SPEAKING PRACTICE TEST

Part 2 – sample task card Describe a holiday you would like to go on?. Useful Vocabulary Positive aspects of holidays personal  chance to unwind  spend quality time with family / fr

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Part 1 - sample questions

 What do you do to stay healthy?

 Is it easy to keep fit where you live?

 What do you think is more important, eating healthily or doing exercise?

 Do you have a good public health system in your country?

 Is there anything you‟d like to improve about it?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe something you do to keep healthy

You should say:

 what this activity is

 when you do it

 and how often you do it and explain why you think it‟s a good way to look after your health

Part 3 – sample questions

1 What are the most popular ways of keeping healthy in your country?

2 Do you think people worry more about their health as they get older?

3 Why do you think some people continue bad habits when they know that they are damaging to their health?

4 How can children be encouraged to adopt healthy eating habits?

5 Do you think people have become more health conscious in recent years?

6 Could governments do more to promote healthier lifestyle options?

Useful Vocabulary Speaking Practice Test: Practice Test 1 - Health

Healthy activities / habits – things that are good for

 going to the gym

 doing yoga / pilates / tai chi

 eating fresh fruit and vegetables

 eating organic foods

 eating regular meals

 drinking water

 having a balanced diet

Unhealthy habits – things that are bad for your

Verb + Noun Collocations

 to look after your health

 to take care of our health

 to maintain your health

 to be in good / poor health

 to regain your health

Verb + Adjective Collocations

 to feel healthy

 to look healthy

 to be healthy

 to keep / stay healthy

Useful Linking Expressions Adding more detail

 In (actual) fact, …

 Actually, …

 More to the point, …

 Indeed, …

 To be more precise / exact, …

Sample Answer

Qu.6 Could governments do more to promote healthier lifestyle options?

Yes, in my opinion the government has a big responsibility to try to persuade people to live more healthily I think they could provide more education in schools to teach children how to eat more healthily and show them the

importance of taking physical exercise In fact, it‟s the parents too that also need to be re-educated on these issues

Another thing, I think there should be more government warnings on TV showing people the dangers of obesity and

poor diet, for example Actually, they do have some that show the health risks of smoking and drinking, which are

quite powerful, but not really about healthy eating Finally, there could be more public facilities to help people keep

fit, like swimming pools, gyms and sports centres More to the point they need to be affordable so that everyone has

the opportunity to use them

Part 1 - sample questions

 Do you work or study?

 What do you do for living?

 Did you have any difficulty getting your present job?

 Do you enjoy your work?

 Which part of your job is exciting?

 What are the main tasks in your job?

 Do you plan to continue/stay in this job for a long time?

 Would you like to change this job?

 Which is more important – your job or the people you work with?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe the job you would most like to have

You should say:

 what this job would be

 where you would work

 which qualifications you would need and explain why you would like to have this job most

Speaking Practice Test: Practice Test 2 - Work

Part 3 – sample questions

1 Which jobs are most respected in your country?

2 Do you think that some jobs are still more suited to either men or women?

3 Do you think schools provide enough advice and support about future careers?

4 What changes have there been in recent years in employment in your country?

5 Do you agree that salaries should reflect the level of contribution to the community that the job makes?

6 Do you think more and more people will work from home in the future?

Useful Vocabulary Work

 to apply for a job / post / promotion

 to get / have a part-time/full-time job

 to work in [field / place]

 to work for [a company]

 to specialise in [field]

 to be a qualified [job]

 to work shifts / unsociable hours

 to get / have an interview

 to be shortlisted

 to be demoted / promoted

 to be transferred / to put in for a transfer

 to be fired / sacked / dismissed

 to be made redundant

 to retire / to be retired

 to get a pension

 the perks of a job (benefits)

 to work from home (home-working)

 to be self-employed / to work for yourself

 to work / do flexi-time / overtime

Useful Linking Expressions Sequencing ideas

 firstly / first of all, …

Qu What changes have there been in recent years in employment in your country?

I think there have been many changes in the types of jobs that people do nowadays compared to 20 or 30 years

ago First of all there are much fewer jobs related to heavy industry such as mining or ship-building or even manufacturing Secondly, there has been a big increase in the number of jobs in the service and leisure industries like shops, gyms, and hotels And finally, since the launch of the internet there has been a big surge in the number of jobs

related to IT, such as web development and design

Part 1 – sample questions

 Which form of transport do you usually use?

 How do you prefer to travel on long journeys?

 Do people use public transport where you live?

 What are the benefits of public transport?

 Are there any problems with public transport?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe an interesting journey you have been on

You should say:

 where you went

 how you travelled there

 who you went with and explain what was so memorable about the journey

Part 3 – sample questions

1 What methods of transport are most popular in your city / country?

2 What are some of the problems of long-distance travelling?

3 Has the way people travel changed much in the last few decades?

4 Do you agree that governments should do more to encourage greener methods of transport?

5 What measures could be taken to reduce problems of congestion in cities?

6 Do you think that transport problems are worse in urban or rural areas?

Useful Vocabulary Popular methods of transport in cities

 to catch the metro

 to take the tram

Solutions to inner-city congestion

 road access charges in city centres

 bypasses / ringroads

 park and ride schemes

 free rental of city bikes

 more cycle lanes

 more frequent buses

 cheaper public transport

 more pedestrianised streets

 more electric trams

 more accessible metro system

Useful Linking Expressions Giving examples

Qu 5 What measures could be taken to reduce problems of congestion in cities?

There are many ways that congestion could be reduced in big cities In my city, for example, they have introduced a

bike rental system where members can pick up a bike at one point and drop it off at another It‟s proving to be very popular and as a result more cycle lanes are also being provided

Another example, which unfortunately doesn‟t exist in my city, is a park and ride scheme where you leave your car outside the city in a carpark and then take a free bus into the centre Another way to prevent people bringing their cars into the city would be to charge a special fee to access the centre, like they do in London, though I guess this

wouldn‟t be quite so popular with the residents

Part 1 – sample questions

 Are there many public or national holidays in your country?

 Do you think there are enough public holidays?

 Do you like going away on holidays?

 Where did you go on your last holiday?

 Describe a place you like to go to during your holidays

 What is the most interesting place you‟d like to visit on your holidays?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe a holiday you would like to go on

You should say:

 what place you would like to go to

 how you would like to get there

 what you would like to do while you were there and explain why you would like to go on this holiday

Part 3 – sample questions

1 Which places in your country do visitors enjoy visiting most?

2 What are some of the benefits of going away on holiday?

3 Have there been any recent changes in the types of holiday that are popular in your country?

4 What kinds of benefits might a significant increase in tourist numbers bring to a location?

5 What are some of the negative effects of a dramatic increase in tourism?

6 What developments affecting international travel might there be in the future?

Useful Vocabulary Positive aspects of holidays (personal)

 chance to unwind

 spend quality time with family / friends

 get away from work / stressful environment

Speaking Practice Test: Practice Test 4 - Tourism

 have a change of routine / scenery

 visit new places / experience new things / cultures

 broaden your horizons

 visit family or friends abroad

Positive aspects of holidays (commercial)

 creates new jobs in tourist industry

 attracts media attention to the resort

 ensures good level of infrastructure

 improves services for local residents

 provides revenue to protect /maintain local heritage

Negative aspects of holidays (personal)

 loss of earnings (if self-employed)

 can be stressful (to be out of your comfort zone)

 can be difficult to cope in foreign country / unfamiliar place

 may encounter travel problems (plane/train delays / traffic jams)

 may not have access to health facilities

 may lose your luggage

 may not be able to speak the local language

Negative aspects of holidays (commercial)

 can cause overcrowding

 tourists may not respect local customs/traditions

 can cause excess of litter / noise

 may cause damage to local environment

 area becomes too built-up due to increase of hotels/shops etc

 may cause increase in prices of local services and goods

Useful Linking Expressions Adding more reasons / examples

Qu.2 What are some of the benefits of going away on holiday?

There are many benefits of going on holiday Besides giving you a chance to unwind and relax, it also allows you to spend some quality time with your family, not only in a different environment but more importantly, away from the routine pressures of work and daily life.In addition to this, it also gives you the opportunity to broaden your horizons by visiting new places and experiencing a different way of life

[Positives of Tourism]

Tourism is a popular leisure activity People go on holiday to relax and have fun Tourists can experience different cultures They can sunbathe on beaches or go sight-seeing Travelling abroad opens our minds

We can learn to speak other languages The tourist trade is vital for some economies

It creates employment in services like accommodation, transport and entertainment Some areas rely on tourism for their income

Tourists spend money Tourism attracts investment from multi-national companies

It helps to improve the standard of living Low-cost airlines are making it cheaper to travel abroad

[Negative effects of tourism] Tourism can have a negative effect on the natural environment The building of facilities and infrastructure can destroy the habitat of wild animals

Beautiful beaches are spoilt by the building of hotels Tourism creates pollution and waste

It puts pressure on local resources Local traditional and cultures may be endangered

A rise in the cost of living affects local people The price of goods, services and housing may increase significantly

[The future of tourism] Government should introduce laws to protect natural environments and local cultures Tourism should have a low impact on wildlife

Renewable resources like solar or water power should be used Waste should be recycled

Local businesses such as farms should be supported

( Cô Thùy ED )

Part 1 – sample questions

 What is the climate like in your country?

 Are there any problems with the climate in your country?

 What is your favourite type of weather?

 What kind of weather do you dislike?

 Would you prefer to live in a hot or cold country?

 What is the best/worst weather for travelling in?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe an environmental problem You should say:

 what it is

 how long it has existed

 how it affects people‟s lives and explain how you think the problem will develop in the future

Part 3 – sample questions

1 Which environmental problems are people most concerned about in your country?

2 What are the main causes of these environmental problems?

3 Do you think it is the responsibility of governments alone to protect the environment?

4 What measures can individuals take to protect the environment?

5 Do you think large companies and business orginisations should be more environmentally friendly?

Why? How?

6 How can we teach children about the importance of protecting the environment?

Useful Vocabulary Environmental Problems  destruction of the rainforests

(deforestation)

Speaking Practice Test: Practice Test 5 - The Environment

 melting of the icecaps

 extinction of many species (loss of biodiversity)

 destruction of the ozone layer

 global warming / the “greenhouse effect”

 rising sea levels

 pollution of land, sea and air

 increase of natural disasters eg, earthquakes, landslides, floods

Causes of Environmental Problems

 excessive emissions of greenhouse gases,

eg carbon dioxide

 chemical and industrial waste

 emissions from cars and planes

 improper dumping of household waste

 overuse of non-renewable fossil fuels

 cutting carbon emissions

 cleaner waste disposal

 sustainable consumption and development

 buying products with less packaging

 buying organic products

 buying products made from recycled material / renewable sources

 using natural remedies as alternative medicine

Useful Linking Expressions Explaining causes

Qu.1 Which environmental problems are people most concerned about in your country?

I think people in my country are most concerned about future shortages of fresh drinking water, which I suppose is

both a result of poor water management and general global warming I think everyone is feeling the effects of the latter problem which is causing us to experience more extreme temperatures, for example, much colder winters and

much hotter summers The long hot summers are particularly worrying in the south of the country where there is a

real risk of drought due to the consistent lack of rainfall

Part 1 – sample questions

 Do you use a computer at work or at home?

 What do you use a computer for?

 Do you like using computers?

 When did you learn to use a computer?

 What is the importance of computers nowadays?

 What jobs do computers do better than people?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe a piece of technology that you find useful

You should say:

 what it is

 what you can do with it

 how often you use it and explain why you find it so useful

Part 3 – sample questions

1 What are some of the main uses of technology for communication?

2 Do you agree that some people use technology for communication too much?

3 What differences are there between the attitudes of older and younger people to technology for communication?

4 Do you think that the advance of technology has improved standards of education in schools?

5 Would you agree that the rapid development of digital technology has had a positive impact on the world of work?

6 Do you think that the rate of technological expansion will slow down in the years to come?

Useful Vocabulary Uses of internet for communication  sending emails

Speaking Practice Test: Practice Test 6 - Technology

 sending text messages

 posting messages on forums

 using an intranet system

Advantages

 offers immediate communication

 cheaper than telephone calls / face meetings

face-to- allows global communication without the need to travel

 more convenient / people can communicate on-the-move

 allows friends and family overseas to stay connected

 gives everybody the chance to have a public voice

Disadvantages

 people may lose “real” social skills

 people may spend less time socialising face-to-face

 people may become more introverted

 people may become adicted to social network sites

 people spend too much time in front of a screen

Technology and Education

 offers more flexibility for the learner

 allows people in rural areas the same study opportunities

 cheaper for students (no travel / accmmodation costs)

 students & teachers are less bound by time and space

Technology and Work

 automated processes

 automated manufacturing

 automated customer services

 high-tech computer systems

 computerised filing / administrative systems

 huge databases

 intranet system / internal emailing

Disadvantages

 has made some jobs redundant

 gives customers less personal service

 requires staff to be technically skilled

 may cause security issues /files may be lost

 requires a lot of investment

 breakdowns in the system may cause severe problems

Useful Linking Expressions

Qu Do you think that the advance of technology has improved standards of education in schools?

I think the growth of the internet has had a major impact on current teaching methods and I‟m sure general standards

have improved as a result I strongly believe that the motivation for both learning and teaching has increased because of the phenomenal amount of information now available to both students and teachers On the other hand, due to a danger of information overload, some people may be put off using technology in the classroom,

wishing for a return to more traditional methods

Part 1 – sample questions

 How much free time do you have?

 How do you spend your free time?

 What kinds of things do you like doing in your free time?

 Do you prefer to spend your free time alone or with other people?

 Do you think people have enough free time these days?

 What do you usually do on weekends?

 What did you do last weekend?

 Do you have plans for the next weekend?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe a leisure activity you like doing in your free time

You should say:

 what kind of activity it is

 how often you do it

 what equipment you need to do it

Speaking Practice Test: Practice Test 7 - Free Time

and explain why you enjoy doing it

Part 3 – sample questions

1 What kind of free-time activities are typical in your country?

2 Have there been any recent changes in the types of leisure activities that people fnd popular?

3 Do you agree that it‟s important for people of different ages to do leisure activities together?

4 In your opinion, who is responsible for encouraging children to take up different leisure pursuits – parents or teachers?

5 Do you think people have less time for leisure activities now compared to the past?

6 Do you think that technology will have a significant impact on the types of leisure activities we will enjoy in the future?

Useful Vocabulary Popular Outdoor Leisure Activities

 playing / practising / doing sport(s)

 rambling / hiking / walking

 hanging out / meeting up with friends

 eating out / going to restaurants or cafes

Popular Indoor Leisure Activities

 going to the gym / keeping fit / doing exercise

 doing yoga / pilates / aerobics

 doing martial arts (karate/judo)

 swimming

 going to the cinema / theatre

 playing a musical instrument

 acting (amateur dramatics)

 dancing (ballet / tap / ballroom / hip-hop / freestyle / latin)

 singing (in a group / choir)

 playing computer games

 surfing the internet

 I guess …

 Let me think …

 Let me see …

 Um, well …

 Er, I‟m not sure …

 … like, you know …

 … I don‟t know …

Sample Answer

Qu Do you agree that it’s important for people of different ages to do leisure activities together?

Um … well … I think in some cases it could be important for people of different ages to do leisure activities together For example, parents or even grandparents can enjoy doing fun things with their children or grandchildren, like, you know, things that don‟t require a lot of physical ability such as playing games, reading or cooking I guess that

sometimes it is very important for older people to do things with younger ones, especially more difficult skills that

need to be taught like … I don’t know … martial arts or playing a musical instrument

Part 1 – sample questions

Cinema

 Do you like watching films?

 What kinds of films do you enjoy?

 Do you prefer watching films at home or at the cinema?

 Do people go to the cinema or the theatre in your home town?

 How often do you watch films / go the cinema?

 When was the last time you went to the cinema or the theatre? What did you see?

 When you were a child what kind of movies did you like to watch?

 Would you like to be in a film / play? Why / why not?

Television

 Do you watch much TV?

 When do you usually watch TV?

 Who do you normally watch TV with?

 What kind of TV programmes do you like the most?

Speaking Practice Test: Practice Test 8 - Entertainment

 Do you have a favourite TV programme at the moment?

 What TV programmes do you remember from your childhood?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe a film you found interesting

You should say:

 when you saw this film

 why you decided to see this film

 what happened in the film and explain why you found this film interesting

Part 3 – sample questions

1 Is the cinema a popular form of entertainment in your country?

2 Which do you think is more enjoyable, watching films in the cinema or watching films at home?

3 Do you think that films shown in cinemas should have an educational value?

4 Is it important for governments to support film-making in their countries?

5 Do you think the Internet has already had a big impact on the entertainment industry?

6 In what ways do you think that entertainment media may develop in the future?

Useful Vocabulary Cinema (advantages)

 the thrill of watching something on the big-screen

 more exciting/intense atmosphere

 big screen really brings the characters to life

 able to appreciate the cinematography

 can enjoy a night out with friends

 the excitement of watching a premiere screening

Watching TV (advanatges)

 can sit in the comfort of your own home

 can choose what you want to watch

 can flick through the channels

 can invite your friends round

 can watch a variety of programmes

 can switch it off if you get bored

Film-making

 social responsibility to make educational/informative films

 good media for reaching wide audiences

 has high impact on the public

 can get worldwide recognition

 can deliver social messages

 can bring widespread attention to social/world problems

Technology & Entertainment (examples)

 online gaming / games / gambling

 downloading films / videos (YouTube)

 downloading music (iTunes)

 computer game consoles (PlayStation / Wii)

 social networking (Facebook / Twitter)

Useful Linking Expressions Giving more exact information

Qu Do you think that films shown in cinemas should have an educational value?

No, I don‟t think that it‟s necessary for all films to be educational In fact, I think people go to the cinema because

they simply want to be entertained, not always educated Watching a film on the big screen is a form of escapism and

so people want adventure, romance or fantasy As far as I‟m concerned, if I‟m looking to be educated I would choose

to read a book or watch a documentary, although actually I do also enjoy historical films which teach me something

about the past

Part 1 – sample questions

 Do you work or are you a student?

 What subject are you studying?

 Is it a difficult subject?

 Why did you choose this subject?

 What do you like most about this subject?

 What‟s the most interesting aspect of your subject?

 What do you plan to do when you finish studying?

 At what age do most people leave school in your country?

 Do you think it‟s a good age to leave school?

 What was your favourite subject at school? Why?

Speaking Practice Test: Practice Test 9 - Education

 What do you think are the most important subjects at school?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe a teacher that had a positive influence on you

You should say:

 what subject this teacher taught

 how long he/she was your teacher

 what positive attributes this teacher had and explain why you remember this teacher in particular

Part 3 – sample questions

1 Is there a system of free state education in your country?

2 Do you think school and university prepares young people adequately for real life?

3 Do you think there is too much pressure on young people at school these days?

4 Do you agree that there is too much emphasis on formal testing?

5 Have there been significant changes in schooling methods in your country in recent years?

6 Do you think schools provide enough careers advice to young people?

Useful Vocabulary School

 nursery / primary / secondary schools / education

 state school / private school

 to sit / do / take an exam

 to resit / retake an exam

 to revise (for an exam)

 to pass / to fail an exam

 to get exam results

 to get qualifications / to be qualified

 to leave school / a school-leaver

 to drop out of school / to be a dropout

 to study for [a qualification / an exam]

 to be academic / to be an all-rounder

University

 tertiary / higher education

 colleges of higher education / technical colleges / universities

 to apply for a course

 to get an (un)conditional offer

 a postgraduate student / course

 to do a postgraduate course / a Masters /

a PhD (Doctorate)

 to be a qualified [job title]

 to qualify in [subject]

 to take a gap year

 to drop out of university

Useful Linking Expressions Introducing a contrast

Qu.1 Is there a system of free state education in your country?

In my country there is a state education system offering free education for children from 3-18, although parents still

have to pay for food, materials, school trips and other extra-curricular activities This is only one part of the

system, however, because there are also private schools and semi-private schools, which are partly funded by the state So on the one hand it appears that we do have free state education, but in actual fact it isn‟t available to

everyone because places are limited

Part 1 – sample questions

 What languages do you speak?

 Do you think it‟s important to learn a foreign language?

 When did you start learning a foreign language?

 Do you enjoy learning languages?

 Do you think young children should learn to speak a foreign language at school?

Speaking Practice Test: Practice Test 10 - Communication

 Are there any languages you would like to learn? What are they? Why?

 What activity do you find most useful for learning English?

 What do you find most difficult about learning English?

Part 2 – sample task card

Describe a conversation you had which was important to you

You should say:

 when the conversation took place

 who you had the conversation with

 what the conversation was about and explain why the conversation was important to you

Part 3 – sample questions

1 What differences are there when using various channels of communication (face-to-face, telephone, writing)?

2 To what extent do you think the media influences how people communicate with each other?

3 Do you think there are differences in the way men and women communicate?

4 Do you think that people become better communicators as they get older?

5 Do you agree that education has a strong and positive effect on people‟s ability to communicate effectively?

6 What impact has the growth of technology had on the way people communicate and how do you think this will develop in the future?

Useful Vocabulary Common forms of communication

 speaking / talking face-to-face

 speaking / talking on the phone / by mobile phone

 sending a text message / an SMS (texting)

 sending / writing a letter (snail mail)

 sending / writing an email

 using an electronic messenger service

 social networking

 sending a fax

Non-verbal forms of communication

 lip-reading

 using body language

 using sign language

 using hand gestures / signals

 using facial expressions

 Drop me a line (letter/email)

 Give me a buzz (call)

 Give me a bell (call)

 Keep / Stay in touch

 I‟ll be in touch

Other forms of communication

 making / giving a speech

 speaking in public / public speaking

 giving a lecture / lecturing

 giving a seminar

Reasons for communicating

 giving a demonstration / demonstrating

 giving instructions / instructing

 asking for / giving directions (directing)

 asking for / giving advice (advising)

 making a complaint / complaining

 making small talk / building social relations

 exchanging views / opinions

 gossiping

Business communication

 writing a report / proposal / recommendation

 participating in a call conference

 participating in a video conference

 giving a presentation

 chairing a meeting

Effective communication skills

 maintaining eye-contact

 projecting your voice

 varying your intonation

 punctuating your sentences

 emphasizing / repeating key words

 engaging the listener

Useful Linking Expressions Giving opinions

Sample Answer

Qu Do you think that people become better communicators as they get older?

I think that people‟s ability to communicate does improve with age because generally speaking, people get more confident as they gain more experience of life and I believe that confidence is a major factor On

the other hand, some people may become more self-conscious as they got older, particularly when they

reach certain stages in their life such as adolescence For me personally, I feel that I‟m a better

communicator now than when I was younger

TEST TAKER PART 1

Examiner: Hello, my name is Can you tell me your name, please?

Candidate: My name is

Examiner: Can you show me your ID, please

Examiner: First I would like to ask you a few general questions about yourself Where are you

from?

Candidate: I‟m from Pune It is a large city in Maharashtra about a 30-minute drive from here

Examiner: Do you work or study?

Candidate: I‟m studying engineering at the moment, at Mumbai University It‟s a five year

degree course and I‟m in my fourth year at the moment

Examiner: Do you live in a house or an apartment?

Candidate: I live in a small rented apartment in Mumbai

Examiner: Do you like this apartment? Why?

Candidate: Yes, I like it It‟s a small one-bedroom unit, but it has got a nice view of the lake and

it has a terrace from where I can watch the sunset The rent is a bit high, but it is not far from where I study so I don‟t have to spend hours commuting to and fro

Examiner: What kind of house would you like to have in the future?

Candidate: I would like to have a large double storied house with a beautiful garden It doesn‟t

have to be within the city, but it must still be close to where I work

Part 2

Examiner: Now in this part you should talk about a topic for one minute You can take a minute

to make some notes before you speak Here is the topic card I would like you to describe a party you organized

Candidate: My family has been living in Pune for close to ten years Recently we moved into a

new house of our own after living in a rented apartment for several years It was a special occasion for all of us and to celebrate it we organized a small house warming party I can‟t quite say that I organized it, but I was definitely involved in the process We wanted the party to be a private affair, so we only invited our close friends and relatives My brother also invited some of his colleagues There were close to hundred people in all The party was held at our new house

To create the ambience we decorated the house with garlands, balloons and colorful paper balls

We also hired a local music band

In India we seek the blessings of Gods before we do anything auspicious So early in the morning, we performed a small pooja The guests started arriving shortly afterwards Lunch was served at noon Since our guests were from different parts of India, we served both South Indian and North Indian food Organizing the party was not all that difficult because our friends and relatives were all there to help

Part 3 Discussion Examiner: What kind of special celebrations do you have in your country?

Candidate: In our country we celebrate almost all religious festivals National holidays like

Independence day and Republic day are also celebrated with much fervor

Examiner: Do you think youngsters are becoming less interested in participating in these

traditional celebrations?

Candidate: I don‟t think so Youngsters are very much a part of these celebrations That‟s what I

have learned from my experience We get terribly excited about festivals like Holi and Diwali

Our festivals are all about singing, dancing and merrymaking So I see no reason for youngsters

to stay away

Examiner: What are the advantages of having such celebrations?

Candidate: Celebrations bring people closer It helps them bond with their friends and relatives

Nowadays it is not uncommon for different members of a family to live in different parts of the world It is during these special occasions that they get together

Expression for speaking test : Opening:

· Well I’d like to talk about…………

· Ok then, to start with I will talk about …………

The first point:

The first thing I’d like to mention is……

The main thing you need to know is…

I’d like to begin by highlighting the fact …

The most important point about _is The second point:

Going on to my next point which is , and the thing that needs to be highlighted here is that (S+V)

Now concerning the matter of _, and what I have to mention here is that

The third point:

Progressing to subject of I would like to explain that (S+V)

Moving onto the business of _ , What I would like to make clear is that

The last point:

Finally, I’d like to discuss

Finally then if there is time, I could deal with the last question of (N)

Source : http://www.ipassielts.com/

1 HOLIDAYS

Part 1-style questions

Examiner: What kind of holiday do you like?

Miguel: I try to avoid tourist traps … I like to get away from it all and prefer going somewhereoff the beaten track … last year I had the holiday of a lifetime … a two

week wildlife safari in Kenya

Examiner: What do you like to do when you‟re on holiday?

Anna: I enjoy visiting the local places of interest … I like to go sightseeing and always sign up forguided tours as it‟s a chance to be shown around and take photographs … one of my hobbies

Examiner: Do you have many tourists in your country?

Amy: Yes … we have a lot of holiday resorts along the coast that are popular with tourists … most people come on package holidays and stay in one of the many hotels and self-

cateringapartments

Part 2-style task

Describe a beautiful place you once visited You should say:

 when you went to this place

thing about the holiday were the breathtaking views … and lovely picturesque villages … it

can get very busy with hordes of tourists so I decided to go out of season in the autumn … the weather was fantastic and the shops were full of local crafts … a really great holiday … it‟s

certainly not the kind of short break for someone looking for a busy nightlife but if you want to relax in the middle of stunning landscape I would certainly recommend a holiday to the Lake

District

Part 3-style questions

Examiner: What do you think has led to the growth in the tourist industry?

Miguel: It‟s much easier and affordable to travel now … nowadays you can get cheap flights or all-in packages … to somewhere near or to a far-off destination

charter-Examiner: How do people tend to choose a destination?

Anna: The Internet is a great source of information and high street travel agents are still very popular … that‟s where I like to go to get holiday brochures for the place I‟m interested in

Examiner: People sometimes say flying is the most glamorous form of travel Do you agree? Amy: I‟m not so sure really … flying can be quite boring … queuing up at the check-in desk … going through passport control … sitting for ages in the departure lounge … then the flight

itself can be quite uncomfortable … no … I‟m not sure I agree

Definitions

 all-in package/package holiday: a holiday where you purchase the travel and

accommodation together

 breathtaking view: an extremely beautiful view

 charter-flight: a cheaper form of flying than a scheduled flight

 check-in desk: the place at the airport where you register for your flight and deposit your

luggage

 departure lounge: where you wait for your flight to be called

 far-off destination: somewhere a long way away

 to get away from it all: to take a holiday to escape a busy or stressful lifestyle

 guided tour: an organised group shown around a place of interest by an expert

 holiday brochure: a glossy publication with details of holiday packages

 holiday destination: where you go for a holiday

 holiday of a lifetime: a special holiday that you are unlikely to repeat

 holiday resort: a place where lots of people go for a holiday

 hordes of tourists: crowds of tourists

 local crafts: objects produced locally

 long weekend: an extended weekend holiday including Friday or Monday

 out of season: outside of the main holiday period

 picturesque village: very pretty village

 passport control: the place where your passport is checked

 places of interest: sites of interest to tourists

 wildlife safari: a holiday, often in Africa, to observe wild animals

 self-catering: a holiday where you supply your own food

 short break: a short holiday

 to go sightseeing: to look around the tourist sites

 stunning landscape: extremely beautiful countryside

 travel agent: a shop that specialises in booking holidays

 tourist trap: somewhere where too many tourists go

 youth hostel: a cheap form of accommodation

2 RELATIONSHIPS

Part 1-style questions

Examiner: Do you see your friends very often?

Louisa: Yes … we meet up most weekends … we all get on really well and have a lot in commonso we‟re always happy doing the same things and going to the same places

Examiner: What do you like about your close friends?

Anna: I think we enjoy each other’s company … we see eye-to-eye on most things so we rarelyfall out with each other

Examiner: Have you known each other long?

Amy: Most of them yes … although my closest friend Carrie … we struck up a relationship at college and got on like a house on fire … but yes … my other friendships go back years to

when we were at school

Part 2-style task

Describe a person you are very close to You should say:

 who this person is

 when you met them

 where you met them and say what it is about them you like so much

Reiko: I‟d like to talk about my boyfriend … Jose … we got to know each other at University almost 4 years ago … we were in the same department … initially we were just good

friends and used to go out in a group with our other friends … when Jose went back to Spain for the holidays we would keep in touch with each other … then one year he invited me to come to Spain with him … and that‟s when we fell for each other I think … so you couldn‟t really say it was love at first sight as it had been over a year since we‟d met … but we really hit it off and

by the time we got back to university in September we were able to tell all our friends that we

were in a relationship … what do I like about Jose … well he‟s very kind … very funny … and very supportive … and we‟re really well matched in our interests … he hasn‟t popped the question yet though … we‟ve talked about getting married and I think we‟re both ready to settle down and have children … we‟ll just have to wait and see …

Part 3-style questions

Examiner: Do you think marriage is still as important as ever?

Cristine: Yes … it certainly is in my country … I think the problem for some people is a lack of

commitment … all relationships have their ups and downs … but some people prefer to break

up rather than working at the relationship

Examiner: What do you think is the ideal time to get married?

Terry: Personally … I think you should wait until you‟ve found yourself first … decided if you

want a career … perhaps do some travelling … you should do this before tying the knot … although if you fall head over heels in love plans like these can easily be forgotten

Examiner: Is it important to keep in contact with our friends when we’re in a relationship?

Maria: Absolutely … it‟s so easy to drift apart from your friends when you fall in love … but I think both partners should try not to lose touch with their friends … that‟s the best way to have

a healthy relationship with your partner

Definitions

 to break up: to end a romantic relationship

 to drift apart: to become less close to someone

 to enjoy someone’s company: to like spending time with someone

 to fall for: to fall in love

 to fall head over heels in love: to start to love someone a lot

 to fall out with: to have a disagreement and stop being friends

 to get on like a house on fire: to like someone‟s company very much indeed

 to get on well with: to understand someone and enjoy similar interests

 to get to know: to begin to know someone

 to go back years: to have known someone for a long time

 to have a lot in common: to share similar interests

 to have ups and downs: to have good and bad times

 a healthy relationship: a good, positive relationship

 to hit it off: to quickly become good friends with

 to be in a relationship: to be romantically involved with someone

 to be just good friends: to not be romantically involved

 to keep in touch with: to keep in contact with

 to lose touch with: to not see or hear from someone any longer

 love at first sight: to fall in love immediately you meet someone

 to pop the question: to ask someone to marry you

 to see eye to eye: to agree on a subject

 to settle down: to give up the single life and start a family

 to strike up a relationship: to begin a friendship

 to tie the knot: to get married

 to be well matched: to be similar to

 to work at a relationship: to try to maintain a positive relationship with someone

3 TECHNOLOGY

Part 1-style questions

Examiner: Do you enjoy using technology?

Stephan: Well … I wouldn‟t call myself a techie or a computer buff but I enjoy using computers … I‟d like to find out more about how they work … when my computer crashes I

never know what to do

Examiner: Do you use the Internet for your studies?

Sophie: Yes … I‟d be lost without it … I do lots of video conferencing to practise speaking andsocial media like Facebook is a good way to meet up with other students … and I download podcasts that teach English vocabulary and grammar

Examiner: Do you have your own computer?

Tania: Yes … I have a Macbook Pro … I use it all the time … for word processing … browsing websites and catching up with TV programmes I‟ve missed

Part 2-style task

Describe an item of technology you have that is very important You should say:

 what the technology is

 when you got it

 how often you use it and say how different your daily life would be without it

Mattie: I don‟t have many gadgets … just a computer … a laptop and my mobile phone … but

I‟ll talk about my computer as it‟s so useful … it‟s funny really … 2 years ago I was still

learning to use computers … how to use email … send attachments how to access websites … then I decided to do a digital editing course for video and photography … and so I bought the laptop when I started the course … my husband had a desktop PC but it was very slow so I decided to upgradeto a powerful one because we do a lot of video editing on the course … it‟s

a high-spec laptop … very fast … the latest operating system … it boots up really quickly and

it‟s fun to use so it makes working a pleasure … I‟ve become a competent computer user now … if I didn‟t have it I daresay I‟d have to spend more time at college using their computers … but on the positive side I suppose I‟d read a lot more if I didn‟t have it … I

probably waste a lot of time surfing the web … but hopefully I won‟t have to be without it …

Part 3-style questions

Examiner: What do you think are the important things people need to learn when they start using computers?

Alejandro: Well … there are things like how to use the Internet … how to enter a web address … how to navigate websites … that kind of thing but it‟s also important to know how to back upyour files in case your computer crashes … and all about Internet security

Examiner: What kind of technological developments have made the biggest impact on our lives?

Faydene: In my lifetime it has to be the Internet of course but I also think wifi has made a huge

difference to how we interact with the Internet … wireless networks at home and public wifi hotspots mean we can go online easily … access our mail … log into our work intranet and

basically be connected wherever we are

Examiner: Do computers make it much easier to study?

Jane: Definitely yes … researching information is much easier with the Internet you

canbookmark webpages for future reference and writing essays is much easier … being able to cut and paste sections of text means you can experiment with organisation … so yes …

compared to years ago when you had a pile of books on your desk and a pen and paper … it‟s now much easier

Definitions

 to access websites/email: to locate

 to back up files: to make a copy of files in case of a computer problem

 to boot up: to start a computer

 to bookmark a webpage: to mark a webpage for future reference

 to browse websites: to look at websites

 a computer buff: an expert computer user

 to crash: to suddenly stop working

 to cut and paste: to move text or images from one place in a document to another place

 a desktop PC: a computer that isn‟t portable and remains in situ on a desk

 digital editing: to edit digital materials like audio or video files

 download (podcasts): to save a copy of a file from the internet to your own device

 to enter a web address: to type the address of a website into the address bar of your

browser

 a gadget: a technological tool like a mobile phone or camera

 to go online: to start using the Internet

 high-spec (laptop): powerful computer with top quality components

 Internet security: Internet safety

 intranet: a network of connected computers within an organisation that is not accessible

by unauthorised visitors

 to navigate a website: to find your way around a website

 operating system: the software that tells the computer how to work

 send an attachment: send an email with an accompanying file

 social media: media used to interact with other people such as Facebook or Twitter

 to surf the web: to look at a series of websites one after the other

 a techie: somebody who has an interest in technology

 to upgrade: to obtain a more powerful or feature-rich computer or piece of software

 video conferencing: to see and hear people from different locations using the Internet

 wireless hotspot: a public place where you can access the Internet

 wireless network: a network where users can access the Internet without the use of fixed

cables

 word processing; producing written texts on a computer

4 SPORT

Part 1-style questions

Examiner: Do you do any sports?

Loiuse: Not really … no … I always say I‟m going to take up exercise and try to get into shape but I never seem to get started … I sometimes wonder whether I should get a personal trainer … someone who will sort out a fitness programme for me and make me train hard …

Examiner: How do you spend a typical weekend?

Stella: I‟m a big football fan and weekends always centre around a football match … I support

FC Utrecht and have a season ticket so I go to most of the home games and quite a few of

the away games too … I‟m really looking forward to the new football season starting soon …

Examiner: Have you got any hobbies or interests?

Theo: Yes … I‟m really keen on sports … I do judo once a week and play tennis in the summer … I think it‟s really important to keep fit … it makes you feel good and energised for

work and your studies …

Part 2-style task

Describe a place you like going to in your leisure time You should say:

 what this place is

 when you go there

 what you do there and say why you enjoy it there so much