The first part of the Speaking test is the Interview. You enter the room, see the examiner, say “Good morning!” and smile. He or she asks to see your passport
and to sit down. If he/she offers to shake your hand – do it, otherwise – don’t.
Your body language is important here, it must show that you are relaxed and confident. When you are talking, try to make eye contact with the examiner as
much as you can. During the interview the examiner asks you questions about yourself, your work, studies, parents, brothers/sisters, pets, etc. Your answer
to each question should consist of one or two sentences; try not to answer with just “Yes” or “No”. After all it’s your English they want to hear.
This is an easy task to prepare for. Read carefully the following questions and answers, and you will get a very clear picture of what will happen.
Possible questions and answers
- Where do you come from?
I live in Panvilles village. It is a big small town located in the south of the Netherlands. - What is your home like?
I rent an apartment. We have two bedrooms, one living room, one kitchen and of course one restroom. The apartment is not very big, about 70 square meters. - What the advantages and disadvantages your home has?
The advantage is that my accommodation has lots of sunlight from the windows. And the disadvantage is that it is noisy because the centre of the city is nearby. - Tell me about your family.
I have a mother, a father and a brother. My mother is a social worker, my father is a civil engineer and my brother is a student. - Tell me about your job.
Well, I work for a small company named BananaSoft. It is located in Smallvile. My job title is Software Designer. - Is there anything you dislike about your job?
Normally, I enjoy my job very much. But sometimes my boss gives me boring assignments, which I don’t like at all. - What are your plans for the future?
I would like to improve my English first and then to find another job with better salary. - What type of transport do you use most?
There are 2 types of transport that I use: I either drive my car or take the bus. - Do you like reading? Yes I do. I enjoy reading very much. Usually, I read every other day of the week.
- What do you like reading the best?
I enjoy reading newspapers, magazines and of course my favorite fantasy books. - What kind of television programs do you watch?
Well, my favorite channel is Some TV Channel. I find it very interesting and educational. - Tell me about a film you have seen recently
I saw “Some New Movie” a week ago. It is a comedy and I like comedies. This one has some silly jokes but other than that I enjoyed it. - Do you have a pet?
Yes I do. I have a dog named Richy. He is 4 years old. - What kind of food do you like?
I prefer Asian cooking, mostly Chinese. My favorite dish is noodles with vegetables. - How often do you go shopping?
Well, I don’t like shopping, so I do it only when I have to. What is your favorite festival and why?
I like October Fest. It’s a German festival that starts in late September and ends in October. People drink lots of beer at October Fest and that is why I like it. - How do people celebrate this festival?
Well, they build pavilions and stands that sell beer and all kinds of food, a lot of bands are playing there. People from all around Europe come to
celebrate the October Fest dressed in German Traditional clothes.
Giving short and simple answers
The first part of the IELTS Speaking Test lasts around 4 to 5 minutes. The examiner asks about 10 questions related to you, your daily life and your
interests. Common topics are hobbies, family, friends, food, music etc.
Part 1 questions are supposed to be easy, and the examiner must get through all of the questions in 5 minutes or less. That’s only about 30 seconds per
question. If you try to give long answers, the examiner will interrupt you. My advice is to keep Part 1 answers very simple:
Do you prefer home-cooked food or food from restaurants?
I prefer home-cooked food because I think it’s healthier and you know exactly what you’re eating. I also enjoy cooking for family and friends.
You don’t need to say any more than this. Just answer the question with a full sentence, give a reason, and maybe add one extra piece of information. Then
stop speaking. Stop with confidence and look at the examiner, ready for the next question.
Do you work or are you a student?
These are common questions at the start of the speaking test:
Do you work or are you a student?
Do you like your job / course? Why / why not?
Example answers: Before I came to England I was working as an accountant, but at the moment I’m studying English because I hope to do a Master’s here.Yes, I really like my job because it’s interesting and I work with a great team of people.
OR: Yes, I enjoy studying English, but my real aim is to do a Master’s and then find a job in an international company.
Note: Don’t ask the examiner: “Do you mean in my country or here in England?” – it doesn’t matter. Don’t worry if you have a job and study at the same time – you can mention both.
Have a look at the answers below. It is a good example of how to do IELTS Speaking Part 1. Remember, Part 1 is supposed to be easy. You should give short, simple
answers. The speaker speaks clearly, answers the questions directly, and doesn’t hesitate before answering. Her answers sound natural and she makes almost no mistakes.
Here are the first 4 questions and answers:
Do you work or are you a student?
I work and I’m studying English as well.
And what’s your job?
I work in hairdressing and I do manicure, I do nails. I work part-time.
How long have you done this job?
I’ve been doing this job for almost one year.
Do you like it?
Actually, I don’t like it very much. The part that I like is that I can communicate with people.
Answering the topics you are not interested in
How do you answer questions about a topic that you are not interested in? For example, many people have no interest in dancing, so what should they say?
The best advice: just tell the truth. It’s fine to say you don’t like something. Read the examples below:
Do you like dancing?
No, I don’t like dancing. I’m not a big music fan, and dancing just makes me feel uncomfortable and self-conscious.
Has anyone ever taught you to dance?
No, I’ve never been interested in learning to dance, so I’ve never taken any lessons or asked anyone to show me how to do it.
Do you think that traditional dancing will be popular in the future? I’m afraid I have no idea because I don’t follow what’s happening in the dancing world! I suppose it will always be popular with some people.
5 Simple Rules
Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking test is supposed to be easy. You don’t need to give ‘difficult’ answers, and you should try to avoid making mistakes.
Here are five simple rules for Speaking Part 1:
- Keep your answers short, then stop with confidence.
- Answer the questions using full sentences.
- Use words from the examiner’s question in your answer.
- If possible, give a reason for your answer.
- Don’t forget to say “yes” or “no” when necessary. Here’s an example to illustrate these points: Do you like parks? Yes, I like parks because they are great places to relax. If you live in a city, a park is often the only place where you can escape from the noise and the traffic.
