#57 - IELTS Speaking test in the UK and Iran – July 2016 (Academic Module)

Test # 57

Personal Questions

– Do you use computers a lot?

If you do, say yes politely and explain for what reasons do you use it, like for gaming, or for work (making reports,  presentations, typing), or for surfing on social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.).

If you don’t, say no politely and explain why you don’t need to use the computer that much; for eg. you may say that your job doesn’t require you to do much work on the computer.

– What do you like about your home?

You may talk about a room, the location of your house, the neighbourhood, anything that makes you feel good about your house.

– Why do you like it?

If you are not asked the reason in the previous question, you need to answer it here by giving very specific reasons for your liking. Do not be very vague and say you like everything. The examiners are looking for specific answers.

– Would you like to change something there?

– Which part of your house would you change?

Say yes always. Saying no will limit your answer’s content and you will not have a chance to present vocabulary or grammar structures. The examiners are asking you these questions to check your descriptive skills. . The most common things to answer here are some parts of the interior decorations of your house, or some old furniture, or the paint.

– What is the reason for that?

The reasons can be that the thing that you want changed is old fashioned and you want to replace it with something that’s currently in trend. As for the paint of the house, you may say that it’s been many years since the paint coat was polished, so the walls look dull and the paint has started to peel off at some places.

Cue Card

Talk about one of your future plans. Please say

– What would you like to do?

– How do you intend to achieve it?

– How will it help you?

Your future plans include you going abroad to study or work and build a better future. Talk about that. Talk about the country and the reason why you want to go there. Talk about the steps that you’ll have to take to achieve the plan, like I’ll secure admission in a college and a course of my choice, and study and gain valuable work experience…..you should also mention the time it will take to achieve this plan (2 years, 5 years….)

About how your plan would help you, you should say the kind of lifestyle your plan would be giving you. For example, if after finishing your studies in Canada, you work for a few years and have a respectable position in a reputed firm, you can build a good lavish lifestyle for yourself.

Remember, don’t talk about superficial plans that are unlikely to happen in the next 10 years.

Discussion

– Who are better advisors for children: parents, teachers or friends?

There is no correct answer for this – different people feel differently about who is better to give advice to children. Choose the answer for which you can give a good justification. For example if you say friends are better advisors, you should have at least two points to support your answer.

– Why do you think so?

Again, you need to give reasons for the answers. If you’ve already answered, then give examples to avoid repeating the same explanation.

– At what age should children be allowed to have mobile phones?

A generic answer can be that children should be allowed mobile phones in their late teens, for obvious reasons that they’re mature and responsible enough to use the phone’s functions genuinely and not indulge in silly show offs.

– Why do you think so?

You may say that if children are given phones at an early age where they don’t really need mobile phones, they become unnecessarily distracted and may even get tempted to buy fancier mobile phones seeing other children having those. They also exploit the phone’s facilities by crank calling, or harassing via messages or other such activities.

– Is it good for people to live their dreams?

You need to answer this keeping in mind that they want to know whether it is good for people to achieve their goals. So, answer accordingly.

– When is the right time to have dreams?
Again, this means what is the right time to set goals or targets in life. You may answer by saying that you may set goals, or you may start having dreams once you start becoming aware of your capabilities and potential, and when you feel a slight clarity in your direction in life. Give examples based on your decision to choose your academic stream and your plan thereafter.