Speaking 5.

HANDOUT 1
SPEAKING PART 1 - Relationships, Families and Early Learning
I. INTRODUCTION
Part 1 of the Speaking Module lasts for four to five minutes and the examiner will ask you
questions about yourself, your life and your habits. Make sure you understand the questions and
give relevant answers. Try to extend your answer rather than giving short responses.
In Part 1, you will be asked sets of questions on different topics. The questions may use a range of
grammatical structures and ask for different types of information. Listen carefully to identify the
type of information and the verb forms you can use in your response.

II. STRATEGIES
Strategies Explanation

1. GIVING RELEVANT Make sure you answer the question that is asked, not another,
ANSWER similar question!

2. EXTENDING THE DON’T give ONE-WORD answers. Give FULL answers with
ANSWER (by giving reasons reasons, if possible, and extra details.
and extra details)

III. USEFUL LANGUAGE

1. Fluency markers
The use of expressions called FLUENCY MARKERS helped the speakers sound fluent and natural.
(Well) I jog/ I go jogging on a regular basis/ most days/ three times a week, etc.
I swim at the local pool

The thing I (really) hate is…

(I’m afraid) I (just) can’t stand… because I find it so boring/ dull, etc.

(Actually) I ought to walk more but I always take the bus because …
I should play tennis more often but I’m always making excuses not to play.
Other fluency markers:
Ok then,…
Alright,..
Well, first of all,…
2. Giving reasons
The (main) reason I enjoyed … was that …
The (main) thing I liked / enjoyed about … was … That’s because….
The best / worst thing about … was … because …
One of the problems about / with … was …
3. Expressing opinions
I suppose that…

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 From my point of view,…
It seems to me that…
Personally, I think/believe…
To my mind…
On the other hand…
However/ Nevertheless,…
On the whole,…/ Generally speaking….
IV. PART 1 QUESTION TYPES
 Type 1: Basic description

Examples: Tell me something about your hometown

Tell me about your job/family/city
What is your main ambition?
Most candidate will probably be asked at least one description question. To answer this question,
you have to focus on:
- Fluency marker
- Linking words
- Language of description
- Uncommon vocabulary/idiomatic expression
- Different tenses
 Type 2: Likes and dislikes
This type of question is very popular in Part 1. Examples of this kind of question:
What do you like to eat?
Try to use a wide range of expressions to express these functions. Examples of these expressions
are:
I’m keen on…
I’m really into…
I’m quite a big fan of…
I simply adore….
Can you add some more?

 Type 3: “Type of” questions

Example: Tell me about the different types of public transport in your country
You can use one of the following expressions:
There is quite a wide range of…
There’s quite an extensive diversity of…
There’s quite a diverse mixture of…
Can you think of some more?

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Note: - Don’t repeat the adjectives you use in the answer
- Be specific, sometimes candidates struggle because their answers are too general
 Type 4: Wh/How often
This type is also very common in Part 1
Example: How often do you go to the cinema?
Where do you often buy clothes?
You may need to think about:
- Expressions of frequency
- Expressions of comparing and contrasting
- Use “if” and “will” structures can help you to get high score
 Type 5: Yes/No
Example: Is healthy eating important?
It’s common for candidates to just say “Yes” or “No”. A better answer is to say both “Yes” and
“No” because it helps to improve your language quality.
Look at how this candidate answers the question above:
Well in fact, I guess that in many ways it’s fairly important, especially when a healthy diet can help
to prevent a variety of diseases and health problems such as diabetes and obesity. But eating
unhealthy food in moderation is not harmful. In fact, it is often tastier than healthy food. So I guess
it’s fine to eat a little junk food now and then.
 Type 6: “Would” questions
Examples of this type are:
Would you like to move to another city in the future?
Would you like to change your job?
Would you like to be in a film?
The grammar aspect of this question is very important. As a basic rule, if the question uses
“would”, then you need to include at least one example of “would” (or might/could) in your answer.
For most of these questions, you should use the second conditional in your answer. In fact, the
examiner is expecting you to produce examples of this structure.
Ex: Would you like to move to another city in the future?
I would like to change cities if I had the chance (OR: If I had the chance, I would like to move to
another city) because if I lived in a different city, I would make lots of new friends and I could try
lots of new kinds of food. Also, I might be able to find a well-paid job.”
Sometimes, candidates begin their answer with. “I never thought about it.” This is not a good
example. You can begin your answer as following:
Well, honestly I’ve never thought about that, but I guess...
Actually, this isn’t something I’ve ever considered but …
Look at how this candidate answers the question:
Actually, this isn’t something I’ve ever considered but I suppose I would possibly consider moving
cities, especially if I had the chance to move to a coastal city like Nha Trang or Vung Tau. If I lived
in a seaside city, I would be able to hang out on the beach every day and I would also have the
opportunity to get into water sports like scuba-diving and possibly surfing.
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You can add fluency markers like:
- I imagine I would possibly…
- I guess I would…
- I would perhaps…
Now practice giving answer to this question: Would you like to learn another foreign language?
Most of the questions asked in Part 1 will be one of the five types described in this section. There
may be one or two questions that are not covered by these types. Just remember the following rule:
Long response – Linking phrases – Complex sentence – Fluency marker

V. COMMON TOPICS FOR SPEAKING PART 1

1. Hobbies – Likes and dislikes
 Frequency
The phrases below express frequency. Put them in order from the most frequent to the least
frequent.
Once a fortnight every single day
Every other day several times a year
Every Tuesday twice a year
 Practice: Choose THREE of the following pastimes and say how often you do them
Camping eating out fishing listening to music
Going to bars watching TV going for walks

 Present perfect and present perfect continuous

- You can use present perfect or present perfect continuous to talk about how long an activity
has been going on.
I’ve done yoga for six years
I’ve been doing yoga for six years
- Present perfect focuses on the result/completion of an action, while present perfect
continuous focuses on unwanted side effect or how long something has been going on.
I’ve planted some new flowers (focus on the result of planting)
Why are you covered in mud? – I’ve been planting some new flowers (unwanted
side effect)

 EXAM PRACTICE: LIKES AND DISLIKES

What are your hobbies?
What is your favorite musical instrument?
Do you prefer action films or comedies? Why?
Do you like reading?
Do you like animals
What food do you like?
Is there any food you don’t like?
Do you like listening to music?
What type of weather do you dislike?
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 2. Where you live
 Nouns

1. Tell me about your hometown/street/apartment.

2. What do you like about your hometown/street/house/apartment? Tell me the good

things about your house.

3. Is there anything you don’t like about it?

4. Would you like to move to another city/street/house/apartment? What would you

change about your city?

5. Would you recommend your area/street as a good place to live?

Winding street suburb local architecture shopping

The locals ( people) cuisine neighborhood

Residential area Apartment complex

 Adjective:
Sprawling distinctive commercial
Unique built-up industrial provincial
 Idioms
Run down (in bad conditions)
Ex: Some areas are run-down
Up-market/chic (fashionable)
Ex: The apartment is located in the most chic neighborhood.

 Add YOUR OWN words/expressions here

3. Work and study

1. What are you studying?
2. Where are you studying?
3. What is good about where you study?
4. What would you like to do after graduating?
 Nouns
schoolwork branch of learning field of study
discipline lecturer theory
 Verbs
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 revise comprehend succeed in
become skilled in

 Adjectives
hands-on (practical ) job-related theoretical
reputable highly regarded compulsory optional
hectic exhausting intricate undemanding
 Idioms
Pass with flying colours (pass with a high score)
Ex: I pass my entrance exam with flying coulours.
Sail through (finish sth. Easily and quickly)
Ex: I can usually sail through all my assessments.
To flunk (to fail/ perform badly)
Ex: I always seem to flunk my compulsory maths tests.
Work flat out (work very hard)
On the go (very busy)
Get to bottom of (solve)
Ex: I have to get to the bottom of the problems related to…

be involved in share responsibility for work within a team

 Add YOUR OWN words/expressions here

 EXAM PRACTICE
Do you work or are you a student?
What’s good about your college/university?
What would you like to do after your studies?
What is the most difficult thing about your course?
Tell me about the school you went to when you were younger
What subject did you like best at school?

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 4. Computer and email
1. How often do you use email?
2. What do most people in your country use email for? What are the advantages of
email?
3. Are there any disadvantages?
4. Do you think that email will replace letter-writing?
 Nouns
email account electronic message attachment forum
spam ( junk mail) cyberspace online shopping
commercial correspondence ( business communication)
 Adjectives

Web-based speedy virtual time-consuming

Digital computer literate electronic

 Idioms

Snail mail (sending letter through the post)

Ex: Snail mail is extremely time-consuming

Lost in cyberspace (lost somewhere on the internet)

Ex: Sometimes emails get lost in cyberspace

At the push of a button

Ex: With email, you can send a message at the push of a button

 Add YOUR OWN words/expressions here

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 EXAM PRACTICE

1. How often do you use the computer?

2. What do you use it for?

3. In what ways do people use computers in your country?

4. How did you learn to use a computer?

5. How much have computers changed your life?

5. Restaurants and food

1. How often do you eat out in restaurants?

2. What types of restaurants do you like best?
3. What types of restaurant are common in your city?

 Nouns
Eatery (a restaurant): We met in a little eatery just off the main road.
Cuisine specialty dish delicacy service
Calorie flavor regional dish
 Verbs
Eat out dine out feast on sample
 Adjectives
Regional swanky/posh low-costs
Scrumptious Appetizing Revolting Fattening
Wholesome Peppery Sugary Vinegary

 Idioms

Not as good as it’s/they’re cracked up to be (not as good as people say)

Ex: Lots of the posh restaurants are not as good as they’re cracked up to be.
Run of the mill (average, typical)
Ex: In my neighbourhood there are quite a few run of the mill eateries
Set sb back (cost sb an amount of money)
Ex: The swanky restaurants will set you back quite a lot of money
Wolf down ( eat very quickly)

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Ex: When I’m in a hurry I wolf down some fat food
Sink one’s teeth into ( eat some special food)
Ex: I love to sink my teeth into a juicy steak.
Something about it (something strange or special)
 Add YOUR OWN words/expressions here

 EXAM PRACTICE

1. What food do you like eating?

2. Is there any food you don’t like?

3. What food is popular in your country?

6. Childhood and memories of the past

1. Do you like to think about the past?

2. Did you have a happy childhood?

3. What part of the childhood do you remember most?

 Nouns

Recollection childhood early years

 Verbs

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 Reminisce muse over recall

 Adjectives

Reminiscent (memories) amusing

 Idioms
In the prime of one’s life ( in one’s early years)
Hang on to old memories ( remember sth for a long time)
Ex: I’m not really the sort of person who likes to hang on to old memories.
Hark back to ( remember sth in the past)
Ex: Some of my friends often hark back to out childhood memories.
The here and now ( the present day)
Ex: I think that the past is history; I prefer to live for the here and now.
Rake up old memories ( remember past events, usually bad memories)
Ex: Some people often rake up old memories.

 Add YOUR OWN words/expressions here

 EXAM PRACTICE

1. Do you keep old photos?

2. What can people learn from the past?

3. How do you feel when people talk about their memories?

4. What makes a happy childhood?

5. What would you like to change about your childhood?

 Other topics in IELTS part 1

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Sports Collecting things Flowers

Television Names Relaxation

Reading Cooking Hotel

Learning languages Healthy eating Outdoor activities

Clothes Shopping Films

Friends Weekends Routines

Writing Animals Seasons

Festivals Travelling Buildings

Meeting new people Birthdays Colors

HOMEWORK: Choose 5 topics from the table above, find 3 questions for each topics and practice
answering them.

EXAM BONUS:
In the IELTS, it is very important that the listener does not have to struggle to
understand you. Try to avoid:
- Hesitating for too long
- Speaking to quietly
- Having poor pronunciation
Word stress is CRUCIAL in English. If you stress the wrong syllable, the listener
may have trouble understanding you.

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