Speaking

Practice topics
Speaking tasks
Speaking  questions

Part 2
Speaking topics - vocabulary
Part 2 topics with Part 3 follow up questions

Comment on the question

• That’s interesting. I was watching a program about that last week
• That’s a big problem today. I heard Sheikh Mohammed talk about that in a speech in Dubai.
• Oh, that’s very difficult to predict! I don’t think anybody really knows what is going to happen.
• Wow, that’s a tough question. It depends on your point of view.
• Yes, I’ve often thought about that.

Relate the question to their own experience

• That’s very important because I am getting married next month
• That’s an interesting question because I work in computers, so I often wonder what the future of technology will be.
• That’s a tough question because I am not an economist.
• That’s funny -  the other day I was in Al-Ain and someone asked me the same question.
• My kids often ask me the same question

Divide up your answer

• Basically, there are three ways to look at this problem. One way is to imagine….
• I think there are several ways to solve this problem. I think one way would be to…
• It depends on how you look at it. For example, if you were a parent, you would have one opinion, and if you were a student, you might have another perspective.
• I think two very different things will happen. First of all, there might be…
• There have been several effects. One effect is that
• I suppose you could break it up into two or three areas. First…

Use Modals

In the IELTS speaking test, Part 1 focuses on Present Tense, Part 2 on the Past, and Part 3 on the future and modals (can, could, might, may, etc.) You are expected to predict, guess, analyse, relate, suggest and evaluate (give your opinion) in this part.

Writing - practice topics

Safety standards are important when building people's homes. Who should be responsible for enforcing strict building codes - the government or the people who build the homes? 




 Does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life better when technology was simpler? 


Nowadays doctors can become very rich. Maybe they should not focus on profitable activities such as plastic surgery or looking after rich patients and concentrate more on patients health, no matter how rich they are? 


Should criminals be punished with lengthy jail terms or re-educated and rehabituated, using community service programs for instance, before being reintroduced to society. 

Reading

Supplement reading material

#1Wind Power in the US
#2 Full Academic Reading Test
#3Antarctic Penguins
#4Colorblindness

Reading Answers

Passage 3
27.ii
28.v
29.x
30.i

31.No
32.Yes
33.No
34.Yes
35.NG

36.D
37.I
38.G
39.E

40. B

Linking Phrases

http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/dean/Upload-Wr50-W07-f2f/LinkingWords.pdf


Useful Linking Words and Phrases For Essays

To indicate a contrast:

however  on the other hand  alternatively in contrast
instead  conversley on the contary infact
rather in comparison
another possibility but  better/worst still  
despite this in spite of nevertheless notwithstanding  
for all that yet  although  all the same  

To provide an illustration

for example that is   that is to say
in other words namely  such as  
typical of this/such on such a typical/particular/key example  
including especially not least  
cheifly  mainly  most importantly    

To extend a point

simirlarly equally likewise also
furthermore Indeed  in the same way    
besides  above all  as well  in addition

To show cause and effect/conclusion:

so          therefore   thus
then   as result/consequence  resulting from  
in this/that case  consequently  
for this reason   owing to/due to the fact    
it follows that   this suggests that  accepting/assuming this
in conclusion   it might be concluded from this   this implies
in short   to conclude  in all

To show the next step:

first(ly) second(ly)  to begin/start with  in the first/second place
first and foremost  first and most importantly first
another  then  after
next  afterwards  then
finally  ultimately  lastly

Sample Candidate Writing Scripts and Examiner Comments

Task #1- Academic

Click here to review the sample answer and examiner comments.

Academic Writing sample task – Task 2
Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic.

The first car appeared on British roads in 1888. By the year 2000 there 
may be as many as 29 million vehicles on British roads. 
Alternative forms of transport should be encouraged and 
international laws introduced to control car ownership and use. 

To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or
experience.


Write at least 250 words.

Reading-

Short Readings with Vocabulary

Speaking

Questions

Speaking

IELTS speaking 

 explaining /justifying a viewpoint or opinion

presenting a topic or argument

Listening- week 10

Section 2- Listening

Section 3

Practice site with answers


Speaking- Using your vocabulary

Speaking -

Part 1

Interview
Do you study or work?
What did you study?
Do you like that subject?
Why do you like it?
Why did you choose this particular subject?

Part 2

Cue card
 Talk about some interesting news you have read in a newspaper
- when did this happen?
- what was the news about?
- why was it interesting?
-Explain how you felt after reading it.

Part3

Discussion
We talked about the marketing of the newspapers in your country:
- How do they market themselves in order to increase sales?
- What marketing practices do they use?
- Do I think that some newspapers put a spin on the real story to increase sales?

Writing

Writing-   task 2

40 minutes -250 words

Topic-  Modern Society

Writing- step by step

How to write an IELTS essay

Introduction
Body
Conclusion

Writing- topics

MODERN SOCIETY 

Nowadays doctors can become very rich. Maybe they should not focus on profitable activities such as plastic surgery or looking after rich patients and concentrate more on patients health, no matter how rich they are?

Does travel help to promote understanding and communication between countries?

In your opinion what factors contribute to a good movie?

Are famous people treated unfairly by the media ? Should they be given more privacy, or is the price of their fame an invasion into their private lives?

Is animal testing necessary?

Some businesses now say that no one can smoke cigarettes in any of their offices. Some governments have banned smoking in all public places. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons.

To what extent is the use of animals in scientific research acceptable?

Human beings do not need to eat meat in order to maintain good health because they can get all their food needs from meatless products and meatless substances. A vegetarian diet is as healthy as a diet containing meat. Argue for or against the opinion above.

Forests are the lungs of the earth. Destruction of the world's forests amounts to death of the world we currently know. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Are our zoos cruel to wild animals? Discuss.

Zoos are sometimes seen as necessary but not poor alternatives to a natural environment. Discuss some of the arguments for and/or against keeping animals in zoos.

To what extent will migration from the developing world to the developed world become a social and political issue in the 21st century?

Speaking

Online practice with questions.

Listening practice

Academic Earth - online lectures

Ielts -practice test<online>

Speaking topics

Speaking  with sample answers

Listening- 

IELTS - writing format sample (task 2)

Writing- task 2 IELTS Essay

Introduction
Background- Today.../It is common today../ As is commonly known/understood...

Detailed  background-This can be seen.../ This has been seen/evident...

Thesis- It is believed.../ It is argued.../ It will be shown....

Outline- This will be proven by analyzing __1__, __2__ and ___3__./Taken into account  __1__, __2__ and ___3__.

Body-(2-3 )
Supporting Paragraph
Topics- First, /Firstly,/ Looking at.../ Considering...
Example- For example, /For instance,../
Discussion- This example  (clearly) shows.../ It is clear/ obvious/ widely understood...
Conclusion/transition-To conclude,/ Finally,.....

Supporting Paragraph
Topics- First, /Firstly,/ Looking at.../ Considering...
Example- For example, /For instance,../
Discussion- This example  (clearly) shows.../ It is clear/ obvious/ widely understood...
Conclusion/transition-To conclude,/ Finally,.....

Supporting Paragraph
Topics- First, /Firstly,/ Looking at.../ Considering...
Example- For example, /For instance,../
Discussion- This example  (clearly) shows.../ It is clear/ obvious/ widely understood...
Conclusion/transition-To conclude,/ Finally,.....


Conclusion
Summary- After analyzing the area/topic of.../Take _____ for instance....
Restate thesis- It has now been shown...../ As previously stated.....
Prediction/Recommendation- It is predicted/ expected that....

Writing topics

1. task 2- 250 words
Computers can easily do all the basic and advanced calculations. Do you think your children should spend more time learning basic mathematics or advanced computer technology. 


Give your views in not less than 250 words.


2.Telecommuting' refers to workers doing their jobs from home for part of each week and communicating with their office using computer technology. Telecommuting is growing in many countries and is expected to be common for most office workers in the coming decades. 


How do you think society will be affected by the growth of telecommuting? 

                                                                         

Listening -Practice

Speaking

Practice your listening here with several topics and levels

Solar Eclipse
Extra -Practice 

IELTS PRACTICE-

online listening for ielts
Section 4

Listening

Practice test with Transcript

Sample tests -sections

Speaking

Listening to accents>>
BBC - Learning English