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In part 1 you will be asked questions on familiar topics such as your hometown
and your family. Click below for lots of sample questions and answers.
You are here: Home / Speaking / IELTS Speaking Part 1- Dos and Donts
IELTS Speaking Part 1- Dos and Donts
By Christopher Pell 2 Comments
Speaking Part 1 lasts between 4-5 minutes and you will be asked questions
about familiar topics, such as:
Your
Your
Your
Your
Your
job/studies
family
home
hometown
hobbies
Notice that these questions are all about you. It is considered easier than the
other two parts because it is much easier to talk about yourself than more
abstract topics, but that doesnt mean it is not important.
Below are 5 Dos and Donts to make sure that you start your Speaking
test in the best possible way.
Do # 1- Know What to Expect
You will probably be a little nervous and you dont want any surprises that will
make you even more anxious, so you must be aware of exactly what will
happen when you walk into the room.
Before Part 1 begins four things will happen.
1.
The examiner will introduce themselves and ask you what your name is.
You can simply reply My names _______. Make sure that you use the
contraction names rather than name is. This will remind you to use
contractions (e.g. Im, Wed, theyll) in the rest of the test.
2. The examiner will then ask you What can I call you?. You can simply say
You can call me_______. If you have an English name, it is fine to use it,
but make sure that you pronounce it correctly. If you cant say your own
name properly, it does not create the best first impression. If unsure, just
use your normal name.
3. They will then ask you where you are from. Simply state Im from_____.
There is no need for you to give any extra information about your answers
at this stage.
4. The examiner will finally ask to see your identification. Show it to them
and then the test can begin.
By knowing these four things will happen you will be more confident and start
the exam well.
Do # 2- Create a Good First Impression
My students often ask me, if they smile, are friendly and give the examiner
good eye contact, will they get a higher mark. The answer is no and yes.
There is nothing in the marking criteria which says that being nice, or looking
the examiner in the eye will improve your grade. However, being confident
helps you because it will have an effect on your answers.
If you look at the floor and give the impression that you would rather be
anywhere in the world apart from in the room with the examiner, you will
normally give very short monotone answers and this will lower your score.
However, if you are open and friendly with the examiner, you are more likely to
give natural sounding answers.
Dont overdo the eye contact thing. It feels really strange when someone looks
you straight in the eye for 15 minutes. Pretend that you are having a normal
conversation with a friend. If you were looking at the floor the entire time, a
friend would ask you if you were OK. If you were staring them dead in the eye,
they would get a bit freaked out.
Pretend it is just a normal conversation and you will be fine.
Do # 3- Pretend Youre Interested in the Questions
Lets face it, most IELTS questions are really boring. If you listen to someone
answer a boring question you will notice one thing- their voice is monotone i.e.
it does not go up or down in pitch at all, it sounds very flat. If you speak like
this you will get a lower mark for pronunciation because one of the crucial
factors you will be tested on is intonation.
When native English speakers talk, their voice naturally falls and rises
depending on how they feel about what they are saying.
Imagine you are late for class, you walk into the room and the teacher says to
you in a falling tone Sit down, please. They are probably telling you, through
their intonation, that they are not very happy with your lack of punctuality.
However, if they said it with a rising tone at the start, they would probably be
telling you they dont mind that you are late and are happy to see you.
Similarly, if you pretend that you are interested in what the examiner is saying
your intonation should become more varied. However, be careful not to overdo
it and make your voice really high, or really low because you will sound like a
crazy person.
Listening to native speakers talk and copying their intonation will give you a
good idea of what natural intonation sounds like.
Do # 4- Extend Your Answers
There is no set amount of words or sentences that you should use in Part 1.
They shouldnt be too short because you want to show the examiner that you
can actually use English, so Im a student. is not really long enough.
However, they should not be too long either, because Part 1 is on familiar
topics (family, work, hobbies etc.) and you dont normally talk for 2 minutes
when someone asks you where you are from. Also, you will have lots of
opportunities to give longer answers in Parts 2 and 3.
As a general rule, if you only give a single sentence answer, with a single
clause like Im from Ireland., then your answer is too short. I also dont think
Part 1 answers should ever have more than three sentences. Somewhere in
between is just right.
Do # 5- Practice
It is a very bad idea to prepare memorised answers before your speaking test,
but because Part 1 is very predictable, you should practice the familiar topics
mentioned above in number one.
Try recording yourself and then listen back and think about the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Try again and keep practicing until you are really confident about talking about
the common topics.
See my article on Part 1 sample answers for ideas.
Dont #1- Give Yes/No Answers
This might sound very obvious, but you would be surprised how many people
simply answer with Yes or No. This is probably because many of the
questions would naturally lead to a yes or no answer, but you must remember
that you are in a test and you have to show the examiner how good your
English is.
Giving yes or no answers does not allow the examiner to judge your ability and
you will get a low mark no matter how good your English is.
Some people give yes or no answers because they are very nervous and they
want the test to be over as soon as possible. The examiner is not there to trick
you and most of them are nice people who want you to do your best, so dont
be afraid to tell them you are a little nervous and this will normally relieve the
tension.
Dont # 2- Go Off Topic
Some students try to tell you their life story or the entire history of their
hometown when you ask their name and where they are from. Remember that
these are very simple questions and if you have given more than 3-4 sentences
you are probably giving irrelevant details.
For example, I recently asked a girl what she did in her free time and she told
me everything there was to know about badminton. I did not ask about the
rules, history, great players, positives and negatives of the sport, just which
sport she liked and why.
Dont # 3- Give No Answer
You dont get to choose the question and if you dont know the answer to a
question, or you simply dont like the question, you dont have a choice- you
must answer it.
Remember that Part 1 is about YOU. There will be no question you dont
understand because they will all be about you.
If you dont understand one word in a question, it is acceptable to ask the
examiner to explain what that one word means. It is also acceptable to ask the
examiner to repeat the question if you didnt quite understand what they said.
However, do not abuse this privilege and use it for every question; only use it
when absolutely necessary.
If you really have no idea, be honest with the examiner and tell them you dont
really know and then have a guess. It is not an examination of your knowledge,
it is a test of your English, so it is perfectly acceptable to make something up if
you are really stuck.
Introduction
On this page you will find common IELTS speaking topics and sample answers.
My plan is to add to this about once a week, so please check back from time to
time for more common speaking topics and sample answers.
Remember that these are personal questions and you should therefore give
personal answers. You should not memorise answers and if the examiner thinks
that you have done this, you will lose lots of marks.
IELTS Speaking Topic # 1- Work
1. Do you work or study?
o
I graduated a few years ago and Im now in full time employment.
of students parents want them to study law so they can get a good
job after they graduate.
Do you plan to use the subject you are studying in the future?
o
Yes, Ive already started to apply for jobs as a lawyer. We normally
have to secure a job a year before we graduate and then work very
hard to get a high overall mark. After that, I will probably do a
Masters in law to become a specialist in one particular area.
It can be a little bit boring because its really tiny. There are only a
few small shops and a couple of pubs and thats it! In the summer,
its OK because you can enjoy the outdoors but it would be nice to
have a few more indoor facilities for the winter.
Is it a big place?
o
Its pretty big for a flat. It has 3 large bedrooms, one for my wife
and I and one for my son when he gets older. It also has a smaller
bedroom that I use as a study and to store things in. The kitchen is
small but it is part of a big open plan living room, so there is lots of
space for the family.
them, but now that Im older I dont really care as long as I look
smart.
people drink much more wine and whiskey in the winter to cope with
how dull everything is.
goal. Both of them are really fast-paced and a bit brutal at times.
You can tackle someone much harder than you can in soccer.
How do people in your country stay fit?
o
We are blessed with beautiful countryside and a nice temperate
climate so most people either go running or walking. Lots of young
people play field sports, but more and more people are joining gyms.
Gyms have really took off recently as people worry more and more
about their appearance. I think it has much more to do with how
good people look rather than actually keeping fit.
Is it important for children to play sports?
o
Definitely. Sport not only keeps them healthy, but it also teaches
them discipline and keeps them out of trouble. For instance, in my
school the kids who were dedicated to sport also achieved the
highest grades in school and went on to good universities where
they continued to work hard.
You are here: Home / Speaking / Easy Ways to Extend Your Part 1
Answers
Easy Ways to Extend Your Part 1 Answers
This article will look at how long your answers should be in Part 1
of the Speaking test and some simple ways to make your answers
better.
short and not too long. Thats a confusing answer, I know. Let me
explain more.
The main point is that you should not worry about length too
much in Part 1. Your use of English is much more important.
Below are a few ways that you can easily extend your answers
from a short sentence to a more comprehensive answer that will
sound better and hopefully get you a higher score.
You can easily extend your answer by saying how you feel about
the question you were just asked. It will also make your answer
more interesting.
Contrasting Details
One of the easiest ways you can extend your answer is to simply
use the word but to contrast details.
Longer answer: Ive worked there for three years, but Im going
to change careers next year.
Combining Details
Instead of giving a very short answer you can add in some extra
details with and, with or also.
Past Comparisons
You can talk about what you used to do and how that has
changed now in the present.
Adding Reasons
Future
If something will change in the future, you can use one of the
future structures, like will or be + going to.
You might be asked a question where you have to talk about your
opinion or another persons opinion. Use even so or although to
show that you have considered both sides.
Giving Examples
Real life examples are always the easiest things to talk about
because you can talk about them naturally and in more detail.
Longer answer: No, were not in to the same things, like when
we are both watching TV we always fight about what show to
watch.
Frequency
You can use words like usually, never, always and more often
than not. to extend your answers.
You can then practice fast with new questions and without any
help and hopefully, because you have studied the structures in
detail, you will be able to use them naturally without any help.
You do have to use a range of structures, but that does not mean
that you have to use every complicated phrase and tense in the
English language. Focus on real communication and the range of
structures will look after themselves.
This part of the test allows you to speak for longer on a given topic.
You will be given a card with a particular topic on it, and this will include key
points that you should talk about.
You will be given one minute to plan and then you will talk for between 1-2
minutes.
Below are some tips that I give to all of my IELTS Speaking classes:
Many consider Speaking Part 2 to be the most difficult part of the IELTS
Speaking test because it is a monologue. A monologue is different from the rest
of the test because you will be speaking alone, without any questions or help
from the examiner.
The examiner will give you a cue card similar to the one below:
As stated above, you will have 1 minute to prepare before you speak and you
are expected to talk for between 1-2 minutes.
Below are 7 tips to help you with this section of the test:
1.You Dont Have to Talk About Every Bullet Point
In the Official Marking Criteria for the Speaking Test there is nothing that states
that you have to talk about every bullet point. Lots of IELTS examiners know
this, but they dont tell students because they dont want to give them an
unfair advantage.
You will always be given a general topic at the start of the test and then You
should say: followed by 3-4 bullet points. The rule is that you must talk about
the general topic at the top of the card, but you dont have to talk about all of
the bullet points. Note that it says Youshould say not You must say.
The bullet points are there to help you, so if you want to talk about them,
please do. However, if there are one or two that you dont like or you dont feel
comfortable talking about, leave them out and talk about something else. Make
sure what you talk about is within the general topic and you will be fine.
2.Have a Strategy
IELTS is much easier if you have a strategy for each part of the test. You can
use this strategy when you are practicing and then you will be much more
confident in the real test.
I have developed a very effective strategy for Part 2 of the Speaking test that
many students have had success with. Please click here to view it.
3.Preparation
They say practice makes perfect and this is very true for IELTS Speaking.
Dont memorise answers. There are too many topics for you to memorise
and it is highly unlikely that you will get the same topic in the real test. It
is a complete waste of time and leads to some very strange answers. If
the examiner spots this, they are allowed to give you a Band 0!
Time yourself so you know how much you have to speak in 1-2 minutes.
4.Use 1 Minute Wisely
You will have one minute to prepare before you start talking. You will not have
enough time to write full sentences. You will, however, be able to write
keywords. These keywords should guide you through your talk and help if you
cant think of ideas.
Having a strategy will also help you because you will know exactly what to talk
about and you will be able to make a clear plan using short notes and
keywords.
I have listened to students who were half way through their Part 2 question and
then they made a small grammatical error and they completely lost their way
and their score went from a very high one to a very average one.
Being nervous and stressed affects your ideas, pronunciation, fluency and
normally leads to further grammar mistakes. When you make a mistake simply
forget about it. There is nothing you can do. Dont panic and continue.
Now you will start to write keywords beside each of these headings. Lets look
at each in a little more detail.
Introduction
Start off by saying Id like to talk about (X). Then say I chose this topic
because and you will be able to say why you choose this topic. If you cant
think of a reason just make one up, although its always better to talk about
real experiences.
Past
Now pause and use a linking word like anyway or anyhow to transition into
talking about the past. This will allow you to demonstrate that you are
confident using a range of past structures. For exampleUsed to + infinitive to talk about past habits or states that are now finished.
Would + infinitive to describe past habits.
Past simple to talk about things you did in the past that you no longer do or are
no longer true.
Past continuous to talk about the background of a story or how you felt at a
particular time.
Past perfect to say something happened before something else in the past.
Description
Now pause and say So let me tell you about (X) in a little more detail. This is
your opportunity to impress the examiner with specific vocabulary. Get to know
the common topics and have some specific adjectives ready. If you use an
adjective to describe something, make sure you expand on it or explain it with
examples. Again, if you cant think of specific examples, it is fine to make these
up. Make sure your examples match the adjective and you will be fine.
Opinion
Now you can pause and say If you ask me/In my view/I would say + (opinion
on topic). This give you a chance to express how you feel about the topic. It
could be your personal opinion or it could be a comparative or superlative.
Using a wide range of phrases to express your opinion will help you get a
higher mark. If you want to give a stronger opinion you could say:
I strongly believe that
As far as Im concerned
Im strongly against
Im strongly in favour of.
Im skeptical of the idea that
I must admit, I think.
Future
Finally you can display your ability to use future tenses. Start off by saying
With regards to the future. A range of tenses will help you gain extra marks.
For example you could use:
Present continuous to talk about fixed arrangements.
Be going + to + infinitive to talk about future plans.
Will or wont + infinitive is used with predictions based on opinions or
experiences. It can also be used to talk about hopes and assumptions.
The future perfect- will have + past participle- is used to say something will
have happened or will have been completed by a certain point in the future.
Thats it! Five simple headings that will allow you to speak for at least two
minutes without any difficultly.
The most important thing is that you practice using this strategy with many
different topics. Get some past IELTS speaking part 2 questions and ask a friend
or classmate to give you them at random. You can start off slowly by using this
post to help you, but after a lot of practice, this strategy will become natural for
you and you will be able to answer any part 2 question with confidence.
There is no magic formula or trick to getting the IELTS band you want but there
are good strategies you can use and, more importantly, strategies you can use
to help you practice.
Here is an IELTS speaking task 2 question. Try using the strategy above with
this question and please post your answers in the comments below and I will
get back to you.
Question:
Describe a teacher that you know.
You should say:
what the teacher looks like
what sort of person this teacher is
what the teacher helped you to learn
and explain why this teacher is popular.
Remember, you dont have to talk about what the teacher looks like, what sort
of person they are, what the teacher helped you to learn or explain why this
teacher is popular. You can talk about these things but you dont have to. Do
whatever you feel most confident talking about. All you have to do with my
strategy is talk about:
Introduction
Past
Description
Opinion
Future
IELTS Speaking Part 3
In part 3 test the examiner will ask further questions which are linked to the
topic talked about in part 2.
This part of the test is designed to give you the opportunity to talk about things
in a more abstract way.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 Guide
By Christopher Pell 5 Comments
This post will cover:
One of my strongest IELTS students came to me the other day and told me how
worried she was about speaking part 3. In particular, she was worried about not
understanding the question and not being able to give a long enough answer.
She asked me for some tips to help her overcome these problems.
This guide will try to address these issues, give you lots of tips and help you
give your best possible answer in part 3 of the IELTS speaking test.
What do I do if I dont understand the question?
First of all, this is not a very academic test. The questions are designed so that
anyone can answer them. If you look at some example questions, it will
surprise you how easy they are. They require no specialist knowledge and the
examiner does not even have to agree with your opinion, they just want to hear
how well you convey your ideas and express your opinion.
However, sometimes you may not quite understand what the examiner just
said. In this case, simply ask him or her to repeat the question. If there is a
word or term you dont understand, it is also acceptable to ask them to explain
it to you. Dont overdo this, as it will seem as if you are abusing this rule.
It is a speaking test, not a listening test and the examiner wants you to give
your best possible answer so dont be afraid to let them know. They wont
repeat the question or explain a word to you unless you ask.
Do I have to give an answer for every question in part 3?
Yes, if you dont attempt an answer for all questions you will lose marks.
However, if you get a question you are really struggling with you can admit this
to the examiner and give the best answer you can.
You could say something like: I dont know a lot about this topic, but if I had to
guess I would say.. It is unlikely you will have to use this phrase and it should
only be used when you really have no ideas.
What if I need time to think?
The IELTS examiner does not expect you to give instant answers, you are not a
robot! However, they do expect you to respond in a natural way. It is
completely normal for native speakers to use certain words and phrases in
order to give themselves time to think. You probably also do it a lot in your own
language.
Phrases that can be used include:
Thats a difficult question, let me think for a second.
Thats a very interesting question, let me think.
Its very difficult to know exactly, but I think/but I believe/perhaps.
Its difficult to say, I think.
I dont really know for sure, but I would say.
The most important thing is not to overuse these phrases. Some students put
them in front of every answer and it sounds really unnatural. Remember, they
are only to be used when you get an unexpected or particularly difficult
question.
How do I extend my answer?
Many students are worried that they will not have enough to say in part 3.
In part 3 the examiner will mostly ask for your general thoughts on an issue;
advantages and disadvantages; problems and solutions; how the issue has
changed from the past until now; and how the issue will change in the future.
You should therefore practice thinking and talking about your opinion on
common everyday issues like health, the economy, education and the
environment.
There is no set word limit for what a good part 3 answer, but it should not be
too short and not too long. Too short and you will have failed to develop your
answer properly; too long and you may go off topic and/or make mistakes. As a
rule, I advise my students to try to answer with 3-4 sentences.
Technique #1- Paraphrase Question
A good way to extend your answer is respond with a paraphrase of the
examiners question. Paraphrasing is when you repeat the sentence but with
synonyms so that it has the same meaning.
This technique is very effective because it not only gives you time to think in a
natural way, but it also focuses your mind on answering the question.
For example:
Examiner: What can people do to try and reduce water pollution?
Student: So, what can individuals do to ensure water is kept clean? I think.
Examiner: How can events like the Olympics improve international relations?
Student: Hmmmm, how can sport bring people from different countries closer
together? I believe
Again, this should not be used for every answer and only when you think it is
appropriate.
Technique #2- Explain why
Many students state their opinion but dont extend their answer by
stating why they feel that way. Some students have told me that they are
afraid of patronising the examiner and assume he or she will know why they
have stated their opinion. Assume that the examiner has no knowledge at all
about the topic. Pretend you are speaking to a child who knows nothing of the
topic and this will help you explain how you feel.
Example:
Examiner: What can people do to reduce water pollution?
Student: I believe the best way to keep water clean is to curb water use at
home. (Why?) The vast majority of water is used in the home, (why?), for
cooking, cleaning and washing, (why?) therefore by reducing the amount of
water we use, (why?) the government can conserve the water supply and keep
it clean.
By asking ourselves why we continue to explain our opinions and this leads to
more developed answer.
Technique #3- Give Examples
This seems an obvious one but it is something many students dont do. In order
to really develop your answer an example is normally needed. A lot of my
students complain that they dont know or cant think of any examples. If you
cant think of one just make one up. You will not lose any marks for making up
an example and this will only lead to you gaining marks for giving a well
developed answer.
A good technique is to use an example from a newspaper article or recent
study.
Example:
Examiner: Have the modes of transport people use in your country changed
much over the last few decades?
Student: Absolutely, they have changed a lot. In the past most people used
bicycles, but now they predominantly use motorbikes. For example, a recent
survey found that 72% of people in Ho Chi. Minh City now own a motorbike.
I just made that statistic up and it is perfectly acceptable for you to do the
same thing in the IELTS speaking test. The examiner will never disagree with
you or ask you to prove any of your examples.
Technique #4- Make Concessions
We make a concession by admitting that there are limits to our opinion or there
may be another side to the argument. We use words like however, on the
other hand and despite this to make concessions.
Some students dont like doing this because they think it weakens their
argument or opinion. In fact, by showing you are aware of other opinions you
actually strengthen your argument.
Example:
Examiner: To what extent do you think advertising affects peoples shopping
habits?
Student: Personally, I dont think that it affects the way people shop at all.
When people need something they make up their own mind rather than
thinking about adverts. However, it must have some influence, if companies
pay lots of money for ads.
Next Steps
Reading this guide wont help you unless you put the ideas in to practice. Every
part 3 question is different and therefore requires a different response. Try to
answer it as naturally as possible and use the techniques above to extend your
answer if needed.
There is no magic formula, so find some example questions and practice. Why
not record your answers and you can then listen and pinpoint your mistakes.
IELTS Speaking Part 3- 7 Common Questions
By Christopher Pell 2 Comments
This post will help you prepare for the IELTS speaking test by learning 7
common question types and the language we use to talk about them.
IELTS speaking part 3 lasts 4-5 minutes and allows the examiner to ask you
questions related to part 2. The conversation is more general, abstract and,
you will be expected to give answers in greater depth than in part 1.
Many students fear part 3 because they dont know what to expect. It is this
supposed unpredictability that can cause students to not do as well as they
should. Luckily, a quick analysis of the questions reveals that there common
question types and this allows students to practice the grammatical structures
and phrases used to talk about them.
This post will look at:
o
the 7 common question types;
o
the grammatical structures used to answer each question type;
o
example answers.
7 Common Question Types
The seven common question types that appear in IELTS speaking part 3 are:
1. Opinion What do you think about this? Remember to say why you
think that way and give examples.
2. Evaluate What do you think about someone elses opinion?
3. Future What do you think will happen in the future?
4. Cause and Effect What caused this and/or what effects has it had?
5. Hypothetical Talk about imaginary or unreal situations.
6. Compare and Contrast Talk about the difference and/or similarities
between two things.
7. Past How were things different in the past and how have they
changed?
Grammatical Structures
Opinion
One thing you should not do is start every sentence with I think or In my
opinion The IELTS examiner will be looking for how you vary your language.
Below are a number of ways you could do that:
As I see it,
Personally,
For me,
If you feel very strongly about something you could use:
Im convinced that.
Im certain that.
Im sure that.
If you are less sure about your opinion you could give a weaker opinion by
using:
I guess that
I suppose that.
Id say that..
Please have a look at my IELTS speaking part 3 guide for more information
on how to extend your answers.
Example Question
What are some of the ways people can help others in the community?
As I see it, there are many ways one can help the needy, but the best way is by
making charitable donations. People can choose a charity and simply donate a
sum of money and leave it to them to help others in need. For instance, I
recently gave money to an orphanage. I dont have time to help them
personally, so Ill leave it up to them to use the money as they see fit.
Evaluate
In these kinds of questions you will be asked what you think about someone
elses opinion. We will therefore need to use expressions that allow us to agree
or disagree.
For agreement we can use:
Thats so true.
Im afraid I disagree.
I totally disagree.
I beg to differ.
Not necessarily.
X plans to..
It is predicted that.
X intends to.
I foresee..
It is foreseeable.
Conditionals- If X + verb..
It is likely that
It is probable that.
It is unforeseeable that.
I envisage.
As always you will have to explain why you think this will occur in the future.
You may also want to use future conditionals to extend your answer.
Example Question
Some people say that working from home will be quite common in the future.
Do you agree?
It is foreseeable that more people will work from home in the future. If the
internet becomesfaster and there are more programs, such as Skype, that allow
people to work from home more easily, Id predict that more people will stay at
home. If you think about it, most people dont need to be physically present to
do their jobs and I envisage that face to face meetingswill be a thing of the
past.
Cause and Effect
You may also be asked to discuss what has caused a certain situation and what
effects this has. This language will also help you in IELTS writing task 2.
To talk about cause and effect you can use:
because
as a result.
resulted in
as a consequence
due to.
caused
led to.
means that.
These are just some examples and the form of the words may change
depending on the words around them in the sentence. Only use them if you are
sure your sentences are grammatically correct.
Example Question
How does advertising influence what people choose to buy?
I think advertising has a big influence on what people purchase and often leads
to them always sticking with the same brand. For example, I always drink Coca
Cola and I believe this is because I grew up watching all those ads on TV and I
instinctively buy it as a result. I mean, why would companies spend so much
money on adverts, unless it led to more sales?
Hypothetical
The second conditional is used to talk about unreal, unlikely or impossible
situations. You might get asked a question about an unreal situation, for
example If you were mayor of your city, what would you do to improve it?
The grammar we use for this is:
If + (subject 1) + past participle, then (subject 2) + would + verb
Example Question
If you could choose any country to live in, where would you choose?
If I could live in any country, I would probably choose Australia. The weather is
great; the people are super friendly and just imagine living beside all those
beaches. If I could choose another country, it would have to be Italy, for the
architecture, the culture and its fascinating history.
Compare and Contrast
To compare two things, use a comparative adjective + than e.g. Hes taller than
his sister.
Some comparative adjectives are irregular:
Good- better
Bad- worse
Far- further
For short adjectives, add (e)r. If they end in y change to ier. For example:
Hard- harder
Cheap- cheaper
Easy- easier
Lazy- lazier
For longer adjectives, use more. For example:
More interesting
More difficult
Example Question
Do you think primary school children should learn a second language or should
they wait until secondary school?
Its obvious that the earlier children start a language the easier it becomes in
later life. However, some parents might think that subjects like maths are more
important than languages at primary level. They may also think that a foreign
language is less importantthan their first language and this should be
prioritised.
Past
Used to + infinitive to talk about past habits or states that are now
finished.
Past simple to talk about things you did in the past that you no longer do
or are no longer true.
Past continuous to talk about the background of a story or how you felt
at a particular time.
about mobile phones, they might ask you deeper, more complex
questions about mobiles like:
1. How have mobile phones changed the types of relationships people
make?
2. Some people think that children should not be allowed to use
mobiles, do you agree?
3. How has mobile phone use changed in the last 10 years?
4. How will mobile phones change in the future?
5. If you could add any new feature to a smart phone, what would it
be?
As you can see, these questions are trickier than questions like Where
are you from? and Whats your favourite colour? in Part 1.
Below are some tips to help you get the best score you can possible
get in Part 3. Most of these tips are about the psychology of Part 3
because I have found that students are not mentally prepared for
this section and good students often get lower score because of
this.
For more information on the linguistic side of Part 3, please check
out my Part 3 guide.
done other tests that day. In short, you will be exhausted and your body
will want you to take it home and tuck it into bed as quickly as possible.
Lots of students give very short answers because they simply want their
test to be over as soon as possible. Know that the examiner will keep
asking you questions (and the next ones will probably be more difficult),
so it is much better to give a full answer and answer the question to the
best of your ability, than to simply give a short answer and hope that it
ends quickly.
However, dont do this for every question, only the ones you need to
actually think about.
How has mobile phone use changed in the last 10 years.- past to
present (perfect tenses)
If you could add any new feature to a smart phone, what would it
be?- hypothetical
When you know what the examiner is trying to test, you can give them
what they want. See our Part 3 Common Questions for more information
on the common structures that are tested.
When you know all of the above you will be more mentally prepared
than the vast majority of IELTS candidates and this will lead to a
more confident performance and higher score.