Peak hours / peak hour traffic /Traffic reaches its peak between 8 and 9 in the morning.

Me-time: time when a person who is normally very busy relaxes or does something they enjoy (The
(spa is popular with women who want a bit of me-time)
Social media platform (Social medialà các công cụ dùng cho việc giao tiếp, chia sẻ thông tin trên
nền tảng internet.)
To name/mention but a few: used when you are mentioning only a small number of people or
things as examples of a large group: chỉ mới kể một số mà thôi
Cyber-criminals leverage / cybercrime: crime or illegal activity that is done using
the internet
Scammer or fraudster /ˈfrɔːd.stər/ someone who gets money by deceiving people: kẻ lừa đảo
I’m really into movies: "I'm really into it" means that the speaker is very interested in the
subject or activity he or she is talking about.
To kill time
Develop a strong love for the family
Sentimental moments : đa cảm, ủy mị
Parental education plays a crucial role in the development of a child
I’d now like to ask you some questions regarding this.
What is the difference between young people and old people’s favorite film? Why?
Supernatural factors such as science-fiction, thriller…
Meanwhile
Older generations tend to value films that have certain meanings or messages rather
than visual effects themselves
Do you think film/movies reflect what happens in the reality of society?
As far as I’ve known, many films have been inspired truyền cảm hứng from real-life
materials. They are sometimes based on actual events and added some fictional factors
for some excitement.
Exaggerated /ɪɡˈzædʒ.ə.reɪ.tɪd/ phóng đại seeming larger, more important, better, or worse than
it really is
Reflect current situations in reality /The greatest film of all time
Do you think people will change their preference of films when getting older?
I suppose that is likely to happen since most things change over a course of time and so
does our taste in movies. This may result from the changes in our perception nhận thức
of life and surroundings as we grow into maturity /məˈtʃʊə.rə.ti/.For instance, when you
were a kid, cartoons or other colorful and energetic shows such as Tom & Jerry and
Barbie. However, during your teenage years, you preferred chick flicks
(a film about relationships, love, etc. that attracts mainly women) like Twilight or Mean Girls
since you adored happy-ending romance. If these are any signs, adulthood, will surely
change your appetite in films. (/ˈæp.ə.taɪt/ the feeling of wanting or needing something)

Thank you, this is the end of the Speaking test. Thank you for taking the test, and have a
nice day.
Pronunciation / Fluency / Vocabulary / Grammar
Hometown / neighborhood / work / hobbies / study / food / friends / sports
Now, in this first part of the test I'm going to ask you some questions about yourself.
Are you a student or do you work now?
1. Why did you choose this course/job?
2. Talk about your daily routine.
3. Is there anything about your course/job you would like to change?
4. I’d like to move on and ask you some questions about shopping.
Who does most of the shopping in your household?
1. What type of shopping do you like? (Why?)
1. Is shopping a popular activity in your country? (Why/why not?)
2. What type of shops do teenagers like best in your country?
Let’s talk about films.
1. How often do you go to the cinema?
2. What type of films do you like best? (Why?)
3. What type of films don’t you like? (Why not?)
Part 2
Time: 3-4 minutes
Now, I'm going to give you a topic and I'd like you to talk about it for 1-2 minutes.
Before you talk you'll have one minute to think about what you are going to say and you can
make notes if you wish. Do you understand?
Follow up questions:
1. Do you still think about this event often?
2. Can the other people involved remember this event?
We've been talking about an important event in your life, and I'd now like to ask you some
questions related to this.
1. What days are important in your country?
2. Why it is important to have national celebrations?
3. How is the way your national celebrations are celebrated now different from the way they
were celebrated in the past?
4. Do you think any new national celebrations will come into being in the future?
5. Are there any celebrations from other countries that you celebrate in your country?
6. What are the benefits of having events that many people around the world are
celebrating on the same day?
Lets talk about your hometown.
1. What kind of place is your hometown?
2. What do young people do for entertainment in your hometown?
3. What is the worst thing about living in your hometown? (Why?)
I’d like to move on and ask you some questions about tourism in your country.
1. What should a visitor see and do in your country?
2. Are there any traditional art or music that you would recommend? (Why?)
3. Tell me about the kind of visitor who come to your country.
Let’s move on and talk about being on time for appointments.
1. Is being late acceptable in your culture? (Why/why not?)
2. Are you ever late for appointments? (Why/why not?)
3. What type of excuses do you think are alright for lateness?
 4. How do you feel when someone is late for an appointment with you?
Part 2
Time: 3-4 minutes
Now, I'm going to give you a topic and I'd like you to talk about it for 1-2 minutes.
Before you talk you'll have one minute to think about what you are going to say and you can
make notes if you wish. Do you understand?
Ok, here's some paper and a pencil to make notes, and here is your topic. I'd like you to
describe something you own which is very important to you.
Describe something you own which is very important to you.
You should say:
 What you use it for
 How long you have had it
 Where you got it from
And explain why it is so important to you.
Follow up questions:
1. Is it valuable in terms of money?
2. Would it be easy to replace?
Part 3
Time: 4-5 minutes
We've been talking about something you own which is very important to you, and I'd now like
to ask you some questions related to this.
First, lets consider values and the way they change.
1. What kinds of possessions give status to people in your country?
2. Has it always been the same or were different possessions thought of as valuable in the
past?
3. Why do you think people need to show their status in society?
Now we'll discuss the role of advertising.
1. Do you think advertising influences what people buy?
2. Do advertisements give correct information, or do they encourage people to buy things
that they may not need?
3. Is advertising really necessary in modern society?
///////
PART 1
Time: 4-5 minutes
Before the part one questions start, there is a brief introduction. The examiner will introduce
him/herself and you will need to tell the examiner your name and show your identification
such as a passport or ID card.
The questions will then begin. This part of the IELTS speaking test is the easiest part. The
examiner will ask you general questions about yourself.
Common topics are on your home, family, job, studies, interests, and a range of similar
familiar topic areas.
The examiner will choose three topic areas and you'll have about four questions on each. So
you'll have around 10-14 questions, depending on how long you speak for on each.
Here is an example:
I’d just like to ask you some questions about your work.
1. What job do you do?
2. Why did you choose that particular job?
 1. What do you do every day?
2. What other work would you consider doing?
I’d like to move on and ask you some questions about relaxing.
1. What type of activities help you relax?
2. Do you like to do these activities alone or with other people?
3. Why do you think it is important for people to relax?
4. Do you think people have enough time for relaxing?
Let’s change the topic and talk about your family.
1. Do you have a big or a small family?
2. Do you live together or nearby?
3. What activities do you like to do together?
4. Who is your favourite family member?
PART 2
Time: 3-4 minutes
In the IELTS speaking part 2 you will have to talk on a topic that the examiner gives you for
two minutes. It is designed to test your ability to speak for an extended period without
hesitation or repetition.
You will be given a card that asks you to 'describe' something. They are topics that you
should have some experience of or know something about.
You may, for example, be asked to describe a person you know, a place you've been to, or a
possession you have, but there are many different topics so you have to be prepared for any
topic. On the card there will also be three sub-points that you should cover when you are
speaking.
You will have one minute to prepare what you are going to say, and you'll be given a paper
and a pencil to make notes if you want to.
Here is an example:
You may then be asked one or two short follow up questions:
 Do your friends like to wear this type of clothes?
 Do you wear other styles of clothes as well?

PART 3
Time: 4-5 minutes
In the final part of the IELTS speaking test the examiner will have a discussion with you
about some issues that will be related to the topic that you talked about in part 2. The
questions in this part are of a more abstract nature and so are more difficult than the
questions in part one and two.
It's a two-way discussion but you will still be expected to do most of the speaking.
Here is an example:
1. Is buying clothes a popular activity for teenagers in your country?
2. How much money should parents spend on their children's clothes?
3. What types of fashion do teenagers like to wear in your country?
4. What influence has the fashion industry had in your country?
5. Are the fashions of today different from those when your parents were young?
6. What do you think will be the effects of the fashion industry in the next ten years?
/////////////
Now, in this first part of the test I'm going to ask you some questions about yourself.
Lets talk about shopping.
1. Do you enjoy shopping?
 2. How often do you go shopping and what do you buy?
3. So you prefer to go shopping alone or with other people? (Why?)
I’d like to move on and ask you some questions about food.
1. What is you favourite food? (Why?)
2. What kind of restaurants do you like to eat out at?
3. What would your perfect meal be?
I'd like to talk now about your hobbies.
1. Tell me about any hobbies you have.
2. Are there any hobbies you would like to have in the future?
3. Do you think hobbies should be relaxing or should they be exciting? (Why?)
Follow up questions:
1. Are you in touch with anyone from the course now?
2. Would you like to go on a course like this again?
We've been talking about a course you have done that you found useful and I'd now like to
ask you some questions related to this.
First, lets consider homework..
1. Do you think it is important that children are given homework?
2. How much homework should they be given?
3. Do you think parents should help their children with their homework or should it be done
alone?
Now we'll discuss the relationship between education and work.
1. How important is it to have a university education to get a job in your country?
2. Does having a degree from another country enhance employment opportunities in your
country?
3. What impacts do students who have studies abroad have on their country of origin when
they come home?
Now, in this first part of the test I'm going to ask you some questions about yourself.
First I'd like to ask some questions about your family.
1. Do you have a large or small family?
2. How much time do you spend with members of your family?
3. What sort of things do you like to do together?
Now let's move on to talk about food.
1. What kind of food do you like?
2. What are some of the typical foods in your country?
3. In your country, do men or women have the main responsibility for cooking?
Let’s talk about where you live.
1. Tell me about the house or apartment you live in.
2. What are some of the bad things about living there?
3. What kind of place would you like to have in the future?
Follow up questions:
1. Do other people you know remember this teacher?
2. Do you still see this teacher?
Part 3
Time: 4-5 minutes
We've been talking about a teacher who has influenced you in your education, and I'd now
like to ask you some questions related to this.
First we'll look at developments in education.
 1. Has education in your country changed in the last 10 years?
2. What changes do you think will happen in the future?
3. What changes would you recommend to improve the education system?
Now let's look at the national education system.
1. How do the ambitions of current school leavers compare with those of the previous
generation?
2. What role do you think extracurricular activities play in education?
3. What is the role of the school in modern society?
Now, in this first part of the test I'm going to ask you some questions about yourself.
First I'd like to ask about your hometown.
1. What kind of place is your hometown?
2. Tell me about the most interesting place in your hometown.
3. What changes would you like to make to your hometown?
Now let's move on to talk about animals.
1. What kinds of animals are popular pets in your country? Why?
2. How are animals in your country used for work?
3. Are there any animals in your country that have special significance?
Let’s talk about travel.
1. How easy is it to travel in your country?
2. What form of transport is the most popular? Why?
3. Are there any parts of your country that are difficult to travel to? Why / Why not?
Follow up questions:
1. Are other people concerned about this problem?
2. Do you talk about it with your friends?
Part 3
Time: 4-5 minutes
We've been talking about an environmental problem in your country, and I'd now like to ask
you some questions related to this.
First, lets consider global environmental problems.
1. Tell me about some of the environmental problems that are affecting countries these
days?
2. Do you think that governments around the world are doing enough to tackle the
problems?
3. Why do some people not consider environmental problems to be serious?
Now we'll look at environmental problems and disasters caused by humans.
1. What do you consider to be the world’s worst environmental disaster caused by
humans?
2. Why do you think environmental disasters caused by humans happen?
3. Do you think there will be more environmental disasters caused by humans in the
future?
///////////
First we'll talk about global environmental problems
Tell me about some of the environmental problems that are affecting countries these
days?
Well, there are a lot at the moment. Although it has not been proven for sure, there is a great
deal of consensus about the fact that global warming is leading to severe weather change
and this is resulting in many problems. We are seeing a lot of countries with the same
problems that they have always had but on a much larger scale. For example, in the United
States there seem to be far more hurricanes and tornadoes than in the past, with more
devastating effects. There seems to constantly be news of serious flooding in many countries
from Asia to Europe. Forest fires also seem to be getting worse, particularly each year in
Australia.
Do you think that governments around the world are doing enough to tackle the
problems?
No, usually I don't think they are doing enough. There are countries that do what they can do
help their people when problems occur and they are trying to come up with measures to
mitigate the effects but when it comes to the major issue of global warming countries are not
doing enough. We see time and again that no agreement can be made on how to reduce
carbon footprints. This is usually because governments know that to make a serious
reduction in carbon dioxide emissions they will have to sacrifice economic growth and they
are not prepared to do this. Governments think very short-term. They know that if there is
economic decline, then they will be voted out.
Why do some people not consider environmental problems to be serious?
I think there are several reasons for that. In some cases it is simply because people are not
affected on a day-to-day basis so it does not concern them. They just see it on the news
affecting other people. It does not mean they do not care but they will soon forget about it.
Also, some big organizations can be responsible for putting the wrong information out. For
example, oil companies have a vested interest in making sure people do not believe in global
warming as it could affect their profits, so they play the issue down. Also, some people think
as it is a long-term problem, they will be dead by the time it will affect them so they think it is
not important for them!
Now we'll look at environmental problems and disasters caused by humans.
What do you consider to be the world’s worst environmental disaster caused by
humans?
I think that may be the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Ukraine. In that case there was an
explosion and nuclear meltdown. It caused great loss of life. The environment was badly
affected and it is still affected today and could be for many years. There are also many
people who are still getting sick from the disaster and no one can live anywhere near the site.
Of course there are many other serious ones, some more recent such as the oil spills in
Africa and the US.
Why do you think environmental disasters caused by humans happen?
It could be for different reasons. In some cases it is simply because not enough care is taken.
Maybe procedures are not good enough. It could also be because the drive for profit means
that there is cost cutting and that again could mean that good procedures are not in place.
There is usually a situation when a disaster happens where blame will be deflected and it is
difficult to establish exactly who is responsible. Nobody wants to admit responsibility because
it means they will have to pay compensation. Sometimes a disaster can happen because of a
simple mistake by someone.
Do you think there will be more environmental disasters caused by humans in the
future?
I don't think there will necessarily be more. Procedures are always getting tighter so in theory
there should be fewer, but mistakes will always happen so I'm sure they will continue
unfortunately. Governments must continue to prosecute any companies that do cause
environments problems or disasters so that they are less likely to happen again.
Let’s consider values and the way they change.
What kinds of possessions give status to people in your country?
That’s a good question. Let me think…I’d say it depends on where you are and who you are
with. If you are out in public, it’s things like the car you are driving. If you have the latest
Mercedes Benz model, then in my country that is a sign of status, as most people can’t even
afford a car at all, whatever the make. Property, or the house you own, and the possessions
you have in it are also a sign of status. If you have a nice house in a nice area, then this
shows you have money and are someone important.
Has it always been the same or were different possessions thought of as valuable in
the past?
I’m too young to remember exactly what it was like a long time ago, but yes, I think it was
different. For example, cars as I mentioned before only really came to our country in the last
ten years or so. That kind of consumerism is a fairly recent thing so this couldn’t have been
used as a representation of something valuable. I think it was things like gold and jewelry
that were seen as valuable. Of course these are still seen as valuable today, but previously it
was these things over anything else as a lot of the modern day possessions were not
available.
Why do you think people need to show their status in society?
I believe that this is because it's important in society to show you have money or are
successful – it is nature, or the way we are brought up, that makes us feel like this, but also
the pressure that society puts on everyone to be successful. And showing status is basically
showing that you have money and you have success, so this is what people want to do.
Going back to the example of the car, driving around in a Mercedes is a very conspicuous
show of status – it basically says to people, “Look, I am successful and I have money.”
Another reason is possibly for respect. In many cultures, if someone has high status, then
they will be respected by others and they may receive preferential treatment.
Now we'll discuss the role of advertising.
Do you think advertising influences what people buy?
Yes, definitely. If there were no advertising and you went to a shop, then you would just buy
what you wanted based on maybe what others have told you, what the product looks like, or,
depending on the product, what it says on the label. Advertising builds up a brand and
people then trust a certain thing because they have seen it on television or elsewhere. Also,
there is so much advertising around it must influence us. You can’t escape it as it is fed to us
constantly in our daily lives – not only in magazines, radio and television, but on billboards,
on TVs installed on trains and platforms, even in schools and universities. So yes, advertising
influences what we buy.
Do advertisements give correct information, or do they encourage people to buy
things that they may not need?
I think some do and some don’t, but it’s difficult to know which are giving us the correct
information. For example, the skin whitening products – I do not believe that these work but
we see them everywhere in Asian countries, and we are encouraged to buy them even
though they are not actually necessary. The adverts, though, tell us they are necessary as
they will improve our lives and we will become more accepted and successful. This then, is
an example of
advertising encouraging people to buy something they do not need. I do think there are
checks in most countries these days to make sure that adverts are giving the correct
information and not lying to people, but I think it is still easy for advertisers to exaggerate or
to do this without breaking the regulations.
Is advertising really necessary in modern society?
It could be seen to be necessary in terms of the fact that, as I mentioned before, there is so
much choice that we need someone to guide us in what to buy or to give us some extra
information about products. Without this, it would be difficult to know where to start. However,
that said, I’m not sure that I would regard it as ‘necessary’ as overall I think it may do more
harm than good. As we just discussed, advertising encourages people to buy things they
possibly do not need. We live in a consumer society and many people are in debt because
we are encouraged to buy and buy, and I’m sure advertising plays a major role in this.
Without advertising we could just do our own research and decide what we really need. So
no, I would not say that advertising in necessary in modern society.
Now we'll move on to the influence of the internet.
Do you think people take notice of advertisements on the internet?
Despite the fact that there are many adverts on the internet these days, I think actually many
people tend to ignore them, or at least that is my experience. People usually go onto the
internet to find something specific that they are looking for, which may be a product, or to
read about something, so they will ignore what is not relevant to that. But of course there is
no doubt that some people take notice of them. Advertising on the internet is a practice most
companies partake in now, and they have to pay quite substantial sums to advertise on
highly ranked sites. Of course they would not do this if it were not attracting customers for
them.
How do you think it will change people's buying habits in the future?
Buying from the internet is becoming more and more popular. For example, we’ve seen
many book shops close down because people can buy online at cheaper prices from sites
such as Amazon. It makes life much easier if products can be delivered direct to our door,
especially with our busy modern lifestyles. I think this will only increase in the future as more
people feel safe to buy online and online shops
make it easier to purchase this way. Also, I think our lives are only going to become busier,
so more people will choose to shop this way.
Are there any disadvantages to shopping on the internet?
There certainly are some. Firstly, buying clothes can be a problem. When you go into a shop
you can check what you are buying fits you and suits you, but it is obviously not possible to
do this online. Shopping does not become less hassle if you have to send something back in
the post. Another problem is the security. We have to give out our bank details to people we
don’t know. There have been several recent reports in the press about sites that have had
their security breached and credit card details have been stolen. So far this is fairly
uncommon, but it is a risk none the same. Another disadvantage is to society as it could
destroy local shops and businesses if people are not going out to shop in their local town.
Let's talk about transport.
How do most people travel long distances in your country?
I’d say that the main ways are cars, buses and trains. If someone has a car, I think this is
their preference because to be honest the trains are not that much cheaper where I live. Also
there are often delays with the trains which can be a real pain, so you may end up with a
really long journey. The buses are a bit cheaper but I don’t think that is such a comfortable
way to travel. There is the option to travel by plane as well of course, but most of the bucket
airlines go abroad – you can’t really travel that cheaply by plane within the country. So then,
cars are really the best option, and of course they give you the most freedom when you are
travelling.
Have the types of transport people use changed much over the last few decades?
I don’t think they have really. We’ve had the transport I mentioned before for many decades
now in my country, and it is much the same today. Of course cars have become much more
popular as people’s incomes have risen which accounts for the problems we see on the
roads today such as congestion and more accidents and pollution. This has probably led to
some changes within cities. Many have now introduced environmentally friendly forms of
transport such as trams and guided buses that don’t run on gas and mean that people can
travel without the use of the car. There has also been an increase in air travel, but like I said,
this is quite expensive in my country so most cannot afford it.
What kinds of improvement have there been in transport in your country in recent
years?
There has been several ways that transport has improved. More major roads have been built
which means it is easier to travel long distances, though of course some would argue that
more roads are not an improvement. They can be an eyesore in the countryside and they
have encouraged more people to drive which may mean these improvements ultimately don’t
work because there are more cars using the roads. As I mentioned before, there has been
the introduction of mass transit in many cities, such as trams and trains. In our capital city
they have also extended the underground system so it now links many more areas of the
city. This has helped many people as commuting times are horrendous if you have to travel
on the roads. Those are the main improvements.
Sample Response:
I’m going to tell you about someone who has influenced my life in an important way.
This person is actually my father.
I am 20 years old so of course I have known him for 20 years as he’s my father. We still
live together, along with my mother, my older brother and younger sister.
One of his best qualities is that he’s got a lot of drive and is ambitious, which means that
he’s achieved a lot in his life. He started out working for a building company but he took it on
himself to get professionally qualified. In the evening he started taking classes to qualify as a
surveyor. This took him many years but eventually he got there and started working for the
same company as one of their surveyors. But he did really well as he eventually became a
senior partner in the business, and then just a few years ago he set up his own business with
one of the other partners. So now he has his own company and they employ about fifteen
other people. So I’m really proud of what he did with this. But he’s also very humble, another
great quality. Even though he’s achieved so much he doesn’t brag or boast about anything.
He’s also quite laid back and doesn’t stress too much about life.
But one of the main reasons he has had such an influence on me is because of the way he
helps others. There is obviously a lot of poverty in India and he always does his best to put
something back into society. He donates to a number of charities and sometimes helps out at
the weekends with a homeless charity in town. It’s this that led me to get involved in charity
work myself and for the past few years I’ve worked for an organization that looks after
orphaned children. I’m doing IELTS actually because I want to do a degree in International
Development so I can learn more about the development processes in developing countries
and I’d like to work abroad maybe for an NGO. I’m not sure yet where I’ll go but I’m looking at
a few places in London as that’s my first choice, but I’ll just be really happy to get in
somewhere. I know too that my Dad will be really proud of me if I do it as he wants to see me
get a secure job and he’d love it if it’s connected to something where I’m helping other
people.
So it’s my Dad who has influenced me and the main reason is his charity work.
Sample Response:
Ok, I’d like to talk about a TV show that I really like. This TV show is Game of Thrones.
I’m not sure how I’d categorise what type of show it is. I guess I’d say it’s a kind of
fantasy drama, as it’s not based on real life and it’s not a comedy or anything like that. It’s
definitely dramatic as a lot of people end up getting killed! It’s kind of medieval in nature and
feels in some ways more like historical fiction than a fantasy series. It’s kind of more about
battles and political intrigue than magic and sorcery though. It’s actually taken from some
books called A Song of Ice and Fire, written by…I can’t remember his name now. I know that
because I read the first couple of books though I stopped when the series started.
It’s on HBO, and there is one series each year, and when the series is on there is one
each week, so it’s on weekly. It’s in its seventh season now and the final season is going to
be next year. Actually I’m only up to season six as I’ve been so busy studying so I’ve only
just had a chance to watch it on DVD.
It’s really, really popular with people in my country but it’s popular around the world. It’s
unusual to meet someone who doesn’t watch it. All my family do and nearly all of my friends
do too. I’m not sure if there has been another series that has had such high viewing figures
as this for a very long time.
There’s loads of reasons why I like it. It’s got a number of story lines about two fictional
continents of Westeros and Essos, and is about various people and families who are all
fighting for the throne. The main story line is centered though around a family called the
Lanisters. Two of them are brother and sister but actually they are lovers as well. Another
main character is someone called Jon Snow, who comes from the North. You feel like you
are being taken on a real adventure as it’s all about another world – a bit like Lord of the
Rings. One thing that’s great about it is that you never know who's going to die. Sometimes
some characters die when you really don’t expect it. I think it’s also good because it’s had a
wide cultural influence. You can see the show gets mentioned in many other shows and has
made fantasy dramas generally more popular.
IELTS Speaking Examples - Model Answer
I’m going to talk about a present that I gave to someone.
The person that I gave it to was a very good friend of mine at the time. His name was
Kaaliya and he came from India. I knew him because we studied together at a language
school in Cambridge. Although we were from different backgrounds and cultures, we got on
really well and we had the same sense of humour so we became very good friends.
The present was a picture that had been painted of the River Cam in Cambridge. It was not
so big - maybe around 10 inches by 14 inches, but it was very beautiful. It came in a gold
plated frame and the picture had been drawn by a particularly well-known Cambridge artist. It
had been signed by this person as well.
It’s the first time I have given this person a present, and I guess it’s quite different from
presents that I have given to other people before – I don’t recall ever giving someone a
picture actually. If I’m buying for family then I’ll usually buy clothes or maybe some jewelry if it
is a special occasion. Normally when I’ve bought something for friends it’s something more
jokey so we can have a laugh about it, nothing that serious.
The reason why I decided to give this particular gift is because we had spent a lot of time
together in Cambridge and we had had some really fun times punting on the River Cam –
that’s obviously why I thought this was an appropriate present. We used to go punting at
least once a week, sometimes a couple of times. On one occasion there was a group of
about ten of us that went down there, and we spent the whole day sitting by the river in the
sun and as usual we went on a boat trip together. We all have a lot of photos to remind us of
this great day.
So my friend, Kaaliya, is the person that I gave a present to and this was because I felt it
would always remind him of the fun times that we had and also of Cambridge.
IELTS Speaking Examples - Model Answer
Ok, I’d like to tell you about an old person that I know.
His name is John, and he is the owner of a small convenience store at the end of my street.
I would say that my relationship with him is as a friend. I know him because I regularly go
to the shop in order to buy things when I don’t have time to go to a supermarket. He’s quite
friendly and I always have a chat with him. I’ve known him now for about five years - since
I’ve lived in the area in fact. That’s why I’d now call him a friend.
I’d say that I see him fairly regularly. Like I said, I go to the big supermarket out of town
sometimes to stock up, but you always need odd things during the week such as milk, or
some snack or other. So when this happens I just have a walk down to his shop. So I’d say I
see him every one or two days.
I think John is pretty popular as he’s been there for years as far as I’m aware, so most of
the locals around the area know him. There will always be someone in the shop having a
chat with him. They like him because he’s not just the shopkeeper but he’s also very involved
in activities in the community. For example, I know he helps out at the old people’s home
some nights, and he runs the quizzes at the local
pub. He also helps to organize the fete that is held each year in the town.
The reason that I like him is that he’s great to have a chat with. For instance, a while back I
was having problems with my work, and I was really feeling stressed. I didn’t really have
anyone to talk to at the time as my family is abroad and a couple of my good friends were not
around. I mentioned it to John and he was great. He listened and also gave me some really
good advice. He didn’t need to do that so it was great that he made the time to anyway.
Generally, though, he’s really welcoming when you go to his shop. He’ll always have a smile
on his face.
IELTS Speaking Examples - Model Answer
I’m going to talk about a happy childhood event that I remember, and that event was my
13th birthday.
It was 10 years ago now because I’m 23. My birthday is on the 7th May. What happened
was my parents surprised me on my birthday by telling me that they were going to take me to
a theme part that is a few hours from our house. I’d never been before - it had only been
open a few months and they knew that I really wanted to go. As I recall it was a Saturday that
we went. They didn’t tell me until the morning when I woke up that day.
My whole family was involved in the event. I have a brother and a sister so of course they
came as well as my Mum and Dad, and not only that, we also picked up my grandparents on
the way so they could join us. They were too old to go on the rides but it was still a great trip
out for them!
The theme park was really amazing. There was a huge roller coaster which I remember was
really scary but still excellent fun. One particular thing I remember is the ghost train. My
younger sister was not allowed to go on the ride because she was too young and she was
really upset and jealous of me and by brother! I think it was lucky she didn’t though. It was
really realistic – there were real people in there who were actually dressed up as ghosts and
they jumped out just
when you weren’t expecting it – it made us jump so many times!
How I felt really depended on what I was doing. Obviously I was excited the whole day,
but I remember that I felt really exhilarated when I was on the rides such as the roller coaster,
and scared but still excited on the ghost train.
The reason that I remember it so well is that I had been so desperate to go to the theme
park and I’d been talking to my friends at school for ages about how I wanted to go. So it was
so great when I found out that I could. Also I remember it so well because all of our family
was together. My Dad was pretty busy most of the time with his work so we didn’t always
have much time to do things together when I was a younger.
So for these reasons, is was a really special occasion that I’ll never forget.
IELTS Speaking Examples - Model Answer
Ok, I'm going to talk about a problem with the environment in my country.
One of the most serious problems at the moment is flooding. This is starting to happen
every year and each year it seems to get worse. I think it may be caused by a number of
factors. Firstly there has been a lot of deforestation in the north of the country, a lot of it from
illegal logging. Because of this, when it rains the water has nothing to soak it up so it just
runs down the mountains and into the villages and towns. Another factor may be global
warming. Scientists believe that this is causing more severe weather so this may account for
the increasing amount of rain that we seem to be seeing. It also means the soil is more dry
so again the rain water runs off it rather than being soaked up.
Unfortunately, there have been really serious effects on my country. As I said, the
excess water runs into the villages and the towns through the rivers and the rivers then
overflow causing massive flooding. This effects thousands of people who then become
homeless. Several hundred usually die each year as well. It travels through the country as it
starts in the north and goes down to the sea, so it can affect many towns and the capital city
too. This also has
repercussions for the government as they have to spend so much money managing the
disaster each year.
The government is trying to tackle the problem, but it is not easy. They are trying to stop
so much deforestation but a lot of the damage has already been done so what can they do?
They are also starting to build defences such as walls along some of the major rivers that run
through the town to try to stop them overflowing. Another thing they are doing is trying to
improve their response systems. In most towns there is now a government organization
responsible for coordinating relief operations and making sure they are prepared in advance.
I think this problem is a top priority to solve because it has such devastating impacts. As
I mentioned before, it causes suffering for so many people and it is also a huge expense for
the government and as we are not a rich country we cannot afford this. It means that other
services suffer because of a lack of money. There are other problems that my country has
but I think that is by far the worst.
So, that is the serious problem in my country, and I only hope that it does not continue to get
worse.
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Hometown
Where is your hometown?
My hometown's in Hanoi, which is the capital city of Vietnam. It's located in the north of the
country, not really that far from the southern Chinese border.
Is there much to do in your hometown?
Oh yes, there's certainly lots to do there as it's a fairly big city. If you like going out in the
evening there are a lot of good restaurants and bars. If you prefer cultural activities there are
museums and art galleries. But if you like nature there are lots of other things outside of the
city which are easy to reach.
What are the people like in your hometown?
They are mostly quite friendly, but as with most big cities everyone is often busy so it may
seem as if they are not interested in speaking or having a chat. But if you live there you know
that most people are quite happy to have a chat if they have time and will help you if needed.
Studies
What are you studying at the moment?
I'm studying history at university. It's a four year course, and I started it three years ago, so I
have just one year left. I'm enjoying it a lot so it will be sad to finish.
What do you like most about your studies?
We learn about many things from the past such as politics and wars, but I like learning about
how people lived in the past the most. It's amazing to see how our lives have changed so
much from the past up until now. In some ways our lives have got much easier now, but in
other ways the simplicity of life in the past made people much happier. Learning about all
that is fascinating.
What do you hope to do in the future when you have finished?
I'm not sure at the moment, but I may go into teaching. This is why I'm doing the IELTS, as I
intend to carry on and do a Masters in a specific area of history. I'll probably decide for sure
what to do when I have completed that.
Work
What is your job?
I currently work as an office manager at a large marketing company. I've been in the job for
about five years now. I'm usually assigned to work with a specific business in order to
improve their sales through various marketing strategies.
Do you have to work with other people?
Oh yes, all the time. It's a big office and we all have to work as a team if we want to achieve
results. I have colleagues I need to liaise with such as the graphic designers and I also have
administration staff who work under me. And of course I also have to work alongside the
companies that we provide marketing for. So yes, I definitely have to work with other people.
Do you think you will change jobs in the future?
Well, that's not something I'm thinking about at the moment as I really enjoy what I do and it's
a really good company to work for. The pay is good and they have other good benefits such
as flexi-time and end of year bonuses. But that said, change is always a good thing, so I can't
see me being there forever. I'm sure I will change one day.
Leisure time
What do you like to do in your free time?
I do quite a lot of sport actually. I play football mostly - on Wednesday nights and Sunday
afternoon with a local team. I also play tennis and squash when I can but I don't really get the
time to do them as well every week. I work quite hard at the moment, so I don't get a lot of
free time unfortunately.
Have your leisure activities changed since you were a child?
Not a great deal actually. I used to love playing football when I was young as well - I played a
lot at school. Though of course I did all the other things kids loved to do such as going out on
bike rides after school and things.
Do you prefer to spend your free time alone or with other people?
It depends on my mood really. I think most people need some time on their own. Sometimes
my work is quite stressful and I spend a lot of time there with others, so it's good to just get
home and relax and read a book or something. But I get bored if I am alone too much so I
like to go out and meet friends in the evening or play football.
Trains
Do you like to travel by train?
Yes, I quite like them. If you are on a train you can relax and look out the window, read, use
your lap top - it's all quite comfortable. On the bus it's more difficult to do those things
because there is less space and the movement can make you travel sick too. The only
problem with trains in my country is that they are often delayed or late. That can ruin your
journey.
Where do you usually go by train?
It's usually on long trips across the country if I want to visit friends or I have an appointment
somewhere. For short journeys around where I live or to work it's much easier to drive or
take the bus. As I said before, you can do things such as read on the train so it's good for
long journeys.
When was the last time you travelled by train?
Er....I'm not quite sure, let me think. It was a while ago now. I think the last time was last year
when I went up to see some friends I had not seen for a while in the north of the country.
Yes, that was it. It was a journey of about 3 hours and I had to change trains once during the
journey. The first train was a bit crowded and noisy as I think there were people on there
going to a football match, but it was an ok trip most of the way.
Time
Are you good at managing your time?
Actually I'd say I'm not too good! I don't really have a system in place to organize things. I
know some people have an electronic organizer or use some device to plan what they are
doing but I don't do that. But I always make sure I am on time for appointments and things
like that, and I meet deadlines and get things done.
How do you manage your time?
As I said, I don't have any specific system in place to manage my time. For example, if I am
at work and I have a lot of cases, I just go through them each day and decide which I need to
tackle first. At work we do have an online diary which I guess I use, so in that sense I do
manage my time to an extent.
When is it most important for you to manage your time?
I think it is probably when you are at work. When out of work, it's not really going to affect
things too much, or at least only yourself, if you are late to meet friends or for an
appointment, or if you are getting things done in your house. But at work, it will cause
problems if you don't manage your time effectively because you could miss deadlines or miss
appointments. You could lose your job. So at work is when it is most important to manage
your time.
Books
What kind of books do you like to read?
I mostly like to read biographies. I'm not sure why but it is interesting to read about people's
real lives, especially when they have had interesting lives and have had to deal with many
problems. I do read fiction as well, but I often find it difficult to get hold of a book that I really
like. I also like reading about books to do with current affairs.
Do you read the same kind of books now that you read when you were a child?
Not really, no. Actually I didn't read that much when I was a child, but if I did it was mainly
fiction books, such as fairy tales. Things like The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Fantasy things.
When do you think is the best time to read?
I think any time is ok, but when I read I like to concentrate, so I can't read for a short time like
on a bus ride like some people do. I like to put time aside to enjoy it. So if I have some free
time at the weekend I might read for a few hours. And I nearly always read before I go to bed
- this really helps me to sleep.
Art Galleries
Are there many art galleries where you live?
No, not that I know of. I live in a small town so I don't think there are any, though we do have
a few museums and other cultural institutions. In our capital city there are quite a few art
galleries, however.
Did you like to go to art galleries when you were a child?
I've never been that interested in art to be honest, so not really. We were taken to one as
part of a trip when I was at school. It has a lot of paintings from famous artists from our
country. It was quite interesting to see I guess but I've not been to any since.
Should people have to pay to go to art galleries?
I think it depends really. If possible they should be free because if people do have to pay they
are less likely to go and see it. But on the other hand these things cost money so a small fee
may be necessary if it can keep the art gallery going and keep it open. Ideally though the
government should pay for this as I believe this kind of thing is paid for by our taxes.
Swimming
Can you swim? Yes I can. I learnt at school when I was about 7 years old. Swimming lessons were
compulsory at our school, like most schools I think.
Are there many places to swim near you? Yes, there are a few public swimming pools. There is the
main indoor one at a big sports complex in the center of town. There are also a couple of outdoor ones,
but you can only use them in summer as it is too cold in winter. One is a big one in a park, the other is
a much smaller one.
Do you think everyone should learn to swim? Of course, I think it's very important. Firstly, you
spend much of your life on holiday by water, for example, when you go to the beach on holiday, so
you won't be able to enjoy yourself with your friends if you can't swim. Also, for safety reasons it's
very important. You often hear about sad accidents involving young children so it's very important.
Examples
Food
How important is having breakfast to you?
Not very important really. I often miss it as I never feel that hungry when I first wake up.
Lunch is often the first meal of the day for me.
Would you rather eat out or eat at home? I prefer to eat in as I like home cooked food.
You know for sure what is in the ingredients, whereas at a restaurant you can never be sure
of what is in the food and whether it is healthy or not.
How often do you eat out? About once or twice a week. Mostly I eat in because I get back
from work late and don't have time to get to a restaurant.
What kind of restaurants do you like to go to if you do eat out?
Usually it is small family run places. They have a better atmosphere than those big chains
and often the price if more reasonable too. You can also get to know the owner which is nice.
When did you last go to a restaurant? Oh, it was probably about a week ago, last
weekend. I went to a place called Chino's, down the road from me. It does great Italian food.
Where is the best place to shop for groceries?
I think the supermarkets are good to get cheap things, such as the everyday items like tinned
food and toiletries, but local stores are better for meat and vegetables because they are
always fresh.
How do you get to the shops when you go for food?
I usually go by car, but occasionally by bike if the weather is ok and I don't need to buy too
much. The car can obviously be better if it's the weekly shopping and you need to purchase a
lot.
Why do you think there is a problem with obesity in many countries?
I think it is principally to do with diet and time. People don't have a lot of time so they eat fast
food. The lack of time also means that people don't do enough exercise.
Who should be dealing with obesity?
The government should do something, such as making producers label food packaging
clearly, but individuals also have to take responsibility for their own weight and life-style.
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Do you live in a house or in a flat?
Which is your favorite room? Can you describe it? If you could improve one thing in your
room, what would it be?
Do you enjoy watching films? What kinds of film do you like most? Did you watch much TV
as a child? Are foreign language films popular in your country?
How would you greet someone who was visiting your house? Would you greet an old friend
and a strnager in the same way? How do you meet new people?