IELTS Speaking, Part 3: Practice

Questions with Sample Answers

Today we will look at six example questions from IELTS Speaking Part 3. The questions
cover the three topics introduced in our Part 2 practice, and include a variety of question
types: Indicate a preference; Yes/No; Agree/Disagree; Open-ended. Try answering
these questions yourself first and then compare the sample answers below with your
own.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Practice Questions

1. Is it better to make important life decisions on your own or is it better to consult
other people?
2. Do you think good decision-making can be taught?
3. Is watching TV a good way of forgetting about work or study?
4. Should coworkers also spend their leisure time together?
5. Do you agree that English should be the main language of international
exchange?
6. What are the difficulties in creating a universal language?

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Sample Answers and

Analysis
1. Is it better to make important life decisions on your own or is it better to consult other
people?

There are good reasons for both, I suppose. Ultimately, its your life so I suppose
you should make the decisions. On the other hand, any decisions you make can

affect other people so it seems only right to discuss things with others first. Like
many philosophical questions, theres no simple answer, Im afraid.
2. Do you think good decision-making can be taught?

Well, if you go to a bookstore youll see lots of self-help books that claim to teach
decision-making. Im not sure any of them are effective though. I suppose it
depends on the type of decision you mean. If its a business strategy, then Im
sure some decisions are better than others and business schools teach this. But
if its a moral issue then Im not sure anyone can claim to know the right decision,
so how could anyone teach it?
This IELTS candidate scores highly by:

Giving balanced answers to both questions

Using a time-buying strategy before answering Question 2: Well, if you go to a

bookstore

Using it depends and conditional sentences to explore different possibilities

Using verbs of speculation such as suppose

Using you in the general sense to mean any person

Returning to the original question at the end of each answer

3. Is watching TV a good way of forgetting about work or study?

Absolutely, yes. These days theres so much choice available that we can
completely immerse ourselves in entertainment. I mean, you can turn on a good
drama or comedy show and pretty soon you forget about everything that
happened that day. I think that without TV wed all go a little crazy.
4. Should coworkers also spend their leisure time together?

Im completely against this. The problem with people going out together after
work is that they just gossip about certain people in the office or factory, and this
can hardly be a good thing for the company, can it? Another thing is that theres

always the risk that you will say something you regret after a few drinks and then
you have to face your colleagues again the next day. So, in short, I would
definitely advise people to think twice about socialising with colleagues.
This IELTS candidate scores highly by:

Using strong expressions of (dis)agreement: Absolutely, yes; Im completely

against this

Using ellipsis or substitution to avoid parrotting the question: Absolutely, yes; Im

completely against this

Supporting opinions with more than one reason

Using you, we and they to make general observations about people

Paraphrasing key elements of the question: entertainment; colleagues;

socialising

Summarising the main argument when an answer becomes quite long: So, in
short

5. Do you agree that English should be the main language of international exchange?

Thats a very interesting question. Ive never really thought about it before,
actually. We all just assume that it should be English, dont we? But what other
languages could we use? I suppose Chinese is becoming quite an important
language, but the pronunciation is too difficult for most people. English is already
the main language of universities and business, so maybe it should stay that way.
6. What are the difficulties in creating a universal language?

Do you mean inventing a completely new language? Yes? Well, I mean, er, its
never been done before, has it? There was Latin, of course, which was used by
people all over Europe, but Im not sure if it was really created for that purpose.
Actually, I think there used to be a universal language about a hundred years
ago. What was it called again, Esperanto? But that disappeared quite quickly. Er,

what Im trying to say is, I dont think anyone has ever succeeded in creating a
universal language, so I doubt if it will ever be possible in the future.
This IELTS candidate scores highly by:

Using filler expressions to buy time: Thats a very interesting question; Well, I
mean, er

Thinking aloud rather than staying silent (both questions)

Asking a checking question rather than simply asking for help: Do you mean?

Using a fluency expression to rephrase an idea: What Im trying to say is

Indicating an opinion at the end of each answer, even when uncertain at the
beginning.

IELTS Speaking, Part 2: Practice

Questions with Sample Answers
November 24, 2011 IELTSAcademic

In IELTS Speaking Part 2 you will shown some instructions on a topic card. You have
one minute to read the instructions and prepare your answer. Then you must speak for
one to two minutes on that topic. Today we will look at three example questions. Each
question deals with a different timeframe: one past, one present, and one future event.
Try answering these questions yourself first and then compare the sample answers
below with your own.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Practice Questions

For each question, you have one minute to prepare your answer, and you should then
speak for one to two minutes.
Question 1
Describe a major decision you have taken in your life.
You should say:
What the decision was

 What other choices were available to you

Why you made the decision you did
And explain if you think the decision was a good one.
Question 2
Describe something you do to forget about work or study.
You should say:
What the activity is
How often you do it
How it helps you forget
And say whether you would recommend other people try the same thing.
Question 3
Describe a language you would like to learn.
You should say:
What the language is
Where it is spoken
Why you are interested in this language
And say if you think you will ever actually have the chance to learn it.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Sample Answers and

Analysis
Question 1
Describe a major decision you have taken in your life.
You should say:
What the decision was
What other choices were available to you
Why you made the decision you did
And explain if you think the decision was a good one.

A really important decision Ive made recently is to study abroad, which is the
reason Im here talking to you now. No-one from my family has ever had the
chance to study abroad before. My parents were actually hoping Id start working
for our family textile business as soon as I graduate. I think its too soon to join
the family business though. I really want to study marketing especially fashion

marketing and English so I can sell our company products to buyers all over the
world. If I study fashion marketing in the UK, I can learn how to do business in the
fashion industry, which is of course very competitive and fast-moving. As for
whether it was the right decision, Im pretty confident it was and I cant change
my mind now anyway because I borrowed money from my parents to pay for my
tuition. Im going to do my best to finish my course and I will go back to my
country with new ideas that will help expand our business. All I need now is to get
a good score in IELTS. So, anyway, thats an important decision in my life.
Like many questions in IELTS Speaking Part 2, this one deals with an event or action in
the past. There is, however, a switch to the present when the candidate is required to
reflect on the decision.
This IELTS candidate scores highly by:

Getting straight to the point and saying what the decision was in the very first
sentence

Paraphrasing the topic: A really important decision

Using a range of tenses past simple, present simple and present perfect with
great accuracy

Using a wide range of grammatical forms such as a conditional sentence (If I)

and a cleft sentence (All I need now is)

Signalling parts of the question: As for whether it was the right decision

Avoiding over-formality and using expressions such as actually and pretty that are
appropriate to conversational style

Providing a summarising sentence to wrap up the response

Question 2
Describe something you do to forget about work or study.
You should say:
What the activity is

 How often you do it

How it helps you forget
And say whether you would recommend other people try the same thing.

Id like to talk about horse-riding, which has been my hobby since I was around
ten years old. Im actually the joint owner of a horse with two of my friends and
we take turns looking after him, cleaning out the stable and so on. I dont have a
part-time job so I spend most of my weekends at the stable. Taking care of a
horse is quite a dirty business so its obviously very different from studying at
college. That means I can forget about my classes during the week when Im at
the stable on the weekend. Theres quite a large field next to the stable and I just
get a wonderful sense of freedom when Im riding around on my horse. College
seems a million miles away! Do I think other people would enjoy horse-riding?
Yes, absolutely. I think everyone should give it a try. Horses are absolutely
wonderful animals, very gentle and intelligent. If you ever have the chance to ride
a horse, you should definitely give it a try.
This is a much trickier question because the words work and study in the first sentence
may lead some IELTS candidates to speak about either of those topics. In fact, you
should speak about some kind or leisure activity or other form of relaxation that helps
you forget about work or study.
This IELTS candidate scores highly by:

Showing a clear understanding of the question

Getting straight to the point by mentioning the activity in the first sentence

Using present simple verbs throughout to show that this is a regular activity

Sticking to the question even though the topic might be a very enjoyable one to
speak about

Showing awareness of hyperbole (a million miles), phrasal verbs (give it a try)

and other forms common to spoken English

Using a rhetorical question to move from one part of the question to another: Do I
think?

Ending with a clear concluding sentence, in this case a recommendation

Question 3
Describe a language you would like to learn.
You should say:
What the language is
Where it is spoken
Why you are interested in this language
And say if you think you will ever actually have the chance to learn it.

Let me tell you about a language Ive always wanted to learn, which is Russian.
Its spoken in Russia, obviously, but also in many other countries which have
been influenced by Russia including places like Mongolia and Kazakhstan. Its
quite a difficult language to learn because the alphabet is not the Roman one,
which means that you have to learn to read and write from scratch, a but like
studying Chinese or Japanese. Well, the reason I would like to learn Russian is
that the energy industry is huge and there are lots of jobs. A lot of my countrys
oil and gas comes from Russia so its really useful to be able to speak that
language if you want to work in the energy field. I have actually been to Russia
before so I know from experience that a lot of Russians cant speak English very
well, so thats another good reason to learn their language. The only problem is
Im already thirty years old and Ive spent more than fifteen years learning
English. I dont know if I would ever be able to learn Russian successfully
because its a difficult language for anyone to learn, especially someone older like
me. But it would be really great to try.
One problem IELTS candidates have with hypothetical questions such as this one is that
they fail to recognise them as hypothetical. Since candidates are already learning
English, they should talk about another language that is neither English nor their first
language. This can be realistic (e.g. Spanish) or unrealistic (e.g. Ancient Greek). It
doesnt matter as long as the language is not one you are currently learning.
This IELTS candidate scores highly by:

Beginning with an impact sentence: Let me tell you about

Using would to show that the response is hypothetical

Signalling parts of the question: The reason I would like to learn Russian is

Using reference links to avoid overuse of the topic word Russian: that language;
their language; it

Giving more than one reason

Returning to the main point of the question in the final sentence

IELTS Speaking, Part 1: Practice

Questions with Sample Answers
November 23, 2011 IELTSAcademic

In IELTS Speaking Part 1, you will be asked a range of questions on familiar topics. Try
these practice questions with a partner and then check below to compare the sample
answers with your own. In the real IELTS Speaking Part 1, you will be asked around five
questions. For practice, lets try ten!

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Practice Questions

1. Do you read a daily newspaper?
2. What kind of books do you like to read?
3. How often do you use a library?
4. How many hours a week do you spend reading?
5. Is there anything you find hard to read?
6. What kind of books did you read as a child?
7. Whats the last thing you read and enjoyed?
8. Have you ever kept a diary?

9. Whats the most popular newspaper in your country?

10. Would you ever write your own autobiography?

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Sample Answers and

Analysis
1. Do you read a daily newspaper?

I dont, Im afraid. Like a lot of people, I get my news from the internet. Its so
much faster.
2. What kind of books do you like to read?

Oh, all kinds really. Ive got about a hundred books at home, actually: fiction, nonfiction, and lots of books about art.
3. How often do you use a library?

Well, Im a student so Im in the library almost everyday. I dont always use it to

find books, though. Im more likely to use the computer facilities to look for
information online.
4. How many hours a week do you spend reading?

These days I only spend one or two hours reading a book, to be honest. But
when I was younger I used to spend almost all my free time reading.
5. Is there anything you find hard to read?

Yes there is, actually. Im studying to become an accountant and the textbooks
are really difficult. I have to read them if I want to pass my exams, though.
Questions 1-5 deal with everyday or current topics and are therefore quite
straightforward. This IELTS candidate scores highly by:

Using fluency expressions to sound natural: well; oh; Im afraid; to be honest;

actually.

Using substitution or ellipsis to avoid parroting the question: I dont; yes there is;
all kinds.

Using the present simple tense to talk about regular actions: get; use; spend.

Using the present progressive tense to talk about a current action: Im studying.

Comparing a present situation with a past situation: used to spend.

Expanding answers by giving reasons and examples, and by making

concessions.

6. What kind of books did you read as a child?

When I was in primary school I used to really like adventure stories. Huckleberry
Finn was probably my favourite book. I think I read it more than five times!
7. Whats the last thing you read and enjoyed?

This might sound a bit strange but I got my mobile phone bill yesterday and it was
much lower than I expected. That was a nice surprise!
8. Have you ever kept a diary?

I have, actually. Last year I tried to write one but it only lasted about two weeks.
When I have more time, Id like to try again.
9. Whats the most popular newspaper in your country?

Im not sure, to be honest, but the Times of India seems to be sold everywhere so
it must be that.
10. Would you ever write your own autobiography?

I dont think I would, no. My life just isnt interesting enough to write a book about,
Im afraid.
Questions 6-10 are more difficult as they deal with a variety of times or with
topics outside the candidates own experience. This IELTS candidate scores
highly by:

Being positive and showing a willingness to expand answers (Q6, Q7).

Using intensifying expressions such as much and just to add interest (Q7, Q9).

Providing a commentary on his or her own answer (Q7).

Switching between different verb tenses with great accuracy (Q8).

Using a modal verb of speculation (must be) when he or she doesnt know the
answer (Q9).

Recognising when a question is hypothetical and responding using would (Q10).