This paper offers study tips for those who plan to sit the General and Academic versions of the International English Language Testing System exam. It also offers an inventory of vocabulary that is suitable for answering the speaking component of this global English language test. This paper is also useful for those who teach this language exam.

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The Free School
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IELTS Speaking: Vocabulary.
Objective
This paper offers study tips for those who plan to sit the General and Academic versions
of the International English Language Testing System exam. It also offers an inventory of
vocabulary that is suitable for answering the speaking component of this global English
language test. This paper is also useful for those who teach this language exam.
The IELTS Academic and General exams use the same test questions and assessment
rubrics for the speaking components. As stated by IELTS (2017, NP):
“There are two types of the IELTS test: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.
Listening and Speaking are the same for both tests, but the subject matter of the Reading
and Writing components differs depending on which test you take.”

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International English Language Testing System (2017), Test format,
<https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/test-format>. Accessed 22 February 2017.
IELTS speaking: official sample exam practice question
Speaking part 1
In part 1 of the Speaking test the examiner will introduce him or herself and ask general
questions on familiar topics.
The examiner will ask you to confirm your identity.
He or she will then ask general questions on familiar topics such as home, family, work,
studies and interests. Part 1 of the test will last 4-5 minutes.
Speaking test part 1: questions
Let’s talk about your home town or village:
• what kind of place is it?

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• what’s the most interesting part of your town/village?
• what kind of jobs do the people in your town/village do?
• would you say it’s a good place to live? (why?)
Let’s move on to talk about accommodation:
• tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in?
• how long have you lived there?
• what do you like about living there?
• what sort of accommodation would you most like to live in?
Source:
http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/prepare-your-test/free-practice-tests/speaking-practice-
test-1/speaking-part-1
Speaking test part 2: candidate task card
In the IELTS speaking part 2 test you will be given a task card on a particular topic, and
this will include key points that you should talk about.
This section of the Speaking test gives you the opportunity to speak for longer on a topic.
You will be given one minute to prepare to talk about the topic on the task card. A pencil
and paper will be provided for you to make notes.

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You will have to talk for 1-2 minutes, and then the examiner will ask you one or two
questions on the same topic. Part 2 takes 3-4 minutes in total.
Describe something you own which is very important to you.
You should say:
• where you got it from
• how long you have had it
• what you use it for; and
• explain why it is important to you.
You will have to talk about the topic for 1 to 2 minutes.
You have one minute to think about what you're going to say.
You can make some notes to help you if you wish.
Rounding off questions. Tell me
• is it valuable in terms of money?
• would it be easy to replace?
Source:
http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/prepare-your-test/free-practice-tests/speaking-practice-
test-1/speaking-part-2

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Speaking part 3
In part 3 of the Speaking test the examiner will ask further questions which are connected
to the topics discussed in part 2.
This part of the test is designed to give you the opportunity to talk about more abstract
issues and ideas. It is a two-way discussion with the examiner, and will last 4-5 minutes.
Let’s consider first of all how people’s values have changed.
• What kind of things give status to people in your country?
• Have things changed since your parents’ time?
Finally, let’s talk about the role of advertising.
• Do you think advertising influences what people buy?
Source:
http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/prepare-your-test/free-practice-tests/speaking-practice-
test-1/speaking-part-2

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Discussion
IELTS speaking questions frequently require you to discuss personal experiences.
You will score a higher band grade for vocabulary if you can alternate your vocabulary
each time that you discuss a new idea that relates to the same theme.
Example: Theme - I enjoy eating pizza.
Oral discussion theme number 1: I find pizza to be a delicious food.
Oral discussion theme number 2: I have fond memories of eating pizza.
If you can identify four discussion themes to form your overall answer, you should be
able to meet the minimum time limit imposed for each discussion.
If you cannot identify four themes to discuss, then you must offer longer answers for each
theme that you talk about.
Each vocabulary section below offers four alternative ways to discuss a similar theme.

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Like
I enjoy playing cricket.
I have an affinity for playing cricket.
I have a favorable attitude towards playing cricket.
I have a positive attitude towards cricket and this explains why I often play this sport.
Dislike
I detest golf.
I do not enjoy playing golf.
I have a negative attitude towards golf.
I find golf an annoying sport to watch on television.

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Love
I adore my children.
I am fond of my husband.
I have much affection for my parents.
I have romantic feelings towards my partner.
Remembering
I recall the time when I was a university student in the City of Shanghai.
I am able to recollect the time when I was a university student in Shanghai Municipality.
I frequently reminisce on the time when I was a university student in China.
I have fond memories of the time when I was a university student in Asia.

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Examples to support your verbal discussion
Personal experiences.
Theoretical examples.
Contemporary examples: local, national, regional or global.
Historical examples: local, national, regional or global.
Who, what, when, where, why
Who
Family
Friends
Neighbors
Colleagues

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What
Ideas
Places
Objects
Living beings: people, plants, animals
When
Time of day
Day of the week
Month
Year
Example: I started my first job at Google at 9 a.m. on Tuesday March 7, 2017.

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Where
Local
National
Regional
Globally
Why
No choice (e.g. government laws)
Free choice (e.g. I enjoy doing this)
Forces of nature
Unknown cause

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This document is updated periodically. A digital copy is available at:
http://www.thefreeschool.education/ielts-speaking.html

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The School’s IELTS ‘daily IELTS tip webpage’ is updated Monday to Friday.
http://www.thefreeschool.education/daily-tip.html
Please visit the School’s YouTube account at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_K5RL7sRzU7T3IbGlSzpaw

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http://www.thefreeschool.education/ielts-review.html
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_K5RL7sRzU7T3IbGlSzpaw