12 IELTS SPEAKING – PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Part 1
STUDY
● Describe your education
● What is your area of specialization?
● Why did you choose to study that major?
● Do you like your major? (Why? /Why not?)
● What kind of school did you go to as a child?
● What was your favourite subject as a child?
● Do you think your country has an effective education system?
● (Possibly) Are you looking forward to working?

VOCABULARY
Higher education [n] post-18 learning that take places at universities
Example: According to a research, nearly 50 percent of Vietnamese students in U.S. higher education are
studying either business or engineering, with business-related majors making up 38 percent of all enrolments in
2012/13.

Master [v] learn how to do something well

Example: She lived in Italy for several years but never quite mastered thelanguage.

Make a name for oneself [idiom] become famous and respected by a lot ofpeople
Example: By the time he was thirty-five, he had made a name for himself as a successful railway contractor .

Keep up with [idiom] be aware of

Example: Even though he's been travelling, he's kept up with what's going on back home.

Analytical [adj] using analysis or logical reasoning

Example: Analytical skills are essential in the workplace to ensure necessary problem solving occurs to keep
productivity and other areas of the workforce functioning smoothly.

Elementary school [n] primary school, school for children between 7-11 years old (in Vietnam) Example:
It’s essential that children at the official entry age for elementary school attend classes fully.

Unduly [adj] excessively/ to a level that more than is necessary, acceptable, or reasonable Example: For every
new parent, the decision about whether to vaccinate his or her child has been unduly stressful

Exam-driven curriculum [expression] the courses taught a school, college, which focus on teaching what
will be on the exam
Example: Many parents believe that exam-driven curriculum can change their kid’s attitude towards
school in profoundly negative ways.
Pay the bills [ idioms] provide enough income to sustain one’s lifestyle
Example: Being a dentist isn’t so glamorous, but it pays the bills.

Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about.
– Benjamin Lee Whorf -
13 IELTS SPEAKING – PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

1. Describe your education

I started primary school when I was 7. 5 years later, I went to secondary school at 12. Then at 16, I made it to a
high school for gifted students in my hometown. In my country, highschool education lasts 3 years, then I went
onto higher education at the Foreign Trade University
where I’m currently studying economics.

2. What is your area of specialization?

Well, my major is External Economics. I have mastered the basics of economics and socioeconomics,
combined with business knowledge mainly related to the import and export business.

3. Why did you choose to study that major?

I think it would help to fulfill my dream of introducing my country’s agricultural products to the world.
Vietnamese goods have a real potential, but they still struggle to make a name for themselves, you know.

4. Do you like your major? (Why? /Why not?)

Yes, of course. Studying economics, especially external economics is interesting and practical. It helps me to
keep up with current affairs and it improves my analytical and problem-solving skills as well.

5. What kind of school did you go to as a child?

As a child, I attended a public elementary school. It’s quite a big school in my hometown which provides
both high quality education and a supportive environment, so I think I was quite lucky.

6. What was your favourite subject as a child?

Well, I used to be very passionate about drawing when I was a little girl. It was fun to work with brushes and
colors, you know, as it was the time when I could indulge in my own creative world.

7. Do you think your country has an effective education system?

To be honest, I don’t think so. Our system has somehow become unduly stressful, does not promote
creativity and the ability to be critical due to the fact that our society still cares way too much about grades
and schools consequently focuses on an exam-driven curriculum, which I find quite impractical.

8. (Possibly) Are you looking forward to working?

Absolutely! It’s great to join the workforce, especially when I can do the job I love. Not only will it pay the
bills, but it’ll also give me the joy of making a contribution. It’s hard to be happy and fulfilled without
working, you know.

Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about.
– Benjamin Lee Whorf -
14 IELTS SPEAKING – PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

TIPS FOR PART 1 IELTS SPEAKING TEST

1 Be Prepared
The examiner will introduce themselves and ask you for your name and proof of identity (Passport etc),
to begin with. They will also ask you where you are from, which requires a simple answer – this is more
of a formality, so you don’t have to extend your answer here, but simply state, for example; “I am from
Hanoi” (or name the town/city etc you are from and where).
2 Make A Good First Impression
Try to be relaxed and confident, having confidence will help you to do well in your test. Make eye
contact with the examiner and answer any questions in a polite manner. Try to keep your body
language friendly and open. Think of it as a natural conversation and try to stay calm, like you are talking
to your IELTS teacher or practice partner.
3 Listen Carefully
Listen carefully to the examiner, so that you understand the questions and can answer in an
appropriate way. You should also be listening for tenses – for example; “What TV Shows did you use to
like as a child?’ then you know that you should answer in the past tense – ‘I used to watch….’
You should listen out for any yes/no questions and remember to answer and give reasons.
4 Show Enthusiasm
Show that you are interested in the questions by answering with enthusiasm, even if you are not really
interested in the subject. Native speakers show enthusiasm by varying the pitch of their voice
(intonation – the voice falls and rises) to show how they feel about something.

5 Extend Your Answers

When giving your answers, try to make sure that they are not too short – for example, if the examiner
asks you what is your favourite TV show, saying ‘I really like Peaky Blinders’ is too short. You can expand
your answer by adding more detail of what it is about, and why you like it so much.
6 Be Confident
Show your confidence by speaking clearly and at a normal level. Don’t speak too loudly or quietly, make
sure the examiner can understand and hear your answers. Have faith in yourself, to answer whatever
questions you get to the best of your ability.
7 Be Honest
When answering the questions, try to be as honest as possible, telling the examiner your thoughts,
feeling and opinions.
8 Study/Look at past questions and sample answers
Look at past questions and sample answers to get an idea of how you can extend your answers and the
type of questions that come up.
9 Read The Criteria
You should read through the marking criteria and be aware of what is required for a band score 7 or
above. Many students do not do this and have no idea what they need to achieve in order to get the
band score they want.
1 Practice
0 Practice as much as possible with your native speaking IELTS teacher, a partner or friend. Take a look at
the most common topics (see the other posts in this section) and practice answering those questions. A
good way to listen for errors is to record yourself speaking. Listen to your recording and notice any
errors you have made, including grammar mistakes, pronunciation, intonation and fluency. Keep
practising and use the posts in this section to help you.

Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about.
– Benjamin Lee Whorf -