IELTS Speaking Tasks

IELTS researchers have found that students perform 12 different tasks during the IELTS Speaking Test. The first two are easy - giving personal information and giving non-personal information. Here are the other ten, which you must practice: 1. Expressing a Preference
I prefer A to B because... If I have a choice, I will... (a real possibility) If I had a choice, I would... (not a real possibility, just wishing) For me, A is much more attractive / interesting / preferable than B because... I would much rather do / have / eat / listen to / blah blah blah A than B... 2. Narrating When I was a high school student, I went to Guizhou to visit some friends. After I graduated from high school, I ... During my visit to Guizhou last year, I... Last year during the Spring Festival, I went to Guizhou to visit some friends. (Also use "Whenever" or "While") 3. Comparing and Contrasting A is much better / worse than B. A is not nearly as good as B. A is not quite as important as B. A is almost as tall as B, but not quite. When I compare these two items, it's clear that... 4. Suggesting

 Maybe, Perhaps, Possibly One possibility that I can think of is... Another idea to think about is... 5. Expressing Opinions It seems to me that... This is only my opinion but... After a lot of thought, I have come to the conclusion that... I've never thought about this question much before, but it seems to me that... 6. Justifying Opinions The reason I believe this is... The most important evidence supporting my belief is... 7. Speculating I'm not sure what might happen, but one possibility is... It's hard to predict the future, but I suppose it / we might... 8. Analyzing There are several points to consider, first of which is... We can break this question down into several parts. First... Let's look at this step by step. To begin with... 9. Summarizing Altogether, there were... In the end, they had to... When we consider all the factors... Considering all of these ideas, maybe the best thing would be to...

10. Conversation Repair Maybe I'm not making myself clear. I want to say that... What I mean to say is... What I'm trying to say is... Another way to put it is...

YOU Describe yourself. FAMILY Describe your family? Do you have a large or small family? How much time do you spend with your family? What do you like to do together as a family? Do you get along well with your family? Are people in your country generally close to their families? WORK What do you do? What are your responsibilities? How many hours do you work each day? Do you enjoy your work? Is there some other kind of work you would rather do? If you could change your job or profession, what would you do? Describe the process of getting a job in your country. Describe the company or organization you work for. What is your position? What do you like about your job? What do you dislike about your job? EDUCATION Describe your education. What kind of school did you go to as a child? Did you go to a co-educational school? What was your favourite subject as a child? Who was your favourite teacher? What is the education system like in your country? Do you think your country has an effective education system? STUDIES What are you studying now? What is your area of specialization? HOMETOWN Describe your hometown. Whats special about it? Where is your hometown located? Is it easy to travel around your hometown? What is it known for? What do people in your town do?

 What are the main industries in your hometown? What problems face your hometown? What languages are spoken in your hometown? What are the advantages of living in your hometown? What are some problems faced by your hometown? Compare your hometown with another city. What are some environmental problems faced by your hometown? WEATHER Whats the weather like in your country? Does the weather affect your mood? How do rainy days make you feel? Whats your favourite season of the year? What do you like to do when its hot? What do you usually do in the winter? How many seasons does your country have? HOME Describe your home. What kind of building do you live in? How long have you lived there? WEDDING Have you ever been to a wedding? Whose wedding was it? Where was it held? What clothes do people wear? Describe the wedding ceremony. What sort if gifts do people buy for the bridal couple? What kind of clothes did the bride and groom wear? TRAVEL Do you like to travel? What kind of places have you visited in your life? Which place would you really like to visit? Why? Whats the best place youve ever visited? COMPUTERS Do you think computers help society? Do you think computers are bad for health? How do you think computers have changed the world? INTERNET Do you use the Internet much during the day? What do you usually do on the Internet? What are some advantages of the Internet? What are some disadvantages? Do people in your country use the Internet a lot? Do you do any shopping on the Internet? EMAIL Do you send and receive email regularly? Who do you usually communicate with? How often do you check your email? Do you think writing email has strengthened or weakened peoples writing skills? What are some disadvantages of email? FRIEND Describe a friend. How long have you known each other? What do usually do together?

 What do you like the most about him / her? How often do you see each other? PLACE Describe a place you like to go. Why is this place special to you? When did you first visit this place? Where is this place located? What language is spoken here? Do you speak this language? SMOKING What do you feel about smoking in public places? Do you think smoking should be banned in peoples homes? MARRIAGE What is the attitude toward marriage in your country? Do most young people plan on getting married in your country? What are some of the advantages of marriage? What are some of the disadvantages? Is the divorce rate high in your country? Do you think people should be allowed to get divorced? HOBBIES Do you have any hobbies? What are some of your hobbies? When did you first develop tis hobby? What are some of the advantages of having a hobby? How much time do you spend on your hobby? FILMS Do you enjoy watching movies? Whats your favourite film? Who are your favourite actors? How often do you watch films? SHOPPING Do you enjoy shopping? How do you feel about shopping? Do you like shopping on the Internet? Do you have any favourite stores? What dont you like about shopping? Which is the most popular place to shop in your hometown? SPORTS Do you like sports? Do you enjoy watching sports? Do you enjoy participating in any sports? Which sports are most popular in your country? Whats your favourite sport/ When did you first become interested in sports? How often do you participate in sports? What equipment do you need for your favourite sport? FOOD What are some of your favourite foods? What foods are popular in your country? What are some of the famous dishes of your country? Do you enjoy cooking? FESTIVAL Whats the most important festival in your country? How do people celebrate this festival?

 What special food is associated with this festival? What special activities are associated with this festival? What do you enjoy most about this festival? Do you think festivals are important for a society? TELEVISION Do you watch television a lot? What do you usually watch on television? How many hours of television do you usually watch? What are the most popular shows in your country? What kind of shows do you like to watch? What are some advantages of television? What are someof the disadvantages of television? What did you last watch on television? Why do you think certain TV shows are so popular? TOURISM Which places would you recommend to a visitor to your country? Do a lot of tourists visit your country? What do they usually do there? How has tourism changed your country? Is your country expensive for most tourists? What are some famous landmarks in your country? DAILY ROUTINE Describe your daily routine. What do you usually do? What do you do on the weekend? What is you typical weekday like? Does your life change much from week to week? Do you have any free time during the week? YOUR COUNTRY Which country are you from? Where is this country located? Which part of the country do most people live in? What are the main industries in your country? Is it easy to travel around your country? CLOTHES What type of clothes do you like to wear? What kind of clothes do people in your country usually wear? How important is fashion to you? What kind of clothes do you dislike? Do you think people behave differently in different kinds of clothes? What kind of clothes do people wear to work in your country? Are clothes expensive in your country? GOING OUT Do you like going out or staying at home? What do you like to do when you go out? How often do you go out? Do people in your country go our a lot? How and where do people in your country usually socialize? What kind of entertainment is popular in your country? GAMES Do you enjoy playing any games? What kind of games do you play? Do you think adults should play games?

 What do children learn from games? What kind of games did you play when you were a child? What games are popular in your country today? What kind of games were popular when you were young? Do you think mental games like chess are good for you? COLOURS Do you have a favourite colour? What are your countrys colours? Do you think colours affect our moods? Can you learn anything about a person from the colours he / she likes? Do you like the same colours now as you did when you were a child? MUSIC Do you like music? What kind of music do you like? When do you usually listen to music? What kind of music did you like when you were younger? What kind of music is popular in your country? Do you play any musical instruments? Do you wish you could play any musical instruments? Which is your favourite instrument?

1. Describe a museum 1. 2. 3. How often do you visit the museum? Which type of museum is popular in your country? Why do you want to visit the museum?

Follow-up:

What do you think of the importance of museums in history? How do you think of the heritage of a country? Compare the museums nowadays and in the past

2. Describe your favorite photograph 1. 2. 3. 4. Where was the photo taken? Who took the photo? What can be seen from the photo? Explain why it is the favorite photograph for you.

Follow-up:

How to take good photo? When do people use camera? How can the new technology put cinemas skill advanced?

3. The important historic place 1. 2. 3. What is the place? Where is it located? Why do you think it is important?

Follow-up:

What do you think of the historic place in the future?

Will the government increase or decrease the safety guard? What are the changes to the local people and economy? What is the impact on the historic place by tourists?

4. Describe a party 1. 2. 3. 4. What is the party? Why was the party held? Who attended the party? What did you do for that party?

Follow-up:

Whats the difference between serious party and friendly party? Why are some people late for parties intentionally? Why do some people like party while others hate it? What would you do if the guests feel bored? Will there be more and more people to attend parties?

5. Describe a subject taught in your school? 1. 2. 3. Who teaches it? How is it taught? What do you learn from the class?

Follow-up:

Is there any difference between the traditional and modern educational systems? What are the pros and cons of the current educational system in your country? Do you think it is necessary to give comment or criticism to teachers?

6. What is the important invention before the age of computer? 1. 2. 3. What is the invention? Why do you think it is very important? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the invention?

Follow-up:

What is the significant impact of modern inventions on life? Which skills do you want to study in the future? Do you think its necessary to develop modern invention in the countryside?

7. Describe a foreign country you have never been to 1. 2. 3. Where is the country? When will you go there? Why would you like to go there?

Follow-up:

Say something about the tourism development in China, facility, services and the effect on environment. What is the importance of travel and tourism industry?

What do you think the function of tourist guides?

8. Describe your favourite movie 1. 2. 3. Whats the name of the film? Whats the theme of the film? Why do you like it?

Follow-up:

Describe a type pf movie you like. Whats the difference between Chinese and American movies? What do you think of the violent films (Hollywood films)? Why movies need computer techniques? Any example of movie using computer techniques Which parts of cinema are the most important and how to improve it?

9. Describe a newspaper or magazine 1. 2. 3. Whats your habit for reading? What are the benefits of reading? What's the main difference between newspaper and magazine?

Follow-up:

What do you think the important qualities for a news reporter? Whats the function of a report to the society? What kinds of books/newspapers/magazines do Chinese adolescents read? With the popularity of Internet, do you think newspapers and magazines will disappear?

10. Describe a childrens game (sports not suggested) 1. 2. 3. How is it played? What can you learn from the game? What impact does it bring on your growth?

Follow-up:

What do you think of the benefits of childrens games? Nowadays children have less and less time for game, what do you think about it? What do you think the difference between games nowadays and in the past? Whats the negative aspect of games?

11. Describe a happy event in your life? 1. 2. 3. When did it happen? Where did it happen? What was it?

Follow-up:

Tell me how you organize your study time? What do you think is important in achieving happiness?

How do Chinese celebrate some happy events? What do the camera and video play in celebrating?

12. Describe a thing which is important to you 1. 2. 3. Who gave it to you? What is the thing? What does the thing mean to you?

Follow-up:

What are the changes of city between now and past? Does money represent happiness and why? How do you regard as the things people want to earn?

13. Describe one of your neighbours 1. 2. 3. When did you become neighbours? Do you often meet? State whether your neighbour is a good one

Follow-up:

What is the difference between neighbours and friends? Why do people like to watch TV serials in their houses? How do you think of the relationship in the city? How to improve the neighbourhood?

14. Describe one of the shopping centers you often go to 1. 2. 3. Where is the shopping center? How often do you go to the center? Why do you often go to it and its characteristics?

Follow-up:

Will smaller shops survive in the current business system? What are the characteristics of shopping malls and smaller shops and their difference? What is the trend of future shopping centers? Talk about Internet shopping

15. Describe your favourite animal 1. 2. 3. What kind of animal is it? Describe it briefly Why do you like the animal?

Follow-up:

What do you need to do to take care of it? Whats the future trend of the animal? How do you think of the poaching of some precious animals such as pandas?

16. Describe a historical place

1. 2. 3.

What is the place? Where is it located? What is the historical meaning of the place?

Follow-up:

What do you think of the future trend of historic places? Will government strengthen its protection toward historic places? What are the changes brought about by the historic place in local economy, people, etc? What is the effect of tourists on the place?

17. Advertisement 1. 2. 3. What are the forms of advertisement? What are the functions of advertisement? What is the effect of advertisement to people?

Follow-up:

Do you feel bored and disgusted about advertisement? What do you think are the criteria of assessing a good piece of advertisement? What will happen if unauthoritative advertisements prevail in the market?

18. Describe an important letter 1. 2. 3. When did you receive the letter? From whom did you receive the letter? Explain the reasons why it is important

Follow-up:

What is the significance of handwriting? Does your country have handwriting lesson now? Compare the handwriting now and past With the popularity of computers and Internet, will people lose their ability to write letters?

19. Describe the best present you have received 1. 2. 3. Who sent it to you? When did you receive it? Detailed information about the present

Follow-up:

Do you think that present giving will play an important role in Chinese daily life? Why? Do you think that the brand name is very important for sales? In terms of the media, which do you think will play a main role in present giving, television, newspaper or Internet?

20. Describe your holidays 1. 2. Where do you go for the holidays and how long do them last? Who do you go with?

3.

Talk about any interesting thins happening during your holidays

Follow-up:

What do the Chinese people mostly do in their leisure time? What's the difference between holidays today and 5 years ago and the reasons for the change? Do you think people will spend more time on leisure or working in the future?