SPEAKING PREPARATION

SPEAK-SPEAK-SPEAK-SPEAK

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Welcome to all in my speaking session. Speaking is a great power to reflect one's personality and attitudes. I believe to make a good gathering can make you a good speaker. So I will request you first make a group and srart practicing. Speaking is the easies part of IELTS examination. In the exam the teacher will judge your communication power. 

LATEST IELTS FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS

                                               POLICEMAN

1. Do you think that being a policeman is an easy job in your country?
No, I don’t think so. A policeman’s job is a very demanding job. Policemen need to be physically and mentally strong. They always have to be on their toes. They have to protect peace, life and property. They endanger their life everyday when they deal with crooks.

2. Do you think men and women make equally good police officers?
Nowadays, anybody can be trained to do any type of job. We have examples of very good women IPS officers like Kiran Bedi but personally I feel that it is a man’s job. A policeman’s job is a very demanding job. Policemen need to be physically and mentally strong. They always have to be on their toes. They have to protect peace, life and property. They endanger their life everyday when they deal with crooks. So, I think that men are better suited for this job.

3. In general, is policeman’s job easy?
No, I don’t think so. A policeman’s job is a very demanding job. Policemen need to be physically and mentally strong. They always have to be on their toes. They have to protect peace, life and property. They endanger their life everyday when they deal with crooks.

4. Do you think it is a good idea for the police to carry guns around?
Yes, definitely. The police have to deal with criminals who may be armed. If police are not armed then nobody will be afraid of them.

5. What do you think are the responsibilities of a good lawyer?
The first and foremost responsibility is to provide justice. He should not side with the wrong elements of society. He should study each case properly and not use unethical means to defend any client.




Follow up questions of ‘a relaxing day’ 1. Do you think sleep is the best way to relax?
Yes, I do think so. Sleep relaxes both the body and the mind. It revitalises us. We recharge our batteries for the next few hours. For some time we forget all our worries and tensions. So, I feel it is the best way to relax.

2. Do you think that sleep is important?
Yes, I do think so. Sleep relaxes both the body and the mind. It revitalises us. We recharge our batteries for the next few hours. For some time we forget all our worries and tensions. So, I feel it is very important. However, I also feel that it should be of limited hours. Oversleeping is also very bad.

3. What do you think of the sleeping patterns of people of all ages?
Sleeping patterns vary with age. Children generally sleep more than adults. Those who do a lot of physical work also need more sleep. The elderly sleep for only 4-5 hours a day and it is enough for them because they have very little physical exertion.

4. Where do you usually go on vacation?
I usually go to different places on vacation. I like visiting new places every time. Once I went to Shimla with my family. Once I went to Delhi and Agra with my friends.

5. Do you think paid leave is necessary?
Yes, definitely. A paid leave is very necessary. A paid leave combines vacation, sick leave and casual leave into a single group of days for employee paid time off. The concept is good. This enables workers to create a balance between work and leisure. These days when a person looks for a job,the number of paid leaves is considered as an added benefit.

6. How many hours of paid leave should one get in a month?
I think it should be 15-20 hours a month.




Follow up questions on Friends 1. How do people make new friends?
People make friends in many ways. It depends on age and gender. Children make friends in schools and colleges. They also make friends in the neighbourhood by playing together. Women make friends by joining kitty parties and men make friends at work or by joining social clubs.

2. What do you think makes people have a long friendship?
Mutual understanding makes people have a long friendship. If people can tolerate each other’s short comings and be simple and straight forward, then friendships can be for a long time.

3. Does it make things easier in a friendship if you have similar interests?
Yes, definitely. With similar interests friends can spend time together and not get bored. They will also have similar topics for discussion. In a lasting friendship it is very essential that your likes and dislikes are similar.
4. How do people make friends now?
Now a days, people make friends through internet by joining social networking sites like face book, twitter and orkut.

5. Do you think we meet new people differently now than in the past?
Yes, definitely. Nowadays, we meet new people through internet by joining social networking sites like face book, twitter and orkut.
Earlier, people had lots of free time and they made friends by meeting personally.

6. What do you think, what type of personality do people of the young generation admire?
Young generation admires people who are rich and famous. They admire young politicians like Rahul Gandhi and Sachin Pilot. They also admire famous sports personalities. They admire reality show winners.

7. Do you think admiration varies according to age?
Yes, surely. Young people admire celebrities. Elderly admire good politicians and religious preachers.

8. What do you think, how important is education in one’s life?
Education is very important in one’s life. It is the base of one’s life. Education makes you confident and able to get good jobs. We also learn moral values and tolerance of other religions and cultures. An educated person rarely goes towards crime and violence.




Follow up of celebrations 1. How do you learn about celebrations that are related to your culture?
We learn about celebrations from our parents and grandparents. We also learn about them by attending family functions. We also learn through media by watching daily soaps. We also learn through school and college functions.

2. What do you think are common celebrations all over the world?
There are many celebrations which are celebrated all over the world. Such as – New year celebration, Christmas celebration, Valentine Day celebration, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and so on.

3. Do you think we should follow our culture and traditions and why?
Yes, definitely, we should follow our culture and tradition because it keeps us in touch with our roots. We can pass on our rich culture to our coming generation if only we know about it. I believe that every culture has some good points which need to be preserved.

4. How do you react to spending a lot of money on celebrations?
I think it is sheer wastage of money. For example, burning crackers as a tradition on Diwali is OK but spending exorbitant amount of money on crackers is bad. Similarly giving gifts is OK on occasions but buying very expensive gifts just to show-off is bad.

5. How do you think celebrations in the past and at present are different?
In earlier times, people had a lot of time. They took days and weeks to prepare for any function. Nowadays, celebrations have shrunk. They have become instant like the cup of instant coffee. Earlier, marriage celebrations lasted at least a week. All relatives gathered in the house of the bride or groom and there used to be too much fun and frolic. Now, we book marriage palaces and even the bride and the groom’s family just go to attend the wedding.

6. Are people celebrating in the same ways?
No, definitely not. Everything undergoes change with time. Celebrations too have changed. In earlier times, people had a lot of time. They took days and weeks to prepare for any function. Nowadays, celebrations have shrunk. They have become instant like the cup of instant coffee. Earlier, marriage celebrations lasted at least a week. All relatives gathered in the house of the bride or groom and there used to be too much fun and frolic. Now, we book marriage palaces and even the bride and the groom’s family just go to attend the wedding.

Follow up questions related to school, subject, teachers 1. For children these days, do you think it is easier to make friends in a smaller school or a larger school?
I think it is easier to make friends in a small school because there are less number of students and you can easily interact with them and find someone your type.
OR
I think it is easier to make friends in a big school because there are many students and you can easily interact with them and find someone your type.
OR
I think size of the school does not matter in ability to make friends.

2. In your opinion, what are the benefits of studying in a larger school?
There are many benefits of studying in a larger school. In a larger school you have many facilities like larger playgrounds and better labs and libraries. There are also better extra-curricular activities.

3. Do you think social education is important in schools? What are the advantages?
I think social education is very important in schools. As it is, children today are being cut off from society and community because they have burden of studies and even their recreational activities are done alone. Their parents also don’t have time to give them any social education. In nuclear families no one is there to teach them such values. So, I think schools should take the onus of imparting social education.

4. How do you think schools can help pupils in developing their social skills?
Schools can help in many ways. First of all teachers can act as role models and teach children basic manners and ethics. Then, schools can have compulsory community service as part of high school curriculum. There can be extra-curricular activities which impart social values.

5. What difference is there in moving from a large to a small school?
There are many differences in moving from a bigger to a smaller school. On the one hand, the student may find he has come to a smaller place with lesser facilities such as playgrounds and labs. But on the other hand he may get personal attention as there are lesser number of students in a small school.

6. What qualifications should a teacher have?
A teacher should have the qualifications needed for the subject he has to teach. For example, a science teacher should be a graduate in science subjects. Apart from that a B.Ed. degree is mandatory for all teachers in my country.

7. Why teachers give so many assignments to pupils?
Teachers give assignments to students so that they learn by doing things. In this way it creates interest in the subject also. Students also develop their writing skills. They learn how to gather material for the assignment. It also helps in internal assessment of students.

8. What are the qualities necessary to become a good teacher?
A good teacher should have many qualities. He should have good communication skills. If a teacher doesn’t have good communication skills, how will he teach. Secondly, a good teacher should have depth of knowledge. Because, if a teacher doesn’t have depth of knowledge, what will he teach. Then, a teacher should be impartial and should not favour any student. A teacher should be able to come down to the level of the student and teach him accordingly. A teacher should know where to be strict and where to be lenient.

9. Why do some people like to be a teacher and what are the effects of being a teacher on those people?
Some people like to become teachers because it is a noble profession. They have a passion for teaching. Some like to be teachers because they want to remain in touch with academics. Moreover, nowadays teachers are getting handsome pay packages. It is a fixed hours job. So it suits women because they have to look after their families also. They remain happy because they are doing what they like to do and it gives them job-satisfaction.

10. Is it easy for a young person these days to become a teacher?
Yes, it is very easy for young persons these days to become teachers because there are so many schools and colleges which require teachers. There are so many institutes providing B.Ed. courses. Moreover teaching is a highly lucrative profession. Teachers are earning very high pay packages.

11. Is it a good job for young people?
Yes, definitely. Teaching is a highly lucrative profession. Teachers are earning very high pay packages.

12. What is the difference in teaching young people and elderly?
When a teacher has to teach young children, the content is decided by the teacher. So the education is teacher oriented. Moreover, young children can be easily handled by the teacher.
When a teacher has to teach the elderly, then the students decide the content. So, the education is student centred. The elderly have many other sources to learn, like the internet. So they only want their doubts clarified by the teacher. To teach the elderly, depth of knowledge is required by the teacher.

13. What do you prefer – studying in a small class or a larger class.
I prefer to study in a small class because in a small class I can get more attention of the teacher.

14. Do young children need strict rules to cope with homework?
Yes, definitely. If teachers are not strict with homework then children will become careless. As it is, they have so many distractions at home like TV and video games. So if teachers are not strict they will not do their homework.

15. What is the difference in teacher taught relation today and in earlier days?
Nowadays the teacher taught relation is very strained. There are mainly two reasons for this. The first is that, earlier teaching was teacher-oriented. Teacher was the only source of knowledge. Now students have so many other sources like the internet and libraries. Secondly, the ugly claws of commercialism have crept into the field of education. Education has become a business and the student is the customer.

16. Do you think teaching is a tough job?
Yes, definitely, teaching is a tough job. You need very good communication skills and depth of knowledge. As it is, students have so many sources of learning like libraries and the internet, so, a teacher has to be really really very good to be able to teach well.

17. What are the characteristics of a good learner?
He should be very attentive in the class. He should be diligent. He should be regular in his homework and other assignments. He should have the guts to approach the teacher if he doesn’t understand anything.

18. What is the best thing you remember about your teacher?
The best thing I remember about my teacher is his warm smile. That made him very approachable.

19. Do you think there is any age limitation in studies?
No, I don’t think there is any age limitation in studies. A person can study at any age. A few days ago I was watching the news when I saw that a grandmother and granddaughter passed their graduation together.

20. Would you choose teaching as a profession?
Yes, definitely, I would choose teaching as a profession. It is a highly lucrative profession nowadays and there is no dearth of jobs in this profession.

21. What do you think of people not being into teaching nowadays?
Well, maybe they don’t have the aptitude for teaching. Maybe, they have better paid jobs elsewhere. Maybe they don’t have good communication skills. Maybe they don’t have the mandatory B.Ed. degree.

22. What can a government do to encourage people to take up teaching?
What actions should governments take to help a graduate student become a teacher?
Governments can provide good salary to teachers. Government can provide good facilities to teachers. Governments can give incentives in the form of free education to their children, free transport facilities, free health facilities and free meals in school hours. Governments can award good teachers. Governments can give good pension for teachers. Governments can provide free higher education to those students who would take up teaching job later on.

23. Can a good teacher remain good even if her students are bad in class?
Well, yes a good teacher can remain good at all times. It is his capability to convert bad students to good students.

24. How do teachers contribute to society?
Well, teachers are nation builders. They can contribute a lot to society. They can teach moral values and turn students into good professionals and citizens.

25. How do teachers motivate students to learn?
Teachers can do so in many ways. They can give them incentives in the form of prizes and also give them group assignments which make learning fun.
They can use innovative methods of teaching by using AV aids (audiovisual aids)

26. Who do you think children nowadays should follow - their parents or their teachers?
Children should follow both. They need guidance from both parents and teachers. If parents are illiterate, then of course teachers play a better role.

27. Do you think nowadays there is less value in a teacher’s job?
Well, no, and yes.
No, because teaching is a highly lucrative profession these days
and
Yes, because nowadays the teacher taught relation is very strained. There are mainly two reasons for this. The first is that, earlier teaching was teacher-oriented. Teacher was the only source of knowledge. Now students have so many other sources like the internet and libraries. Secondly, the ugly claws of commercialism have crept into the field of education. Education has become a business and the student is the customer.
                                                                                                                                                                                            Source-----
                                                                                                                                                                                                                Kiran

Some important questions with possible answers

General Questions

  1. Where do you come from?
2. Tell me about your home town
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living there?
4. Transport system in your home town
5. The places worth visiting in your home town
6. What are the changes that have come to your home town?
7. What is the one thing you like the most of your home town?
8. What is the one thing you don’t like the most of your home town?
I come from Phagwara.
It is about 20 km. from Jalandhar and 40 kms from Ludhiana.
I’ve been staying there for the last 20 years/ since my birth.
It is on the National Highway.
There are many advantages of staying in my home town.
As it is on the National Highway so it is well connected by road and rail to other places.
Moreover there are good markets and malls where we can buy almost anything.
The transport system of my home town is very good.
You can go anywhere by bus, train, taxi or your own car or scooter.
The disadvantage is that there is no super-specialty hospital here.
There are many places worth-visiting in my hometown.
There is a historical Shiv Mandir and two historical gurudwaras related to the 6th Guru of the Sikhs – Guru Hargobind ji.
Many recent changes have taken place in my home town.
Firstly, a flyover over a railway crossing has been built.
A by-pass on the Jalandhar Phagwara road has been built.
The bus stand and the railway station have been renovated.
Many new shopping malls have opened.
The first private university of my state has opened in my home town.
The first two changes have improved the traffic problems of my home town.
The one thing I like about my home town is that it is virtually pollution free. People are very hospitable and it is a calm and quiet place.
One thing I dislike about my home town is that there is no good cinema hall where I can go with my friends and watch movies.
9. Why do you appear for IELTS?
I appear for IELTS because I want to go abroad to pursue my higher studies/ to get a good job there. This way I hope to earn more and give a better future to my family.
10. Tell me about your family.
( own answer )
11. Who is more important, father or mother?
Both are equally important. For my financial needs I depend on my father and for my emotional needs I depend on my mother.
12. Do you have any brothers/ sisters
( own answer )
13. What are advantages and disadvantages of having brothers and sisters?
Advantages
a. We can share our feelings with each other.
b. They are our best guides in times of dilemmas. ( situations when you have to make a difficult choice)
c. They are good companions as nowadays both parents are working so brothers and sisters share each other’s solitude.
Disadvantage :
a. You have to share your things
b. Love of parents is divided

14. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being eldest brother/ sister?
Advantages
a. you are respected by younger siblings
b. you are given importance in family matters
Disadvantages
a. You have to share your things
b. Love of parents is divided. Sometimes younger siblings get all the parents love.
c. when something wrong happens you get all the discredit for it.
15. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being youngest brother/ sister?
Advantages
a. you are loved and pampered by all
b. you get what you want from your elder brothers and sisters also.
Disadvantages
a. you get to wear hand-me-downs.
b. You are given no importance in family matters.
16. How do people of your home town keep themselves healthy?
The people of my home town are very health conscious. There are free yoga classes in the morning. Many people regularly go for morning walks. Gym culture is very popular with the youth and children play outdoor games.
17. What do most people do in your home town?
All sorts of work are done in my home town. There are government offices, banks, industries and educational institutes in my home town. People run their own businesses and also work in the private and public sector.
18. How do people of your home town spend their free time?
People of my home town spend their free time in various ways. The elderly go for walks and sit in parks and chat with each other. Women chat with each other, watch TV soaps, men usually join some social clubs and charitable organizations and children play outdoor games and watch TV. Gyms are very popular among the youth.
19. How do children of your home town spend their free time?
Now – Children spend their free time by watching TV. I think they don’t get much free time. Whatever time they get they spend in front in front of TV. They do not play outdoor games. So health suffers.
50 years ago– They had enough time to play. They played with friends and cousins. Their health was perfect.
In future – I don’t think children will have any free time. All the time they will get will be in front of computer. It will not be good for their health.
20. Do men and women differ in their ways of spending free time?
Yes, men and women differ in their ways of spending free time. Women chat with each other, watch TV soaps, men usually join some social clubs and charitable organizations
21. What was it, say, some 50 years ago?
50 years ago, people were far more relaxed than today. Life was slower; there was no TV and children had fewer distractions. Women spent free time by chatting with each other while doing embroidery, knitting and crocheting. Men also grouped with men of similar tastes and discussed general topics. Children played with neighbouring children and cousins. The elderly helped in household chores and told stories to their grand children.
22. A festival celebrated in your home town.
Diwali or Deepawali is a Hindu festival of lights.
The word Deepawali literally means rows of diyas (clay lamps).
It is a family festival.
It is celebrated 20 days after Dussehra
It is celebrated to commemorate the return of lord Rama to his kingdom after 14 years of exile.
It is also meant to celebrate the destruction of arrogant tyrant Bali at the hands of Vishnu.
Another reason for the celebration of Diwali is that the 6th guru of the Sikhs, Guru Hargobind Ji, was set free from Gwalior jail along with 52 kings on this day.
On this day twinkling oil lamps or diyas light up every home and there are numerous firework displays.
Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom is worshipped in most Hindu homes.
Goddess Lakshmi, who is the symbol of wealth and prosperity is also worshipped. Spring cleaning and whitewashing of the houses is done.
Rangolis (decorative designs) are painted on the walls and floor.
New clothes are bought and family members and relatives gather together to offer prayers, distribute sweets and to light up their houses.
There are some bad practices also followed on this day. Some people resort to drinking and gambling which is not good.
23. A famous person of your home town.
I belong to Phagwara.
It is a small but famous town of Punjab.
There are many famous people in my hometown like industrialists, politicians, social workers etc.
Here I’m going to talk about Mr. Hardayal Singh.
He is an octagenarian, in fact in his late 80s(eightees).
He has a medium built and is usually seen on his bicycle.
Even at this age he carries himself very well and doesn’t suffer from ailments like hypertension and diabetes.
He has a smile on his face always.
He is always willing to help others.
He is blessed with two sons and runs a shoe store in the main market with them. He took active part in the freedom fight of India in 1947.
He is drawing pension as a freedom fighter from the Govt. of India.
Even today he is honoured at all public events like Independence day and Republic day.
24. An old man of your home town.
Because of better healthcare and better foods available, the number of octagenarians and centenarians is increasing day by day.
There are many old men in my home town but here I’m going to talk about Mr Hardayal Singh. -----
25. What are the superstitions of your home town?
What do you mean by superstitions?
How they spread. = psychological
Superstitions are blind beliefs. People believe them without questioning. These beliefs are handed over from generation to generation. Some are universal.
If a black cat crosses your way then it will bring bad luck or good luck. It has psychological effect.
If you set out on journey and if you are called from behind it brings bad luck.
The number 13 is universally considered unlucky.
There are two superstitions – one type have no logical reasoning. They are irrational
e.g. if you see a crow taking bath you will hear of death soon.
Some have logical validity
e.g. if you spill milk it brings bad luck. So you are careful not to spill milk.
What is the antidote to superstition
Knowledge that brings wisdom is the only antidote to superstition. As knowledge increases superstitions decrease.
Superstition is the religion of the feeble minds. – Edmund Burke


26. Do you think people are less superstitious these days?
As science and technology is advancing, superstitions should become less and less but what is generally seen is that old superstitions are paving way for new ones.
27. What types of TV programmes do most people of your home town watch?
People of my HT watch all types of TV programmes. This varies by age and gender. The elderly watch religious channels like Aastha, shradha and sanskar. Children watch cartoon and movie channels, ladies watch soaps and sitcoms while gents watch business and news channels. Nowadays sitcoms like The great Indian Laughter show and Comedy circus are popular with all ages.
28. What are common health problems of your home town?
Water borne diseases like typhoid and jaundice are very common in my HT. Obesity is a universal health problem these days and my HT is no exception. Problems of old age like hypertension and diabetes are also there.
29. Tell me about your school.
My first school was in the town where I live/lived.
It was built in the 1960s and had large airy classrooms and, next to it, some excellent playing fields.
When you went into the building, there was a huge hall on the left where we had our daily gym class and morning assembly.
On the right was the principal’s room next to the reception.
In front of the principal’s room was the staff room.
The classrooms were off two large corridors.
Each classroom was identical.
The teacher sat behind a large desk at the front of the class.
Behind her was the blackboard.
Opposite her were six or seven rows of desks where we sat.
When I sat there at the age of four, the school had only one storey, but by the time I left school, at the age of fifteen, there were three storeys and a new wing was also added.
Other things added were
- library
- computer room
- concrete stage for annual functions


                                                                                                                                                                                                  Source-----
                                                                                                                                                                                                                Kiran

SPEAKING & WRITING QUESTIONS 2010-2011


IELTS test in Romania and Iran – February 2011 (Academic Module) IELTS exam questions and topics below were contributed by M from Romania and A from Iran, whom we thank very much. Here is what they remembered:

Listening test

Section 1. A man was calling an information center to find the closest medical clinic in the area and to ask about the services that they offer.

Section 2. A story about the progress in robotic technology.

Section 3. A description of a factory and the rooms it consists of: security, manager’s office, storing room, cafeteria, unloading room.
Questions: map labeling.

Section 4. Information about a company’s work and holiday schedule for its employees.

Reading test

Passage 1. A text about space satellites.

Passage 2. A text about the art of tattoos in a certain country.

Passage 3. Don’t remember.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

There were 3 bar charts that described 4 packaging materials (glass, aluminum, plastic and paper) and their usage in Japan, UK and USA in kilograms per capita.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people say that the government is responsible for aged care and financial support for the elderly, others argue that its the role of individuals. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Speaking test

Interview

- Tell me your full name please.
- What is your native city/town?
- Did you learn about the history of your city at school?
- What is your city famous for?
- What kind of sports do you like?
- Do you think that girls and boys are interested in the same sports?
- Do you like the sea?
- Would you like to live near the sea?

Cue Card

Describe a teacher you had in school, please say

- who the teacher was,
- why this teacher was important to you,
- whether you would like to meet that teacher in the future again and why.

Discussion

- How would you describe an ideal teacher?
- What teaching methods did help you the most?
- What other methods would also be effective?

ELTS test in Vietnam – January 2011 (Academic Module Writing task 1 (a report)

Compare figures in two pie charts that described what students in Britain have been doing after graduation in 2008. The first one was about the decisions of students with B.A degree, the second was on the students with M.A degree.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people believe that robots are getting increasingly important in our lives. However, others think robots are extremely dangerous. What is your opinion? Why?

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your name?
- Where are you from?
- Tell me about your hometown.
- What is your hometown famous for?
- What do you do for a living?
- Tell me about your typical day.
- Would you like to change it? Why?
- What do you do in your free time?

Cue Card

Tell me something about a foreigner that you like the most. Please say:
- Where did you meet that person?
- Why did you like him/her?
- What do you learn from him/ her?

Discussion

- Do you like making friends with foreigners? Why?
- Is it easy to spot foreigners?
- What do you think about immigration?
- Why do you think people immigrate to other countries?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of immigration?

Writing Task 1 (a letter)

Write a letter to a friend saying that you are moving to an English speaking country. Ask if he/she is interested in furniture that you want to give away and explain how to pick it up.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

When families have a meal together it is considered social activity. Do you think eating together is important to people in your country?

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your name?
- Do you work or study?
- Why do you like your job?
- Is it easy to get a similar job in your country?
- When did you visit a museum last time?
- What books do children enjoy reading in your country?

Cue card

Describe a person that you admire the most in your family, please say
- Who is he/she?
- Why have you chosen this person as a role model?

IELTS Speaking test in Saudi Arabia – January 2011

Speaking test

- What’s your full name?
- How can I call you?
- Are you studying or working?
- Why did you choose your major?
- What do you do in your free time?
- Where did you spend the last holiday? Did you travel?
- How do you usually spend your holidays?
- Do you like spending holidays alone or with others? Why?
- Did you recently visit a dancing concert?
- Do you dance? What kind of dance you do? Why?
- Do you watch dancing programs? What kind of dancing do you like to watch and why?

Cue Card

Describe a gift you bought for someone. Please say
- What was it?
- Who did you buy it for?
- Why did you choose this gift?
- And please say whether the person liked it or not, and why.

Discussion

- Are gifts important?
- In your country, when do you usually give gifts?
- What is easier for you: giving or reeving a gift? Why?

Writing Task 1 (a letter)

You were invited to a British friends’ marriage, but you are unable to attend the wedding. Write a letter explaining
- why you couldn’t attend it,
- what is your plan to make it up to them
- when you will meet instead.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Technological improvements reduce the role of Olympic Games in this 21st century. Do you agree or disagree, and why?

Speaking test

Interview

- Please introduce yourself.
- What do you do for a living?
- Is this job important in your country?
- Have you traveled on airplanes?
- When was your last trip?
- What are the benefits of air travel?
- Do you think you are going to fly less or more in the next few years?

Cue Card

Describe a person you admire in your family. Please say
- Who is this person?
- Why do you admire him/her?
- When did you last meet this person?

Discussion

- Who makes decisions in your family?
- Is it necessary to consider everybody’s opinion in you family?
- Who makes decisions mostly in families in your country in general?
- What is the importance of joined and nuclear family?
- What will be the future family structure?
- Why do people prefer nuclear families?

IELTS test in Caracas, Venezuela – January 2011 (Academic Module)Writing task 1 (a report)

We had a chart describing the evolution of the level of qualifications among UK workers from 1990 to 2010 (one line chart was showing 4 trends).

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people think they should keep all the money they earn without paying taxes, others disagree. Discuss, what is your opinion?

Speaking test 1

Interview

- What is your full name?
- Where do you live?
- Is it a big city or a small town?
- How long have you been living there?
- What would you prefer: to attend a concert or to buy a CD of your favorite artist?

Cue card

Talk about the car you would choose if you could buy any car. Please say:
- What car would you buy?
- Why would you buy this particular car?

Discussion

Questions about public transport.

Speaking test 2

Interview

- What is your full name?
- Where are you from?
- May I see your Identification Card?
- Where do you live?
- What can you tell me about your hometown?
- Tell me a little bit about the history of your hometown.

Cue Card

Tell me about a specific skill that you have learned. Please say
- Why did you learn it?
- How did you learn it?
- Why do you find it useful?

Discussion

- Do you think children are better than adults at learning new skills?
- Do you think we have to keep up with new skills?

.Speaking Test 1

Interview

- What is your full name?
- Can I see your ID?
- What do you want me to call you?
- Where are you from?
- Tell me about your hometown.
- What is it famous for?
- Have you studied about the history of your hometown at school?
- Do you like to meet people?
- What are the common places where people prefer to meet?
- What were the places where people liked to meet in the past?
- Do you like to go to museums?
- Did you like to visit museums when you were a child?
- When did you visit a museum recently?
- What kind of museums are there in your country?

Cue Card

Talk about a person who is very successful in his/her life. Please say
- Who is that person?
- How do you know him/her?
- Why do you like that person?

Discussion

- What does success mean to you?
- Why do people like to follow a successful person?
- Why do parents pressure their children to gain success?
- Does success means richness?
- What is the difference between success, work load and leisure?

Speaking Test 2

Interview

- General introductory questions.
- Do you like reading books?
- What type of books do you read?
- Are you reading a book presently?
- Would you like to write a book in the future?

Cue Card

Describe a situation when something in your house broke or stopped working. Please say
- What was it?
- What happened when it broke/stopped working?
- How did you feel about it?

Discussion

- Why do you think people buy second-hand products?
- Why do people sell second-hand goods and advertise them on the internet?
- Do you think advertising fools people?

IELTS test in the UK – January 2011 (Academic Module) Writing Task 1 (a report)

We were given a table showing the percentage of sales and waste of food on every day of the week in a large supermarket. The task was to summarize the information provided and where possible compare and contrast data. The table had days of the week in the rows (Monday – Sunday) and the following in 3 columns: average sales of food (£), average waste (£), waste as percentage of sales (%).

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people say that parents have the most important role in a child’s development. However, others argue that other things like television or friends have the most significant influence. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Speaking Test

Interview

- Where do you live?
- Is it a nice place to visit?
- Let’s talk about numbers: do any numbers hold particular meaning in your culture?
- Do you think people should attach particular meaning to numbers?
- Do you have any numbers that are special to you?
- Between numbers and words, which do you remember easily?
- What do you do to remember them easily?

Cue Card

Describe your ideal house. Please say
- Where do you want the house to be?
- What should it look like?
- How many people should it accommodate?

Discussion

- Do you think people in cities are better off than those in rural areas, and why?
- Do you think cities will grow bigger and bigger in coming years?
- What problems are involved when cities grow bigger?
- Is there something that can be done to restrict the growth of cities?

Speaking test

Interview

- May I know your name, please?
- Do you work or study?
- Tell me about your job.
- Do you like to give books as a present?
- Do you think your selection of books has changed since you grown up?
- What kind of books do you prefer to give as presents to different age groups?
- Do you want to write your own book in the future?
- Why do you want to write a book?

Cue Card

Talk about your family, please include in your speech the following points

- Name a family member whom you admire.
- When did you meet him/her last time?
- How often do you meet him / her?
- Why do you admire him/her?

Discussion

- Are you familiar with problems of large or small families?
- Do you like a large or a small family?
- Will it be necessary for women of the family to work in the future?
- What are the benefits of living in large families?

IELTS test in Australia – January 2011 (General Training) Writing task 1 (a letter)

Your English speaking friend is moving to your neighborhood with his/her children and wants some information about the local school.
Write a letter to him/her, in your letter
- Explain about the school and its facilities.
- Give your opinion about the school.
- Explain why his/her children will enjoy this school.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Many people complain about stress at work. How can employers reduce the stress and what can do employees themselves to solve this problem?

Speaking test

Interview

- Please tell me your full name.
- Where is your hometown?
- What types of accommodation are there for tourists?
- What changes can be made to improve the accommodation?
- Do you prefer to read news in newspapers or to watch them on TV?
- Do you read news on the internet?
- Do you think about writing a book one day?

Cue card

Describe a hotel you stayed in or know about. Please say:

- What is it’s name?
- Where is it?
- What does it look like?
- Explain why people like to stay there.

Discussion

- Have you ever stayed in hotels?
- Do you think hotels attract tourists in your country?
- What is the impact of tourism on economic condition of your country?

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your name?
- Can I see your ID?
- How do you spend your day?
- What is your daily schedule?
- Are there any museums in your country?
- Did you visit any of these museums when you were a child? How old were you at the time?
- Do you think it’s a good idea to sell things in museums to visitors?
- Do you think that museums are important? Why?

Cue Card

Talk about something that you can do it to help the environment, please say
- What is it?
- How can you do it?
- How would you suggest to somebody to do it?

Discussion

- Do you think it is easy for people in your county to change their lifestyle to help the environment?
- Who is responsible for pollution of the environment? And how?
- What must be done by the government to preserve wildlife and nature in your country?
- How do you think humans damage the environment?

IELTS test in Moscow, Russia – January 2011 (General Training) Writing test

Writing Task 1 (a report)

We were given pie charts describing the proportion of clothing imports to the USA and Japan in 1995 and 2000.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

In many cities people prefer to live alone or in small family units, rather than in large family groups. Is it a positive or a negative trend?

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your name?
- Do you work or study?
- Is your profession popular in your country?
- Did you enjoy visiting museums when you were a child?
- When did you visit a museum last time?
- What books do children enjoy reading in your country?

Cue card

Describe a project or a piece of work you did together with someone, please say
- who it was,
- what you have done,
-why you have chosen this person.

Discussion

- Do you think it is important to do something with another person?
- Is it important for children to have subjects in school that include working with another person?
- What subjects would those be?
- How could businesses work together with schools or universities?
- How could wealthy countries help poor countries?

Interview

- What is your full name?
- Can I see your ID?
- Tell me about your hometown.
- What is it famous for?
- Did you play any sports when you were a child?
- Why did you like this kind of sport / activity?
- Do you think boys and girls nowadays can play the same sports? Why?
- Do you think your children will play sports? Why?

Cue card

Describe a thing you bought, that you had to save money for, please say
- what it was,
- how long you saved money for it,
- what you felt when you bought it.

Discussion

- Do you think children should be taught to save money from their childhood? Why?
- Should parents buy everything their child asks for? Why?
- Is it easy for you to save money?
- Do people in countryside have different shopping attitude than people in a city? Why?

IELTS test in Sri Lanka – January 2011 (General Training) Writing Task 1 (a letter)

You have just arrived in a foreign country on a business trip. You faced a problem at the airport.
Write a letter to the airport manager regarding the problem you had. In your letter

- identify yourself and state your flight number,
- explain what problem you had at the airport,
- suggest an improvement that should be made to the airport to prevent the problem.

Task 2 (an essay)

Adults always say that life was better in their childhood and school days than it is now. Why do adults say so? Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your full name?
- What do you want me to call you?
- Do you work or study?
- What part of the day are you busy?
- What part of the day do you like the most?
- How many languages can you speak?
- What are the languages that you love to learn? Why?

Cue Card

Talk about a job that you would like to try, please say:

- what the job is,
- what skills are necessary to do that job and
- where you would like to work.

Follow-up questions

- Is it easy to work in that job?
- Are many people working nowadays in that field?

Discussion

- What is the most common way to get a job now?
- What do you do to find a job in your country?
- Is it easy to find a job in your country? Why?
- How do schools support students to help them select the job they like?
- What are the improvements that schools must have to identify talents of students?

Interview

- What is your name?
- Do you live in a small town or a big city?
- How long have you lived in this city?
- Do you like your hometown?
- What is your hometown famous for?
- Why do some people collect something, like stamps or coins?
- What is so interesting about collecting things?

Cue Card

Describe a small company in your hometown that you think is successful, please say

- Why you think it is successful,
- How you know it,
- What they produce,
- Explain how you think it became successful.

Discussion

- How do you think some business companies become successful?
- What companies are successful in your hometown? Are they small or big?
- Why are some companies more successful than others?
- Is it easier to work as an employee or to manage a company? Why?

IELTS test in Australia – January 2011 (General Training) Writing task 1 (a letter)

You are on a business trip and stayed at a hotel. Unfortunately you left something behind in your hotel room. Write a letter to the manager, in your letter please include the following:

a. details of your stay.
b. details of what you left.
c. what you want the manager to do.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

In some countries wedding ceremonies are becoming bigger and more expensive than in

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your full name?
- What can I call you?
- Can I see your ID?
- Are you a student?
- Where are you from?
- Why do students choose to become a nurse in your country?
- Do you like nursing?
- Has anyone compelled you to become a nurse?
- Do you like traveling?
- What kind of transport do you usually use?
- Do you use air travel frequently?
- What is your favorite mode of traveling?
- Is air travel costly?

Cue Card

Talk about a cultural festival which people are celebrating in your country, please say
- When and where is it celebrated?
- How is it celebrated?
- What is the difference between its celebration the past and at present?

Discussion

- What is the importance of celebration?
- What are the usual celebrations in the West and in your country?
- What are the differences of celebrations in the past and at present?
- Is it important to celebrate the New Year?
- Is New Year celebrated in your country?
- What is your opinion about celebrations?
- Do people celebrate marriage? Is it important?
- What are the other types of celebrations in the West?

IELTS test in Hong Kong and Indonesia – January 2011 (Academic Module) Writing task 1 (a report)

Two pie charts compared graduates with first degree and graduates with a PhD in UK, and their occupations after leaving the university in 2003.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Some people think robots can improve humans’ life in the future, while others think robots may affect society in a bad way. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Writing task 1 (a report)

Unfortunately no one remembered the task.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Governments spend an enormous amount of money on renovations of old buildings in large cities. Some believe that this money is better be spent on building new houses and road development. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Speaking test 1

Interview

- What is your full name?
- How can I call you?
- Where are you from?
- What type of clothes do you choose to wear in your daily life?
- What is your favorite shop?
- What garment don’t you like, where you bought it and why?
- When you grow older what will be your choice of clothing?

Cue Card

Talk about a story that is well known in your country. Please say

- What is the story?
- Where have you heard this story?
- Is this story well known to people from other countries too?

Discussion

- Do children like stories?
- What type of stories do they like?
- Has popularity of children’s stories reduced now, compared to the past?
- How we can encourage them to listen to stories?
- What are the changes in sources where children’s stories come from?

Speaking test 2

Interview

Standard questions about me, where I come from, etc.

Cue Card

Talk about actions you would take if you where given a chance to protect the environment. Please say

- What would you do first?
- Why is it important?
- How would it help the environment?

Discussion

- Are you doing enough to protect the environment?
- What do you think the attitude of people in near future will be to the environment?
- Have you ever been involved in activities concerning the environment?
- What do people do in your home country to protect the wild life?

IELTS Speaking test in Qatar – December 2010 Speaking test

Interview

- What is your full name?
- Can you show me your ID?
- Where are you from?
- What do you like about your country?
- What problems have you got in your country?
- How would you improve your country?
- Do you think reading is important and why?
- Do you like reading?

Cue Card

Talk about a historical place that you have visited in your country to learn about the past. Please say

- Where is this place?
- When did you go there?
- What did you learn about the past?

Discussion

- What are the good sources you can learn from about the past?
- Is TV a good way to teach children about the past?
- Were you used to sitting with your grandparents and talking about the past?



Writing task 1 (a report)

Describe the process of filtering and storing water for household use.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Governments spend an enormous amount of money on renovations of old buildings in large cities. Some believe that this money is better be spent on building new houses and road development. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your full name?
- What do you like the most about your hometown?
- What kind of food did you eat as a child?
- Do you think you will give your children same food and why?
- Do agree that children can eat in restaurants sometimes?
- What type of food do you eat theses days?
- What do you do in your free time?

Cue Card

Describe a toy you had in your childhood. Please say

- What was the toy?
- Who gave it to you?
- When and where did you play with it?

Discussion

- What type of children’s toys is more common in your country?
- Do you think boys and girls prefer different toys?
- Do think children prefer to watch TV more than playing with toys these days?
- Was it any different in the old days?
- Is participation of parents and friends important, when children play with toys?
- Do you think parents have to buy educational toys to their children?

IELTS Speaking tests in China and New Zealand – December 2010 Speaking test 1

Interview

- Where are you from?
- What do you like about your hometown?
- Do you like animals?
- Do people in your country keep animals at home?
- What is the weather usually like in your hometown?
- What did you do the last time the weather was good?

Cue Card

Describe some good exercises for health that you would recommend to others. Please say
- What are they?
- What equipment is needed to do them?
- Why would you recommend them to the other person?

Discussion

- Have there been any lifestyle changes in the past few years that affected people’s health?
- Is there much difference between men and women when it comes to having a healthy lifestyle?
- Where can people get information about healthy lifestyle?
- Do you think schools should have some classes on health topics?

Speaking test 2

Interview

- What is your name?
- Do you work or study?
- What would you like to study and why?
- Do you like going out to movies?
- Do you like watching movies by yourself or with company?
- Do you like to read?
- Do you think that reading is important?
- What do you think about advertisement?
- Is it important for society and why?

Cue Card

Talk about an advertisement that you saw recently on TV. Please say

- What is your favorite advertisement and why?
- What is it about?
- What audience was the advertisement for?

Discussion

- What do you think about advertisements using children?
- What do you think about producers spending a lot of money to make an advertisement?
- What do you think about advertisements using just good looking people?

Writing task 1 (a report)

Describe a graph showing the percentage of workers from 5 European countries that took five or more sick days between 1991 and 2001.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Write an essay on how young people’s behavior is influenced by their peers. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

IELTS Speaking test in Iran – December 2010 Interview

- What is your name?
- Can I see your ID card?
- Where are you from?
- What is your hometown famous for?
- Have you read any articles about the history of your hometown?
- Do you read books?
- What was your favorite book as a child?
- Do you have a favorite book now?
- Do you like to give books as a gift?

Cue card

Talk about one skill you have learned, like driving, cooking, etc. Please say
- How have you learned it?
- Why have you learned this skill?
- How difficult was this skill to learn?
- Why do you think it is useful?

Discussion

- Do you think it is good or bad for young children to learn practical skills?
- Do they teach practical skills to young children in your country in schools?
- Who is easier to teach, young children or adults?
- What do you think, was it is easier to teach a practical skill in the past than now? Why?
- Which one is easier do you think: teaching a practical skill or a fact?

Writing Task 1 (a letter)

You recently visited a foreign country and got some information at the Tourist Information Center. The information given to you was wrong. Write a letter to the center manager and explain
- What was the information required?
- How was the wrong information provided?
- What problems did you have because of this?

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Teenagers in school nowadays have to study a wide range of subjects. Some people think it is a waste of time if pupils study subjects they don’t like. What is your opinion?

Interview

- What is your full name?
- Where is your hometown?
- Would you suggest any changes in your hometown?
- What kind of weather do you like?
- Do you like shopping in malls or markets?
- What kind of leisure time activities do you prefer?

Cue card

Talk about a piece of home equipment that you have (other than a computer), please say
- what the equipment is,
- how you got it,
- what purpose you use if for.

Discussion

- What role does equipment play in our life?
- What changes is new technology bringing to the office environment?
- What changes to jobs related to new technologies do you expect in the future?

IELTS Speaking test in UAE – December 2010 Speaking test

Interview

- What is your name?
- Where are you from?
- Where is your hometown?
- Have you studied about the history of your hometown at school?
- What is your hometown famous for (or ‘what is special about your hometown’)?
- What sport did you do when you were a child?
- Do you think your children should do sports?
- Did you like museums as a child?
- Are there many museums in your country?

Cue card

Talk about a friend that you have known for a long time, please say
- What did you like about her/him when you first met?
- Are you in contact with him/her now?
- Why did this friendship become a long one?

Discussion

- What do you think about making friends?
- Is it possible to have older or younger friends in your life?

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given one pie chart and one triple-line graph. The pie chart showed the distribution of workforce (of three groups of people – born in Australia, English-speaking and non-English-speaking countries) in percent in 2003. The line graph compared the unemployment rates of those groups between 1993 and 2003.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

As countries develop, more and more people buy and use their own cars. Does the advantage of this for individuals outweigh the disadvantage for the environment?

IELTS exam in Adelaide, Australia – December 2010 (General Training) Writing task 1 (a letter)

You are getting married. Write a letter to an English-speaking friend to invite him/her to the wedding. In your letter
- describe who you are going to marry,
- tell what will happen on the wedding day (the schedule),
- explain why it’s important him/her to be at the wedding.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

People consider living in large cities hard or uncomfortable. Why do you think this is so? What would you suggest to make improve this situation?

Speaking test

Interview

- What’s your name?
- Do you work / study?
- Do you have time to relax?
- When and how do you relax?
- How is relaxing different for men and women?
- What food did you like when you were a child?
- Do you still like it?
- What food do you recommend to your children?
- How do you feel about going with children to restaurants sometimes?

Cue Card

Describe a job that you applied for recently, please say
- What type of job was it?
- How did you find out about it?
- Would you take the job, if you were accepted?
- Explain why you were interested in that job.

Discussion

- How have work conditions changed recently and why?
- Do you think that certain jobs should be well-paid and why?
- What other things should be given to employees in addition to their salaries and why?
- What do you think about working long hours?
- What’s the difference between work and leisure activities?

Interview

- What is your full name?
- What do you want me to call you?
- Do you work or study?
- Do you enjoy going to the beach?
- Would you like to live near the sea?
- Who do you think lives close to the sea in your country?

Cue Card

Talk about a job that you would like to try, please say:

- what the job is,
- what skills are necessary to do that job and
- explain why you want to work in that job.

Follow-up questions

- Is it easy to work in that job?
- Are many people working nowadays in that field?

Discussion

- What is the most common way to get a job now?
- What do you do to find a job in your country?
- Is it easy to find a job in your country?

IELTS test in Italy and Iran – December 2010 (General Training) Writing Task 1 (a letter)

You have arranged a plan for travel and accommodation for your friends. Write a letter to them and
- remind them about the plans,
- give them the details of accommodation,
- suggest what things they should bring to the trip.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Some people say that not all criminals should be kept in prison, instead, they should do work to help the community. Do you agree or disagree?

Speaking test

Interview

- The usual introduction
- What is your typical daily activity?
- What part of the daily activity do you like best?
- Let’s talk about your home town. What is your home town famous for?

Cue Card

Talk about a friend of yours, please say
- how you got to know him/her,
- what you do with him/her,
- how you communicate with him / her,
- what the characteristics of a good friend are

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your name?
- Can I see your ID?
- What type of food did you eat when you were young?
- Will you give this type of food to your children, too?
- Do you like domestic animals?
- What type of animals do you like?
- Name the type of animal you can keep at home in your country.
- Do you like wild animals?
- Do you think people should kill animals?
- Do you think zoos should be allowed?

Cue Card

Talk about a wild animal that you like best, please say

- what animal that is,
- where you saw it,
- what it does.

Discussion

- Do you think zoos are necessary?
- Do you think people are being fair when they kill wild animals?

IELTS Speaking test in Australia – December 2010 The speaking questions below were shared by M who took her IELTS exam in Australia.

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your name?
- What country are you from?
- Do you work or study?
- Why did you choose that (job or study program)?
- What was your favorite food when you were a child?
- What kind of food would you like your children to eat?

Cue Card

Describe a movie that you saw recently. You should say:

- What was the movie about?
- Where did you see it?
- Who were you with?
- What did you like about the movie?
- What did you dislike about the movie?
- Why did you choose that movie?

Discussion

- Do you think that parents should know what movies their children watch?
- Do you think that with the developments of DVD, people will go out to the movies less?

- Do you think you can learn about other cultures from movies?
- Do you think people can learn something from movies?
- With the advancement of technology, can anyone make movies?
- Is it possible that anyone that doesn’t have any education can make a successful movie?

IELTS test in Sydney, Australia – December 2010 (Academic Module) Writing Task 1 (a report)

There were a chart and a table on postal charges in Germany, UK, the Netherlands and Italy in three weight categories (<20g; 20-50 g; >50g) and a table of customer satisfaction in those countries in 2004.

Writing Task 2 (an essay)

Museums for many years have been the places of knowledge and cultural exchange. Nowadays there are more and more resources on the Internet and museums will not be needed in the future. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your name?
- Where is your hometown?
- What is your hometown famous for?

Cue Card

Talk about something you learned to do very well (eg. cooking or driving), please say
- What skill did you acquire?
- How did you acquire that skill?
- How is it important?

Discussion

- What are the practical skills acquired by children at school?
- How important are these skills?
- Do children acquire certain skills easier/faster than adults?
- What do you think about team building in the work place, is it important?
- Do you like learning new things?
- Is it important that employers pay for skill development courses for their employees?

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your name?
- Where is your home town?
- Have you studied about the history of your hometown at school?
- Do you remember anything from you studies at school about the history of your hometown?
- What is your home town famous for (or ‘what is special about your home town’)?
- What do you like about your home town?

Cue Card

Talk about a person who speaks a different language to yours whom you have met. Please say

- Where & how did you meet this person?
- What was so special about this person?
- What did you learn from him/her?

Discussion

- What are the best ways for immigrants to learn the language of the new country after immigration? (Other than language courses)
- Why do people immigrate?
- What are the benefits for countries that accept immigration?