IELTS

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IELTS
PREPARATION
COURSE
HANDBOOK
 IELTS

CHAPTER 9

THE IELTS
SPEAKING PART
 IELTS
I) THE SPEAKING PART OVERVIEW (Candidate A)

a) Work in pairs
b) Take turns to share the information you have got to complete the table below.
c) Then discuss the questions below

PART 1. INTRODUCTION AND INTERVIEW

Task type and format Task focus

In this part, the examiner introduces him/herself and

checks the candidate’s identity. Then the examiner
asks the candidate general questions on some
familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies,
interests. To ensure consistency, questions are
taken from a scripted examiner frame.
Part 1 lasts for 4-5 minutes.

PART 2. LONG TURN

This part of the test focuses on the candidate’s

ability to speak at length on a given topic
(without further prompts from the examiner),
using appropriate language and organising
their ideas coherently. It is likely that the
candidate will need to draw on their own
experience to complete the long turn.

PART 3. DISCUSSION
In Part 3, the examiner and the candidate discuss
issues related to the topic in Part 2 in a more general
and abstract way and – where appropriate – in
greater depth.
Part 3 lasts 4-5 minutes.

a) Which part will focus on the candidate’s ability to talk about familiar topics? What kind of language are
you expected to use here?
b) How are parts 2 and 3 similar and different and what kind of language are candidates expected to use
here?
 IELTS
I) THE SPEAKING PART OVERVIEW (Candidate B)

a) Work in pairs
b) Take turns to share the information you have got to complete the table below.
c) Then discuss the questions below

PART 1. INTRODUCTION AND INTERVIEW

Task type and format Task focus

This part of the test focuses on the candidate’s

ability to communicate opinions and
information on everyday topics and common
experiences or situations by answering a range
of questions.

PART 2. LONG TURN

Part 2 is the individual long turn. The examiner

gives the candidate a task card which asks the
candidate to talk about a particular topic, includes
points to cover in their talk and instructs the
candidate to explain one aspect of the topic.
Candidates are given 1 minute to prepare their talk,
and are given a pencil and paper to make notes.
Using the points on the task card effectively, and
making notes during the preparation time, will help
the candidate think of appropriate things to say,
structure their talk, and keep talking for 2 minutes.
The examiner asks the candidate to talk for 1 to 2
minutes, stops the candidate after 2 minutes, and
asks one or two questions on the same topic.
Part 2 lasts 3-4 minutes, including the preparation
time.

PART 3. DISCUSSION

This part of the test focuses on the

candidate’s ability to express and justify
opinions and to analyse, discuss and
speculate about issues.

a) Which part will focus on the candidate’s ability to talk about familiar topics? What kind of language are
you expected to use here?
b) How are parts 2 and 3 similar and different and what kind of language are candidates expected to use
here?
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II) THE IELTS SPEAKING BAND DESCRIPTORS

a) You will be given the public band descriptor for the IELTS Speaking module.
b) Identify the band descriptors for the score you need to get
c) Read them quickly and then discuss the questions below with a partner

1. How many areas are assessed in the Speaking module?

2. Which are these areas?
3. Which areas do you think you can improve in a short time?
4. Which ones do you think require a lot more time and hard work?
5. Which ones do you think this course will help you more with?
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 IELTS
III) SPEAKING MODULE TIPS FOR PART I

a) Match the columns to make tips for the speaking module part 1.
b) Read the tips. Then reflect and answer the following questions: what things that you shouldn’t do are you
likely to do? What things that you should do are you likely to neglect?
c) Share your answers with a partner.

1. Practise asking and answering questions,

a) your life and everyday topics.
( )
2. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you don’t
understand. However, remember that in most b) so that you get better at understanding
of IELTS Speaking the examiner is not allowed them properly and answering them
to change the words of a question, so s/he relevantly.
may just repeat the same question again. ( )
3. Don’t ask the examiner whether what you say c) Try to get as much practice as you can
is correct – ( ) in using them naturally.

4. Remember that yes or no is not enough –

d) try to express the idea in another way.
( )

5. When you talk, listen to what you say, if you

e) by heart.
make a mistake, try to correct it, ( )
f) Don’t expect the examiner to explain
6. Don’t worry if you can’t remember the exact
things in the way your teachers do in
word for something – ( )
class
7. Remember that in English, stress and g) practise ways of making your answers
intonation are important in getting ideas across longer, for example by giving your
clearly. ( ) reasons.

8. Get used to talking about ( ) h) but don’t worry if you can’t.

i) that’s a question for your teacher, not

9. Don’t learn answers off ( )
your examiner.
 IELTS
III.a) SPEAKING MODULE PART I

a) Work in pairs
b) Think of possible questions that the examiner could ask you related to the topics in the table below
c) Write your questions in the spaces provided
d) Share your answers with another pair and include some of the questions they thought of.

TOPIC Possible questions

Family and friends

Habits and routines

Work and/or studies

Interests and
hobbies

Holiday and
travelling
experiences

Hometown and
neighbourhood

Plans and goals

 IELTS
a) Work in pairs
b) Think of possible topics for the examiner to ask you questions about and write them in the table
c) Think of possible questions for these topics and write your questions in the spaces provided
d) Share your answers with another pair and include some of the questions they thought of.

Possible topics Possible questions

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III.b) SPEAKING MODULE PRACTICE PART 1

PRACTICE I

a) Work in pairs. One of you is the examiner and the other the candidate.
b) Examiner: Use the prompts on the table below to carry out the interview and remember to check the time,
this part should last about 4-5 minutes. ASK ONLY ONE QUESTION AT A TIME.
c) Candidate: Answer the questions and remember to put into practice all the tips and strategies.
d) Then change roles.

Let's talk about your home town or village…

What kind of place is it?
What's the most interesting part of your town / village?
What kind of jobs do the people in your town / village do?
Would you say it's a good place to live? (Why?)
Let's move on to talk about accommodation…
Tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in.
How long have you lived there?
What do you like about living there?
What sort of accommodation would you most like to live in?

PRACTICE II

a) Work in pairs. One of you is the examiner and the other the candidate.
b) Examiner: Choose one or two of the topics on pg. 139 and ask some of the questions you thought about.
Carry out the interview and remember to check the time, this part should last about 4-5 minutes. ASK ONLY
ONE QUESTION AT A TIME.
c) Candidate: Answer the questions and remember to put into practice all the tips and strategies.
d) Then change roles.

PRACTICE III

a) Work in pairs. One of you is the examiner and the other the candidate.
b) Examiner: Choose one or two of the topics you thought about on pg. 140 and ask some of the questions
you thought about. Carry out the interview and remember to check the time, this part should last about 4-5
minutes. ASK ONLY ONE QUESTION AT A TIME.
c) Candidate: Answer the questions and remember to put into practice all the tips and strategies.
d) Then change roles.
 IELTS
IV) SPEAKING MODULE PART 2

a) Read the following information about Part 2.

b) Then answer the questions below.
c) Compare answers with a partner and say if you agree or disagree and why.

In part 2 the examiner will give you a topic to talk about for 1-2 minutes. Before you speak you will have
one minute to think about what you want to say. The examiner gives you a card with a topic on it. It will
look like this:

Describe a place you have visited which impressed you.

Talk about:
• Where this place is and how you travelled there
• What it is like
• Why you went there
And explain why it made an impression on you.

After one minute, the examiner will ask you to start speaking. You can start sooner than one minute if you
like, but make sure you know what you’re going to say first.
If you are still speaking after two minutes, the examiner will interrupt you. (This is not a problem)
At the end of Part 2 the interviewer will ask you one or two follow-up questions.

1. Look at the sample topic again. How many questions are there?
2. What kind of information are the first questions asking for?
3. What kind of information are the second questions asking for?
4. Which questions will allow you to show off your English better?
5. Which questions should you devote more time to answer?

d) Now read the following tips for planning your answer.

e) Then discuss with a partner. Which tip is the most helpful for you? Why?

Write very brief notes: just a word to help you remember each idea.
Find the key words in the card.
Think of at least three things to say about each of the questions. Make one-word notes.
Leave enough time to talk about the most interesting questions.
Be careful that you don’t develop a set of ‘learned’ answers. They will sound ‘ready-made’ and may not be
relevant to the questions you get in the exam.
 IELTS
IV.a) SPEAKING MODULE TIPS FOR PART 2

a) Match the columns to make tips for the speaking module part 2.
b) Read the tips. Then reflect and answer the following questions: what things that you shouldn’t do are you
likely to do? What things that you should do are you likely to neglect?

1. Practise speaking for 2 minutes about lots of

different things. Write down topics on separate a) to find what helps you most.
cards, with some questions as prompts. ( )
b) the examiner won’t join in but s/he
2. Use the 1-minute preparation time sensibly ( )
listens and is interested in what you say.

c) this will help you to organise what you

3. Try different ways of making notes, ( )
say and stay on the topic.

4. Remember the long turn is not a conversation d) reading the task card carefully will help
–( ) you with this too.

5. Make sure you remember which tenses are e) remember the examiner is the time-
best to talk about different topics –( ) keeper.
f) – read the information on the card
6. Try to say something about each of the points
carefully, so that you concentrate on
on the task card because ( )
relevant information.class
g) Then pull one out without looking first
7. Don’t be surprised if you’re interrupted – ( )
and time yourself talking.
 IELTS
IV.b) SPEAKING MODULE PRACTICE PART 2

PRACTICE I

a) Work in pairs. One of you is the examiner and the other the candidate.
b) Examiner: Give the candidate the task card below and tell him/her what it is expected of them.
Remember to check the time, the candidate should talk for about 1-2 minutes. Ask them to stop if necessary.
Then ask the rounding off questions.
c) Candidate: Read the task card carefully and remember to plan your answer, put into practice all the tips
and strategies you've learned.
d) Then change roles.

Candidate Task Card

Describe something you own which is very important to
you
You should say:
Where you got it
How long you have had it
What you use it for
And explain why it is important to you

You will have to talk about the topic for 1 to 2 minutes

You have 1 minute to think about what you are going to say
You can make some notes to help you if you wish

Rounding off questions

Is it valuable in terms of money?
Would it be easy to replace?
 IELTS
PRACTICE II

a) Work in pairs. One of you is the examiner and the other the candidate.
b) Examiner: Choose one of the task cards below and tell him/her what it is expected of them.
Remember to check the time, the candidate should talk for about 1-2 minutes. Ask them to stop if necessary.
Then ask the rounding off questions.
c) Candidate: Read the task card carefully and remember to plan your answer, put into practice all the tips
and strategies you've learned.
d) Then change roles.

Part 2
Candidate task sheet A

Describe a film or a television programme which has made a strong impression on you.

You should say:

What kind of film or television programme it was

When you saw the film or television programme
What the film or television programme was about
And explain why this film or television programme made such an impression on you

You will have to talk about the topic for 1 to 2 minutes

You have one minute to think about what you’re going to say

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

[At the end of the candidate’s long turn ask one or both of the rounding-off questions to close this part of
the test]

• Have you seen anything else by the same director/on the same topic?
• Would you recommend this film/television programme to others?
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Part 2
Candidate task sheet B

Describe a teacher who has influenced you

You should say:

Where you met them

What subject they taught
What was special about them
And explain why this person influenced you so much

You will have to talk about the topic for 1 to 2 minutes

You have one minute to think about what you’re going to say

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

[At the end of the candidate’s long turn ask one or both of the rounding-off questions to close this part of
the test]

• Are you still in contact with this person?

• Did other people share your view of this person?

Part 2
Candidate task sheet C

Describe a memorable event in your life.

You should say:

When the event took place

Where the event took place
What happened exactly
And explain why this event was memorable for you

You will have to talk about the topic for 1 to 2 minutes

You have one minute to think about what you’re going to say

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

[At the end of the candidate’s long turn ask one or both of the rounding-off questions to close this part of
the test]

• How did you feel about what happened at the time?

• Has anything similar ever happened to you again?
 IELTS
V) SPEAKING MODULE PART 3

a) Read the following information about Part 3.

b) Then answer the questions below.
c) Compare answers with a partner and say if you agree or disagree and why.

The examiner will ask you questions related to the topic in Part 2. However, the questions in Part 3 are of
a more general nature (in Part 2 you discussed something concrete). There is more room to develop your
answers than in Part 1, so don’t feel you should stop speaking after a certain time. The examiner can
interrupt with another question if they wish.

If the Part 2 topic is something like this:

Describe a person you have met who made an
impression on you.
Talk about:
• Who they were
• How you met them
• What this person was like
And explain why they impressed you.

Then in Part 3 there could be questions about how people influence our lives in general, like the ones
below.

• Who have been some of the most important people in your life?
• Do you think that public people – leaders, sports people and other role models – are as important
in our lives as the people we know?
• Do you think it’s true that we choose friends who agree with us?
• Are there any fictional characters who have been important influences in your life?
• What are your own strongest and weakest characteristics, do you think?
• Do you think it’s possible for people to change?

1. How important is it to talk about your own attitudes in this part of the test?
2. Should you explain why you think and feel as you do?
3. Would it be a good idea to give examples and details?
4. Is it necessary to know about the topic or is it possible to speculate?
5. How abstract are the topics in this part of the test?
 IELTS
V.a) SPEAKING MODULE TIPS FOR PART 3

a) Match the columns to make tips for the speaking module part 3.
b) Read the tips. Then reflect and answer the following questions: what things that you shouldn’t do are you
likely to do? What things that you should do are you likely to neglect?

8. Remember that in Part 3 you talk more about h) as well as grammar you’re sure you can
general ideas ( ) get right.

9. Practise discussing ( ) i) but make them think about yours too.

10. Try to use grammar you’re not so sure about (

j) and not just about your own life.
)
11. When you discuss things in class, don’t just
k) to learn more about world issues.
respond to other people’s ideas ( )
12. Try to read and listen to news in English
l) different topics.
outside class ( )
 IELTS
V.b) SPEAKING MODULE PRACTICE PART 3

PRACTICE I

a) Work in pairs. One of you is the examiner and the other the candidate.
b) Examiner: Use the questions to guide the discussion. Remember this part lasts about 4-5 minutes.
c) Candidate: Answer questions, try to use your best language in this part. Then change roles.

Let's consider fist of all how people's values have changed…

• What kind of things give status to people in your country?
• Have things changed since your parents' time?
Finally let's talk about the role of advertising…
• Do you think advertising influences what people buy?

PRACTICE II

a) Work in pairs. One of you is the examiner and the other the candidate.
b) Examiner: Choose one of the samples below and ask the questions to guide the discussion. Remember
this part lasts about 4-5 minutes.
c) Candidate: Answer questions, try to use your best language in this part. Then change roles.

Part 3 Discussion Sample A

4 – 5 minutes for this part of the Speaking module

We’ve been talking about a memorable event in your life and I’d like to discuss with you one or two more
general questions related to this. Let’s consider first of all…

• The role of ceremony in our lives. Can you compare the different sorts of public and private
ceremonies in your cultures?
• What’s the importance of ceremony to individuals and communities?
• How do you think the role of public/private ceremony might change in the future?
• Have there been changes in public attitudes to marriage over recent years?
• How do you think increased travel and IT developments are shaping people’s view of the world?
 IELTS
Part 3 Discussion Sample B

4 – 5 minutes for this part of the Speaking module

We’ve been talking about films/television programmes and I’d like to discuss with you one or two more
general questions related to this. Let’s consider first of all…

• Have there been changes in the popularity of the cinema in recent years in your country?
• Would you say the popularity of film or television is the same as that of computer games?
• What do you think might be some future developments in film-making and cinema-going?
• What are some of the advantages or disadvantages of dramatising real events in film/television?
• Would you say it is important to remain faithful to the original account?

Part 3 Discussion Sample C

4 – 5 minutes for this part of the Speaking module

We’ve been talking about a teacher who has influenced you and I’d like to discuss with you one or two
more general questions related to this. Let’s consider first of all…

• Developments in education. Can you describe the changes over the last ten years in your
country?
• Compare your experience regarding education with your parents’ / grandparents’ experience
• What do you think it is likely to change in the next 50 years?
• How important is it to have ‘extra-curricular’ school activities?
• What do you think the advantages and disadvantages of grouping learners by ability are?
•
 IELTS
VI) USEFUL LANGUAGE FOR THE SPEAKING MODULE

Part 1
At the moment I’m + V ing … It depends. Sometimes I …
Before that I + V past … Definitely, I love it! It’s …
Recently, I’ve + VPP Mmm, possibly. It depends on …. really.
I’m planning to + VSF Generally, I think it’s a good idea because …
After that I’ll probably + VSF Well, it’s very different because …
I prefer + (noun) because … Let me think / see, …
I’d rather + (verb) because … I’m not really sure, but perhaps …
That’s a good question/point. I suppose …
Both my father and mother …
I haven’t really given that much thought before but …
Neither of my brothers …
None of my friends …

Part 2
The best/worst thing about … is/was …
The thing I really like(d)/hate(d) about … is/was …
One of the problems with … is/was …
I particularly remember … because …
I’ll never forget … because …

Part 3
Comparing and contrasting Making predictions Giving opinions
On the one hand … on the other I doubt very much if … As far as I’m concerned …
hand… I hope that … It seems to me that …
Well, …. isn’t as … as … I expect that … I can’t help thinking that … (used it
…. is nowhere near as … as … I’m afraid that … (used it as a way when you think that people won’t
I’d much prefer to … of introducing something negative agree with you)
There’s a good chance that … or to disagree with someone) I tend to think that …
It’s quite similar to … It’s bound to … I strongly believe that …
It’s almost as … as … It is/isn’t very likely to…
It’s far more … than …
Having said that …
Although, that said, …
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Part 3
Explaining and justifying your
Suggesting and speculating Adding things and moving on
point of view
On the whole … I think one reason for (that) As well as that …
In general … may/might/could be … Not only that but also ..
I think in most cases … It may/might/could be a good idea As far as … is concerned …
I think there are two/several to … As far as I know….
reasons for (that) … First … And It may/might be worth + V ing or
second … noun phrase
One example of that is …
That’s why I feel that …