IELTS Speaking Conversation
The IELTS Speaking Conversation Test includes a spoken interview between the candidate and the examiner, lasting about 11 to 15 minutes. The Speaking Conversation Test is divided into three parts:
| Part One: | Conversation with the examiner, during which you answer some general questions, usually about family and daily life | |
| Part Two: | Give a two-minute talk based on the prompt card theme assigned by the examiner | |
| Part Three: | more detailed discussion with the examiners on this topic |
Essential coping quotes provided by
the author
| Well, I don’t know for sure but… | [Although I can’t be certain (whether my own judgment is correct), …… ]. |
| I tend to think / believe | [I tend to think/believe… … ]. |
Let’s take a closer look at each part and some methods you can prepare:
Preparation for the first part
In the first part, the examiner will ask you some general questions about life, family, work, or academics. You can try to anticipate the questions you might be asked and then prepare some vocabulary you might need to answer them. For example, if your brother is an interior designer, you should be sure you know that the English word for interior designer is “interior designer.” You must know the vocabulary needed to talk about your family or life. The examiner will also ask about your interests. For example, what kind of sports do you like or what hobbies you enjoy? Similarly, you need to make sure you have prepared the vocabulary you need. Additionally, you should be able to describe your travels to other countries and your experiences there.
Key tip: The examiner expects you to answer these questions in full sentences. Never answer only with YES or NO!!
Preparation for the second part
In this part of the quiz, you will be given a small card with a prompt question written on it. The card will look like this:
Describe the industrial and economic situation in Taiwan.
You should talk about:
The good and bad results of industrial development in Taiwan.
The current economic climate in Taiwan.
The future direction for economic and industrial development in Taiwan
Next, the examiner will give you one minute to think about how to answer the question. Then, you must give a two-minute presentation on the topic.
So, in the example above, you can talk about the wealth and high living standards brought by industrialization. You could also say that pollution is a negative result of industrialization. You can talk about economic depressions and their impact on business investment. You might want to describe the relocation of manufacturing to mainland China, or the future industries of Taiwan’s economy—such as biotechnology or financial services.
Secret to success: Using recording—recording yourself in English for two minutes is a great way to practice. Then, you can play your recording and think of other ways to improve your speech.
Preparation for the third part
In Part Three, you and the examiner will have more conversations based on the topics of Part Two. These discussions will last 4 to 5 minutes. To prepare for this section, you can practice detailed discussions of topics with others. You can ask your friends, relatives, or teachers to help you.