policy" to limit the size of the family. So, there is only one child in a family. Couples will be punished financially if they have more than one child. This is "one - child policy". 2) What is your opinion of "one--child policy"? I agree with one--child policy. Because it is difficult to provide enough food and education for a large number of people. So, government must control the population. Also, it is the best way that we can find to control population. 3) What has your government done to support families? Such as Project Hope . It means that government supports the students in poor families to continue their schooling and improving their education conditions. In addition, our government establishs beadhouse to provide services for old people who have more difficulties or no families to take care of them.

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Describe a teacher who has greatly influenced you in your education 1. Where you met them? 2. What subject they taught? 3. What was special about them and explain why this person influenced you so

much. I think my first English teacher has greatly influenced me in my education. I had some trouble in studying English when I studied in middle school. I felt English was very difficult,so I did't like to study it .One day, my English teacher spoke to me about the study of foreign languages . He said :" You must do a lotof reading , listening and speaking. Never mind, keep on trying, I believe you are a good student." In the years that followed, I studied hard and made greater progress. My English teacher loved his job and he was knowledgeable in his field. I love and respect him. 1) Compare the differences between education in ur city with them in 20 years ago? In the past, many children can't go to school, and educational conditions were very poor. But now, government provide 9 years compulsory education. Each child who is 7 years old must go to school. And government provide much better facilities and staff. Also, schoolyards are beautiful than before. 2) Compare the differences between university and middle school. We study basic knowledge in the middle school. But the course of university is practical and special, such as computer and business courses. 3) Compare the differences between students now and past. At present, it is difficult for student to find job. So, their pressure is he avier than before.

Sports & Hobby Describe an interest or hobby that you particularly enjoy:

1. What this interest or hobby is? 2. How long have you been doing it? 3. What effect has it brought to your life?

What do you think about the balance between the work and the leisure? I am a big table tennis fan, even though I am not very good at playing table ten nis myself. I love to watch the game on TV. I have played table tennis whenever I get a chance since I studied in the middle school. Playing table tennis not only refreshes my body and makes me mentally alert ,and ready and eager to engage in the work of the day. In addition, a reasonable amount of exercise prepares the bo dy for a good night's sleep. However, over-indulgence in physical exercise can do more harm than good. Because it will make you too tired to stay awake during the work. 1) Is it dangerous for people to spend too much time on hobby? Yes, over-indulgence in physical exercise can do more harm than good. I have noticed that some of my friends spend too much time on sports make themselves too tired to stay awake during the work.

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2) Do you think hobby is beneficial to social life? Yes, of course. I make many friends during playing table tennis. So, I think that hobby is beneficial the social life. 3) Why do people like to watch games? Oh, it is a interesting question. Watching games can enrich our leisure life. Also, it is very exciting to watch a close game. 4) What are advantages and disadvantages for watching games? Watching games can enrich our leisure life. Also, it is very exciting to watch a close game. But over-indulgence in watching games can affect our rest. 5) What are the advantages and disadvantages between watching games and playing games/sports? Watching games can enrich our leisure life. Also, it is very exciting to watch a close game. Take part in sports can build our bodies and keep us healthy. But, over-indulgence in watching games or in physical exercise can affect our rest. 6) Do you think which sports demand enough courage? Oh, I think it is boxing. It is very dangerous and it can do harm to health of athlete. 7) What are the sporting facilities like in your hometown? Anyang City has a lot of modern indoor facilities offering bowling, table tennis, swimming etc. But, it's too expensive for most Chinese, and you have to belong to the club in order to use the facilities.

Reading 1. Do you often read newspapers? 2. What's your reading everyday? 3. How frequent do you read? 4. What do you like to read the best?

I read newspapers everyday, such as Workers Daily, Henan Daily. I enjoy reading. It is so interesting to see how other people live and it is really an amazing way to learn about different cultures. In addition, reading can do good to us very much. It can elicit the imagination of us . I also like to read the China Today and China Daily. Both of these magazines are in English , and it is a good way for me to improve my English. 1) Do you like to discuss with others when you read books? Yes, I do. Because it is easy to understand the difficulty of books. 2) How long do you read? Usually, I read books or newspapers for 1 hour before I go to bed. 3) Where do you like to read? In the library, because there are all kinds of books which I can read.

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Handcraft Describe a handcraft which is made by yourself Kite flying is popular in China. Kites are often played with around the Qingming Festival in April. I like kites very much and I can make kites myself. Once, I made a kite. It was a beautiful swallow. Firstly, I collected 3 sticks and paper. The paper was adorned with paintings. Secondly, I used 3 sticks to control the paper, one linked to its neck, the other two linked with its wing. And then, the work was completed. The kite flew lightly in the sky as if the swallow was greeting the coming of the spring season. What handcraft are there in China? Folk papercuts, lanterns and kites, shadow play etc.

Restaurant 1. Talk about your favorite restaurant. 2. Why do you like it?

Sichuan dish features pungent, spicy and salty flavors and tend to go well with rice. Sichuan Restaurant is the largest restaurant in Anyang City. The restauran t is a beautiful, clean and it's price is cheap. My wife and I often have dinner in the restaurant on the weekend. Stir--Fried Shredded Beef is one of the restau rant's best dishes. It's made of fresh tenderloin and celery. Condiments include vinegar, rice wine and ginger etc. When finished cooking, the beef is red and the vegetables are green. The dish is very delicious. Extension of the card topic: 1) What is the general ideas about fast food among Chinese people? Although fast food has little nutritional value, but it is a blessing for busy people. Few people eat fast food all the time usually for breakfast and/or lunch so they can help to balance their diet by eating a sensible evening meal. And I like to eat fast food. 2) what do you think about science in food processing(production)? Scientific processing(production) is important. Because it can keep us healthy. 3) what is your opinion on food production and the world's population. At present, it's difficult to provide enough food for world's population. So, on the one hand, we should limit population of world. On the other hand, we should manage to provide enuogh food.

Environment protect 1. Is there any pollution in your city?

In Anyang City, pollution is serious. With the development of modern agriculture and industry, more and more waste is produced. Most of this waste is harmful. It goes into the water, the soil and the air. Especially the air is often made very dirty by factories. In places around big factories, trees and vegetables are often killed by the bad air. Also, when we breathe the air, harm will be done to our health. Fortunately, people are beginning to realize just how serious the whole situation is. Government is taking measures to prevent pollution.

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What has your government done to prevent pollution The measures are: 1) First, all new projects are to have lower discharge levels. 2) Second, all sources of pollution must be identified and monitored. 3) Third, all enterprises should assure a clean and safe work place.

Learn 1. What do you plan to learn in the future? 2. Why do you want to learn it? 3. Where and how will you learn it?

I plan to learn computer science in the future. I am very interested in it. There are too many things that I don't know about computers. Also, computers play an important role in our life and are of great use in every field. I think the whole society will be computerized soon. I need more knowledge in this field to meet the great demands of the application of computers. If things go well, I'd like to further my study in computer science and I want to work on my Master's degree in Canada. 1) What's the most important skill nowadays? I think it is computer. Because computers play an important role in our life and are of great use in every field. 2) Are there any traditional skill in your country? what are they? Yes, such as sewing and weave cloth. I remembered that my grandmother used to sew clothes herself. But now, few people can do it. 3) Do you think it necessary to learn these skills? No, I just don't like to spend much time on sewing. Because we can buy all kinds of clothes in shop. 4) Is there any difference between your parents' study and nowadays children? In the past, when our parents studied in school, educational conditions were very poor. But now, children are lucky enough because government provides much better facilities and staff. 5) Do schools teach non-academic courses? Yes, of course, such as music, physical education, and painting etc. 6) Should school responsible for teaching these non-academic courses? Yes, of course. Because school should stress student's moral, intellectual and physical development in a comprehensive way.

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Sample question & answer for IELTS speaking module

Hobby Questions 1. What do you like doing in your spare time? 2. Have you got a hobby? If so, what is it? 3. Is it an expensive hobby in your country? 4. What do teenagers like doing in your country? 5. What hobbies are usually expensive in your country? 6. What do you like about your hobby? 7. How much time do you spend on your hobby? 8. Is your hobby a common hobby in your country? 9. Are those any new hobbies that you would like to take up? 10. Have you ever been abroad? 11. What other countries have you visited? 12. Are there any countries you would like to visit? 13. What do you find interesting / difficult about travelling? 14. What is your preferred method of travel? 15. Who would you like most to go on holiday with? 16. What was the best / worst holiday you've ever had? 17. How would you like to travel around? 18. Are there any games / sports that you watch but don't play / do? 19. What games / sports do you play / do? 20. What games / sports are you good at? 21. Are there any activities that yobs hate? Why? 22. What games are not played much in your country? 23. Which sport is the most popular in your country? 24. Which sport is the most dangerous in your opinion? 25. Which game or sport requires the most strength? 26. Which sport has the biggest crowds in your country? 27. Would you prefer to go to the cinema or theatre? 28. How often do you go to the cinema? 29. Who's your favourite actor / actress? Why? What do you like about him / her? 30. Would you like to be an actor / actress? Why? 31. Do you like watching TV? 32. What are your favourite newspaper / magazine? 33. What do most people do at weekends in your country? 34. Would you prefer to stay home and relax or go out with friends at weekends? Why? 35. What do you usually do during most flights? Do you always eat the food they give you? 36. Is there anything about flying that frightens or worries you? 37. Would you like to have a sightseeing holiday? Where? 38. Why do most people go to seaside resorts?

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39. Have you ever been in a boat when the sea was rough? Were you seasick? 40. Imagine you are on holiday, would you prefer to eat in a restaurant or have a picnic in the open air? Why? 41. Would you prefer to stay in a hotel or rent an apartment? 42. Would you prefer somewhere quite lively, or somewhere quiet? Why? 43. Would you prefer to stay in one place, or would you rather go to different places? 44. Are there any special places you like to go when you go out? 45. What indoor activities do you enjoy? 46. Do you watch much television? What do you like to watch on TV? 47. Do you like travelling? What interesting places have you visited? 48. What method of transport do you use most and why? Answer to Hobby Questions: 1. I've joined a club where I can play chess. (become a member of a club) 2. I'm a philatelist. I collect all sorts of stamps. (a person who collects stamps for pleasure) 3. I often go camping in the summer. (to live in a camp or outdoors) 4. I do a bit of / a lot of climbing. (go mountain climbing) 5. I make my own clothes. (I make clothes for myself. I don't buy them.) 6. I like photography. (the skill or process of taking photographs) 7. I'm mad about DIY. I think this is a very good hobby for people who have a house but don't have much money. (do it yourself; the activity of making and repairing things yourself around your home) 8. I took up golf when I was at school. (to start a hobby for the first time) 9. I gave up photography. (to stop doing a hobby) 10. I collect antiques. I really enjoy going round the shops looking for a bargain. (you collect stamps, coins, antiques) 11. I try to practise playing the guitar everyday. (to make music with a musical instrument) 12. I usually go jogging two or three times a week. (run slow y, especially as a form of exercise) 13. I took up hiking because I wanted to get more exercise. (a long walk in the country) 14. I don't really do anything in my spare time. (time when you are not working)

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15. In winter, I do quite a lot of skiing. (in English you normally do a lot of / a bit of sport) 16. In summer, I play tennis and cricket. (in English you normally play a game)

Holiday making: 17. My aunt is a great traveller: she's been to every country in Europe. (a person who is travelling or who often travels) 18. We toured / went / were on a tour round the United States last summer. (to make a journey for pleasure during which you visit many places) 19. I will be going overseas in my new job. (to travel to another country across the sea) 20. The island's economy is heavily dependent on tourism. (the business of providing Holidays for people) 21. We went on an excursion to the mountains. (an organized trip with a group of people) 22. I'm not taking any holiday / vacation (time when you do not go to work for a special reason) 23. I'm taking a short break and going to my sister's for a few days. (a short period of time when you do not work) 24. You look exhausted. You should take a few days off and relax. (not present at work) 25. I can't come I'm afraid. I'm on holiday / off that week. (to leave your home and go somewhere else for a holiday) 26. We're only going away or a few days. (to live the place where you leave at least one night) 27. We've booked two weeks in Australia in July. (to reserve and pay for a holiday before you go) 28. They run a small resort hotel in Vermont. (a place where a lot of people go on holiday) 29. I brought a model of the Eiffel Tower as a souvenir of Paris. (something that you buy on holiday [for your friend] as a reminder of that place) 30. We travelled overland to Delhi and then flew on to Singapore. (by road or rail) 31. The voyage from England to India used to take six months. (a long journey by sea) 32. We decided to go cruising in the Mediterranean. (to travel by sea, visiting a number of places as a holiday) 33. We take / get / catch the train / bus, to Leeds and then got a bus to where she lives. (to travel to a place by train, bus, plane) 34. We headed for / made for (infml) the town centre. (to travel towards somewhere) 35. We stopped off in Paris en route to Nice. (on the way to somewhere) 36. The travel agent suggested some changes to my itinerary. (a plan of a journey, route, etc.)

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37. One of the most famous landmarks in London is Nelson's Column. (an object especially a building, that can be seen from a distance) 38. We had been on the move for twenty four hours and were absolutely exhausted. (to be travelling) 39. We made a stopover at Frankfurt on the way to Tokyo. (a short stop on a journey) 40. I'm learning Spanish, just for fun. (you do something for enjoyment and pleasure) 41. I think I get more pleasure out of doing my garden than anything else. (the feeling of being happy) 42. Let your hair down (infml) for once! (to allow yourself to enjoy something freely, without worrying about what other people think) 43. We had the time of our lives. (to enjoy something very much) 44. There isn't much entertainment for young people in this town. (things to do that interest and amuse people) 45. I had a great time last night. (to get pleasure from doing something) 46. I have to amuse myself for a few hours while I waited for her to arrive. (to keep yourself entertained)

Study Questions 1. What are you studying? 2. Do you have higher education? 3. What do you like about your studies? 4. How often do you use English? 5. What languages can you speak? 6. What subject would you like to study at university? 7. When does the academic year begin? 8. Have you ever lectured at university? Can you tell me about it? 9. Have you ever done a research? What was you research on? 10. What's your field of study? 11. What do you find difficult about your field of study? 12. What do you like about it? 13. What subjects will you take whan you go to university? 14. Which courses are you doing this term? 15. How do you find them? 16. How's your course going? 17. How many modules does the course consist of? 18. How many other credits do you need to complete this course? 19. Do you think you're going to do them successfully? 20. Which exams do you usually find difficult? 21. Do you need to do well in your assignments during the course? 22. Do they count towards your final degree?

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23. Have you started writing your thesis? What's it about? 24. Do you have to give a seminar paper during the term? 25. When have you got to hand in your essays? 26. What marks did you use to get at university? 27. Have you ever won a university scholarship? 28. What are your future plans after graduation? 29. What are you majoring in? 30. Have you got any other diplomas or degrees? 31. Which subject did you study at university? 32. Are there many people with expertise in your field in the country? 33. Can you tell me about the education system in your country? 34. What types of school are there in your country? 35. What different exams must students take in your country? 36. What's the reason you're taking this exam? 37. Are you studying now? Describe the course you are studying? 38. What do you most dislike about your study / course? 39. What are the best things about where you study? Answer to Study question: 1. The government wants to make it possible for most people to g onto higher education. (education at a university) 2. He went to Oxford University, but I don’t know which college he was at. (an independent institution which has its own teachers, students, and buildings) 3. I’m in the department of sociology. (one of the parts into which a university is divided) 4. You should start revising for your exam as soon as possible. Any delay will result in vital time being lost. (to read or study agin something that you have learnt, especially when preparing for an exam) 5. The candidate paced nervously up and down waiting to be called for the interview. (a person who is taking an exam) 6. Unless you pull your socks up, you’ve got no chance of passing the exam. (to achieve necessary standard in an exam, test, etc.) 7. He is the dean of the Arts Faculty. (the head of a faculty [a group of related departments in a university]) 8. The academic year begins in October. (the part of a year at university whan students have classes and exams) 9. They’re advertising a lectureship in the Sociology Department. (the position of a lecturer) 10. I’ve just been appointed to the chair of/professorship of European History. (the position of a professor) 11. She's giving a series of lectures on molecular biology. (to talk to a group of people on a particular subject)

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12. All the students have to give a seminar paper at least once. (a talk which is given for a seminar) 13. She was my tutor at Durham. (a person who teaches a small group of students) 14. My dissertation is being supervised by professor Holroyd. (to work as a supervisor) 15. I’m not happy with the supervision I’m getting. (when you supervise someone) 16. I'm doing some research into animal behaviuor. (to study something carefully and in detail) 17. I'm a university student. (a person who is studying at a college or university) 18. I'm doing an undergraduate course. (a student who has not yet taken his or her first degree) 19. They have brought new computer facilities for the postgraduates in the department. a student who is studying for a second degree at a university 20. I'm planning to spend a year abroad before I go to university. (to attend universe y regularly as a student) 21. I got a place ace at Manchester University. (an opportunity to study at university) 22. I live in hall. (to live in a hall of residence [university building where some students live]) 23. This course consists of six modules. (a part of a course [a complete series of lessons or classes]) 24. I need another four credits to complete this course. (a part of a course that a student has completed and that appears on his / her record) 25. I have to take a maths exam. (to take a written, spoken, or practical test of what you know or can do) 26. I have to hand in an essay on biology. (a short piece of writing on one subject) 27. You need to do well in your assignments as well as in the exam. (a piece of work that you are given to do by university teachers which counts towards your final degree) 28. I'm writing my thesis at the moment. (a long piece of writing on something which you have studied or researched, especially as part of a university degree) 29. I've got a degree in psychology. (a qualification gained by successfully completing an academic course at a university) 30. I'm majoring in English. (to study something as your main subject at college or University) 31. I've got a diploma in hotel management. (a qualification of a lower level than a degree) 32. I'm a graduate in engineering. (a person who holds a (first) degree from a university)

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33. I graduated in History from Sussex University. (to receive an academic degree or diploma) 34. After graduation, I plan to do a postgraduate degree. (the time when you compltee a university degree course) 35. I've got an upper second in politics from Surrey University. (grades for a university degree in Britain: first (class), (upper) second (class), third (class) e.g.: a first class honours degree) 36. I've got an MA (Master of Arts) in English literature. (a degree taken after a first degree in an arts subject) 37. MSc (Master of Science) (a degree taken after a first degree in a science subject) 38. BA (Bachelor of Arts) (a first university degree in an arts subject) 39. BSc (Bachelor of Science) (a first degree in a science subject) 40. PhD, Dphill (Doctor-of Philosophy) / (doctorate) (the highest university degree e.g. to get a PhD, to work for a doctorate) 41. I'm hoping to get a student grant. (money that is given (by the government) to help you for a university or college education) 42. She's won a scholarship, to study music. (an amount of money that is given to a person who has passed an exam or won a competition in order to help pay for their studies) 43. He started university but dropped out after two years. (to leave university without finishing your studies) 44. I'll have to read up on (infml) the third chapter for my exam. (to read a lot about something so that you learn about it) 45. I did (infml) Archaeology for two years at university. (to study a particular subject) 46. I'm afraid I don't know much about that. It isn't my field. (a general area of study or knowledge) 47. There are a lot of people with expertise in this field. (special knowledge or skill which a person has) 48. She specializes in family law. (to give most of your attention to one subject) 49. I've done a study of modern American society. (a piece of scientific research into a particular subject) 50. I've collected a lot of statistics relating to air pollution. (information about something in the form of numbers) 51. We are gathering data on graduates without jobs. (facts or information used in research) 52. Data collection has already finished; I'm doing the analysis now. (studying or thinking about the different parts or details of something in order to understand it better) 53. The theory needs to be tested by experiment. (a thorough test using scientific methods to discover how someone or something reacts under certain conditions)

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54. Joule carried out / performed a series of simple experiments to test his theory. (to do a task or something)

Home Town Questions 1. Where do you live? 2. What part of your country do you come from? 3. What nationality are you? 4. Can you describe your city / home town / village? 5. Can you describe where you live? 6. What other countries have you visited? 7. What do you like about where you live? 8. What do you find difficult about living in your home town? 9. What town or city do you come from? 10. What type of restaurants are there in your city / town / village? 11. Do you like shopping? How are the shopping centres in your home town? 12. How are the people in your home town? 13. What do the majority of people do to make a living in your home town? 14. Do you live in the capital of your country? 15. How long have you lived Here? 16. Is the place you live a nice place? What's it like? 17. Are you here (in your host country) alone? 18. Do you like living in this country / your home town? 19. What do most teenagers like doing in your country? 20. When did you set up house? 21. Have you met your next-door neighbours yet? 22. Is there a supermarket in the neighbourhood (where you live)? 23. Are you a native of Aberdeen? 24. Would you like to move house to a bigger area? 25. Can you get along with your neighbours? 26. When did you settle in this town? 27. What are some of the problems of urban life? 28. Would you like to be inhabitant of a small village? 29. Which part of town do you live in? 30. Have you ever lived in the suburbs? 31. Do you like living in the centre of a big city? 32. What social problems do you think we have in your society? 33. How do you define a good society? 34. Do you consider your home town as a cultural spot? 35. What are the cultural values of your country? 36. Do you like living in a multicultural society? 37. How do you define a traditional society? 38. What makes an advanced industrial society? 39. Do you belong to a very close community who would find it difficult to accept too many newcomers? 40. Are there many different social classes of people in your country?

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41. Do most people in your country own their house? Why (not)? 42. Is it easy to find accommodation in your home town? 43. What kind of place are you living in at the moment? 44. Who do you live with and why? 45. Are there any advantages of living where you are at present? What are they? 46. Can you describe your study room / bedroom to me? Answer to Home Town Questions: 1. We left home and set up house together in another part of town. (infml) (begin to live independently in a house) 2. The first thing you must do is to find some accommodation. (somewhere to live or stay) 3. The town has 20000 inhabitants. (people who lives in a country, town, etc.) 4. Are you resident in the UK. (If your home is in a particular country, town , wtc. you are a resident of that place) 5. I haven't met my next-door neighbour. (a person who lives in the house nearest to yours) 6. I am native of London. (a person who was born in a particular place) 7. If you get lost, ask one of the locals. (a person who lives in a particular place) 8. Homelessness is a growing problem in inner-city areas. (the condition of being homeless) 9. A lot of people / homeless sleep rough / live rough in cardboard boxes. (you sleep outside because you have no home) 10. The families were evicted for not paying the rent. (to force a person to leave the building or land where they live) 11. We're moving house next week. (you go and live in another house) 12. We must vacate the flat by the end of the year. (you stop living in a house and take your belongings away) 13. We haven't met the people who have moved in next door. (you bring your belongings to a new house and being to live in it) 14. We have got used to a better standard of living. (the level of money and comfort that people have in their everyday lives) 15. Some people live on bread and water. (to have something as your only food) 16. In most big towns, there is a commercial centre. (an area with lots of banks and company offices)

Some useful words to describe cities: 17. People who prefer the countryside to big towns often say towns are noisy, dirty and polluted, stressful, and crowded; however, the countryside is quiet and peaceful, clean; calm and relaxing, and has lots of open space and is

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safe. People who prefer big towns have a different point of view. They say, in towns, there are plenty of thins to do, and life is exciting; there is a wide range of shops and lots of night - life; however, in the countryside, there's nothing to do; it's boring, and there are only a few shops; there's no night-life. 18. Everyday, particularly in the rush-hour, we are / get stuck in a traffic jam. (the times each day when there is a lot of traffic because people are travelling to or from work; not able to move because of heavy traffic) 19. The streets get so packed with traffic that travel is very slow or even comes to a standstill. (extremely crowded; a situation in which there is no movement or activity at all) 20. This is really stressful for commuters who travel to work in the town.. (someone who travels a long distance to work everyday) 21. Vandalism is one of the major problems of big cities. (the crime of deliberately damaging things, especially public property) 22. He grew up in the East London slums. (a house or an area of a city that is in a very bad condition and is poor) 23. A picturesque new England village in the fall. (pretty and interesting, especially in an old-fashioned way) 24. These are a lot of historic buildings in the village. (old) 25. I've had a pretty hectic social life. (very busy or full of activity) 26. In big towns, you can see a continual bustle of people coming and going. (energetic activity) 27. It is a run-down inner-city area. (an area that is in a very bad condition) 28. A lot of people are moving out of rural areas to urban areas. (connected with a village: connected with a town or city) 29. It's a citiy of six million inhabitants / citizens. (a person who lives in a town or city) 30. The (whole) town was on the streets. (the people who live in a town or city) 31. We're moving downtown. (to or in the centre of a city) 32. Which part of town district do you live in? (an area of a town) 33. Many people live in the suburbs and travel to work in the centre of town. (an area of a town where people live, outside the centre) 34. I live on the outskirts of Bradford. (the parts of a town or city that are farthest from the centre) 35. We lived on the other side of the square. (an open space in a town or city that has buildings all around it)

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Family Questions 1. Do you live in a big or small family? 2. Would you like to live in a big family? 3. What do your family do? 4. Do you live with your parents? 5. Would you like to spend more time with your family? 6. What family members do you live with? 7. What does your family usually do at weekends? 8. Do you like going out with your family? Why? 9. Who would you most like to go on holiday with? 10. Can you tell me about your family? 11. Now are you enjoying family life? 12. Where are your parents from? 13. Why anti when did they come here? 14. Do you live in a one-parent / single-parent family? 15. What kind of jobs get very high salaries in your country? 16. Who's the breadwinner in your family? 17. Do you usually have a family get-together? 18. Do you often see your family at weekends? 19. Do you have strict parents? 20. Are your grandparents alive?? 21. Do you think your parents are proud of you? 22. Who do you like in your family more? Why? 23. Can you get along with your parents / brothers and sisters? 24. Have you got any step-brothers or sisters? 25. Who does your brother / sister take after? 26. What's your brother like? 27. Do you know the family next door? 28. What's the relationship between you and Mr. Watson? 29. Where does your mum work? 30. Do you live by yourself or with your family? 31. Is your family with you? 32. What do your parents do for a living? 33. is the generation gap between you and your parents a big problem for you? 34. Are your grandparents still alive? Can you tell me about them? 35. Are you married? What does your husband ! wife do? 36. Are you happy with the life you have with your husband wife? 37. Can you get along with your in-law? 38. Do you agree with arranged marriages? 39. What do you think of polygamy? 40. Where and when did you get married Do you remember how you felt at that time? 41. How would you describe your lifestyle? 42. Do you have any English speaking friends?

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43. Do you live close to your family? Can you tell me about your fame members? Answer to Family Questions: 1. I live in a one-parent family / single-parent family. (a family where the children live with only one parent) 2. I really enjoy my family life. (the way a familiy lives) 3. I come from a big family of eight children. (the group of people who are related to you) 4. I grew up on a farm. (develop from being a child to being an adult) 5. I grew up knowing that my elder brother would take over the family business one day. (the job your parents and probably your grandparents used to do) 6. Nuclear family (a family consisting of mother, father and their children) 7. Extended family (all the people in a family including aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.) 8. Family background (the sort of family you come from) 9. She's / he's family (infml) (used to say that someone is related to you) 10. A large household (all the people who live in one house) 11. My domestic life isn't very happy. (connected with the private family home) 12. I live on my own. I haven't got any family. (the group of people who are related to one another) 13. We've got the same name but are not related. (the way you are connected) 14. He lives with us, but he's not related / unrelated. (a person who is not a member of your family) 15. He is a close / distant relative of mine. (near or not in a family relationship) 16. I really take after my mother. (to look like or be like a parent or older member of your family) 17. All the men in our family are bald. I support it's hereditary. (a quality which is passed from parents to children) 18. All her children are very artistic. It must run in the family. (something which is passed from parents to children and their childrens' children / a common feature in a family) 19. Bringing up / raising children is never easy. (to look after children in a family until they are adults and to teach them how to behave)

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20. My parents really tried to give me a good upbringing. (the way somebody is brought up) 21. My father recently lost his job, so my mother's the main breadwinner now. (a person who earns all or most of the money in family) 22. I need a job, so I can support my family. (to have enough money to be able to look after a family) 23. I am getting married next year and hope to start a family straight away. (have children) 24. My father is really a family man. (a man who enjoys being at home with his wife and children) 25. He's got some fatherly concern and duties. (behaving like a father) 26. Motherhood really suits her. (the state of being a mother) 27. She is a motherly sort of person. (behaving like a mother) 28. Danny is my foster brother. (having different parents, but being brought up in the same family) 29. My step father is a nice man. (the man who is married to your mother but is not your father) 30. Paul is my big brother / older / elder brother. (older than you) 31. Anna is my little sister / younger sister. (younger than you) 32. We're identical twins. (twins who look exactly the same) 33. My twin sister is a dentist. (either of the children who have the same parents and are born at the same time) 34. She doesn't get on well with her in-laws. (the parents of your husband or wife) 35. Next of kin (your closest relative, who should be told if you are injured or killed) 36. I closely resemble my father. (to be closely similar to, or look like someone) 37. You can see the resemblance between Susan and her sister. (a similarity between two things, especially in the way they look) 38. He bears a remarkable resemblance to my father. (to be or look somebody / something else) 39. My parents live apart from each other. (if married people decide to separate, then they live apart)

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Job Questions 1. What do you do? 2. What's your job? 3. What do you do for a living? 4. What are your main responsibilities? 5. What do you do every day? 6. What are your duties? 7. What is your daily routine? 8. What does your job involve? 9. How many people does your firm employ at present? 10. Can you have some time off whenever you want? 12. Why don't you apply for another job? 13. Have you filled in the application form? 14. If they offer you a well-paid job. will you take it? 15. How much holiday do you get / How many weeks holiday do you get? 16. What are normal working hours for most office jobs in your country? 17. What kind of jobs get very high salaries in your country? 18. What is the minimum amount of income tax you have to pay? 19. What jobs often involve shift work? Would you like to do one? 20. Is flexi-time common in your company? 21. What are your working hours? 22. Do you do / work any overtime? 23. Teachers don't earn very much, do they? Why (not)? 24. When were you last promoted? 25. Why / When did you apply for this job? 26. Why did you take an early retirement? 27. Why did you resign? 28. Did they give you a lot of training before getting the job from the company? 29. Did you do / go on any training courses for this job? 30. Have you been promoted since you started in the comply? 31. Do you normally get a good pay rise at the end of each year? 32. How do you feel about your future prospects in the company? 33. Are you happy in the job or do you feel is time for a fresh challenge in another company? 34. What exactly are your duties as a nurse? 35. Who do you work for? 36. Are you usually busy at work? 37. What do you find difficult about working there? 38. Can you describe your place of work? 39. What do you like about your job? 40. Do you usually cover for a colleague when he is on leave? 41. How do you find visiting a lot of people / clients? 42. Who will take your place when you leave? How do you feel about this? 43. What kind of jobs are you good at? 44. Can you tell me about your boss? What kind of a person is he / she?

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45. Have you ever had any serious problems at work? 46. Do you work at the moment? Tell me about the work you do. 47. Have you ever had any other jobs? 48. Would you like to do the same job as your mother / father? Answer to job question: Have a look at the phrases and sentences below and practise using-them with a partner. Then with the help of your partner answer the follow-up questions to test yourself. Remember that these questions are only sample questions designed to promote your spoken English ability in those areas and facilitate the task and may not necessarily be the questions being asked in the actual test. What you do? 1. I'm a / an (+ job). e.g. a nurse / an accountant / a builder 2. I work in (+ place or general area). e.g. a hospital / an office marketing / social 3. I work for (+ name / place of the company). e.g. Union Bank / IBM / Fiat / an international bank What your job involves? 4. I'm in charge of e.g. a big company 5. I'm responsible for e.g. some workers in that department 6. I have to deal with e.g. any complaints / overseas clients, mainly 7. I run e.g. the company / a restaurant 8. I manage e.g. a shop in downtown Daily duties / routines 9. I have to go / attend (fml) e.g. (to) a lot of meetings / conferences 10. I visit / see / meet e.g. patients / clients 11. I advise e.g. people / clients and give them help... 12. It involves e.g. writing letters / filling in forms / doing a lot of paperwork / using computers a lot of the time

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Getting a job 13. It's not easy to get / find work e.g. in big cities / round these parts 14. I'd love to do e.g. marketing / this kind of work 15. It's difficult to make a living as a / an e.g. freelance writer 16. I've been offered a job e.g. in that company / in London 17. I've applied for a job e.g. in a local company / in the accounts department Working hours 18. I have a nine-to-five job / I work nine-to-five (regular working hours in Britain) 19. I do / work shift work. (nights one week, days next) 20. I am on flexi-time. (flexible working hours) 21. I have to do / work overtime. (work extra hours) 22. I only work part-time / take a part-time job. (part of a day or a few days a week) 23. I am a workaholic. I work full-time. (work too much) 24. I took early retirement. (retire at 55 in Britain) 25. I am on / take sick leave. (a period spent away from work, etc. because of illness) 26. I am on / take maternity leave. (expecting a baby) 27. I gave up work e.g. in order to study 28. I was laid off (infml) e.g. when the factory went bust 29. I was made redundant. (no longer needed and therefore out of work) 30. I was dismissed (fml) e.g. for refusing to obey orders 31. I was fired (infml) e.g. for always being late 32. I am on / off duty. (to be working / not working) Other useful phrases 33. We usually take a break e.g. for lunch / for ten minutes

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34. We normally knock off work (infml) e.g. about 5:30 p.m. and go off to a resataurant nearby 35. I get some rest. (a period of time when you relax after working) 36. I was rather inexperienced e.g. for that kind of work 37. I have a lot of experience e.g. in this area / of this kind of problem 38. I am sufficiently qualified e.g. for this position 39. This is a job requiring (a period of time when you relax after working) 40. I try to be hardworking. (work hard) 41. I'm quite competent e.g. at my job 42. I try to work efficiently. (work quickly without making mistakes and wasting time) 43. Efficiency is very important e.g. in my job 44. A lot of people do voluntary work. (you want to do it and you're not paid) 45. I was promoted. (get a higher position) 46. It is a demanding job. (needing a lot of effort, care, skill) 47. I fill in for / stand in for / cover for e.g. her while she is off sick 48. I am acting e.g. as a manager for the next couple of months 49. I will take the place of e.g. our manager when he leaves 50. Ithis morning shift takes over from e.g. the night shift t 9 a.m. 51. It is greate teamwork e.g. that helps get the job done on time 52. We teamed up e.g. with another group to finish our project 53. We cooperate e.g. with a German firm on this project 54. I was employed e.g. as a secretary for a couple of months 55. I do casual work. (not regular, usually paid hourly) 56. I'v got a temporary job e.g. working in a newspaper office 57. This factory has 200 employees. (a person who is employed)

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58. The staff e.g. are so polite and friendly 59. They promoted e.g. me to office manager 60. I'm on leave e.g. at the moment because... 61. The post has been vacant e.g. for some time 62. I turned it down. (to refuse one's offer) Payment 63. I am paid e.g. every months and this pay goes directly into my bank account monthly 64. My salary e.g. is 20.000$ a year 65. I earn e.g. 200$ a week as a hairdresser 66. With many jobs you get holiday pay and sick pay. (when you're off duty or ill) 67. I'm going to a pay rise. (my pay goes up) 68. My average income e.g. has risen 2% this year 69. I'm poorely paid / badly paid / don't earn much. (I'm paid very little money) 70. I have a high income / earn a lot / am well-paid. (I'm paid a lot of money) 71. My take-home pay / net income is 150$. (money left after deductions) 72. My gross income is more than that. (before deductions)

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IELTS Speaking Test 1

Good afternoon, my name is Andy. Could you tell me your name please? Michael Galovic is my name. Thank you Michael. I’d like you to tell me about your home-town or city please. It is Belgrade, ah capital of former Yugoslavia, now Serbia. Uh.. One and a half million inhabitants placed at uhhh the congregation of two big rivers – [unknown]. Can you tell me about the most interesting things in Belgrade? Um probably its past – uh.. a colourful past I would say. And then physically, the configuration and dynamics of the place. And could you describe places of special interest I could visit near where you live? Oh yes, there are ah many ah wonderful, ah natural interest places so to say, and places of historical interest. But mostly the famous monasteries – medieval monasteries from say 13th century on. Hmm and what would be the best way for me to get to those places? I guess the best would be to simply umm look up the travel agency that deals with err inter-Serbia tours, especially the monastery tours. And they are well guided, and you will be well taken care of. Hmm should I go there at any special time of year? Uhh certainly, as in whole Europe, I think the best time is sometime in Spring or Autumn. Hmm … Springtime or Autumn? Yes, say April, May uh; and then perhaps September, early October. Oh I see, Ok, thank you for that. I’d like to ask you a few questions about food and diet now. What do you usually eat for breakfast? Umm well I’m not much of a breakfast eater…but so I tend to have a light breakfast. But say, people tend to eat a lot for breakfast, and uh it’s also things I guess that are meat-based and milk - hot milk, and hot tea is accompanying all that. Mmhmm and what is the most important meal of the day, in your opinion Michael? Uhh well in my opinion, as I am told it should be the breakfast. But for me personally I love early dinners – that’s my preference. I am not saying it is the most important; it’s the one that I like the most.

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Mmhmm mmhmm and what should we eat to stay healthy? Um I would say certainly not err heavy food that takes a lot to digest, so I would recommend a lot of vegetables and fruit, and err fish and chicken rather than red meat although I wouldn’t discard red meat just like that at all. Mmhmm will peoples diet change in the future? I have impression, because we are witnessing the obesity daily in many countries. So it’s all around us and it’s uh becoming a very serious problem. And I have impression that everybody starts focusing on that, so I have impression that we’ll get err more attention to diets that will make us feel light and agile and err being able to perform. So I guess the clever combination of our food intake is more important than only what we eat. Err it is not just about what we shouldn’t eat I think, it’s more about how we eat it and when. So we should maybe start our meals with easily digestible things such as fruit and finish with heavier stuff, rather the other way round. Thank you...thank you. Speak one-to two minutes on topic, with one minute to plan answer. Topic: Describe a celebration you recently participated in. Um By the end of um January, precisely on 27th of January last, I was at a friend’s place on Central Coast. As err err a guest to his family feast, and he was celebrated- celebrating sorry- his family was celebrating, their family patron Saint day, which is a very important feast for the Serbs in the orthodox tradition. So it was interesting to see how that particular feast is being celebrated. Umm originated centuries ago, it is still very strong, going strong. And very few things have changed I was amazed to witness. But the main thing was that err um over there in Europe err, given the time of the year, these feasts are usually celebrated in November, December, January – it is cold, so the food, accompanying food is corresponding, it’s heavy, and all that you need to eat during that time. Whereas here we were sweating in the hot January and yet we had the same type of food that we would be eating in January in Europe. So that was interesting. But the most important thing about that type of feast and celebration is that the host, both my friend and his wife, were standing on their feet all the time-the whole day, absolutely um err being impeccable hosts to every whim or need that we ah guests would have, some 20 of us. So um it was really a special day and all of us, 20 people there, felt very, very special. Thank you Michael. Michael, are there many similar celebrations where you come from? Yes, but this is the most important one I think. Thank you. Now let’s talk more about traditions and celebrations. What role do traditional ceremonies play in the social life of people in your country? Umm they have always played an important role. But I have impression that it

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is err more so the case these days, when even the youth is embracing them – simply feeling need to go back to their roots. And what traditions were important for your grandparents, say 50 years ago? Apart from- Apart from that Slava, or family patron saint day, all other major and secondary orthodox Christian festivities or err festive days are important, or were important as well. Such as Christmas or Easter for instance, or that keeps being the major focus of my tradition and people. Mmmhmm. And which traditions are we likely to continue to celebrate in the future? Umm..But, I will say precisely those that we mentioned before. I have a feeling that they are simply going strong, that they err are not fading. Simply because in this time and era people are overwhelmed by-by the velocity, by the speed, so at the same time they feel need to go back to their own beginnings and traditions, so it is simply err reviving what we already have. How would you describe young people’s attitudes towards tradition? Um I would say that at the beginning many of young people would maybe not embrace fully the idea of going through every painstaking detail of preparations and err behaviour codes for all these celebrations and feasts. But then uh, gradually it will become a part of their lives, and um that would be their connection with their families and extended families, so they would kind of grow more and more into it, and trying to adhere to every rule that tradition was brought to them by their parents and grandparents. So at the beginning maybe the youth would take it lightly on the surface only, but then later um I think the traditions will be embraced fully. And do you think customs and traditions are changing these days? Um, I would say so inevitably because of the adjustment to urban- to the urban living if you wish, and to the fast times that we live in. So definitely there are concessions to what err used to be done before. But the core, which is much more important, is always preserved. At least has been the case so far. Do you think traditions and customs are affected by advertising? I never actually gave it a thought. Uh there might be, but again in my personal experience I haven’t seen any kind of uh direct influence that would uh change or alter, take people from their original directions whatever the advertisement is about. Do some countries celebrate traditions more than others? Um I wouldn’t say so, I have impression that all countries celebrate traditions, or rather the people who live in these countries. Even in some new countries, a conglomerate of different people, and all these people would stick to their old traditions. That’s how I see it. So, people who wouldn’t follow the traditions would do it in all sorts of countries, or in any country. Thank you Michael, that’s the end of the speaking test.

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IELTS Speaking Test 2

Good afternoon, my name is Anna. Could you tell me your full name please? Roberto Rossi. What should I call you? Robert. Thank you. Do you work, or are you a student? I’m a student. Can you tell me about your studies? Um well, uh my studies are in relation to cultures in the world. Uh When I was- when I was young, my father used to travel a lot and used to come back home, giving me a picture of a very vast world where people used to live and think and behave in different ways. So in comparison to what I used to study in geography, the world seemed to be a lot more interesting to go and- and explore. So as soon as I got rid of all that and I finished school I decided to uh go and experience uh first-hand what it really means to live in direct contact with a different culture. So I ended up looking for the most traditional and isolated cultures in the world at that time a few years ago, and uh I decided to go and live as one of the local people; which I did for a period of time. So that experience really changed my life and made me understand also, a lot better, what I wanted to study umm at University. What is your favourite subject? Anthropology, and social anthropology in particular. So in reality what I do, is I go back to one of these places where I’ve been in the past and I- and I see in what way the society changes as the rest of the world changes, and uh in what way it is affected by the outside world. So I ended up learning the language and I and I ended up understanding probably a lot more what really goes on in uh- in uh the inside of a person who lives in a little dot in the middle of the ocean, and all he or she knows is that and that is the universe- in comparison to us, um being sort of constantly bombarded by- by a lot more information. What is your study plan? I’m starting to and- I’m thinking of furthering my studies by doing a Masters and perhaps a PhD. I’m very interested in following umm what I started already. And err, and err, again, not only from my professional point of view, but also for a personal point of view I think it is very important to do things combined together, and what we learn and understand in life can really be of help to other people if we- umm if we develop it to a certain extent. Thank you. Do you have any hobbies or interests? Oh yes, a number of them. I like to umm read a lot, and I also like to play

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soccer. Um But err, I can say that lately, unfortunately, I don’t much time to do either of them. What hobbies are popular with young boys and girls in your country? Well, young boys and girls mm like to interact and meet and have a good time together. So, we start generally since we very young by meeting at the end of the day when we get out of school at the local bar or corn- corner in the area where we live in the square and in the same area with lots of other people, older and younger than us. And uh hobbies generally for the young boys umm are sport and socialising and dancing. And same for the girls, except that the girls are certainly a lot more into fashion and umm dancing. Do people usually continue their hobbies when they get older? When they can, they do. Generally that depends on what kind of commitments they are involved to and uh with, and if they can afford, only also in terms of time uh in what they like to do. Thank you. Now I’d like to ask you to speak one-to two minutes on a topic. You have one minute to plan your answer. Topic: Describe a movie, which made a strong impression on you. Well um, the name of the film is [inaudible]. It is actually a very famous movie. It won the Oscar in 1989. And um…it’s a movie about the story of a kid who grows up in a small village in Sicily. And we can see very clearly through the film uh in what way the community influence him, and uh also his first love story with a local girl and how much they affect his life. So it’s actually a movie in retrospective because it goes back, and uh he tries to get in touch with the same girl. And by doing that, you basically revisit the most important part or his life. Parts. And uh, it is really showing us in what ways all these things really affect all us. How much we keep on dreaming, and how much we keep on hoping in our lives; especially when we can’t leave- err what we really wish and desire to leave, especially when it comes to emotional things. And uh it’s a film that ah is also based on a true story, and um I think um the public can really feel that. So it’s also shot in a very, very good way and we can see Sicily through 50 years of life. And from the end of the Second World War to today, which is also more or less perhaps, you know, the period of time of my life, of my father’s life. Anyway, the main actors in the film are [unknown] and the famous actor who I don’t remember. Thank you. Do you go to the movies often? Yes, yes, most often as I can. I really like films, especially the European movies - French, Italian, and English. I really like the way they represent the- the European culture. Thank you. Now I’d like to ask you a few more questions about films and movies. Are films popular where you come from? Yes, they are very popular. Actually, cinema and movies is a big industry in

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Italy. And uh it has been the second major industry in the world in terms of films uh in the 50’s, so you have probably seen yourself a number of Italian movies. But uh, actually, it is a particular kind of way of making films and uh they still remain very popular. Yes. Do you think people are going to the cinema more these days compared with 25 years ago? Umm…No, I don’t think so. I think that today TV and videos and DVDs actually have replaced often what people used to go only going to the theatre. A few years ago when I was younger, I remember, there were a lot of people going to the cinemas and it was packed, and the same movie was left there for weeks and weeks and weeks where now normally, a show in the same cinema for a lot less. What films are popular with young people these days? We have in Italy a very strong American influence and as well, so a lot of American movies, and a lot of high-tech movies with special effects. And uh but at the same time we also keep maintaining a kind of our own genre and some Italian movies they never get to the overseas market, they also remain- become very popular in Italy. Do peoples taste in films change as they get older? I think so; I think so- I think movies also a little mirror of how we change in life, what interests us and what we see in them. And um ah, as you know, in our 20s we are perhaps a little more romantic and we like certain kinds of movies, and then perhaps we like to think a bit more about our life… and we see different kinds of films. Has technology made a difference in the quality of modern films? I think so, yes, a big difference. Um the effects now seem to really suck you in when you see a movie. And the way the film edited, they also keep your attention a lot better than in the past. You can see the way that they are put together, and also the sound quality is a lot better, and umm I think there’s been certainly, technologically speaking, a big improvement there. How will technology be used to improve films in the future? Well, ah I am not an expert but I think that if we will ever get 3-D movies, ah or movies in 3-D, ah we will uh find ourselves even more immersed in what uh for only at the moment only our eyes and our ears can see in two dimensions. Why have the forms of popular entertainment changed over the years? Because the society has changed a lot. And now uh we seem to be rushing all the time, and we want to consume everything a lot faster. So I think every form- form of entertainment is also reflecting that kind of very fast, quick way of ah wanting something different, and wanting something very quickly and ah…yes.

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Will people still go to the cinema in the future? I hope so. I don’t know, but I think there will be people that, like today, like to see not only the new movie but also the old movie because it represents what they have seen what they were younger and what they and also what they were dreaming at that time and I think that remains within us all our life. Thank you, that is the end of the speaking test.

IELTS Speaking Test 3

Good afternoon, my name is Renee. Could you tell me your full name please? My full name is ah Jahan Verki. Can I check your identification? Sure. Thank you. Do you work, or are you a student? At the moment I’m working. Could you describe what kind of work you do? Uh…At the moment I’m a manager of the um Persian T.V. This is essentially a 24-hour station that’s going to operate in Sydney. This station is going to be for the Persian people. And at the moment we are trying to televise some program from America but we are trying to build our studio in Sydney as well. The plan is I’m going to operate and organise for this studio to be able to produce some program from Sydney as well. So at the moment I’m doing everything, like to do- to organise for everything like subscription, studio, anything – equipment, but a little bit later I’m going just to focus and stay just in the studio for producing and directing the program, which is going to happen later. What do you like about your job? I have to confess, this job is my passion from long time ago. Umm just, I start from drama I study drama in my country and then when I move to Australia I continued in different course which was T.V. and film production and because all the time when I act, I really- finally I wanted just to make my film. I made some children program in my country for T.V. Here I start to expand my experience and then I got lots of new experience: I made some film- short film, documentary and I find, okay, I’m in the right pathway so I wanted to continue. So now I think I- I catch it, now I need a little bit more time just to do this job. What kind of job do you hope to do in 10 years time? That’s a good question. My dream is finally- without having any problem, like life and the other problem that comes to the anybody- my dream is just to

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direct my film. That’s the thing that I’m going to do. I have, in my past, I’ve had lots of experience- life experience, lots of things that I want to talk to the people. So, for me, film is a tool to talk to the people. Do you play any sports? Yes. What are the most popular sports in your country? Good question. In my country is just the people are mainly- I come from Iran- in my country people mainly play soccer. Anywhere – in the street, at home, anywhere you can see- people play soccer. Is it better to play sport or to watch it? Okay, um you know it’s it’s very um, it depends. To me, sometimes when you are in the right mood or the right time you are better just to play. But sometimes, particularly when it is- when it is a professional sport, you would like to watch it. That depends to the situation, to you, and many, many things. Can sport be dangerous? Ah I think it could be dangerous, or it’s not going to be dangerous. Its depend. I think even if you’re walking in the street it could be dangerous for you, so I cannot say. But I can say – if you’re not playing a sport it’s going to be dangerous, because it’s just affecting your health. But- But playing- Accident could be anywhere – this is my opinion. Do men and women play different sports in Iran? Of course. I mean, as you know during the last 24 years. Because of the Government and the things that happen in my country, so women couldn’t do the same sport that men do. Even, they couldn’t go to the stadium like watch the soccer. However, recently, there has been a movement for the women, they have a chance. There is not enough facility for them just to do lots of sport. Thank you very much. Now I’m going to give you a topic and I’d like you to speak on it for one or two minutes. Topic: Describe a vacation you have really enjoyed. Alright, um we went to the [unknown] actually, we went to the [unknown] with my wife and kids, just mainly to visit my wife’s family. I liked [unknown] because when I went to the [unknown], which is about five hours far from Sydney, the road, the nature – uh it was very similar to the scene that I had in my country and it remembered me the nature and the road that we had over there. I liked [unknown], I liked everything over there, I can tell you. The smoke, the fog, I liked the environment, I liked the friendship that was there. I loved the food, I loved everything over there- the stars at night. I love the moon, I loved morning, and when it was morning it remembered the morning that I had in my country- it was very similar because nature are similar anywhere. So, I spent lots of time over there and it helped me to

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remember the things that I had before. It gives security, it’s very mysterious feeling to me. So I loved them because it helped me more and more back to the memory that I had from my country. Animals, horse, you know farm – everything, it really attract me- see the people who work in the farm. That was a nice thing- I like these things and I think this is my nature and I love to be in this nature and that nature was very similar to the things that I had before, and I liked just to be there. That was something that I had over there. So I spent time with my wife and I explained the things that had happened to my country and I told her ‘look, Calla, I will show this to you in my country again.’ Would you go there again? Sure, I love it. If I get any chance, I’m sure I will go over there. Now I’d like to ask you a few more questions about vacations and holidays away. Are people taking more holidays and travelling more these days? I have to say I don’t think so, because the lifestyle is not letting the people to do the things that they want. They have to work more and more, and even you know when they got some family they have to work more. To me, in my point of view, I think they haven’t enough time to pay attention to holidays. Where did people go on holidays in your Grandparent’s time, say, 50 years ago? I think in that time, you know, to go to another- another city, which was very far – like 5 to 10 hours, they go to visit their relative somewhere else in their country. Where do people usually like to go for a holiday away these days? Uh it’s easy things that people like just to go to a very- very close and easy things. If they can get to anywhere around themselves you know, even if in Sydney they will go to Harbour or Opera House or anywhere around as because it’s very cheap and it helps them just to stay sometimes out of the- you know the routine of their life. Why do people want to travel, to go away for a holiday? Life is very hard. All of us need just to go- to go out of this stress during the week. You know- the technology, the Government, the people, the boss and so on and so on and so you know, just pushing you shoulders, so that’s a time that you can say that okay, I am human so you can just do something that you like. Is tourism having an effect on the environment, do you think? Sure, I think tourism just definitely effecting the environment because they bring the wave of the culture and you know, many, many things by themselves and they bring it and show to- to the new culture. So I’m sure, it’s very effective. Like if you think- like when I’m coming from my country, the

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food that I’m having, the think I interests, the way that I treat you know my family and the way that I love, the way that I dance- all of these things when they come together, it’s giving things like [unknown]. It’s giving some information about outside to anybody, to the other people. How important is the tourist dollar for the economy? I love their dollar. Hahaha. You know, it’s very good. I mean you have to think –you have to think about this issue and just have some study. You have to prepare yourself for the tourist interest. You have to put these things in their hand. Not in the country, in their country. You have to advertise you have to show what things is available here. Because they bring more. Money. It’s very easy. Lots of countries just depend on the-just the tourism when they put their money. And you have to think about all the issues. To make the situation ready for them to let them to be happy to spend their money and when they back- back again. For as it as it as it as it revisit again to advertise for the other people to come over here. Will the tourist industry grow in the next 10- 20 years? I’m sure you know. Because many people are still um the attraction of seeing- And the tech I think is helping the people just to be more close together and find. If it was in the hands of a few countries just had the attraction for the tourism. Now, many people from far, they can just advertise themselves on the Internet. They say look- I’m very far here, I have a nice beach, you don’t need to pay this money you know - to that company… half the price for you come over here - and we’re right. What do you think of tourism designed not to damage the environment? I think the government and the council - all of them and all and all the policy has to help - has to really have a close watch to this issue. If they think it is going to affect anywhere they have to put this policy to not things - you know, to not do anything wrong. Thank you, that is the end of the speaking test.

IELTS Speaking Test 4 Good afternoon. My name is Deborah. Could you tell me your full name please? My full name is Pilar Montesdeoca. May I check your identification please? Will you like to see my passport? Thank You. Do you work or are you a student? I’m a student.

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And what are you studying at the moment? At the moment I’m studying theatre studies. And why did you choose to study theatre studies? Because I arrived here five years ago and my background is in theatre. In my home country in Ecuador I was studying theatre and I was also working as an actor and as a director. And then I had the opportunity to go overseas to England and study theatre there. But once I moved to Australia, I thought it was going to be a good idea to get into the profession again and to start all over again from the basics so I thought it would be good to do some drama studies. And that’s why I joined it and I’m learning so much at the moment, I’m very excited about all these amazing teachers I have and I can understand now how the business works. And the main things about my theatre studies is that after that it’s going to lead me to the- a real theatre. I have to see how it works in real life in Australia. And I thought that was going to be important for me. Ok. And ah what do you hope to do when you’ve finished your current studies? I really would like to finish in the area. Because I’m also a teacher so I would like to combine my teaching skills with my theatre skills. I know it’s hard to get a job as a theatre director or as an actor anywhere in the world and in Australia as well. So I’m hoping that of course once I’ve finished to be able to direct plays, and to work on projects to work for the community and with the community. But I’m also hoping perhaps to get some work as a –as a teacher where I can combine also my skills in theatre. Mm. And how do you spend your spare time? Ooh I love swimming and I love dancing so those are the two activities I mainly do when I have the opportunity. But then, sometimes when I’m at home I love reading, I love to read novels or poetry or theatre as well. And when you go out, do you usually go out alone or with others? Mm It depends. Australian life is very busy, so ah sometimes I have to go on my own. Usually if I go swimming I go on my own, if I go to the beach sometimes I go with friends, so it depends. But I don’t mind being on my own. And is there a particular time in the week where you prefer to go out? Mm not really, mainly in the afternoon. Depends on the season. Sometimes in the morning, early morning, I love walking as well. So sometimes I tend to do that at around 6 o’clock in the afternoon. Do you think it is important to do regular exercise? I think it is vital for everyone. I think it is part of life and the good thing about Australia- I wish there were less cars- but also because I love walking it’s ok,

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I can do a lot of exercise. We should do that really. We all should go out and enjoy ourselves and do a bit of exercise because this society is getting bigger as well. You know the size, people are getting bigger and bigger so I think it is important to do it- you know jogging or walking or swimming, it’s important. Why? Because if you are not happy with your body it’s very hard to be happy with everything else. I think your body is the base of your life. Mind and body are always connected and if you do not exercise your body you won’t exercise your mind. And I think once you walk or once you swim, it’s a good chance to really think who you are and what you want in life and what things can you do. Thank you. You’re welcome. Topic: I’d like you to describe someone you admire very much. I have a person who I really admire and she’s an ex-teacher from university. Her name is [inaudible]. She’s a wonderful, talented lady. She’s around 60. She’s married and has four kids. What I admire about her is that she has time to look after her family and at the same time to teach kids at school, and to teach kids at primary school as well and then she went on and was teaching at university. And I had the privilege to meet her when I was fifteen and when I was twenty I went to uni and she really encouraged me to write. She opened a lot of windows for me through the literature and she taught me how to analyse texts and she made me love literature- that’s something really hard. Because when you are at the school, you don’t really want to learn a lot about literature, you just want to play around with your friends. But she was a teacher that really really kept us captivated by all these stories and all these composers and songwriters, and writers in general. And she played us some music and she read poems for us, and we watched films and we discussed. And I think it was so important to have her as a teacher because she really made us see the world in a different way. We were studying mainly in a catholic school and we couldn’t analyse things but once we had our literature teacher, we were able to expand our whole world. And I think what she really brought us it’s these differences in life. Literature and life, in a way they are very similar but in a way are very different. So we interpreted life in a different way from that point. Thank You. Is this person admired by others do you think? Yes definitely. I think she made a huge mark in this group that had the opportunity to have her as a teacher. We were like fifty of us and she did it for many many years. What makes a person famous? Mm I think there are different ways to see what makes a person famous. One is the machinery behind the publicity and the marketing around the person,

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but I don’t think that’s a real honest way to be famous. I think if I have to choose I’d rather be famous for being honest, for being kind, and for trying to help and solve conflicts or problems in the world instead of being in a magazine, in the cover of a magazine…so my characteristics for a famous person I would go for honesty and kindness. What kinds of people were famous in your grandparent’s time? In my home country we had different, mainly two political parties and the heads of those political parties were very famous. Especially one guy called [inaudible] and he made a lot of changes in Ecuador during my grandparent’s time because he gave the vote to women and he also made it compulsory, the vote for all the citizens in my home country. And he worked for the Liberal education, not ties with the religious or anything like that but very open to everyone. In your opinion, is being well known easy to live with? No I don’t think so. I think well known…. It’s…It can be hard. I think to be famous sometimes you pay a price for it. So I’d rather be anonymous I think. What kinds of people will be famous in the future? Mm. Ah it’s hard to say, but I guess the famous people are the ones that people create. And you know the media has so much impact on that, and it has so much influence on who is famous or who is not famous, who is good or who is bad. The media made us see- makes us see the world and the people in different ways. So I guess, yeh, if you have machinery behind, you will be famous. What responsibility to society do famous people have? They have a huge responsibility because people really look up on them. You know they look upon and they want to copy models. I think we are a very sensitive society and we would like just to copy. And if someone is famous they should have- they should use this power to give things back to the community. Like you know, like for example, the Tsunami Disaster or things like that… you to use this power to call for people to stop children detention, things like that you know, they should use that in order to make people aware of what’s going on. Not just to be part of entertainment, but I think they should have a political voice in the community. Do you think that the children of famous people have an easy time? No, I don’t think so. It must be very very hard. Ah…you know, to live in, in my home country I know a lot of famous people, and they always have to have bodyguards, or they have to live behind bars, you know or behind big walls. And children are always protected and they don’t have the freedom, it’s a big price to pay, I don’t know why. W-Would you like to be famous? No, not really no.

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Would- would being famous change you? Yeah I’m sure it will. But I like to be popular, but I don’t like to be famous. And I think that’s good. You know, I can be popular with my students, with my actors, you know, that’s what I’m like, and I’m happy with that. And should the media be able to invade the privacy of famous people? No, I think there should be a very strong and tough code that they shouldn’t allowed to interfere in other people’s lives, even if they are famous. Thank you. That is the end of the speaking test.

IELTS Speaking Test 5 Good Afternoon. My name is Darrell. Could you tell me your full name please? My name is Shi-in Lee. And what should I call you? You can call me Shi-in please. Thank you. Do you work or are you a student? I work. I do interpreting and translation. Oh. Can you tell me about your job? Well, there are different types of um interpreting. There is medical interpreting, and there’s legal interpreting, business interpreting, and conference interpreting etc. And they are all very different and you get to meet different types of people. Um, it’s very rewarding because you are helping people who doesn’t have much English and you get paid for you job as well. So you get to learn a lot about current issues, and at the same time, you get a lot of headaches too, because you get to hear a lot of problems from your clients. So it’s a very interesting job, and I’m enjoying it still, after seventeen years. And err, when is the busiest time in your job? I can’t say that um…my busiest you know at a certain time of the year, it’s very hard to predict so I really can’t say - say around, well Summer is the busiest time of the year, or winter is the busiest or, I really can’t say that a certain time of the year is the busiest. And if you could change your job, what would you prefer to do? Sometimes umm, although I’m working and I’m helping people and without an interpreter I guess nothing much can happen, because there won’t be any communication, proper communication between you know, two parties. But then again, interpreters are not supposed to give an opinion. So you are left

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with the feeling that you are not contributing at all towards the result of the session. So if I changed my job I think I would pick something which is completely different from interpreting and where I can actually contribute towards the result of the discussion. So that’s what I might do in the future, you never know. What kind of music do you enjoy listening to? Well actually, I like all sorts of music. My husband says I have Catholic tastes in music. So I like classical music, of course, because I played piano when I was a little girl. Actually, not just as a little girl, I still play. So I like classical music, and I like jazz, blues, you know, even heavy metal. Whatever is good I can appreciate it. Do you play a musical instrument? Yes I play piano and I play a little bit of violin as well. And what musical instruments do most people play in your home country? Um in Korea, I think most girls from a proper family would play at least one musical instrument and which is normally piano. So, a lot of girls would you know, start playing piano when they are five or say seven. And I started playing piano when I was six I think. If you can play a musical instrument, does this help you to enjoy music more? Yes and no. In some ways it makes you, I guess take more interest in music and when you listen to the music you know how to appreciate it properly. But then again if you get to hear certain pieces of music on the radio which you’ve played before, straight away you find yourself sort of analysing the performer. So you really can’t relax, so it’s sort of- it’s not maybe enjoyable as much. It suddenly, it becomes a chore; your mind is at work, analysing and assessing the performance. So I guess yes and no. Thank you. Now I’d like you to speak for one or two minutes on a topic. You have one minute to plan your answer. Here is a pencil and paper to make notes. Here is your topic: I’d like you to describe your favourite teacher. Thank you. Can you start speaking now please? You have one to two minutes. I will tell you when the time is up. My favourite teacher, um, his name is Kwan Sing Pak. He was my English teacher when I was in High school in Korea. You know in Korea, all the English teachers are basically Korean. Umm..he was my teacher um, for two years, um Year eleven and Year twelve. You know the girls of that age um they normally like teachers, you know good looking, with the looks, with good sense of humour and- and all. But this specific teacher was not physically attractive at all. He was rather, not terribly good looking. (I’m sorry to be saying this). But I really adored this teacher because um, I guess to start with I loved studying languages and he was teaching English and I really loved

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learning English from him. And he was very passionate about his job, teaching, and he was actually enjoying it, and I could tell he was enjoying it. He had good teaching skills. He encouraged and nearly coerced, you know, contribution from the students. And you could actually be quite sure sitting in his class that when you give answers, how silly they might sound, you would never be laughed at or anything. So you were feeling quite free to have a conversational discussion with the teacher or other students in the class. And what was also quite special about him was that he had good sense of humour, much so much so that you only remember his jokes when actually you have the test paper in front of you and you look at all the questions and you couldn’t remember the answers but his jokes only! Thank you. And did other students also like this teacher? Oh yes. Yep. Most of the students just loved this teacher. He was very popular. So we’ve been talking about teaching. I’d like to ask you some questions about teaching and education. What are the qualities of a good teacher? I should say a good teacher is one who always is well prepared for the class. And I guess if the person has a good sense of humour that would help because, you know, boring, ah, session, nobody would sit in the class, you know, hours after hours. And what differences in teaching styles have you experienced with different teachers? Some teachers can be very knowledgeable. I could tell that the person had a lot of knowledge and experience and everything. But the person just didn’t have the skills to convey all that to the students. And so the rendering was really boring and everybody was just falling asleep, whereas some teachers they knew how to pass that down to the teachers somehow and the session was completely enjoyable. Should teachers use discipline in the classroom? Coming from where I, um, am, I think yes, teachers should discipline students. In Korea, students would respect the teachers. My mum’s generation was more so, and my mum had to say one day, she thought teachers don’t eat, don’t go to the toilet, they are demi-Gods and wouldn’t even step on the shadow of the teacher, because you respect the teacher so much. But I don’t think same kind of respect is here and students sometimes misbehave during class hours and I just find it hard to understand. There is not enough respect for the teachers and also for the learning itself. And can students learn from computers? I guess yes and no. I see my children, they’re sitting in front of the computer sometimes writing their essays and getting information through the net. In that case, I guess comps can be educational and helpful. But sometimes I see

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my son sitting in front of the computer hours after hours doing you know, video games. I don’t think in that case computers are educational or healthy. Can you describe the education system in your home country? In some ways it is quite similar to the Australian education system. The only difference I can tell straightaway is that Kindergarten is not part of the primary school education in Korea whereas here, we start from kindergarten. And three years we call it junior high. And then three years high school, and then four years, normally four years, we call it university education, tertiary education. So I don’t think there is big difference between two systems. When should children start formal schooling? Formal schooling, I guess it starts in Australia from the age of five whereas in Korea, from six? I don’t know, sometimes when I see little K students looking a little bit tired, makes me wonder whether they’re a bit too young to be starting schooling at that age. But, I really have no idea. Has education changed since your parents’ day? You know, in the last twenty-five years? I think it’s changed a lot, although I can’t say that I understand what education was like when my mum and dad, when they were in school. But definitely, well I’m talking about the Korean situation, in Korea, you have to study many many more subjects than your father or your mother would have, you know, in the past. And you use like different equipment, like computer and things, all these audio-visual teaching material. I guess in that way education has changed a lot. Ok thank you. That is the end of the speaking test.

IELTS Speaking Test 6 Good afternoon. Can I have your full name, please? Hasan Can Yuksel. All right, and can I see your passport, please? Yeah, sure. Thank you. That's fine. Uh, now, in the first part of the test, I'd like to ask you some questions about yourself. Um, let's talk about what you do. Are you a student, or do you have a job? Yeah, I am a student. I'm a student in English class. And why did you decide to study English? Er, before, because I want to study in Masters, at Masters program, er, that's why I have to study English and I have to get a IELTS score. That's why I study English.

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OK. Is it an interesting subject to study? Yeah. It's, er, IT, my study, er ... Your Masters? Yeah, my Masters, yeah. Oh, OK. And why did you decide to study IT? Er, because I like technology and, er, you know IT is, er, related about information and management people. That's why. OK. Um, now let's go on to the topic of reading magazines. Um, what kinds of magazines are popular in your country? Er, gossip, er, magazines popular in my country actually and, er, and also those post magazine. OK. So why do some people prefer to read magazines rather than books? Because magazines, er, has a hot topic and eh, eh, er, that's the people interested in this gossip or sports program." That's why the people prefer to magazines. OK. And can you learn from magazines? Candidate: Uh, sorry? Can you learn from magazines? Candidate: No, I ... I prefer to newspaper to read. Why's that? Why is that? Why do you prefer to read newspapers? Er, because, er, my first degree is economy. I have to, er, learn to economy news and that's why and I don't interest gossip and sport activities. So, do you often read magazines? No. OK. No I don't read often. OK. Um, now I'd like to talk to you, um, about drinks. Yeah. What are some of the most popular drinks in your country? In my country is mopular, eh, most popular drinks is special Turkish drinks is alcohol, eh, it's, er, we call draku. It's, er, has, er, high level of alcohol inside. Uh-huh, OK. And beer, also. Right. Are there any drinks that people have at special times? Um, yes, birthdays or some celebrates, er, New Year celebrates, people prefer to drink.

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Mm. Right. OK. Um, are there any hot drinks that you like? Yeah, we, er, drink a tea but hot. Er, we prefer to hot tea, not iced tea and coffee as well. Mm. OK. And, um, what do you think are the healthiest drinks? What do you think are the healthiest drinks? Er, I like healthiest drinks, especially milk, um, yeah, er, yeah, just milk I think. OK. All right. Well, now we have the second part of the Speaking Test. I'm going to give you a card about a topic, and I'd like you to talk about it for one to two minutes. Before you start, you can have one minute to think about what you are going to say, and if you want to, you can make some notes. Mm hm. Do you understand? Yeah, I understand. All right. So here's some paper and a pencil for making notes, and here's your topic. Thank you.

Describe a house or an apartment you have lived in and which you liked. You should say: when you lived there how it looked inside what kind of area it was in and explain why you like living there.

I'd like you to describe a house or an apartment you have lived in and which you liked. Er, I wanna ... All right, so remember, you can talk for one to two minutes, and I'll tell you when the time is up. Right? Can you start speaking now, please? OK. I will describe my, er, apartments in my country. Eh, it's, ah, ooh, my apartments has a, er, eight level, eight floor, and we lived in, er, seventh floor, and I like, I like it because this apartments has, er, a lot of, er, er, some, er, we have a swimming pool and tennis courts, er, it has a lots of facility, er, for, er, social life and, er, I used to, er, I used to both of them. And, um, we, er, our apartments is, er, in Istanbul in Turkey, and, er, it's, er, it has a, er, our home flat, er, has, er, three rooms and, er, has a huge, really huge kitchen and my mum actually, er, like it, like the huge kitchen and, um, it's, er, very close to our shop and we can go by walking. It's, er, and, er, this

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is, er, this house, this apartments, er, a little, er, suburb, little far to centre in Istanbul, but I like it, it's not crowded. Our area's so quiet and the people is, er, elite people and, er, our neighbours also is, er, kind peoples and we talking to neighbours, er, always and, er, we visit each other forgot my neigh ... our neighbours and, er, we have a good relation in our apartments. So, is your home similar to most other places in the area? Er, little different, not similar, little different, a little, er, high quality than the others. And has that area changed since you first lived there? Yeah, it's changed because, er, this, er, building, this apartments, er, built, er, several years ago, maybe, er, seven years ago, and after the finished this apartments, it's changed, this area is changed. All right, thank you. You've been talking, um, about a house or an apartment you have lived in, and now I want to discuss a few more general questions connected to this. Um, firstly, let's look at finding a place to live. Um, how do people usually find a place to live in your country? Er, the people, er, find a quiet place to live in my country because the centre is so crowded and so noisy. The people prefer to quiet place. And what other factors do you think determine where people choose to live? Others, er, I think main factor is, er, their jobs, the people's jobs because it's, er, really big problem in the, er, metropol cities, er, the traffic you know, lots of cars and crowded. You must go early every time and this is other factor for choose their apartments. Right. All right, and can you compare for me, say, in Istanbul, um, living, what it's like to live in an apartment compared to living in a house? Ah yeah. Er, my apartment has, I like my apartments, but, er, I, er, wants to live, er, er, good view, has a good view apartments and maybe he, er, I ... when I look at the window I can see a ocean or river or like this or lake. But, generally, what are the differences between living in an apartment and living in a house, say, in a city like Istanbul? Ah, it's too different, it's too different. Er, in Istanbul the people generally live in the apartment, but if you live in the houses, er, you have, er, not good relationships for their neighbours. Because it's different in Turkey. Er, if you live apartment you can get easily, er, a friend and yeah it's advantage for make a good relationships. OK. Um, let's now look at, um, home ownership. Um, do most people rent their homes or own their homes where you're from?

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In Turkey, eh, most people, eh, buy a home, not rent because this, er, our home prices is not, er, high. Is quite cheap, and you can get easily a home. OK. Because the people prefer to buy, buying a home. Right. So, what do you think the difference would be? What are the different attitudes between someone who's renting a home and someone who owns their own home? What's their attitude towards that home? Do you think there's a difference between a renter and an owner? Yes, er, there are lots of advantage or disadvantage, er, the rent or owner and if you rent a house, you can, eh, you must, er, moving, eh, you can be moved other places and always you must be ready to move, yes. But if you own the house, the, er, one disadvantages own the house, you can, you live, always you live the same place and you never change in your tirement, and all the same, all the people the same. Right. But if you're a renter you can change and you can get new friends, you can see a new place. Right. Right, well let's now look at, um, residential areas. Um, why do you think it is that some areas, some residential areas, are more pleasant to live in than others? More? More pleasant to live in. Er, because the er, residence, residential areas, is er, uh er, it's not, er, really it's not in Turkey, it's not, er, maybe it's, er, for, er, develop, developed countries, it's not, er, for developing countries, 'cause it's different. Um, actually we have no, er, we have no one centre, and we have no residence areas. All this you can go and see, you can stay. Right, but I guess is one area nicer than another area? Yeah. So what makes that area nicer? Ah nicer, er. It's yeah, it's, if it's near the centre, it's in, er, if it's, er, you can, er, get easily, er, transport, transportation, it's, er, and you can go everywhere. It's the centre like, um, it's the people prefer the like the safe areas. So, convenience? Yeah, convenience.

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Right, OK. Well, thank you very much. That's the end of the Speaking Test. Yeah, thank you.

IELTS Speaking Test 7 Good afternoon. Could I have your full name please? Good afternoon. My full name is Luo Xiaojing; that is my Chinese name. All right. And can I see your passport, please? OK. Here you are. Thank you. That's fine. Now, in the first part of the test, I'd like to ask you some questions about yourself. Ah, let's talk about what you do. Are you a student or do you have a job? Mm, I'm a student now I have the language course is in Macquarie and then I will going to have the Master of Commerce. OK. And, er, why did you decide to do a Masters of Commerce? Mm. Um, because I think, if I can gain the Master degree maybe I will give a good job in China. And I will have a more opportunity, uh, to get a good pay job which is more appealing. All right. Um, later in life do you want to study something else? Sorry? Later in life do you want to study something else? Yes, of course. Cause I think study is, uh, is better to me and, uh, I think, uh, I ... I will continue my studies throughout my life. OK. Ah, now let's go on to the topic of reading magazines. Um, what kinds of magazines are popular in your country? Maybe the magazine about the superstars such as movie star, uh, TV star and, uh, the singer, the famous singer. Um, a lot of younger people like to see the magazine about it. Right. Um, why do some people prefer to read magazines rather than books? Mm. I think one of the reason is that in magazines, um, the people can see a lot of pictures then colourful and I think it's fantastic. OK. Can you learn much from magazines? Oh, something. You can gain some information about the magazine but I think, um, I will ... I will not spend a lot of time to see the magazine.

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OK. Do you often read magazines? No, not often. Right, um, now I'd like to talk to you about drinks. Um, what are the most popular drinks in your country? Beer, yeah. Yeah, OK. And, uh, maybe Coca Cola, but I dislike it. I always drink the orangey water and, uh, just drink the water. All right. Um, are there any drinks that people have at special times? Mm, yeah, uh, I think maybe in the parties such as birthday party or any, uh, celebration kind of party, the people will drink a lot of such as, uh, beer and any alcohol, alcohol water. Yeah, alcohol drink, sorry. Mm hm. All right. Um, are there any hot drinks you like? No I don't like. OK and, uh, what do you think are the healthiest drinks? Mm. In my country a lot of people believe that, um, a little drink is better to your health, but I'm not sure because I think the men is always drink a lot and they cannot control, so I think drink is lot to their body. Right. Now we have the second part of the Speaking Test. I'm going to give you a card about a topic, and I'd like you to talk about it for one to two minutes.. Before you start, you can have one minute to think about what you are going to say, and if you want to, you can make some notes. Do you understand? Yes. All right. So here is some paper and a pencil for making notes, and here's your topic. I'd like you to describe a house or an apartment you've lived in and which you liked.

Describe something difficult that you are going to do and that you want to do. You should say: what it is when you're going to do it why it will be difficult and explain why you want to do it.

All right? So remember, you can talk for one to two minutes. I'll tell you when the time is up. Could you start speaking now, please? Yeah, now I will describe a house to you. Um, once I have been to Sydney I live in a big, very big house. The house has in Willoughby. You know

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Willoughby is quite far from the Macquarie and I like ... I like the house very much because it's, it's very beautiful. The house is very big. There are six bedroom and two toilets, hm, a kitchen, a living room, uh, and a, a very big parking room. I think it's very big, um, because in, in China my apartment is quite small so I fe ... I always fix stress when I live in it. Mm, ah, ah, after, after the courses I always go to, go to my house, I prefer to stay in my bedroom instead of go outside because, uh, I have a little friend and I think, uh, the house is quite comfortable. Mm, uh, of, of course I have three, three housemate. Most of them come from China. We always chat but, uh, one of the problem is that we always chat with Chinese. I think that is not good enough to me. Uh, in a word I like the house and I think it's beautiful, clear, large and, uh, it's very comfortable, so I think it's better for me. So is that home similar to other places in the area? Sorry? Is that home similar to other places in the area? Mm, no, maybe not. OK. All right. Well thank you very much. Oh, thanks. You've been talking about a house or an apartment you have lived in, and now I want to discuss a few more general questions connected to this. Firstly, let's look at finding a place to live. Um, how do people usually find a place to live in your country? In my country, always go to the, uh, look for the advertisement and to gain some information about the house. Ah, maybe you, maybe the people can use a computer, um, collect the information from the Internet or buy some new newspaper, they always have some information about it. Ah, of course there are agents about just, uh, work for the, the rent, so I think it's quite easy for a person who want to have, who want to have, who want to have looking for a house. All right. So what factors do you think determine where people choose to live? Mm, I think most of, most of the important reason is comfortable and the price and the convenient. Yeah. Right. And, um, how would you compare, then, living in an apartment and living in a house? Mm, when I in China I live in the apartment, it's quite small, mm, and, ah, I will feel, um, it's not as comfortable as the house. However, uh, in my, in my a ... , a sorry, apartment, I, I never find any insect because I live in the fifth floor of the building, the building quite high and, uh, higher world than when I lived in the house. Uh, sometime they can find the insect climbing to my house. I'm afraid of it.

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All right. Well, now let's look at home ownership. Um, do most people in your country rent their home or do they own their own home? Mm, if they have house or apartment, uh, most of people prefer to live in his own house because the, the rent of the house is quite expensive, especially in Shanghai and Beijing and in other big cities. Mm, I think the people should not put some money to rent a house if he had his own house. That's not economic. So what do you think is the difference in attitudes towards a house if you are a renter or you are an owner of that house? Do you think their attitudes towards their homes are different? Towards? Um, no, do you think an attitude of a renter, um, of a house compared to the attitude of an owner of the house is different? Oh, of course it's different. If I have my own house, I lived in it and I feel, oh, that it, that belongs to me. And I think I have a family, um, but if I live in the house just rent from somebody, I think I'm always worried maybe I will have to move another house. Right. I think that it quite different. So how does that affect how they treat the house? Mm, treat? Um, how, how they, um, how they treat that house. So, do you think that they think of the house in a better way or a worse way, if they are a renter? Yeah, uh, I think the people can compare with others. If I have rent a house and I lived it for a, for a long time, maybe I think, oh, it's OK to me, but when I look, um, with it to my friend, maybe I will find out that his house is better to me, so I will all think maybe I will have to looking for another house. OK. Lastly, let's look at residential areas. Um, do you think that it's better to live in the city or that it's better to live in a suburban area? Mm. I think the both benefit and, uh, disadvantages to live in the city or the countryside. Uh, in the city the life will become very convenient and it's, it's very easy for you to go out for shopping and visit your friend and, uh, check bars to any place, but I think the, maybe the environment is not good enough and the traffic is bad too. If you want to go out or go to work, go to university, you'll find that the traffic always block, it will waste a lot of time. Mm. However, if the person live in countryside, uh, and the life is very leisure, but I think you maybe you will feel lonely. Yeah, nobody can try to reach you, nobody can tell, can take care of you. You just live by yourself, and maybe you just stay at home and watch the TV and, uh, call your friend. I think, uh, it's bad for the young people.

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OK. Well, thank you very much. That's the end of the Speaking Test. Thanks.

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Speaking Practice Questions and Answers

Introduction 1. Hello. Could you show me your identification card please? Hello. Sure, here it is. 2. Could you tell me your full name please? My full name is X. I am also called by my nick name Y. 3. What shall I call you? You could call me X. 4. How are you? I am well thank you, and yourself? 5. How old are you? I am 22 years old. In other words, I was born in 1980.On the eighth of March 1980, to be exact. 6a. Does your name have any special meaning? Yes, my name does have some special meaning. My family name means peace, and my first name means strong one. My nick name was given to me by one of my high school teachers, and it does not have any special meaning really. 6b. Does your name have any special meaning? I presume you are referring to my Muslim name. Yes, the English equivalent of my family name would be something like peace, and in the case of my first name it would be strong one. My nick name was randomly chosen by one of my high school teachers, and it really doesn’t have any special meaning. 7a. Is your name important to you? No. I don’t think it can do anything for me. I believe a person has to work out his own life. I am planning to do this as well as I can. 7b. Is your name important to you? Not really. I am part of the new generation who do not attach too much significance to our names. Names were important to the older generation as they of the opinion that it will determine your destiny to some extent. However, I personally believe that I myself will determine my destiny irrespective of what my name is. I will do this by acquiring good qualifications and by working hard.

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Hometown 8. How long have you lived in your hometown? I come from xxx. My parents have been living here for the past thirty years or so. I grew up here and I attended a well-known school called School number 163. We live in a respectable area with many shops, restaurants, and a variety of other businesses. The people in our building are generally friendly and quite, which makes it a pleasure to live there. 9a. Where do you live? I live with my parents here in xxx at the moment. To be more exact, we live in an apartment building in one of the northern suburbs of the city. I have my own room and enjoy the privacy that it brings, but I am looking forward to the day that I can have my own apartment. Allow me to explain: they are good parents, and I love them very much, but I would like to be more independent soon. 9b. Where do you live? Well, that is not so easy to answer. Please allow me to explain. During the week I live in a dormitory at the university, but over weekends I live with my parents in a village about one hour by car from xxx. So I really do not know which of the two to call my home at the moment. 10. Can you tell me something about your hometown? Yes, certainly. XXX is in the northeast part of my country. It has about three million inhabitants. It has many heavy industries such as automobile, and machine tool manufacturers. In addition, it is rich in history. For example, the xxx invaded the city and committed many atrocities (that is to say many crimes) during the occupation. This is still remembered by many of the elderly folks to this day. Another example that I could mention is the Imperial Palace that belonged to the last dynasty. 11. What are the main places of interest in your hometown? Why? Sure. Firstly, I could mention the Great River, which you will find around the city. To the northeast of the city there is the famous Mountains and the zoological park and botanical gardens. In summer it is a popular place to visit and see tigers, bears, wolves, other animals and even pandas in their natural environment. In winter we often go skiing there. Secondly, I would like to mention the Park. It consists of a large park, with many gardens and a lake. In addition it also is the site of an emperors tomb from the Dynasty. Lastly, there are many other sites that are worthwhile visiting. For example, Government (City Hall) Square with the Great Theater alongside it, Java Square, and the spectacular TV Tower, which is the highest architectural attraction in my country.

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12. What places in your hometown do you like best? There are many places that I like. If I had to choose one place, I would like to tell you about Government Square. Firstly, it is the largest square . What I mean is that it is a large open space where one can see the sky clearly, and feel free. Secondly, it houses an important government building. I guess you could call it the City Hall. 13a. What are the main crops in your region? In our region many crops are grown. For example one would find all kinds of vegetables in the fields of this region. In addition, many farmers have orchards. Here they grow many kinds of fruit like apples, pears, and peaches. 13b. What are the main crops in your region? In our region many crops are grown. For example one would find all kinds of vegetables in the fields of this region. In addition, many farmers have orchards. Here they grow many kinds of fruit like apples, pears, and peaches. Lastly, it is important to note that it is not known for its agriculture. It is better known as an industrial city. For example, here are many heavy industries manufacturing anything from aircraft and automobiles to machine tools. 14a. What is the difference between your hometown and other cities (such as Hong Kong)? The main difference between my hometown and Hong Kong is the climate. For example, there they have a tropical climate. That is to say that it is very hot and humid. Here in my hometown we have cold winters and hot summers. Secondly, My hometown is an industrial city, whereas Hong Kong is more a financial center. That is to say, here we have many factory workers, or to be more exact, family-orientated workers who are not very wealthy, and in Hong Kong there are many tycoons, millionaires, and wealthy people. 14b. What is the difference between your hometown and Hong Kong? The main difference between my hometown and Hong Kong is the climate. For example, there they have a tropical climate. That is to say that it is very hot and humid. Here in my hometown we have cold winters and hot summers. Although cities like Toronto, New York, are larger than my hometown, they all are bustling with industrial and cultural activities. Maybe Hong Kong is an exception, as it is better known as one of the most important financial capitals of the world. 15. Can you tell me something about the character of the people in your hometown? Well, they aren't any different from the inhabitants in any other large city. For example, here we also have many wholesome families as well as our share of criminal elements in the society. In addition, I believe that my hometown has not been westernized to the same extent as a city like Hong Kong.

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For example, the people have not become materialistic to the same extent as the inhabitants of Hong Kong. In other words, in my hometown you would still find many good old- fashioned (traditional) people who have strong principles and values about many aspects of life.

Present Situation (student) 16a. Are you a student or do you have a job? I am a student at the moment. I am studying English on a full-time basis at a Language School here. We have classes in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Wednesday afternoons we are off, and are allowed to go swimming at a nearby hotel. We have a number of foreign teachers who assist us in the correct pronunciation and grammar of the language. 16b. Are you a student or do you have a job? I have a job. I am working in a workshop of a large manufacturing plant at the moment. I graduated from high school two years ago, and went to work immediately. I am an assistant to one of the automotive electricians in the workshop. I have to assist my artisan in getting his jobs done. For instance, I have the responsibility to see that are the tools are in good order, and that the workshop is always kept clean and tidy. 17. What do you like most about your studies? Well, I guess the speaking part. Please allow me to explain. Language is all about communication. So when I am able to communicate with someone in English, I feel that I have achieved something. I particularly like our free talk sessions with the foreign teachers. It gives me the opportunity to question them about their countries and cultures. 18. What is your major? As I have been studying on a full-time basis at an English Language School, we have only one subject, namely English for Academic Purposes called EAP. We do reading and writing, practical speaking, and listening by means of cassettes. English is the language of the future, especially in the business world. What I mean to say is that when I am able to communicate well in English I will not only be able to go and study abroad and improve my qualifications, but also have mastered a very necessary tool for my future career. 19. Which is the best university in your country? That's an interesting question. Allow me to explain my personal view by shortly mentioning the following points: I believe that the xxx University is the best University in the country. For example, it has the highest percentage of students passing their courses of all the universities in my country.

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20. Describe your study habits? I have well established study habits. For example, I always start promptly at eight in the evenings. I study for two hours, have a ten-minute break, and the study for another two hours. I follow this habit from Mondays to Fridays, but over the weekends I put in more hours. For example, I study in the mornings and afternoons, and then take the evenings off to relax with my family or friends. 21. Do you think your present subjects are relevant? Yes. Allow me to explain myself by shortly mentioning the following points: Firstly, we often use case studies in class. What I mean is that the professor gives us examples from real life to examine and report on. Secondly, our lecturers and some advisors from the relevant industries have set up our study material. What I mean to say is that the people who we are going to work for one day have had the opportunity to tell the university what they think we should be taught. 22. What kind of job would you prefer after graduation? I would like to become a medical doctor. Please allow me to explain. Firstly, I would like to render a service in the community to which I will eventually belong. For example, I would like to assist the elderly that do not have the financial means to afford private hospitals. 23. What are your job prospects? I am planning to become a Hotel Manager. Please allow me to explain. Firstly, I believe that the hotel industry will be growing greatly in future. For example, people are becoming more affluent, and spend more and more of their money on holidays. In addition, I believe that after graduating I will be able to find a good job anywhere in the world. What I mean to say is that all hotels and resorts have the same objectives irrespective of where they are situated. Their aim is to ensure that their guests have a good time and return again.

Present Situation (employee) 24a. Do you have a degree? If so, when and where did you graduate? Yes. I have a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering. I graduated in 2001 from xxx University. It is the largest university in my country and has about twenty thousand students. 24b. Do you have a degree? If so, when and where did you graduate? No. I have a Diploma in Nursing. I graduated in 2001 from the Medical Training College. It is a well-known College giving excellent training to future nurses and other medical staff. For example, ambulance drivers, hospital staff, and so on are all trained there.

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25. What impressed you most when you were at university / college? I was most impressed by the knowledge and skills of my lecturers. For example, they had experience in the working environment, and could tell us exactly what we would come across there. Secondly, I was impressed by the facilities. For example, we had a large library, well-equipped laboratories, and sporting facilities at our disposal. 26. Do you still remember your school days? Of course! Those were some of the best times in my life. Allow me to explain myself by shortly mentioning the following points: Firstly they were carefree days. What I mean to say is that I had no or very few worries. My parents provided in my day-to-day needs, and all I had to do was get good grades. Secondly, I had many friends in school. For instance, some o my best friends today were people that I met in school. 27. Describe your job in detail. I am an Engineer. Allow me to explain myself by shortly mentioning the following points: Firstly, I work for a large construction company. To be more precise, we specialize in the building of railway bridges. Secondly, I would like to mention that I am in the designing department. We have to look at the site for a new bridge, and then decide what type of bridge will be suitable. Lastly, we have to make recommendations to the railway company of all the alternatives, and give them some idea of the costs. 28. Is your job important to you? That’s a broad question. Allow me to explain by shortly mentioning the following points: Firstly, my job is important to me because by doing it I can serve my community and my country. For example, when my company builds a new road, many people benefit from our work. Secondly, I personally get a lot of job satisfaction. What I mean to say is that after we have completed a road, I am proud to drive on the road with my family and explain to them what was involved during the building of the road. 29. If you could, would you change jobs? Although I am very happy in my present job, I believe one should always be ambitious. That is to say one should never be complacent, but should be on the lookout for opportunities to advance in your career. Furthermore, I would not hesitate for one moment if I could obtain a promotion by changing jobs. I realize that one should show some loyalty to your present employer, but there has to be a balance between looking after ones own interests and those of your present employer. 30. Are their possible changes that could affect your job in any way? I don’t think so. The company that I am working for is large and strong. In addition, I have a good relationship with my colleagues and my boss. Lastly, the only possible change that would affect me is if I should receive a promotion. That would be a positive development, so I am worried at all.

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Family (general)

31. Could you tell me something about your family? Certainly. We are a normal Indian family. It consists of my father, my mother, and me. I am the only child, so I don’t have any brothers or sisters. My grandparents passed away when I was still very young, so I did not have the privilege of knowing them. My father was one of four children, and my mother has a brother, so I have a number of uncles and aunts, and many cousins. 32. What do you think of the One-Child Policy in China? That’s a tough question. Allow me to explain my personal views by shortly mentioning the following points: Firstly, I think we have to have the policy in China. Our population had been growing to rapidly and something drastic had to be done. Secondly, I believe the policy will give China a chance to move ahead in the world. What I mean to say is that as soon as the population growth has stabilized, China will be able to make progress in the fight against unemployment. 33. Why do people in your country traditionally want to have a son? That’s an interesting question. Allow me to explain my personal views by shortly mentioning the following points: Firstly, I believe that fathers all over the world want someone to carry their name into the future. For example, in many western countries it is customary for a boy to receive his grandfather’s name. A second reason that I could mention is that parents worry about what will happen to them after they had retired. They feel that when they have a son he would be able to provide for them in future. 34. Who does most of the shopping in your family? As far as this topic is concerned, I could say that my mother does most of the shopping, but my father and I will do some shopping from time to time. My parents allow me to buy my own clothes. Lastly, I would like to mention that my mother does not like my fathers smoking habit and therefore refuses to buy cigarettes, so that my father has to do that kind of shopping himself. 35. Who does most of the cooking in your family? My mother does most of the cooking, but my father and I will do some cooking from time to time. For example, sometimes my mother will be out the whole day doing voluntary work in our community, and then my father and I will do the cooking for her. The second aspect I could tell you about regarding this topic is that we often eat out. For example, often on a Friday night none of us feel like cooking, and then we visit one of the local restaurants, and have our favorite dish. 36. How does your family feel about you going abroad? They are very happy about me going abroad. I believe my parents will be very proud if I were to achieve a degree at a university abroad.

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In addition, they themselves never had the opportunity to study. I am their only child, and they would do anything in their power to allow me to have the opportunity.

Family (married person) 37. Are you married? And if so, when did you get married? Yes, I am married. I got married about three years ago. I have a good husband / wife, and we are very happy together. To put it in another way you could say that we are best friends. For example, we do not keep any secrets from one another. We had known each other for many years before we got married, so we did not have to adjust too much. For example, I knew that he snores loudly when he turns onto his back when sleeping. 38. Do you have any children? No, I don’t have any children yet. We are planning to start with a family as soon as we have our own apartment. Until then my husband / wife and I are working as hard as possible to improve our positions in the companies that we are employed by. We would both like to have a son and a daughter, but because of the one-child policy that will not be possible. 39. What is your child’s name? Does it have any meaning? My child’s name is David Lee. His nickname is superman, as we believe that he is going to become a strong man one day. 40. What does your wife do? My wife is a housewife at the moment. We are looking for a job for her, but it is not easy, as she does not have any qualifications or experience. They are opening up a new supermarket in our area soon, and we are hoping that she will be able to find a job there. She has placed her name on a waiting list, and we will be hearing from the employment officer soon. 41. What does your husband do? My husband is a civil servant. He works for the Department of Health at a hospital near our home. He is responsible for keeping the patient records in the men’s wards. He loves his work, and is receiving a good salary, so we don’t have any serious worries. As a matter of fact we both agree that we have a lot to be thankful for. 42. Did you have a honeymoon? And if so, where did you go? Yes, we did have a honeymoon. We went to Cuba for a week, and stayed in a small hotel next to the beach. I will never forget the time we spent there. For example, it was very romantic, as we could sit on the beach in the evenings and watch the moon rising over the sea.

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43. Did you and your spouse have to ask permission from your parents before you could get married? No, not really. They knew we were going to get married. We only had to confirm the date with them to ensure that it would suit them and our families. In earlier times it was customary for the young man to get the permission from his girlfriend’s parents before they could get married. 44. Is living together without getting married acceptable in your country? It depends to what extent the couple would adhere to earlier customs. What I mean to say is that these days it is becoming more and more acceptable. For example, young people feel that they first want to get know each other even better by living together. When they are absolutely sure that they are able to adapt to each others lifestyles, they would then most probably decide to get married. 45. Do you think couples should live with their parent or on their own? There are several reasons as for why I think couples should life on their own. Allow me to explain by mentioning some of them briefly. Firstly, I believe couples should become independent as soon as possible. For example, they should learn how to cope with the money at their disposal. Secondly, I believe they should be alone as soon as possible. For example, should they have an argument; they have to solve the problem by themselves. 46. What responsibilities should a couple take? There are several responsibilities that couples should take. Allow me to explain by mentioning some of them briefly. In the first place, I believe they should be responsible for their own finances. For example, young couples usually do not have a lot of money, and find it difficult to make ends meet. Secondly, I believe that later they have to look after their children. For example, they have to feed and clothe them, and ensure that they get a good education.

Family (children) 47. Are there any traditions around the birth of a baby in your region? Yes, there are quite a few. Firstly, after the baby is born, the father will give his wife some flowers, and take photographs of the baby and her. When the baby arrives at home, the parents will make prints of its hands and feet. This, together with a paintbrush made by using some of the babies’ hair, will be kept as memorabilia. 48. What kind of parent do you intend to be? That’s an interesting question. Allow me to explain my personal views by shortly mentioning the following points:

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First of all, I would love my child unconditionally What I mean is that I realize my child is not perfect, but I will still love him/her even if s/he has made a mistake. Secondly, I would like to be known as a strict but fair parent. For example, I will not allow my child too many freedoms, but I will also try to understand his/her needs. 49. What hopes or fears do you have concerning your children? That’s an interesting question. Allow me to explain myself/my personal views by shortly mentioning the following points: Firstly, I fear that my children will have a very hard life. For example, I wonder if they will have work to do. Secondly, I hope that they will be happy. For example, that they will find a good spouse, have children, and live together in peace and love. 50. What type of culture do you want your child to grow up in? That’s a broad question. Allow me to explain myself/my personal views by shortly mentioning the following points: Firstly, I would like my child to grow up in a culture of love. What I mean to say is that I hope the circumstances in our home will full of love and understanding. Secondly, I hope my child will grow up in a culture where the finer things in life are important. For example, things like music, art, and studying should be part of his life from the beginning. 51. Are you going to bring your children up differently from the way you were brought up? Why? No, not really. I believe my parents raised me well, and gave me a good education. If I could do the same for my child I would be happy. Maybe I would be a bit more modern. For example, I believe my parents were unreasonably strict at times. I would try and keep a balance between discipline and freedom.

Family (woman) 52. Is there any sex discrimination in your country? One of the aspects I could tell you about regarding this topic is that there is some discrimination against woman in my country. For example, woman who are doing exactly the same job as men, are getting smaller salaries. Secondly, women are not considered for certain high level positions, like for example, in government. In addition, in many communities women are still regarded as inferior to men. This is particularly the case in the rural communities. Lastly, parents prefer to have a boy as opposed to a girl. This is an unhealthy situation, as it will disturb the balance between the number of men and women in my country in the years to come. 53a. What are the causes of sex discrimination? One of the main reasons regarding this topic that I would like to highlight is the fact that men often determine the wages in the companies. Secondly, women are not seen as able to do certain jobs as well as men.

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For instance, construction work has always been seen as a man’s job. Lastly, many men still believe that a woman should stay at home, raise the kids, and be of service to her husband. 53b. What are the causes of sex discrimination? That’s an interesting question. Allow me to explain myself by shortly mentioning the following points: Firstly, I believe that discrimination against woman have deep roots in societies all over the world. In other words, it is not a present day phenomenon. Throughout history women have not enjoyed the same status as men. It is only recently that woman have been filling the same positions in the work place. Lastly, I believe that it will take much more time to eradicate this practice. For example, as more and more women become the sole breadwinners in families, they will have to be compensated as such irrespective of their sex. 54. Should housewives be paid a salary by the government? Why? Yes, I believe housewives should be paid a salary by the government. Firstly, to be a housewife is a job just as any other, and one should be paid for what she is doing. Secondly, more housewives are better. For example, housewives can spend more time with their babies, and so lay the foundation of healthy relationships.

Preferences (spare time) 55a. What do you usually do in your spare time? As a matter of fact, I have very little spare time these days. My studies are so important to me that I have given up all my other activities. For example, I used to love playing tennis, but these days I simply do not have the time. In addition, I used to swim often, as I believe it kept me fit without the danger of being injured. 55b. What are your spare time interests? Well, these days, I surf on the Internet in my spare time. I have just bought my first computer, and love to look for exciting web sites that I have not known before. It is of course very time consuming, so I dont rally have time for anything else. I have to mention that it is an educational activity. For example, by means of web cams (video images from cameras set up at certain places) I am able to watch what wild animals are doing in many parts of the world. I particularly like to watch the polar bears playing with their cubs. 56. Do you often watch TV? What is your favorite program? Yes, I often watch TV. My favorite program is called Discovery. As to why it is my favorite, I would like to mention the following. Firstly, it is not science fiction but a documentary on real life events and happenings. For example, it had a program on the latest eclipse of the sun that occurred at the end of the year. Secondly, it often has items about nature.

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For example, last week it explained how some birds have adapted to survive in a desert. 57. Do you think watching TV is a waste of time? No, I do not think watching TV is a waste of time. Firstly, one can learn a lot from watching TV, and secondly, it is a good way to relax. For example, the soap operas help me to relax, while the documentaries are informative. Lastly, I believe that TV has become the best source of information these days. For example, it is a fast and convenient way to find out about the latest news from all over the world.

Preferences (friends) 58. What does friendship mean to you? One of the aspects I could tell you about regarding this topic is that friendship is very important to me. For example, I believe that friendship should be the basis for many of our relationships. Husbands and wives, for example, should be friends. In addition, I need friends to help me when I am in trouble. I know this sound selfish, but I feel that it is one of the reasons why I have friends, and they would not mind me saying so. On the other hand, my friends know that I will always be available should any one of them get into some trouble. 59. Do you have a lot of friends? Yes, I have a lot of friends. Some of them are only casual friends like my friends at work, but I also have some best friends. For example, I have some friends who I have known for many years. I will do anything to help them when they need me, and I know they would do the same for me. 60. Do you prefer to be alone or to be with friends? I prefer to be alone. Please allow me to explain. I like reading, which takes a lot of my time. Reading to me is a way of studying, so I have to do it alone. I often have to check the meaning of unfamiliar words in my dictionary, which is a slow process taking a lot of time. 60a. Do you prefer to be alone or to be with friends? I prefer to be with my friends. Please allow me to explain. At work I spend most of my time alone in my office. So after work I like the company of other people. I often invite some of my friends over, and we listen to our favorite music, or just chat the whole evening. 60b. Do you prefer to be alone or to be with friends? Sometimes I prefer to be alone. For example, after a hard day at work I just want to relax without anybody disturbing me. Those are the times that I might meditate on the meaning of life for example, or just savour some fond memories. On the other hand, sometimes I want to be with my friends. For example, over weekends, I like to go out with them and enjoy their stimulating company.

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61a. What do you usually do with your friends? Firstly, we often visit the nearest net bar for a number of reasons. For example, to play computer games or to surf on the net. Sometimes we chat to young people abroad. We often spend hours there at a time. Secondly, we like to play basketball. For example, we would challenge another group to play against us. 61b. What do you usually do with your friends? We usually go to the movies. My friends and I like cartoons very much, so we will look in the newspaper where a new cartoon is being showed and go and watch it. In addition, we like to watch a good action movie from time to time. We find the spectacular crashes and explosions very exiting. These movies are from Hong Kong or Hollywood, and have famous actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Cruise playing in them.

Preferences (weekends and outings) 62a. What do you usually do on weekdays and on weekends? On weekdays I go to school. On weekends I like to go out with my friends. For example, we will go and visit new shopping malls in the city. Then we would browse around all the shops. Sometimes we will sit in a restaurant and have something to drink while we watch the crowds of people go by. 62b. What do you usually do on weekdays and on weekends? On weekdays I go to school. On weekends I like to stay at home. I can easily spend a weekend watching TV and just relaxing. For example, I like the soap operas like Meteor Garden and so on. I know the different characters well by now, some whom I love, and some whom I hate. I realize that some of the plots are silly and overdramatic, but it is good relaxing entertainment, as one does not have to think very hard to follow the stories.

OUTINGS 63a. What do you usually do when you go out? I usually go to the nearest net bar with some of my friends. We spend many hours playing games or surfing the net. In addition, net bars are a great place for social gatherings. There we meet other youngsters and just hang around talking, and generally having a good time. 63b. What do you usually do when you go out? I usually go shopping with my mother. The reason for this is simple. US ladies usually need a lot of clothes to make us look beautiful, so we love to go shopping. Often we don’t actually buy anything, but just browse around looking at all the clothes and comparing prices and quality.

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63c. What do you usually do when you go out? One of the aspects I could tell you about regarding this topic is that I usually go to watch a football game with some of my friends. We go to one of the local stadiums where our favorite team will be playing. I love the excitement and suspense. It seems that I often loose my identity in such a large crowd, and go crazy about the smallest of things.

Preferences (reading) 64a. Do you like reading? No I don't like reading. I do not have the patience. For example, I have never been able to read a book from start to finish. Maybe the books I have tried were not interesting enough. 64b. Do you like reading? Yes. I like reading very much. Please allow me to explain. Firstly, I believe that all of us should read a lot. For example, when you read you acquire new knowledge, which in turn will broaden your views on important matters. In addition I also like reading Crazy English. The topics are interesting and short, and the translations ensure that I don’t waste time looking up unfamiliar words. 65a. What kinds of books do you like best? I like cartoons. Please allow me to explain. Firstly, I believe cartoons are a special form of art. For example, the Japanese cartoons that are common in China, have excellent illustrations. 65b. What kinds of books do you like best? I like novels. Please allow me to explain. Firstly, I like to read a storyline that is full of intrigue and suspense. For example, many love stories have characters who are involved in all sorts of conflicts amongst them. The most common one known all over the world since ancient times is the so-called love triangle. 66a. Describe a book that you have read recently. I have read a book about the life of Michael Jordan. I am sorry, but I have forgotten the name of the book. I also like to read Japanese cartoons. 66b. Describe a book that you have read recently. I have recently read a book about the history of South Africa. It is called The Covenant, and was written by a famous American author called James Mitchener. It describes the history from the very first days, up to the present. It covers all aspects of the country, but focuses on the people of the country. For example, he looks at the political situation over the past fifty years, which was based on racial discrimination and had become known to the world as apartheid.

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67a. Do you often read the newspapers? No, I never read a newspaper. I watch TV if I want to know what is happening in China and the world. Newspapers take to much time to read. For example, the news on TV is short and to the point, and that's all I want to know. 67b. Do you often read the newspapers? No. Allow me to explain the reasons by shortly mentioning the following points: Firstly, I use the Internet these days if I want to know whats happening in region and the world. For example, websites like CNN contain all the latest news on world events. Secondly, I like to read about stories in depth, and this I cannot find in newspapers. For example, I often would like to know the history behind a story. On the Internet I can do some research right away, and so gain a broader perspective on the subject at hand.

Preferences (hobbies) 68. Do you have a hobby? Yes. My hobby is stamp collecting. I have been collecting stamps for the past two years now. That is to say, for two years I have chosen stamp collecting to be my only hobby. I regularly spend time working on my collection. I guess I spend about two hours every week on my hobby. This is mainly over weekends, as I do not have time during the week. 69a. Why have you chosen this hobby? That’s an interesting question. Allow me to explain myself/my personal views by shortly mentioning the following points: First of all, it’s a very interesting hobby. For example, the stamps from other countries often say something about that country and its people. 69b. Why have you chosen this hobby? First of all, when you collect stamps, you are able to learn more about the world, and you will not be bored easily. What I mean to say is that you can get stamps from every country in the world, and the stamps often say something about that country and its people. Secondly, you are able to meet new friends through your hobby. For instance, you have a common interest with someone else, and you can discuss your collections together for many hours. Lastly, the hobby will teach you some self-discipline and how to be very systematic. That is to say, you have to tend to your collection regularly, and you have to sort the stamps according to internationally recognized systems. 70. What are good hobbies? And what are bad hobbies? In my opinion, good hobbies are those ones that give you the opportunity to develop a new skill. For example, collecting stamps teaches you to be systematic. Bad hobbies on the other hand may result in you acquiring bad habits.

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For example, TV and computer games will result in you neglecting your studies.

Preferences (colors) 71a. What color do you like? Why? I like red. Please allow me to explain. In my country, red is associated with life and good luck. For example, a bride will wear something red on her wedding day, in the hope that it will bring her and her bridegroom some luck in future. 71b. What color do you like? Why? If I had to describe my favorite color, I would choose yellow. Many artists are known to use yellow in their paintings. For example, Vincent van Gogh is famous for the yellow sunflowers in some of his paintings. Many countries have yellow in their national flags. For example, South Africa has a broad yellow band in their newly designed flag. This symbolizes the energy and warmth to be found in the nation. 71c. What color do you like most? Why? Yellow is my favorite color. First of all, to me, yellow symbolizes the sun. What I mean to say is that it reminds me of energy and warmth. Secondly, yellow is a bright color as apposed to dull colors like brown and gray. For instance, brown and gray usually make me feel depressed. Lastly, I would like to mention that yellow is a practical color. That is to say, you can wear yellow with almost any color, and it does not get dirty too easily. 72. Do colors have some symbolic meaning in your country? Yes, colors certainly have a lot of meaning in my country. Please allow me to explain. Firstly, it is significant that the national flag of my country has a red background. Red is symbolic, for example, of a vibrant life, which we believe are one of the dominant characteristics of the country and its people. It also signifies good luck, so a bride would wear some red on her wedding day. In addition, I think that yellow has a specific meaning to our people. For example, we believe that it symbolizes the energy radiated by the sun, which in turn is the primary source of life. In addition, however, it also signifies the obscene, as apposed to blue in the most of the western cultures. For example, here a blue movie would be called a yellow movie. Lastly, I think that white has a special meaning to us. To be more specific, in times of sadness and mourning, we use white to express our feelings, as apposed to black in most of the western cultures.

Preferences (shopping and movies) 73a. Do you like / enjoy shopping? Yes, I love shopping. Please allow me to explain. Firstly, I usually buy clothes for myself. I like to go to the shops and see what they have to offer.

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I browse around and compare the prices before a buy something. Secondly, I do the shopping of all our household needs. I love to find out about any new products on the market and how they can possibly make my life easier. 73b. Do you like / enjoy shopping? No, I hate shopping. Please allow me to explain. Firstly, shopping is the most basic activity in a capitalistic society. What I mean to say is that somebody has a product which they would like you to buy from them whether you really need it or not. They lure you into their shops and malls by advertising their goods on TV and in the newspapers. They only tell you about the positive aspects of their product, but would never mention the disadvantages. This you have to find out for yourself, usually after you have bought the product. 74a. Do you often go to the cinema? Yes, I go to the cinema as often as possible. I usually go with some friends to watch the latest action movies or comedies. We have a great time, like for example when our favorite star is playing a lead role in the movie. 74b. Do you often go to the cinema? Yes, I go to the cinema as often as possible. I believe that films are a wonderful form of art. Please allow me to explain. Firstly, in films there are a wide range of genres ranging from comedy and drama, to horror and science fiction. For example, recently I have seen the drama Titanic, which has been described as the most expensive film ever made. The extent to which the producers attended to the details of the original ship was astounding. Another example would be the thriller with my favorite actor Anthony Hopkins in the lead role called Silence of the lambs. It had me on the edge of my seat for most of the time. 75. Do you often go to the theater? No. I have never been to the theater. Firstly, it is too expensive for me. I prefer to go to the cinema. Secondly, I believe that the theater is boring. What I mean to say is that the actors are on the same stage the whole time. I cannot see how that can be as exciting as a good movie. 76. What kinds of movies do you like best? I like comedies. First of all, comedies are great fun. What I mean to say is that I have a good laugh while watching. Secondly, comedies seldom contain violent scenes. For instance, you would not easily find murders, shooting, fighting, and so on in a comedy. Lastly, comedies often contain excellent acting by famous stars. For example, Robbie Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire is considered one of the most extraordinary performances ever by an actor. 77. Who is your favorite movie star? Describe him / her. My favorite movie star is Jackie Cheng. He is handsome, and very funny. He always has a smile on his face, and never seems to be worried about the situations that he finds himself in.

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The U.S. President Clinton went to watch one of his movies with him.

MUSIC 78. Do you think music is important? Yes, I like music very much. That is to say, I cannot imagine what my life would be like without music. Firstly, I believe music plays an important part in people’s lives. For example, we can use it to sooth our minds after a hard day at work, or it can provide us with the rhythm to dance to. 79. What kind of music do you enjoy most? I like pop music very much. Allow me to explain. First of all, pop music is lively, and suits me at my age. What I mean to say is that us youngsters like to listen to music that fits in with the way we feel Secondly, usually has a good rhythm. For instance, it is suitable for us to dance on. Lastly, pop music is simple to understand. That is to say, I like it because it is not difficult to understand, and it helps me to relax after I have been studying hard for some time. 80. How long do you listen to music everyday? Oh, let me think a bit. I guess I listen to music for about half an hour every day. I would, for example, listen when I get home from school, or in the evenings before I go to bed. On weekends, however, I listen to music much more. For example, I would invite my best friend over to my place, and we would listen to our favorite CDs for a few hours at a time.

TRAVELING 81. Do you like traveling? Yes, I like traveling. Firstly, I believe that traveling is always educational. What I mean to say is that the people that you meet along the way are usually interesting. Secondly, I wish I were able to travel more. For example, I have not traveled to a foreign country yet. 82. How do you usually travel? I like to travel by train. Allow me to explain. Firstly, when I travel by train I am able to see more of my country. In addition, the trains in my country are convenient and comfortable. For example, I can travel to any city, and I am able to sleep on the train. Lastly, traveling on a train is a social event as well. For example, one can chat to the other passengers about where they are going, and why they are traveling. 83. Where have you traveled lately? I traveled to xxx last month. My parents and I traveled there by train. We went to see my grandmother who has been ill lately. I enjoyed the trip as I have not been to xxx before.

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We did not have the opportunity to sleep on the train, as it takes only six hours to get there. 84. What kind of places do you like to visit? I like to visit places where there is a lot of entertainment. For example, I don’t like it when we go and visit my grandparents in the country. They live on a farm and don’t even have a computer for me to play on. I like to visit the cities where there are movies to watch and nightclubs to visit.

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IELTS Speaking Tips from www.ielts-simon.com IELTS Speaking Part 3: longer answers Here are 3 techniques to help you give longer, more detailed answers:

1. Keep asking yourself "why?" 2. Explain the alternatives 3. Give an example

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: using the 1-minute preparation time Martin asked a great question: "What's the best way to use the 1-minute preparation time in part 2 of the speaking test?" I must admit, I don't have a good answer to this question (yet). I'm going to try some different approaches with my students this week - hopefully I'll find some answers. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to share them in the "comments" area. I'll share my ideas on Friday. IELTS Speaking Part 2: 1-minute preparation This week I've been thinking about different ways to use the 1-minute preparation time. Here's what I've learnt:

1. One minute is a very short amount of time! I found it just as difficult as my students did.

2. A simple list is probably faster and easier than a diagram or mind map. 3. You need to decide on your topic as quickly as possible. Then spend most of

your time making notes. 4. Try to write at least one key idea for each part of the question. 5. Don't write sentences, and don't waste time erasing "mistakes". 6. Try to use a topic you have already prepared. 7. Forget about grammar. Focus on answering the question. 8. Finally, fast preparation is a skill that you can practise. Why not train yourself

by making notes for a few different questions every day? The following photo shows a part 2 question with my notes below. As you can see, I couldn't write much in 1 minute, but I followed the advice above.

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dy IELTS Speaking Part 3: present, past, future In part 3 of the speaking test, it's common to get questions about the past and future, as well as questions about 'now'. Here are some examples: 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; there are even free buses that take people between the train stations. Manchester also has 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 moved on. 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: 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 are popular with young people? 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.

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Note: Can you see any "band 7 vocabulary" in my answer? 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,...)

Note: If you need to keep speaking, give examples for point 4. 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.

Note: Don't ask the examiner: "Do you mean in my country or here in England?" - it doesn't matter. Don't worry if you have a job and study at the same time - you can mention both.

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IELTS Speaking Part 2: something naughty you did This has been a recent question in part 2 of IELTS speaking: Describe something naughty you did when you were a child. Say - what you did - when you did it - why you did it - and explain how your parents felt about it. This is a difficult topic for most people, so it's a good idea to prepare for it before your test. If you can remember a real situation, use that. If you can't remember being naughty, invent an easy story like my example below. Example ideas:

1. I cheated in a test at primary school by looking at the answers in my book under the table.

2. I was about ... years old, it was a ... lesson. Give some more background about the lesson, the test, the teacher etc.

3. I hadn't studied for the test, I didn't want to fail and have to retake the test at lunchtime. Give reasons why you didn't have time to study.

4. The teacher caught me and told my parents. Explain their feelings: disappointed, angry, embarrassed. Explain the punishment e.g. they 'grounded' me for a week (informal expression, meaning 'they didn't allow me to go out or see friends').

IELTS Speaking: use what you know In parts 2 and 3 of the IELTS speaking test, you need to make quick decisions about what to talk about. Always try to talk about a topic you have prepared or something you know about. Here are some examples: Part 2: Describe a law in your country. Advice: Choose a typical IELTS topic like "guns". Explain why people in your country can/can't own a gun, and talk about the pros and cons of this law. There is a chapter on this topic in my e-book. Part 3: What new law would you introduce to improve life in your country? Advice: Choose an easy topic like "environment". Explain that the government could introduce new laws to reduce pollution from factories, cars etc. Explain how this would improve people's lives. 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).

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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 Part 2: describe a law 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 go to school 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: '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.

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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: know the exam It's important to know exactly what to expect in each part of the exam. The following questions come from part 1, part 2 and part 3 of the speaking test. Can you tell which part each question is from?

1. How often do you watch television? 2. How have television programmes changed since you were a child? 3. Describe a television programme that you enjoyed. 4. Which TV channel or channels do you prefer to watch? Why? 5. Do you think governments should control what TV programmes show?

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

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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.

IELTS Speaking: 'band 9' example Here's my 'band 9' example for yesterday's IELTS speaking question: click here to listen These are some of the best words and phrases that I used. Look them up in a dictionary if you're not sure what they mean:

• desirable location • it stands out • a famous landmark • it's distinctive • spectacular views • the best vantage point

IELTS Speaking Part 2: choosing a 'strong topic' Most people are good at talking about their studies, work, hobbies, health etc. I call these "strong topics". For the question below you can choose any topic you want, so choose something that you find easy to talk about. Describe something that was recently reported in the news. You should say:

• what happened • who was involved • and why you found this news interesting

Example topic choices for the question above: 1. My strong topic could be "education", so I'd say that I read a news article

about universities using the Internet. Click here to see a recent article about this topic.

2. If you like football, you could talk about the news that Barcelona won the Champions League.

3. If you have studied the "health" topic for IELTS writing, you could talk about schools banning junk food. I did a quick search and found this article about schools in Dubai.

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?

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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 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 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

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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 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 2: describe a film A student asked me this question: "If the question asks me to describe a film, can I ask for a different question because I don't like films and I never watch them?" Here's my answer: If the part 2 question is about something you don't like, you should try your best. The examiner is not allowed to change the task card. You probably have family, children or friends who watch films. You could say: "I don't really like watching films, but my children love watching ....." Then describe the film that your children like, say why they like it, and explain why you think it's a nice film for children. Choose a film now so that you are ready for this question. Search for a review of the film on Amazon. Write down the ideas you find, and practise with a friend. IELTS Advice: describe your favourite... More advice about describing your favourite book, film or piece of music:

1. You can talk about any type of book (textbook, biography etc.). You only need to describe a story if the question asks you to describe a 'novel'.

2. Many books are also films. It would be a good idea to prepare one description that you can use for both.

3. Amazon.com is great for reviews of books, films and music. Just search for a title, then go down the page to find the reviews.

4. "Steal" the best vocabulary from the reviews that you find.

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5. Use Google. I searched for "my favourite film is" on Google and found this 'My Favourite Films' website. It's full of good ideas.

6. Try this Google search: "my favourite piece of music is" 7. You can describe a book, film or piece of music from your country. 8. You can invent a story if necessary, but it's easier to tell the truth. 9. If you don't like books, pretend that your favourite film is a book (and vice

versa). 10. Remember to include adjectives to describe your feelings/opinions. Tell the

story of when you first read the book, saw the film or listened to the song, who recommended it, why you like it etc.

NB. 'Piece of music' just means a song. IELTS Speaking Part 1: clothes In part 1 of the IELTS speaking test, you will have to answer some easy questions on 2 different topics. You should give short, simple answers. Here are some example questions and answers for the topic of '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 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.

• I’m going to talk about a musician that I admire, called... He’s a singer who also plays the guitar and writes his own songs. I think he recorded his first album about 10 years ago, and he’s released several other CDs since then.

• He became successful after many years of writing songs and performing 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

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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 hadn’t 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 I’ve 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 admire people 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 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 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."

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IELTS Speaking Part 2: environment problem Describe a problem that affects the environment in the area where you live. You should say - what the problem is - what causes it - and explain what you think could be done to solve it Remember, the question asks you to talk about a problem in your local area, so don't choose 'global warming'. These topics would be better:

• Air pollution caused by traffic and factories. • Building new roads, houses, factories etc. destroys natural areas. • Increasing amounts of litter and household waste.

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 Advice: be more direct In the speaking test, examiners don't like it when students use phrases like: - That's a very interesting question... - It is my personal opinion that... - Personally, I would have to say that... - I am of the opinion that it depends on... - To be honest, I personally believe that... These phrases sound unnatural, and it is obvious to the examiner that the student has memorised them. So what should you do instead? My advice: just answer the question directly. Stop using memorised phrases, and just get straight to the point.

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IELTS Speaking Advice: get to the point Yesterday I wrote that you should avoid using long phrases to begin your answers. Short phrases seem more natural. Native speakers say things like: - I think... - I guess... - Well,... (and noises like 'er' 'um') These words/phrases might seem less impressive, but you have to remember that examiners are not impressed by the long phrases either! The important thing is to get to the point of your answer.

Questions & Advice about IELTS Students' Questions: more about band 9 As I said yesterday, it's possible to get a band 9, but it's certainly not easy. As an examiner I did give band 9 scores to a few candidates. Here are a few things I remember about those band 9 candidates:

• They had all been working in an English-speaking environment, and were therefore surrounded by English every day.

• They had picked up the kind of 'natural' phrases that English speakers use. They had not learnt 'big words' for the exam.

• They read newspapers and books in English - not as a way of learning the language, but as part of everyday life.

• None of them had a 'perfect' English accent, but they spoke clearly and fluently, without having to think about grammar or memorised vocabulary.

Let's be realistic: most people don't need a band 9. It's more useful to focus on band 7, which is more achievable and still a very good score. IELTS Advice: phrases and collocations To get a good IELTS score, you need to use the kind of language that native speakers might use. This doesn't mean 'difficult words', it means good groups of words (phrases and collocations). When reading, try to look for phrases that English speakers use. Here's an example paragraph from the Economist Magazine with a few useful words and phrases underlined. It is always a little disconcerting to realise a generation has grown up never knowing what it was like to manage without something that is taken for granted today. A case in point: the World Wide Web (WWW), which celebrated the 20th anniversary of its introduction last Saturday. It is no exaggeration to say that not since the invention of the printing press has a new media technology altered the way people think, work and play quite so extensively. With the web having been so thoroughly embraced socially, politically and economically, the world has become an entirely different place from what it was just two decades ago.

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IELTS Advice: the "four-hour essay" One of my students was worried that it took her 4 hours to write a band 7 essay for homework. In my opinion, spending 4 hours to write an essay is a good idea. This kind of hard work leads to great results! The important thing is to be able to write your first band 7 essay. At first it might take you 4 hours, but you will get faster with practice. IELTS Vocabulary Advice This is a question that students often ask: "Millions of students take the IELTS exam in my country, so should I try to write differently and use original ideas?" Here's my answer: No, don't try to write differently. This will lead to mistakes. Remember, each examiner only reads 10 to 20 students' essays, so you are not competing with millions of students. The key is to write clear English, answer the question, and try to include some good vocabulary related to the topic. Forget completely about the other students, and forget about trying to use strange words or phrases. IELTS Advice: 'difficult' words I received a useful question from a student yesterday: Hi Simon, when you talk about Band 7+ vocabulary, you always talk about two or three words (a phrase basically). But I am trying to learn few "heavy" words like cardinal, multitudinous, prodigious, prestidigitation, peregrination etc. Can you please tell us what is more important for IELTS: "heavy words" or good phrases? My answer to this question is simple: good phrases are much more important. The words listed by the student above would seem forced and unnatural, whereas good phrases show your ability to use words together like a native speaker would. IELTS Advice: 'topic vocabulary' is the key! As I've said before, the key to a high score in IELTS writing and speaking is to express relevant ideas using good vocabulary. Did you write down the following phrases from yesterday's lesson?

• interesting and engaging • feel involved in the lesson • something that is relevant to them • the teacher delivers the content • there's no substitute for a good teacher • the guidance of a teacher • tell you where you're going wrong • become less common • study independently • using different technologies • rather than sitting in a classroom • following online courses

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Notice that the phrases above are all relevant to the topic. I call this 'topic vocabulary'. They are not linking phrases or phrases that you can use for any topic. It's the topic vocabulary that gets you a high score. IELTS Advice: 'less common vocabulary' To get a band 7 or higher in IELTS writing task 2, you need to use less common vocabulary. Here are some "less common" words and phrases from Wednesday's lesson:

• educational opportunities • equal proportions of each gender • simply unrealistic • applications that the institution receives • applicants of each gender • tend to attract • the practical concerns expressed above • to base admission on • select candidates • according to their qualifications • achieve good grades • the best candidate for a place on a course • it would be wrong to reject her in favour of • fewer qualifications • based on merit • impractical • a selection procedure

This list of vocabulary is the main reason why my essay would get a band 9. IELTS Advice: don't use these phrases Do not use the following phrases instead of "Firstly" when you are organising ideas in an essay:

• At first • Initially • In the beginning • At the beginning • In the first place

These phrases do exist in English, but they are not the same as "Firstly". In the same way, do not use these phrases instead of "Finally":

• At last • At the end • In the end • In the last place

You don't need to learn different ways to say "Firstly" or "Finally". The examiner is not looking for 'difficult' organisational phrases. Spend your time learning topic vocabulary instead.

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IELTS Advice: worrying wastes time! As I've said before, there is no secret to IELTS success. You just need to work hard. The following diagram illustrates this idea.

Compare this with what happens if you spend all of your time worrying and hoping to

find the 'secret' IELTS technique:

So, which cycle are you in - the 'success' cycle or the 'worry' cycle? IELTS Advice: 'I know this already' Language learners often think they know something (e.g. a word, phrase, grammar rule) because they understand it or because they have studied it before. However, there is a huge difference between understanding something and really knowing it. 'Really knowing' means being able to use the word, phrase or grammar rule. For example, I'm sure you understood the paragraph I wrote on Wednesday. But does that mean that you know it? Could you rewrite it, or at least use all of the vocabulary in it? IELTS Advice: don't worry about the examiner's opinion Some students are worried about expressing their real opinions in the speaking and writing exams. They think that the examiner might disagree and therefore give a lower score.

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Don't worry about this. The examiner only cares about your language. Express your real opinions, talk about your real interests, and give real examples from your own experience; the examiner will find you much more interesting. Students' Questions: how examiners score writing Here are some useful questions from John (with my answers below): Do two examiners check our papers? - No, only one examiner checks your writing papers. How do they know our final band score? How do they compute it? - You get 4 scores, and they calculate the average. What are the criteria? What do these letters mean: TR, CC, LR, GRA? - The letters are the 4 scores I mentioned: the 4 criteria that examiners use. - Open the attachments linked below to see what these 4 criteria are. Writing Band Descriptors Task 1 Writing Band Descriptors Task 2 Examiners use the terms below. What do they mean?

• under-length - less than 150 or 250 words • no. of words - number of words • penalty - points that the candidate will lose because of the word count • off-topic - (some of) the essay is not related to the question • memorised - seems to be written from memory • illegible - not clear enough to read

IELTS Advice: the week before your exam What are the best things to do in the last week before your exam? Here are some tips: 1. Nothing new It's often best not to study anything new just before an exam. "Revision" means studying what you have already studied to make sure that you know it well. The aim is to be confident about what you do know, rather than worrying about what you don't know. 2. Common topics It's always a good idea to look again at the most common topics for IELTS writing and speaking. Make sure you have some ideas, opinions and vocabulary for topics like 'education', 'environment' etc. 3. Test practice If you have never done a full test (e.g. a full one-hour reading test) before, you might get a shock in the real exam! Timing is a big problem, so practise a full test in strict exam conditions. Don't worry about your score; just focus on finishing everything within the time limit. IELTS Advice: 2 things to improve A lot of people ask me what they should do to improve their scores. Generally speaking, there are only two things that you can do:

1. Work on your exam technique 2. Work on your English

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I can often help students to make fast improvements by teaching them how to organise their essays, how to look for keywords in the reading test, or how to expand their answers in the speaking test. These are exam techniques. However, exam techniques alone will not get you a band 7. You need a good level of English to get a 7, and that means you need to do the hard work it takes to gradually learn more words and phrases, improve your speaking fluency, and generally become a more confident user of the language. Note: Point 2 takes time. Don't expect your English to improve from 5.5 to 7 without a lot of work! IELTS Advice: using a dictionary Most students use a dictionary to find the meaning of a word. However, this is not enough; you also need to know how to use words correctly. For example, you might know the meaning of the word "blame", but do you know which preposition follows it? Do you know that it can be a verb or a noun? Do you know which verbs can be used with the noun "the blame"?

• Many people blame politicians for the economic crisis. (verb) • Politicians have taken the blame for the economic crisis. (take + noun) • Other people put the blame for this problem on the banks. (put + noun) • They think the banks are to blame for the crisis. (phrase: is/are to blame)

At advanced levels, you should stop thinking that your dictionary is just a translator. Use it to improve your accuracy. Students' Questions: describe a newspaper A few people have asked me for advice about this IELTS speaking question: Describe a newspaper or magazine that you like to read. Here are some quick tips: Newspaper If you read a particular newspaper every day, choose that. Explain why you like that newspaper more than others. Say what type of stories you usually read (politics, education, science, sport etc.) and give an example of a recent article that you read. Explain why it's important for you to read the paper e.g. to keep up-to-date with world events, or because you find it interesting or mentally stimulating. Magazine If you don't read a newspaper, tell the examiner that you read a magazine (even if you don't). Choose/invent a magazine about one of your hobbies or interests. This allows you to talk about something you know about. It might be a good idea to have a look at the magazines in your local shop; choose one that interests you, buy it, and use it to prepare some ideas.