Page 92 - Complete IELTS Bands 5 - 6.5

Useful language How are you rated?
Starting your response The examiner listens very carefully to your speech and gives
you a Band Score from 1 to 9 for the whof.r test. This means
I think that ...
that the three parts are not rated separately. However, there
Well, in my view/opinion, are levels of performance that you need to reach in order to
achieve a certain band.
Giving reasons
As the examiner is talking to you, he/she considers these
This is because ...
questions:
This is why ...
1 How long are your answers? How well can you link your
The main reason is ... ideas and structure your points?
2 How much vocabulary can you use, and how accurate
Comparing and contrasting
is it?
In the past, .. but nowadays .. .
3 How many grammatical structures can you use, and how
Many years ago, ... but now .. . accurate are they?
However, ... 4 How well can you use standard features of
On the other hand, ... pronunciation?
While ...
Exercise
Agreeing/Disagreeing Here are some things you should try to do in the Speaking
I agree that ... Test. Match each of them (a-j) to one the questions above
(1-4).
I'm not sure I agree that .. I I don't think/believe that ...
a be understood, even though you make grammatical
mistakes
Exercise
b give quite long answers in Part 3
In pairs, read these instructions and discuss the sample
c be understood, even though some words are
questions. Think about what sort of reply you need to give
mispronounced
and write down some useful vocabulary.
d use a range of different words and phrases
Examiner's instructions
e use a range of linkers
We've been talking about a new country/town you have
f use some accurate intonation and stress
visited and I'd like to ask you one or two more general
questions related to this. Let's consider first of all moving to g be understood, even though you sometimes use the
wrong word
a new place.
h paraphrase when you cannot find the right word
• Can you tell me some reasons why someone might have
to go to a new city or country? use a mix of simple and complex sentences
• What sort of things would you organise before going pause naturally as you speak
somewhere new?
• Is it easier to go somewhere new now than it used to be Preparing for the Speaking Test
in the past? Why?
Part 1
Let's move on to talk about living in a new place.
• Build up a list of vocabulary that will help you to talk
• What sort of changes might you have to deal with when about the topics that are often used in this part of the
you move to a new place? test. Start by looking back at page 88 and underlining
• How can these changes affect people? the topic vocabulary in the questions. You can also go
• What is the best way to get used to circumstances that back to Units 1 and 7 and note down some vocabulary
from the exercises.
are different?
• Practise making statements about yourself in relation
Ask each other the questions. Try to give extended answers. to Part 1 topics, e.g. talk about your likes, dislikes and
preferences; your activities and when you do them; what
you are studying and why; your favourite shop I animal I
type of clothing; things you did as a child; where you
would like to live/travel in the future, etc.

@ Complete IELTS Bands 5-6.5