What's The Test Like?: Part1 - Introduction and Interview

HANDOUT IELTS
What’s the test like?

The speaking test will take about 11 to 14 minutes to complete. There are
three sections in total.
These are as follows:
 Part 1 – Introduction and interview. This lasts for about 4 to 5
minutes. In this section, the Examiner will introduce him/herself and
ask you questions about yourself.
 Part 2 – Individual long turn. Part 2 lasts for about three to four
minutes. In this section, you will be asked to prepare and give a
short talk for about one to two minutes on a given subject.
 Part 3 – Two-way discussion. Part 3 lasts for 4 to 5 minutes. In

this section, you will be asked to have a short discussion linked to
the subject you spoke about in part 2.
Assessment
Overall, you will be assessed on your:
 fluency and coherence
 vocabulary
 range of grammar and accuracy
 pronunciation.
This means that all of your preparation must concentrate on these areas.
Check the IELTS speaking band descriptor for a more detailed description
of the criteria the examiner will use to assess your speaking.
Part1 - Introduction and interview

During Part 1, the Examiner will introduce him/herself and ask you some
questions about yourself. This is the start of the test, and it will set the
scene for the remainder.
Think of the Examiner as being just like your teacher. In fact, most
examiners are usually teachers, so they’ll understand how you feel,
because some of their own students will feel the same. They’re not there
to catch you out. Indeed, they’ll want you to do well and will do everything
that they can to make you feel comfortable.
The Examiner has a set of questions. When you’re asked a question, try to
answer it without
repeating the whole question in your answer. For example:
If you are asked ‘What's the most interesting thing about your
hometown?’
Don't reply ‘The most interesting thing about my hometown is…’
Just say ‘It's…’
Then, you can expand on your answer, if possible, by adding
something like: ‘Most people find
this interesting because…’
You can then add a synonym of the words used by the Examiner.
So, instead of interesting say
something like: ‘Most people find this fascinating because…’
So, don't try to ‘fill up’ your answer by repeating the question back to the
Examiner and try to add a little ‘extra’ to show off your English.
Remember, it's a conversation with the Examiner. He/she will want to see
if you are fluent and coherent. They can't do this if you just repeat back
large chunks of a question! Examiners are looking for your own ideas.
The topics are usually very familiar and the Examiner normally asks you
about yourself. Try to give examples and create ideas, willingly. Never say,
‘I don't know.’
Giving Full Answers

Impress the examiner with your ability to give full answers to his or her
questions. To avoid simple yes or no answers or short responses generally,
try using the REDS method to add detail to your initial response:
• Give a Reason
• Offer an Example
• Give Details
• Speculate
REDS in Action:
Question: What job would you like to do?
Answer (Reason): I've always wanted to be a vet. I love animals and I
think it would be a very rewarding job.
Question: What skills do you need for this job?

Answer (Example): I think you need to be sensitive to people's feelings.
If you're dealing with their sick or injured pets, you need to be honest but
also appreciate how they might be feeling.
Question: Where do you come from?

Answer (Detail): I come from Mashad in Iran. It's well known as a
religious centre and is really crowded most of the year.
Question: Do you often go out to restaurants?

Answer (Speculate): Unfortunately, since I had my baby, no. If I had the
chance I'd really like to eat out more often, especially in Chinese or Italian
restaurants.
Part 2 - Individual long turn

During Part 2, you’ll be given a topic on a task card which you will NOT be
able to change. You’ll be given about one minute to prepare. Then you’ll
be required to speak for about two minutes on the topic, by yourself.
During this time, the Examiner won’t interrupt you and won’t ask you any
questions.
Use the time to plan what you’re going to say! A lot of candidates don’t
plan what they’re going to say. You won't impress the Examiner if you start
speaking immediately without planning, whatever your level of English.
Always make a brief written plan, as this will help to keep you on the
subject. By following the plan, you won't wander away from the points
you’re being asked about. The point is, if your talk isn't organised, you’ll
lose marks. Remember, you’re being tested on your fluency and
coherence. Coherence means that you must follow a logical and clear
argument when you speak.
Don't worry if you have to make up what you are going to say. You’re not
been tested on the factual content of what you say, but more on how you
say it in English. Keep to the point, and make what you say relevant.
Being relevant is just as important as being fluent. In fact, you won't be
able to say more than about 200 to 250 words in the two minutes you
have available. So, never worry that you won't be able to fill the time! Two
minutes will go really quickly… if you have a plan.
Also, don’t worry if you don’t get around to covering all the details
mentioned in the task card. In other words, if your speech is cut short by
the examiner at the end of the two minutes when you are still talking
about, say, the third point on the card and have not yet addressed the last
question, you would not be penalised for this. The prompts on the task
card are to give you ideas to help you sustain the long turn. You are
assessed on the sample of language you give rather than on whether you
use all the prompts.
The task card usually asks you to describe something and then give
reasons for your choice. So, for each point, write only one or two words for
each prompt. In total, you should only write about 20 words in your plan.
During your planning, try the following:

• Write notes and don't write whole sentences.
• Write the points in a list and in order.
• Make a gap between, or draw a line between, words relating to
description and explanation.
• Use nouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives for your notes.
As you speak, look at the list that you’ve made so that you can organise
your answer. This will ensure that you answer all parts of the task. Think
about connecting words and phrases that will guide you as you speak.
However, don't try to write these down in the notes; you won't have
enough time. Try to practise your organisation as much as you can before
taking the test. Practise making notes and then using them to help you
speak. Learn how to build what you say, around your brief notes.
Don't try to learn set phrases before taking the test, as this will just sound
false. But, do learn words and phrases that will prompt and guide you
when planning your talk. One good way to practise is to record yourself.
By making a plan, and then recording yourself for two minutes, you can
see how much you need to write down to fill two minutes. Remember, only
use headings in your planning notes. Don't try to write full sentences; you
simply won't have the time.
Here’s a list of prompt words that you can use to help you prepare:
Introductory phrases - when you start your talk:

I’m going to talk about…
I’d like to talk about…
I want to talk about…
What I'm going to talk about is…
I'm going to describe…
Developing phrases - when you want to expand your argument:

First of all…
Secondly,…
Additionally,…
Another thing…
Another reason why…
What’s more,…
Background phrases - when you want to add some detail:

It's near…
It happened…
It took place…
It’s been going on for/since…
At that time…
Impression phrases - when you want to say something that made an

impression on you:
… impressed me
… motivated me
… moved me
… disturbed me
… touched me deeply
… had an effect on me
… affected me
... influenced me.
Things you like phrases - when you want to describe or talk about things
you like:
I like… most of all
I enjoy…
I love doing...
I’m a big/great fan of…
I’m really keen on…
I’m so much into…
… really appeals to me because…
You can also use synonyms of words which appear on the task card given
to you by the Examiner. For example, if you see the word ‘benefits’, think
of synonyms such as ‘payback’, ‘profit’, ‘advantages’, ‘positive aspects’
and so on. By using synonyms in this way, you’ll show the Examiner that
you’re fluent in your use of English and that you’re capable of using extra
words.
Try to prepare your own examples of synonyms for common words. A good
method of doing this is making a list of common words and then, using a
word processing package on a PC, making an equivalent list of synonyms.
Part 3 – Two-way discussion

The last part of the test is where you and the Examiner have a discussion
linked to the subject from Part 2. There is no set format to this part of the
test and the Examiner is free to develop conversation as he/she sees fit.
Again, the Examiner isn’t trying to catch you out. However, an Examiner
will want to do things such as invite you to comment and expand on a
theme.
Remember that the Examiner asks you a range of questions to encourage

you to speak English.
Again, remember that this part of the test only lasts for four to five
minutes. This means that the Examiner can only really ask you some six
to eight questions. So, don't panic!
Here are some hints to help you:

• Listen carefully to the Examiner's questions.
• Try to be fluent and only correct yourself when it's easy to do so.
• Don't focus on your mistakes; move on.
• Try to go into detail when you explain your opinion.
• Give reasons for what you say.
• Keep to the topic.
• If you don't understand the question, ask for it to be repeated.
Never answer a question you don't understand.
• Don’t worry if you have to make up an answer. You are being
marked on your ability to speak English, not the truth of the
content!
• Don't speak quickly or slowly just speak clearly.
• Concentrate on the message you are trying to give.
• Don't worry about saying too much! The Examiner will stop you if
he/she wants to.
• When you say something, try to qualify it and expand it to support
your opinion or reason.
• Don't overuse words such as ‘actually’, ‘moreover’, ‘what is more’
and so on. This will come across as padding and won’t demonstrate
your use of English.
• If you have time for a conclusion try saying something like: ‘…and
so I …’
• Follow the Examiner's lead. He/she might change direction quickly
by asking an unexpected question for you to comment on. For
example: What about…? Here, you might answer something like:
‘Well, that's possible, but I think that…’
• Don’t try to use one breath to say everything. Pace yourself! Listen
to how other people speaking English pace themselves during
speech. You will find it useful to listen to spoken English, such as on
radio programmes, to see how this is achieved.

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HANDOUT IELTS

What’s the test like?

 Part 3 – Two-way discussion. Part 3 lasts for 4 to 5 minutes. In

Part1 - Introduction and interview

Giving Full Answers

Question: What skills do you need for this job?

Question: Where do you come from?

Question: Do you often go out to restaurants?

Part 2 - Individual long turn

During your planning, try the following:

Introductory phrases - when you start your talk:

Developing phrases - when you want to expand your argument:

Background phrases - when you want to add some detail:

Impression phrases - when you want to say something that made an

Part 3 – Two-way discussion

Remember that the Examiner asks you a range of questions to encourage

Here are some hints to help you:

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