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New Speaking Questions January-April, 2020 IELTS Exam Preparation Machine [IELTS Version] and Some Answers and Helpful Phrases.
The students who took the exam in January took the time to review with reference answers. !!
Part 1
Countryside "
Hometown "
Voice "
science class
Patience "
Haircut "
water sport
scenery
Home / Accommodation "
Math "
Plan "
Walking "
Languages "
laugh
spending time by yourself
number
The area you live in "
Travel "
Concentration "
Friends "
art
park
Tea and coffee "
Music "
Reading "
Market "
Animals "
cake
running
Public holiday "
Photos "
Work or study "
Jeans "
Movies "
history
break
Countryside "
Part 2 & 3
Lie to friends
Practical skills
Colorful place
Indoor games
His family
Successful small company
Weather delayed activities
Buy something hard to use
Information via SMS
Regional specialty
Crowded place
Unwanted work
News of the people you want to see
uniform
Interesting talk
Family leisure activities
Moment of excitement
Health articles
Where the phone is disabled
Enjoyed performances
Others apologize to you
A place to read and write
Special day
People who often fly
Photos of the room
Ideal house
Delayed important trip
Childhood favorite toys
New public building
Challenges encountered
help others
Movies to share with friends
Tired but keep awake
Bored experience
Good things to borrow
Beautiful sky
A day that makes you happy
Change of hometown
Important new skills
Childhood school
Celebrate Your Achievement
Choose a job or professional advice
When I first met someone
Carefully prepared gifts
Lost and found
Who teach you
Funny animals
Team member
IELTS 2020 Speaking Questions
This is showing recent IELTS speaking test questions, which are from the Internet and our visitors who have just taken the test. Its contents cover all speaking question types: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. We organize all questions by test date.
My main job is to merge duplicated questions and revise obvious errors before showing them.
Test takers can use this resource to familiarize questions and topics before their own IELTS speaking test. There are contents listed in 2 categories: Recent 60 Questions and 2019-2020 Questions, and the latter has more than 500 questions that only VIP users can access.
These are useful samples to prepare for IELTS speaking test. Combining similar topics and provide the vocabulary for some hot topics. Mainly, we focus on the latest questions, whose topics usually reoccur shortly.
IELTS Speaking: Recent 60 QuestionsIELTS Speaking: 2019-2020 Questions
IELTS Speaking Test: Recent 60 Questions
2020-01-08: Part 1
- Do you like your hometown? Why?
- How long have you been living in your hometown?
- What is special about your hometown?
- What did you like about your hometown when you were a child?
- Is there anything you don’t like about your hometown?
- What changes would you like to have in the future?
Recent Tests:
- 2020-01-06
- 2019-12-27
- 2019-12-06
- 2019-11-15
- 2019-10-25
2020-01-08: Part 1
- Do you like science class?
- Did you have a science class in primary school or high school?
- Do you think science classes are important?
- What kind of science did you do at school?
Recent Tests:
- 2020-01-01
2020-01-08: Part 1
- Do you like art?
- Did you have art classes when you were at school?
- Do you often visit art galleries?
- Do you have paintings in your room?
Recent Tests:
- 2020-01-04
2020-01-08: Part 2
Describe a situation when you helped someone in work or study.
- who you helped
- what you have done
- why you help him/her.
- Do you always help your family members or friends?
Recent Tests:
- 2020-01-06
- 2018-11-24 (Canada)
- 2018-11-10 (Italy)
- 2018-10-13 (Australia)
- 2018-09-03 (India)
2020-01-08: Part 2
Describe a family member you spend the most time with.
You should say:
- Who this person is
- What kind of person he/she is
- What you usually do together
- And explain why you spend the most time with him/her.
Recent Tests:
- 2020-01-01
2020-01-08: Part 3
- In general, why do people help others?
- Is it important to help people who need help? Why?
- What is the quality required for being a leader?
- How’s it important for doing as teamwork?
- What kinds of advice should parents give to their children?
- Should parents make decisions for their children?
- Can children provide any advice for their parents?
Recent Tests:
- 2020-01-06
- 2018-11-24 (Canada)
- 2018-11-10 (Italy)
- 2018-10-13 (Australia)
- 2018-09-03 (India)
2020-01-08: Part 3
- Do you think how many generations can live in one family?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages?
- What are the responsibilities of men and women for their children?
- Which do you prefer: support from family members or friends? Why?
- Is it important to visit family members? Why?
Recent Tests:
- 2020-01-01
2020-01-07: Part 1
- Where do you live, apartment, house, or flat?
- Why do you live in an apartment or house?
- How long have you lived there?
- Which is your favourite room? Why?
- Do you plan to move to another place in the future?
Recent Tests:
- 2020-01-01
- 2019-12-22
- 2019-12-04
- 2019-11-28
- 2019-11-20
2020-01-07: Part 1
- Do you like running?
- How often do you do running exercise?
- Where do you usually go running?
- Do you have long-distance running?
- Do you think running is a good way to stay healthy?
Recent Tests:
- 2020-01-06
2020-01-07: Part 1
- Do you like to read?
- What type of books do you read?
- Do you read books related to your profession?
- Did you like to read in your younger days?
- Would you like to write a book in the future?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-12
- 2019-12-07
- 2019-11-10
- 2019-09-14
- 2019-08-23
2020-01-07: Part 1
- Are you the kind of person who makes people laugh?
- When was the last time you had a big laugh?
- Do you like watching films or TV programs that make people laugh?
- Do you usually make your friends laugh?
- Do you think it is important that you and your friends feel funny about the same things?
2020-01-07: Part 1
- Do you like to go to the countryside? Why?
- Have you ever lived in the countryside?
- Will you live in the countryside in the future?
- Do you enjoy living in the countryside?
- What do you usually do when you go there?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-27
- 2019-11-09
- 2019-09-28
- 2019-09-12
2020-01-07: Part 1
- What language do you speak?
- Is it a common language in your country?
- How many languages do you speak?
- Would you learn any other language? Why?
- Do you think it is difficult to learn a new language?
- Do you think it is difficult to learn English?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-14
- 2019-12-02
- 2019-11-30
- 2019-11-04
- 2019-10-08
2020-01-07: Part 2
Describe a crowded place you’ve been to.
You should say:
- when you went there
- where the place was
- who you went there with
- and explain how you felt about the place.
2020-01-07: Part 2
Describe a special day that made you happy.
You should say:
- when it was
- who you were with
- what you did
- and explain why it made you happy.
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-10
- 2019-10-22
- 2019-09-12
2020-01-07: Part 2
Describe a performance you enjoyed watching.
You should say:
- What kind of performance it was
- When and where you saw it
- Who you saw it with
- Who the performers were
- And explain why you attended this performance.
2020-01-07: Part 3
- Where is the most crowded place in your city?
- Do you think people enjoy going to crowded places? Why?
- People behave differently in crowded places, why do you think this happens?
- How do you think people should deal with traffic congestion?
- Some cities have advanced public transportation, some don’t, what do you think?
- What the governments could do to solve this problem?
2020-01-07: Part 3
- How would you define happiness?
- Are modern people happier than those living in the past?
- Can money bring happiness?
- How important is money for happiness?
- What is important in achieving happiness?
- Why are some people unhappy nowadays?
- Is it possible to be happy during your whole life? Why?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-10
- 2019-10-22
- 2019-09-12
2020-01-07: Part 3
- What is the difference between watching the performance live and watching it on TV?
- Do you think people generally prefer to go to a concert or to listen to recordings of music?
- Is learning drama or dancing helpful for children? Why?
- Do you think art forms such as ballet and drama are important in life?
- Which do you prefer, traditional performance or concert?
- Should the government provide financial support to promote traditional performance?
- Do you think the government has a responsibility to support cultural activities in society?
2020-01-06: Part 1
- Which do you prefer to use, pens, or pencils?
- If someone gave you some pens or pencils, how would you feel?
- When was the last time you bought some pens or pencils?
- Do you usually use a pen or pencil for writing?
2020-01-06: Part 1
- How often do you take a break when you are studying or working?
- Do you prefer to have a long or short break?
- Do you think having a break is important for you?
- Why do people need to take breaks?
2020-01-06: Part 1
- Do you like music?
- When do you usually listen to music?
- What kind of music did you like when you were younger?
- Do you like to hear music alone or with groups?
- Are there many rich musicians in your country?
- Why is illegally downloading music bad?
- Do you think laws will solve this problem?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-12
- 2019-12-07
- 2019-11-26
- 2019-11-22
- 2019-11-15
2020-01-06: Part 1
- Do you always have this hairstyle?
- How often do you have your haircut?
- What’s your favourite hairstyle?
- Do you often change your hairstyle?
- Do you go to the barber’s shop a lot?
- Will you colour your hair in the future?
- Do you ever feel bad because of your hairstyle?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-21
- 2019-11-15
- 2019-11-05
- 2019-10-21
- 2019-09-16
2020-01-06: Part 1
- Do you like history?
- Have you been to a historical museum?
- When was the last time you read a book about history?
- Have you seen any films about history?
- Do you think history is important?
2020-01-06: Part 1
- Do you like tea or coffee? Why?
- Do people drink a lot of tea and coffee in your country?
- Do you often go out for tea or coffee?
- What do you offer to your guests at home?
- Do you remember the first time you drank tea or coffee?
- In your country, what do you offer to the guests, tea or coffee?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-20
- 2019-12-04
- 2019-11-27
- 2019-11-23
- 2019-11-14
2020-01-06: Part 2
Describe an occasion when the weather prevented your activity.
You should say:
- When it was
- Why it prevented your activity
- What you did
- And how you felt about it.
2020-01-06: Part 2
Describe an occasion when you could not use your mobile phone.
You should say:
- When it was
- Where it was
- Why you could not use your mobile phone
- And how you felt about it.
2020-01-06: Part 2
Describe a job that you would not like to do in the future.
You should say:
- What is it
- Where you know it from
- Is it difficult or easy
- And explain why you would not like to do it.
2020-01-06: Part 2
Describe a successful small company.
You should say:
- what company it is
- what this company produces
- how you know about this company
- and explain why you think this company is successful.
2020-01-06: Part 3
- Does the weather impact on people’s daily activities?
- Why do people do different kinds of sports in different weather?
- What kind of weather do Chinese people like?
- Do people talk about the weather when they meet for the first time?
2020-01-06: Part 3
- Do you think we should set up laws and regulations on the use of mobile phones?
- How do you like children having mobile phones?
- Are people politer than in the past?
- In your opinion, at what age do you think is appropriate for owning a cell phone?
2020-01-06: Part 3
- What are the important factors in choosing a career?
- Which do you prefer, physical work or mental work?
- Which do you think is more important when doing a job, the income one gets or the amount interest that one has in the work?
- When young people choose their jobs, which is more important, salary or interest?
- Do you think it’s common to move to other cities because of jobs?
- The technology will make some people lose their jobs, how to deal with it?
- How do you think AI(artificial intelligence) would affect people’s work?
2020-01-06: Part 3
- How could a company get ahead?
- Does high technology play an important role in a company’s development?
- Why do some businesses become successful while others do not?
- What qualities are required to become a company’s leader?
- Which do you think is better, to start your own business or to work for others?
- Do you think the ownership of the company should be private or state-owned? Why?
- How do you think of charitable organizations?
2020-01-04: Part 1
- Why did you choose this job?
- Why is your job important to you?
- What are your responsibilities at work?
- Is your work interesting? Why?
- Do you think it is important to spend time with your colleagues/clients?
- What is more important in the workplace, people you work with, or the environment?
- What are the ways you can improve your skills at work?
- What would you change about your job?
Recent Tests:
- 2020-01-03
- 2019-12-17
- 2019-12-14
- 2019-12-07
- 2019-11-25
2020-01-04: Part 1
- Do you like wearing jeans? Why?
- How often do you wear jeans?
- Do you wear jeans at your workplace?
- Do you prefer to wear brand jeans?
- How much do you spend on jeans?
- Why are jeans popular all over the world?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-20
- 2019-12-10
- 2019-12-07
- 2019-11-22
- 2019-11-18
2020-01-04: Part 1
- Do you make a plan every day?
- What is the latest plan you made?
- What is the hardest part of making plans?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-10-26
- 2019-10-08
- 2019-09-21
- 2019-08-14
- 2019-07-23
2020-01-04: Part 1
- Do you like sweet food?
- Are there many sweet foods in your country?
- Do you like having dessert?
- Do you like eating cakes?
- Have you ever made any cakes?
- In your culture, do you like eating cakes in festivals?
2020-01-04: Part 1
- Do you like math?
- What is the importance of learning mathematics?
- When did you start learning math?
- Is it your favorite subject?
- Do you use a calculator for math?
- How do math skills help us in daily life?
- In your opinion, is it necessary for people nowadays to be good at mathematics?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-07
- 2019-10-25
- 2019-10-18
- 2019-10-12
- 2019-09-23
2020-01-04: Part 2
Describe a person who is good at his/her work.
You should say:
- who this person is
- what his or her job is
- How well he/she manages his/her work
- and explain why this person is good at the job.
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-10
- 2019-11-26
- 2019-09-29
- 2019-09-24
- 2019-09-03
2020-01-04: Part 2
Describe a person who encouraged you to achieve a goal recently.
You should say:
- who the person is
- what he/she encourage you for
- how he/she encouraged you
- Explain how this encouragement was important for you.
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-11
- 2019-11-20
- 2019-10-26
- 2019-10-11
- 2019-09-05
2020-01-04: Part 3
- What qualities make a good manager?
- How can a manager be defined well?
- How the manager should behave with his staff to be a good manager or team leader?
- Should he be friendly with them or strict?
- If the manager is friendly with employees what are the side-effects of it?
- How can a manager take out the worker who are not willing to work?
- How should companies train their staff on new technology?
- How can a new employee learn something new at work?
- Do you think what you learn in university will help in your future job?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-10
- 2019-11-26
- 2019-09-29
- 2019-09-24
- 2019-09-03
2020-01-04: Part 3
- Is money the best motivation for employees?
- How can managers motivate their staff?
- Apart from money, what other things can be used to motivate employees?
- Do you think self-motivation is important? Why?
- Why do some people seem to be more motivated? What could be the reason?
- What are the factors affecting people to get motivated?
- How should children at a young age get motivated?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-11
- 2019-11-20
- 2019-10-26
- 2019-10-11
- 2019-09-05
2020-01-03: Part 1
- Are you interested in wildlife?
- Did you ever see wild animals?
- What is your favourite wild animal? Why?
- Should wild animals be protected?
- How do you feel when you see an animal at the zoo?
- What are the disadvantages of hunting animals?
- What is the importance of animals to children?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-27
- 2019-12-14
- 2019-12-10
- 2019-12-06
- 2019-11-25
2020-01-03: Part 1
- Have you ever made new friends online?
- Do you have any childhood friends?
- What kinds of people do you like to make friends with?
- Do you consider yourself a good friend?
- Do you have any friends who live far away from you?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-21
- 2019-12-04
- 2019-11-29
- 2019-11-18
- 2019-11-14
2020-01-03: Part 1
- Is there good scenery in your hometown?
- How would you try to live in a house with beautiful scenery?
- Do you think people enjoy taking pictures of beautiful scenery? Why?
- When you travel, do you like to live in hotels with scenic views?
2020-01-03: Part 1
- Do you like to spend time by yourself? why?
- What do you usually do when you spend time by yourself?
- Do you prefer spending time alone or with friends?
- Is it bad to spend a lot of time alone?
Recent Tests:
- 20200102
2020-01-03: Part 1
- Are you a patient person?
- Are people in your country patient?
- Is it important to be patient? Why? Why not?
- Are you more patient now than you were younger? Why?
- How patience is important in study and at work?
- Do you think many people today are running out of patience? Why?
- How do you feel when some people make you wait?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-21
- 2019-12-10
- 2019-11-25
- 2019-10-22
- 2019-10-12
2020-01-03: Part 2
Describe a time that something good happened to you.
You should say:
- what happened
- how it happened
- explain why you think it was good for you
2020-01-03: Part 2
Describe a time of seeing interesting animals.
You should say:
- what animal it was
- when and where you saw it
- how do you find it was interesting
- and explain how you feel about this animal.
2020-01-03: Part 2
Describe a person who is often in the news, and whom you would like to meet.
You should say:
- who this person is
- how you know him/her
- why he/she is often in the news
- and explain why you would like to meet him/her.
2020-01-03: Part 3
- Why do people like to keep pets?
- What kind of animals do people have in their homes?
- Why do some people refuse to eat animals?
- Do you think people do not respect animals these days? What about 20 years ago?
- Researchers are being conducted on animals, is this a good idea?
- So many animals are extinct these days. What do you think about this? Why is it happening?
2020-01-03: Part 3
- What kinds of celebrities are always on the news?
- Are stories about celebrities in the news always true?
- Is news often about famous people? Why?
- Could superstar bring positive influence to the public?
- How does the way people receive news differ from 20 years ago?
- What are the differences between news in the past and news now?
- Do you think it’s necessary for people to watch foreign news? Why?
2020-01-02: Part 1
- Where do you study?
- Why did you choose that subject?
- Is there something that helps you to study efficiently?
- Who is more important for you, lecturers, or friends?
- What do you like the most about your studies?
- What facilities does the university provide?
- Is there anything you want to change in your university?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-21
- 2019-12-02
- 2019-11-27
- 2019-11-16
- 2019-11-15
2020-01-02: Part 1
- How often do you visit parks?
- What do you do when you go to a park?
- Do people in your area like these parks?
- Do you prefer parks with open or parks with leisure facilities?
- What do you want to improve at the parks in your hometown?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-04-23
- 2019-04-12
- 2019-04-03
- 2019-03-27
- 2019-03-22
2020-01-02: Part 1
- Are there many public holidays in your country?
- Which is your favorite holiday? Why?
- Which was the last holiday that you enjoyed a lot?
- What do you usually do during this holiday?
- What do people usually do on public holidays?
- Do you prefer to have short holidays once in a while or long holidays once a year?
Recent Tests:
- 2019-12-14
- 2019-10-24
- 2019-10-12
- 2019-09-29
- 2019-09-25
2020-01-02: Part 2
Describe a time you were a member of a team on sport/work.
You should say:
- what the team was
- what your role was in the team
- and explain how you felt about being part of the team.
2020-01-02: Part 2
Describe a journey in which you used public transport.
- when and where you went
- whom you went with
- what kind of transport you used
- how you felt about the journey.
Recent Tests:
- 2018-11-18 (India)
- 2018-10-13 (Qatar)
- 2018-09-11 (Iran)
- 2018-08-26 (Malaysia)
- 2018-08-23 (India)
2020-01-02: Part 3
- Which one is more important, individual development or team goals?
- Do you think it is a good thing to have disagreements within a team?
- Do you think it is good for kids to join a team?
- What does it mean to be a team player in the workplace?
- Why is international collaboration important?
2020-01-02: Part 3
- What is the most common mode of transportation in your country?
- Do you prefer to travel by yourself or with friends?
- What is the main problem with public transport?
- How can the government fix traffic problems?
- Is it necessary to limit the use of cars?
- Should the government encourage people to use public transport?
- Do you think the government invests enough in public transport?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of public transport?
Recent Tests:
- 2018-12-07 (Lithuania)
- 2018-11-18 (India)
- 2018-10-13 (Qatar)
- 2018-09-11 (Iran)
- 2018-08-26 (Malaysia)
2020-01-01: Part 1
- What kind of sports do you practice?
- What do you do to stay healthy?
- Do you have any unhealthy habits?
- What is more important, eating healthy food, or doing exercises?
IELTS Speaking: two types of hesitation
If you look at the 'fluency and coherence' column of the band descriptors, you'll see the following:
- Band 7: may demonstrate language-related hesitation
- Band 8: hesitation is usually content-related
Do you understand the difference between these two types of hesitation? Here's how I would summarise them:
- Language-related hesitation: the candidate pauses because he/she is struggling with vocabulary or grammar.
- Content-related hesitation: the candidate pauses to think about his/her answer to the question.
Tip: Try recording yourself as you answer some IELTS speaking questions. Listen to the recording and pay attention to your hesitations. Ask yourself whether you paused to find language or to consider your response to the question.
Friday, December 20, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a festival
A common topic for the short presentation (IELTS Speaking Part 2) is "describe an important festival in your country".
My advice is to look for a description of your festival on Wikipedia. Copy the best parts of the description and make small changes if necessary. As an example, I've copied a short description of Christmas from Wikipedia.
Describe a festival: Christmas
Christmas is an annual holiday that, in Christianity, commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.
Popular customs of the holiday include gift-giving, music, an exchange of greeting cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of various decorations; including Christmas trees, lights, nativity scenes, and holly. In addition, Father Christmas (known as Santa Claus in some areas) is a popular figure in many countries, associated with the bringing of gifts for children.
Over the Christmas period, people decorate their homes and exchange gifts. In some countries, children perform plays re-telling the events of the Nativity, or sing carols that reference the event. Christmas, along with Easter, is the period of highest annual church attendance.
A special Christmas family meal is an important part of the celebration for many, and what is served varies greatly from country to country. In England and countries influenced by its traditions, a standard Christmas meal includes turkey, potatoes, vegetables, sausages, and gravy, followed by Christmas pudding, mince pies, and fruit cake.
Friday, December 13, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 1: simplify
Your priority in part 1 of the speaking test should be to demonstrate fluency, not difficult grammar or vocabulary. You'll speak more fluently if you keep your part 1 answers simple.
Here are some examples of how I would simplify students' answers.
Note: the students' answers contain some mistakes.
Student's answer:
Logically people from different generations will have taste variation. Depending upon the maturity, music stars of their own age, the impact of globalisation, as well as technological development in the music industry, will divide younger and older generations.
My simplified answer:
Of course, people from different generations have different tastes in music. Popular music changes all the time, and most of us are influenced by whatever style of music is popular when we are growing up.
Student's answer:
Yes, I am fond of music. It is simply the medicine for my mind. When I am stressed, music removes stress. When I am happy, music inspires me to be more. It always in the centre of all my parties with friends. When I am sad, music takes me out of the glue and moves forward.
My simplified answer:
Yes, I love music, mainly because it helps to put me in a better mood. When I'm stressed or sad, the music picks me up and puts me in a positive frame of mind.
Sunday, December 08, 2019
IELTS Advice: examples bring your answers to life!
Examples are important because they bring your answers to life*. They make your message clearer and your answers more real.
Look at the examples that I used in my 'difficult jobs' answers in Friday's speaking lesson. Without these examples, my answers would be boring and abstract.
- concert pianist
- surgeon
- police officer
- firefighter
- soldier
- paramedic
*Look up the phrase "bring something to life". What does it mean?
Saturday, December 07, 2019
IELTS Vocabulary: 'less common' phrases
Here's a list of the 'less common' phrases that I used in yesterday's speaking answers. Notice that I'm highlighting phrases and collocations, not individual 'big' words.
- are difficult in the sense that
- they require a high level of skill
- that must be developed through many years of study and practice
- might not require such high skill levels
- they are known to be extremely stressful and sometimes traumatic
- do something meaningful
- achieving a great ambition
- for altruistic reasons
- it's their duty to contribute to society
- in the grand scheme of things
- a tight deadline
- minor inconveniences
- the horrors of war that soldiers face
- life-and-death situations
Friday, December 06, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'difficult jobs' answers
Here are my sample answers to the questions in last Friday's lesson. Can you find any useful vocabulary in my responses?
What are the most difficult jobs that people do?
I think jobs can be hard for various different reasons. Some professions, such as concert pianists or surgeons, are difficult in the sense that they require a high level of skill that must be developed through many years of study and practice. On the other hand, jobs like police officers, firefighter or soldiers might not require such high skill levels, but they are known to be extremely stressful and sometimes traumatic.
Why do you think some people choose to do difficult jobs?
I suppose we all want to do something meaningful. For some people, this means achieving a great ambition that takes years of hard work. People who choose dangerous jobs might do so for altruistic reasons or because they feel it's their duty to contribute to society.
Do you agree or disagree that all jobs are difficult sometimes?
I would have to disagree with that. I think we all feel that our jobs are difficult or stressful at times, but in the grand scheme of things, we have nothing to complain about. A tight deadline or a lost computer file are really just minor inconveniences when compared with the horrors of war that soldiers face, or the life-and-death situations that paramedics see every day.
Friday, November 29, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'difficult jobs' discussion
How would you answer these questions (from Cambridge 14, test 3)?
- What are the most difficult jobs that people do?
- Why do you think some people choose to do difficult jobs?
- Do you agree or disagree that all jobs are difficult sometimes?
Tip: Try to think about giving answers that contain three sentences: answer, explain, example.
Friday, November 22, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describing how you felt
Faye asked a good question below last Friday's lesson:
Can you give some suggestions on how to answer the question "how you felt about something" in speaking part 2?
My suggestion is to start with a simple adjective (e.g. happy) and prepare a theme around this word. There's an example of theme preparation here, and I used this technique in several of the speaking lessons on my video course website.
Task: Let's prepare a 'happy' theme together. To be more precise, imagine that you have to describe how you felt when you passed an important test. List some ideas, and share them in the comments below.
Friday, November 15, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 2: start with vocabulary ideas
Friday, November 08, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'describe a book' answer
Describe a book that you enjoyed reading because you had to think a lot.
You should say:
- what this book was
- why you decided to read it
- what reading this book made you think about
- and explain why you enjoyed reading this book.
Here's my band 9 answer, using vocabulary from last week's lesson:
- I’m going to talk about a book that really made me think, and that has had a positive effect on my life. The name of the book is ‘Atomic Habits’, and it’s about the compounding effect that small decisions and minuscule changes can have on people’s lives.
- I decided to read Atomic Habits after seeing an interview with the book’s author, James Clear, who is a world-renowned expert in the field of habit formation. In the interview, he told inspiring stories and revealed some simple life hacks that can make people more productive, motivated and happy. I found the whole idea of the ‘science of tiny habits’ fascinating, and so I bought the book straight away.
- While reading the book, I was forced to confront my own habits and behaviors. I realized that I’m nowhere near as productive as I could be, but that some small tweaks to my routine could make a significant and long-lasting difference. The book also gave me a framework to understand how good habits are formed and how bad habits can be broken. It has encouraged me to analyze my own habits accordingly.
- I thoroughly enjoyed reading Atomic Habits because I thought it was well researched, well reasoned and well written. The author’s ideas and advice aren’t simply his opinions; they are taken from cutting-edge research and real success stories. I enjoy reading books that change my way of thinking in some way or give me practical, life-altering ideas, and this was definitely one of those books.
Friday, November 01, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 2: less common vocabulary
Here's a list of 'less common' vocabulary from the descriptions in last Friday's lesson. If I can use these phrases in my description (next Friday), I'll be able to give myself a band 9 for vocabulary!
- atomic habits
- a world-renowned expert
- the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions
- a ground-breaking book
- minuscule changes
- life-altering outcomes
- life hacks
- cutting-edge psychology
- he tells inspiring stories
- the science of tiny habits
- productive, motivated and happy
- a dramatic positive effect on my life
- well researched, well reasoned, and well written
- makes a significant and long-lasting difference
Quick exercise:
Take just three of the phrases above, and try to use them in full sentences. Share your sentences in the 'comments' below.
Friday 25, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 2: ideas for 'describe a book'
To prepare for this description, let's choose a book and 'steal' some ideas from an online summary/review.
I'm currently reading a book called 'Atomic Habits'. I found a summary and a review of this book on Amazon (see below), so I'll steal some ideas and use them in my answer next Friday. Maybe you could prepare ideas, in the same way, for a book that you've read.
Here's a quick summary from Amazon:
People think when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions – doing two push-ups a day, waking up five minutes early, or holding a single short phone call. He calls them atomic habits.
In this ground-breaking book, Clears reveals exactly how these minuscule changes can grow into such life-altering outcomes. He uncovers a handful of simple life hacks and delves into cutting-edge psychology and neuroscience to explain why they matter. Along the way, he tells inspiring stories of Olympic gold medalists, leading CEOs, and distinguished scientists who have used the science of tiny habits to stay productive, motivated, and happy.
And here's a customer review (there are many others on Amazon):
I feel lucky to have found this book. It's the only self-help book that I've thought, afterwards, was worth reading. It's had a dramatic positive impact on my life. It's well researched, well reasoned, and well written. A self-help book that actually makes a significant, and long-lasting difference. I'm going to keep re-reading it.
Friday, October 18, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a book
Let's start work on a new task, which comes from Cambridge IELTS 14:
Describe a book that you enjoyed reading because you had to think a lot.
You should say:
- what this book was
- why you decided to read it
- what reading this book made you think about
- and explain why you enjoyed reading this book.
Which book would you choose to talk about? I'll give you my ideas next Friday.
Friday, October 11, 2019
IELTS Speaking: vocabulary review
Friday's lesson:
- I can't see shopping malls disappearing*
- (I can't see... happening = I don't think... will happen)
- any time soon
- attract shoppers
- mainstream = popular / used or done by most people
- packed with people*
- hugely popular
- it offers more than just...
- and naturally, they will
- browse the shops
- I'm pretty sure that...*
- no physical presence on the high street
- the way that things are going*
Note:
The phrases with a star (*) are great for the speaking test, but a little too informal for a written essay. Would you have known this?
Friday, October 04, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 3: future 'opinion' answers
Here are two sample answers that include opinions about the future:
Will large shopping malls continue to be popular, despite the growth of internet shopping?
I can’t see shopping malls disappearing any time soon, so yes, I think they will definitely continue to attract shoppers. We already have internet shopping, with websites like Amazon now mainstream, but the large shopping centres in my city are still packed with people. The Trafford Centre near Manchester, for example, is hugely popular, and I think this is because it offers more than just shopping. It’s a place where families go for a day out, to have lunch or to visit attractions like Sea Life or Legoland, and naturally, they will browse the shops and buy things there too.
Do you think that some businesses (e.g. banks and travel agents) will only operate online in the future?
I’m sure they will, and I think this is already happening. I’m pretty sure that there are online-only savings accounts, and there are travel websites like Airbnb that have no physical presence on the high street. I imagine that more and more services will only be available online; this seems to be the way that things are going.
Friday, September 27, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 3: opinions about the future
In part 3 of the speaking test, the examiner might ask for your opinions about what will happen in the future.
For example, here are two questions from Cambridge IELTS 14 (test 4). How would you answer them?
- Will large shopping malls continue to be popular, despite the growth of internet shopping?
- Do you think that some businesses (e.g. banks and travel agents) will only operate online in the future?
Friday, September 20, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 3: verb tenses
When answering the two questions below, you should be aware that the examiner is expecting to hear some different verb tenses.
1. Do you think films have changed since you were a child?
No, I don’t think films have changed much since I was a child. When I was younger I enjoyed watching action films, and the Hollywood formula for this type of film seems to be the same today. For example, I liked the original ‘Superman’ films, and superheroes are still a popular subject for film-makers.
2. As the technology for home viewing improves, do you think people will stop going to the cinema in the future?
No, I don’t think that people will stop going to the cinema. People can already buy fantastic home viewing equipment, but it still feels more special to share the experience of watching a new film with a theatre full of people. I don't think that technology will be able to replicate that cinema atmosphere.
Friday, September 13, 2019
IELTS Speaking: when to worry about tenses
In a recent lesson, I explained why I'm not a fan of the 'PPF technique' for part 2 of the speaking test. I believe that candidates should focus on giving a good description in part 2, instead of worrying about verb tenses.
If the examiner wants to test your use of verb tenses, he/she can do this in part 3 of the test, by choosing certain questions.
Here are some typical 'tense' questions from speaking part 3:
- Do you think _____ is different now, compared to when you were a child?
- Did your teachers _____ when you were at school?
- How do you think _____ will change in the future?
Listen carefully for these 'tense' questions in part 3. The examiner will be listening closely to the verbs that you use in your answers!
Friday, September 06, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 1: negative answers
Here are some negative answers to the 'photography' questions that I showed you a couple of weeks ago. The questions come from Cambridge IELTS 11.
1) What type of photos do you like taking?
Well, I don't usually take photos, to be honest. I prefer to enjoy whatever I'm doing, rather than stop to take a photograph.
2) What do you do with the photos you take?
I don't really do anything with the occasional photos that I take. They just stay on my phone and I forget to save them or upload them to my computer.
3) When you visit other places, do you take photos or buy postcards?
Neither. As I said, I prefer to enjoy myself, so I tend to let other people take photos. I used to buy and send postcards when I was younger, so maybe I should go back to doing that.
4) Do you like people taking photos of you?
As a child I was always a bit shy when it came to having my photo taken, so I would have said that I didn't like it. These days, if someone wants to take a photo of me, I don't mind at all.
Saturday, August 31, 2019
IELTS Speaking Advice: my view on the 'PPF' idea
They use three verb tenses (past, present, future - PPF) to organize their speaking part 2 answers. In other words, they begin by answering in the past tense, then they move to the present and into the future.
Here's my view on this:
I'm not a fan of this PPF technique because it encourages you to go into the speaking test with a 'grammar mindset'. Your brain is focusing on verb tenses instead of more important things: the task, the bullet points, your ideas, and the vocabulary that you're going to use to express those ideas.
If there's one thing that I stand against as an English / IELTS teacher, it's the 'grammar mindset' and the idea that you can impress the examiner with 'complex structures'.
I'm a 'vocabulary mindset' teacher. I want my students to focus on the 'true content' of their answers, rather than grammar tricks.
Friday, August 30, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'nice home' answers
Here are some sample answers for the 'nice home' questions that I asked you to look at two weeks ago. The questions come from Cambridge IELTS 14.
Note: I try to answer in a natural and slightly informal way, but with some good 'topic vocabulary'.
Why do some people buy lots of things for their home?
I think there could be a couple of different reasons for this. Some people like to surround themselves with beautiful objects and furnishings to brighten up their lives, while others buy lots of devices that are supposed to save time. In my own home we have examples of both types of object: we have things like ornaments and pictures because they look nice, and we have useful gadgets, like a small vacuum cleaner that we recently bought.
Do you think it is very expensive to make a home look nice?
No, definitely not. Basic furniture isn’t expensive these days, especially now that we have shops like Ikea. I know plenty of people who have furnished and decorated their homes really nicely without spending too much money. Personally I also like the minimalist look: some basic furniture, light colours and not too much clutter.
Why don't some people care about how their home looks?
Maybe they just see their homes as a base - somewhere to eat and sleep - rather than a reflection of their tastes or personalities. And many people are just too busy with work and life outside the home to worry about furniture and decorations. A friend of mine, for example, doesn’t seem to care about the way his house looks, but this is because he’s almost never there; he travels for work and spends more time in hotel rooms than in his own house.
Friday, August 23, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 2: past, present, future?
Several people have asked me about a technique that some teachers recommend for part 2 of the speaking test: the 'past, present, future' technique, or 'PPF'.
Before I give you my opinion about this technique, I'd like to hear from you.
- Has anyone been taught to use this PPF idea?
- How exactly did your teacher suggest that you use it?
- Did it work for you?
- What benefits and drawbacks do you think this technique has?
Note:
Please remember that techniques like this are just suggestions, not rules. If your teacher is saying that you must use three tenses in your part 2 answer, he/she is wrong.
Friday, August 16, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'nice home' topic
How would you answer these questions (from Cambridge IELTS 14)?
- Why do some people buy lots of things for their home?
- Do you think it is very expensive to make a home look nice?
- Why don't some people care about how their home looks?
Tip: Try to give three-sentence answers: direct answer, explain, example.
Friday, August 09, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 1: giving negative answers
It's completely acceptable to give negative answers in part 1 of the speaking test. To test whether you can do this, try giving negative answers to the questions below. Keep your answers short and simple as usual. The first one is done as an example.
1) What type of photos do you like taking?
Well, I don't usually take photos, to be honest. I prefer to enjoy whatever I'm doing, rather than stop to take a photograph.
2) What do you do with the photos you take?
3) When you visit other places, do you take photos or buy postcards?
4) Do you like people taking photos of you?
Friday, August 02, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'lessons' topic
The following answers are at 'band 9' level. Which words and phrases help my answers to get such a high score?
1. What do you think makes a good lesson?
I think a good lesson is one that is interesting and engaging. By 'engaging' I mean that the students should feel involved in the lesson; they should feel that they are learning something new that is relevant to them. In my opinion, a lot depends on how the teacher delivers the content of the lesson in a way that students like. My favourite teacher at university used to involve the students by making us teach some of the lessons ourselves.
2. Do you think it's better to have a teacher or to teach yourself?
Well, there's no substitute for a good teacher. I think you can teach yourself, but you can learn a lot more quickly with the guidance of a teacher. For example, when learning a language, you really need someone to correct your mistakes; you can get the grammar and vocabulary from books, but books can't tell you where you're going wrong.
3. Do you think the traditional classroom will disappear in the future?
I don't think it will disappear, but it might become less common. I think more people will study independently, using different technologies rather than sitting in a classroom. Maybe students will attend a lesson just once a week, and spend the rest of their time following online courses or watching video lessons.
Friday, July 19, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 2: making 'difficult' questions easy
Sometimes the part 2 task looks difficult but there's an easy way to answer. Here are three examples:
1) Describe something that you collect.
Most students panic because they don't collect anything. But this question is easier than you think. If your hobby is listening to music or reading books, just tell the examiner that you collect CDs or novels. You could talk about your "collection" of clothes or shoes. Everyone has a collection of something, even if you don't call yourself a collector.
2) Describe an important decision that you made.
Easy. Just talk about the subject you chose to study or the career you decided to pursue. If you moved to live/study in a different country, you could talk about that.
3) Describe an important letter you received.
Use the answer you gave for number 2 (with a few small changes). Talk about the letter you received confirming your place on a university course, or confirming a successful job application.
Friday, July 12, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'future' answers
Here are my sample answers to the questions that I showed you last Friday. I've pretended to be a scientist instead of an English teacher!
1. What job would you like to have ten years from now?
I’d like to think that I’ll be doing the same job in ten years’ time. I like being a scientist, so I can’t imagine changing professions.
2. How useful will English be for your future?
English is essential in my field of work; most of the research that is being done in this area is published in English, so I read articles and papers in English every day.
3. How much travelling do you hope to do in the future?
I’d like to see more of the world, so it would be nice to be able to travel extensively at some point, maybe when I’m retired.
4. How do you think your life will change in the future?
Hopefully, I’ll make progress in different areas of my life, for example at work and in terms of my home life. I’m also interested to see what new technologies come along in the next decade or two.
Friday, July 05, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'future' topic
Let's talk about the future...
1. What job would you like to have ten years from now?
2. How useful will English be for your future?
3. How much travelling do you hope to do in the future?
4. How do you think your life will change in the future?
How would you answer these questions? Remember to give a direct answer and then explain it with a reason.
Sunday, June 30, 2019
IELTS Advice: stories and 'natural' linking
Did you notice that my sample answer in Friday's speaking lesson was a story?
When telling stories, native speakers use lots of 'natural' linking words and phrases. Have a look at the following examples from my description:
- This happened (referring to the previous sentence)
- and at some point
- so
- It (referring to the restaurant previously mentioned)
- But as soon as
- and we
- After standing around for a few minutes
- So, I went
- so I suggested
- But the manager
- ; our only option was
- By this time
- yet (meaning 'but in spite of that')
- We decided
- and fortunately
Notice that I didn't use any of the typical linking words that people learn (Moreover, Furthermore, etc.). Those lists of typical linking phrases won't help you to get a higher score. Try to practise 'natural' linking instead!
Saturday, June 29, 2019
IELTS Vocabulary: from yesterday's answer
Here's a list of some good phrases that I used in yesterday's sample speaking answer. Notice that some of the phrases are perfect for the speaking test, but a little too informal for a written essay.
- experience poor service
- have a bite to eat (informal)
- come across something (meaning 'find by chance')
- book in advance
- as soon as we walked through the door
- things started to go wrong (informal)
- not at all impressed with
- the attitude of the staff
- standing around (informal)
- attract the attention of someone /attracts someone's attention
- only to be told that
- a party of our size
- to be adamant that
- our only option was to
- getting fed up (informal)
- being treated as if
- where we felt unwelcome
- we left feeling disappointed
- to be dismissive
- a much friendlier place
- just around the corner
Friday, June 28, 2019
IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'bad service' answer
Here's the task that I showed you last week:
Describe a time when you were not satisfied with a service.
You should say
- what the service was
- who provided it
- what happened
- and explain why you were unhappy with the service.
And here's my band 9 sample answer:
I’m going to describe a time when I experienced poor service from the staff in a restaurant. This happened a couple of months ago, when some family members, who live abroad, came to stay. We decided to visit a nearby town, and at some point, everyone was a little hungry, so we thought we would have a bite to eat.
The first restaurant that we came across looked perfect. It had plenty of empty tables - we hadn’t booked in advance - and we were all happy with the menu. But as soon as we walked through the door, things started to go wrong, and we weren’t at all impressed with the attitude of the staff.
After standing around for a few minutes waiting for someone to greet us, I managed to attract the attention of a waitress who told me that we had come into the restaurant through the wrong door. So, I went over to the main door, only to be told by the manager that there were no tables free for a party of our size - there were eight of us. I could see several free tables with four seats, so I suggested simply moving two of these tables together. But the manager was adamant that this was impossible; our only option was to divide the family and sit at two separate tables.
By this time, some of my family members were getting fed up. The restaurant was half empty, yet we were being treated as if they didn’t need customers. We decided we didn’t want to sit at separate tables or stay in a place where we felt unwelcome. We left, feeling disappointed by how dismissive the restaurant manager had been, and fortunately, we found a much friendlier place to eat just around the corner.