price steve ielts speaking how to improve your ielts bandsco

How to Improve your IELTS Test bandscores IELTS Reading: How to improve your IELTS Reading bandscore IELTS Speaking - How to improve your bandscoreIELTS Writing Task 2: How to Improve Yo

How to Improve your IELTS Test bandscores

IELTS Reading: How to improve your IELTS Reading bandscore

IELTS Speaking - How to improve your bandscoreIELTS Writing Task 2: How to Improve Your IELTS Band Score

IELTS Listening: How to improve your IELTS band score

IELTS Task 1 Writing (Academic) Test: How to improve your IELTS band score

Standalone

Proposal Writing - Smart Bids, Tenders and Proposals

How to Improve your IELTS Test bandscores

IELTS Reading: How to improve your IELTS Reading bandscore

IELTS Speaking - How to improve your bandscoreIELTS Writing Task 2: How to Improve Your IELTS Band Score

IELTS Listening: How to improve your IELTS band score

IELTS Task 1 Writing (Academic) Test: How to improve your IELTS band score

All rights reserved This book or any portion thereof may not be disclosed, reproduced, or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.

The IELTS Speaking Test is no different from any other exam or test type Thereare techniques, which can be practised and which will place candidates in abetter position to answer each given question type

Scores range from 0–9; a 0.5 band is also possible, which makes a big difference(contrary to how it looks)

In improving band scores, constant testing, which Cambridge tests provide, willnot be sufficient After establishing your IELTS level, you then need to progress

General descriptors for IELTS band scores 0-9

The speaking test is divided into three sections and lasts from eleven to fourteenminutes Candidates are being tested on; fluency and ability to express

themselves in English, how complex grammar is used, and pronunciation Butfluency is especially important

You need to be aware you are being assessed from the minute you walk into theexam room, so should always try to use your most complex expressions in

English and complex grammar to impress the examiner As mentioned above,fluency is very important, so try not to hesitate when speaking or try not to thinktoo much about the accuracy of your answers This will make you sound lessfluent and lose you valuable marks

For the fluency point, students often ask if is it advisable to learn an opening byrote so that they can come in fully prepared, being able to talk about where theycome from or what university they go to, or whatever The answer to this

question is a resounding NO If the examiner realises that you’ve prepared

something you’re speaking about, you actually get zero, so it doesn’t really help you.

A better approach would be to learn expressions and drop them naturally intoyour speaking

IELTS Speaking Test Part 1 is an introductory interview on the candidate’s

personal background or other aspects which will be familiar to the candidate.Topics could include: family, hometown, and hobbies, among others This partlasts for four or five minutes

IELTS Speaking Test Part 2 is a two-minute monologue by the candidate; the

task is to describe any familiar person, object, place, event, or idea - sometimes,for a period of two minutes

IELTS Speaking Test Part 3 is a follow-up to the monologue The candidate is

asked to answer more abstract and complex questions that are related to the topicgiven in the previous task Like part 1, part 3 lasts for four or five minutes

Some of the topics include; traditional versus modern family, technology and itspros and cons, advertising and its attributes, animal rights, education,

modernisation, climate change, aging societies, consumerism, morality, work,and success and failure

Technique 1: Paraphrasing the question to introduce the answer (part 1) Technique 2: Giving reasons and examples to support the answer (part 1) Technique 3: Brainstorming and relating ideas

Part 1 questions are all about you: your hobbies, family, hometown, pets,

favourites, etc It is very helpful if you take note of the verb tense used in thequestions because it’s what you need to use in your first sentence (as the mainanswer) and throughout the whole answer You should use synonyms or similarexpressions as you paraphrase the question as well

Why is it important to paraphrase the question?

For one thing, paraphrasing is a good way to answer the question directly Itdemonstrates your understanding of the question Another thing is that it givesyou time to come up with ideas quickly Hence, as you deliver your first

sentence, you can also be thinking of what to say next or how to finish youranswer

How is the question paraphrased?

When you have fully understood the question, you use the gist and present it in asentence without repeating many (if not all) of the words from the question

You may vary the sentence style or you may invert the sequence of sentence

Make the first sentence of your whole response to each of these sample part

1 questions very straightforward Note that you could also paraphrase a question into two simple sentences.

Finally, one must not forget that IELTS is an English proficiency test, so there’s

a need to show off the relevant skills It would be advantageous if the candidatecan express these well in an answer of considerable length

This is an opportunity for candidates to make use of learned expressions

(showing use of complex and appropriate grammar) and drop them naturally intoyour speaking

When do we give examples and reasons?

We normally support our answer with examples to make it clearer and morecomprehensive; the more relevant it is, the better

Secondly, examples should be presented in a very natural way, and they shouldnot be obligatory They might not be necessary in some cases

At the same time, they could also help you finish your presentation, especiallywhen you run out of ideas

How do we give reasons for part 1 questions?

Reasons are necessary to strengthen your claim on a certain issue If you areasked to give an opinion, it’s always wise to present two or three reasons

do Note: When neither reasons nor examples are a suitable support to your initial answer, a free discussion is another option.

How much time do you usually spend on your hobby?

Well, I don’t really have enough time for my hobby, but I always make sure I get

to enjoy it for a couple of hours For instance, when I’m busy, I just read books right before I sleep.

Why do people have different hobbies?

I think everyone is unique, and so are our individual interests Some love

outdoor activities, while others prefer to be inside their houses What is common among people is the enjoyment they get out of them.

Is your hobby different from those of your friends?

Well yes, it is In fact, you do it by yourself Sometimes, though, we enjoy

usually enjoy doing, they never really bother me at all So I’m just lucky to have understanding friends.

What makes your hobby interesting?

I believe the main reason why I’m into it so much is the sense of fulfillment For example, every novel I read automatically becomes part of my life I mean, its characters and even the settings always have a great impact on me That’s why I love doing it regularly.

Do you think your hobby will remain the same 10 years from now?

Absolutely! I will never ever get tired of reading In fact, I can imagine myself building a small library at home—or maybe having a bookstore As long as my eyes are in good condition, this favorite pastime of mine will live on.

I haven’t actually met some of them.

What can you say about your family?

Right at this moment, the only thing I can say about them is they are the best More than the joy and fun we share in happy times, our support for one another

in trying times is so fantastic I always pray that we’ll stay strong and united through the years.

Definitely! We are known to be family oriented As a matter of fact, many people have an extended family, and the elders are much respected For me, it’s really important to value family, as it is a very simple way to keep oneself on the right track.

How does your family usually spend a long holiday?

We often go to the beach during a long holiday It’s also the right time to gather and discuss family concerns I think it is one great way that bonds us as well Apart from the fun we have, we get to wind down a little bit and reflect on many things.

Are there tourist attractions in your hometown?

There are only few tourist spots in my place As of now, I believe our tourism is not really booming yet But I hope local officials will explore more of our virgin forests, as I believe they could be potential destinations for adventurous people.

What are the things you like about your hometown?

First of all, it’s very peaceful It’s ideal for people like me who love to read and observe nature Another thing is the people’s warmth We are known to be very accommodating and generous.

Is there anything you don’t like about your hometown?

If I were to bring up a negative aspect of my place, it would be our transport system We only have one bus company As a result, we do not have our

inhabited part is really small In fact, there are only few residents, and they are mostly farmers.

Have you ever invited any friends to visit your hometown?

Oh, it’s something I have been planning to do There have been a lot of times when my friends would bother me about it I guess I just have to keep refusing because I know our transport system would ruin the entire trip.

What are the most common pets in your country?

Pet dogs are very popular in my country In fact, in my city alone, almost all families have more than one pet In the afternoon, people get together in parks to walk their pets.

What do you think the advantages and disadvantages of having pets are?

One great thing about having pets is the emotional satisfaction we get out of loving and looking after them Another is that they make good companions in life Unlike humans, they never contradict your ideas, nor do they argue with you at all On the downside, it’s really expensive to take care of pets Even their food costs a lot of money That’s why I have decided to have only one.

Is it expensive to have a pet?

Yes, it’s very costly to have a pet You need to spend money mainly on their food and medicine Sometimes, they need even more than we do More importantly,

we are totally responsible for them There are also rules for pet owners to follow Looking after them and making sure they don’t bother anyone, especially in public places, are just some instances that we need to anticipate.

Do you think more people will have pets in the future?

That’s very possible I believe more people will have reasons to adopt animals.

At present, having a pet is becoming a trend not only among the rich but also the ordinary people.

What are some delicacies in your town?

My hometown is famous for rice cakes and cassava pies We usually prepare them for local celebrations like the town’s founding anniversary and birthdays It’s best to serve them with ripe mangoes or coffee, by the way.

Do you believe that food is generally expensive in big cities?

I think so It’s a known fact that major cities have a high cost of living Food, being a basic need, is one of the first items that would increase in price if there was demand for it.

Do you cook or buy ready-made food?

I wish I had the luxury of time to enjoy cooking It’s something that I want to master because it’s really advantageous to be a good cook If I had the chance, I would surely enroll in a culinary class For the time being, I just have to be satisfied with what those small restaurants in our neighborhood have to offer.

Are there certain kinds of food you don’t like?

I’m not really picky, but those with a strange smell put me off I’m the kind of person who smells first whatever I eat or drink And I have a very sensitive nose For instance, the smell of durian fruit just gives me a headache no matter how much I try to condition my mind that it’s delicious.

What was your favorite food when you were a child?

Let me think I used to devour every piece of fried chicken my mom would

prepare Being a child, I thought fried chicken was the best food there was Nowadays, I think I don’t really like chicken that much anymore I prefer

vegetables and fruits most of the time.

How can brainstorming help in the Speaking tasks?

Since the Speaking test is impromptu, you should be ready and confident toanswer any question This does not mean that you memorize or prepare somerehearsed lines though

Apart from familiarizing the types of question in the Speaking test, it is also awise idea to generate your own thoughts or views on any topic to be asked in theactual test

The ideas we share would depend on how the question is asked When we areasked about our family, we respond based on what specifically is being askedabout Consider these questions:

Brainstorm ideas for the questions in the cue card Write keywords for your

answer (not sentences) for each of the wh- questions Keywords can be nouns,

adjectives, adverbs, and verbs For example, the examiner asks you about yourhobby

Explain why you enjoyed the subject teacher taught well and was veryfriendly

Describe an artist or entertainer you admire.

keywords of your thoughts Draw a line to separate each keyword to avoidconfusion as you look at your notes when you answer

Use synonyms of the keywords of each question from the task card For

instance, if the question asks you about the most significant event in your life, you can use the word important to replace significant.

As much as possible, include 3 less common items of vocabulary for any of thequestions from the cue card, and list them down on a sheet of paper provided foryou so that you can glance at it while delivering your response

speakers / well-prepared lessons

Why you enjoyed the subject teacher taught well and very friendly / variouslanguage-rich activities

How you found out about them media (TV variety show)

Why you admire them talented/humble

second set

As you make notes for Speaking part 2, be careful of the tense your verbs are in.For instance:

activities you enjoy doing on weekends and on weekdays, things you do whenyou go out, and activities done when you are with your friends respectively.Therefore, you can start your answer with the following:

Can you compare the tourism industry in your country today with the onewhen your grandparents were young?

Can you identify some of the factors that have led to the success of theairline industry?

You may then begin your answer by saying any of the following phrases:

Tourism contributes a lot to the economy, as this gives employment to people.

Tourism is very beneficial to _.

Your reasons and examples must be connected to your introductory sentence

Question 2 asks you to speculate about the changes in the tourism industry infifty years’ time As such, your introductory statement should contain this idea.For example:

You should say the following:

When you had to make this choice —> after high school graduation / toughest choice made

What you had to choose between —> worked and earned / entered public university

Whether you made a good choice —> perfect decision

And explain how you felt when you were making this choice —> anxious about the outcome

Talk about something enjoyable you can do on the computer —> chatting through social media

You should mention the following:

What equipment / application you need to do that —> download Skype, messengers, and Facebook

What you need to do to do it —> register the e-mail address

What kind of people it is popular with —> all people / affordable form of communication

And say if you would like to spend more time on it or not and why —>

spend an hour or two / the only available way I keep in touch with friends

Are people in your country generally close to their families?

Yes, most families are tightly knit.

People in my country do not place much value on family relationships Yes, I love my family very much.

Is it easy to travel around your hometown?

The twenty-four-hour transportation schedule makes mobility convenient Unfortunately, due to the limited number of vehicles, most of the local and foreign tourists have a hard time roaming the city.

It is very interesting to travel in my city because of its breathtaking

sceneries.

2 Yes, I love my family very much.

The gist of the question is about whether families have a close relationship.This answer does not show it

3 It is very interesting to travel in my city because of its breathtaking

sceneries

Although the thought of the answer somehow touches travelling, this is notthe correct answer since the question asks about the accessibility of theplaces in the hometown when someone goes there

4 I don’t like staying in my hometown for good because of the lack of

employment opportunities

The question asks about the advantages not disadvantages This answerspeaks of the downsides

5 Yes, I’ve been to many places, and those were very memorable

The question asks about the best place visited This does not specify the place’sname

Activity C

Underline and identify the tense of the verbs in the following questions:

Describe an adventurous person whom you know

Describe an adventurous person whom you know (simple present)

You should say the following:

Who the person is (simple present)

How you know this person (simple present)

What this person does that is adventurous (simple present)Why you think this person likes to take risks (simple present)

Describe a friend you had when you were a child (simple past)

Why it was important (simple past)

Why are planning and making notes important in the IELTS Speaking test?

Knowing ideas corresponding to the questions you are asked to answer duringthe examination and the right way of expressing those ideas using words andsentences are very vital to getting a good band score in IELTS Formulating theappropriate answer can be done when one plans

Planning for Speaking part 2 is an essential key to approach the topic and to beable to come up with an organized answer that can help you talk within the giventwo minutes It is also an effective tool so that you will not run out of words orgrope for them when you are in the middle of delivering your answer

Making notes is the concretization of the plans This is when you write whatcomes to your mind as a response to questions on the cue card

How and when do we make notes?

One-minute preparation time is allocated before you start speaking in IELTSSpeaking part 2 This is the period when you have to use the sheet of paper given

by the examiner where you can write down keywords and ideas on

As mentioned in lesson 3, you have to write the keywords of your answer, whichmay be a noun, verb, pronoun, or adjective Write at least 3 less common wordsfor you to have a better score in lexical resource

Write notes for every question on the cue card Never skip one, for your failure

to answer one of the questions from the topic card would mean a penalty on yourscore

What are the different styles of making notes?

There are different ways that can be employed in note taking You can chooseone that you think is useful and time efficient Let’s have this topic and see howdifferent styles of note taking are used:

One of their performances was featured on YouTube, which eventually attracted many viewers Afterwards, they were interviewed by famous TV personalities like Oprah Winfrey and Ellen Degeneres.

A series of international concerts were then staged, and they were invited as guests by famous singers, like Celine Dion and others.

I have actually watched their performances from the time they joined the singing competitions From that time on, I began to love their music.

However, many IELTS candidates adopt this because they just read what theyhave written, but there is still a risk of sounding unnatural

Style 2

Charice Pempengco—known internationally; Arnel Pineda—lead vocalist

After the examiner gives you the topic card, paper, and pen, read the questionsquickly and understand what you are asked There might be many ideas

streaming in your mind, but you have to decide immediately as to what topic youare to talk about For instance, if the question asks about a place you have

visited, you need to come up with one of those many trips you have experienced, and do not be tempted by weighing one with another The recent one can be thebest trip you can talk about Once you have decided, write it down on a sheet of

Look at the following task 2 topics and time yourself How many seconds does ittake you to decide what topic to talk about?

Now that you have decided on the topic or what to say, the next step is to decidehow to say it This is on how you organize your ideas Are you going to narratebased on the order of questions presented on the cue card? This, as many expertssay, is the easiest way to organize your thoughts, but this does not limit you tohave your own way of approaching this task, provided that you do not miss one

of the supporting questions You decide what comes first, next, and last

Practise answering questions 1–5 and record yourself Listen to yourself and takenote of the areas you have to improve on

Part of planning is making brief notes Writing keywords that would remind you

of the different details and examples that you want to talk about also helps Donot be consumed with correct spelling as you take note; the same goes with aneat handwriting However, you have to make it as legible as possible, or youmight have difficulty reading your own notes during your actual speech