one of the biggest cities in Asia I guess.

It's so big in fact that even the locals have

Question Type 1: Basic Description Questions problems finding their way around. Another significant characteristic is that it offers
examples of both classical and contemporary architecture. Actually some of the China's
Look at the example question: "Tell me about your hometown."
most renowned landmarks are "slapbang" in the middle of Beijing.
This seems like a simple question. Candidates must remember that the examiner is NOT
This response is much better in quality than the first answer for the following reasons:
asking this question because he or she wants to know something about your hometown.
Remember: The examiner is not interested in you, your life or anything you say. The  It is long but doesn‘t move away from the topic / question.
examiner is doing a job. The job is to award a score for your spoken English in relation  It contains redundant language.
to the marking system.
 It contains linking phrases.
So again we can see that content becomes irrelevant. The examiner is actually asking the
following question: "Show me your ability to describe something (a place) and give me  It contains one idiom.
some town or city vocabulary."  It contains some uncommon vocabulary.
Look at the example answer:
 The vocabulary is topic-specific.
"I come from Beijing. I am native of this city. Beijing is the capital of China. In Beijing
 It contains examples of complex sentence structures.
there are many historical buildings. Beijing Duck is very famous - I always eat it with
my friends. "  It contains a mix of tenses.
The problem with this response is that it "answers" the question but it doesn't offer the  The grammar is correct (even in the longer structures).
examiner any evidence of your ability to describe something. A description needs to
offer detailed and precise information and the points need to be developed in some way. Because this answer meets many of the marking system descriptions required to achieve
a higher score it would be typical of a score of 7+.
If we consider the marking system we can also add that the answer does not contain any
features of native-speaker style spoken English. Activity
 The answer is short / direct. In the answer above find examples of the following:

 It does not contain any linking words or phrases.  Redundant language

 It does not contain any redundant language.  Uncommon vocabulary

 There are no examples of uncommon vocabulary.  Linking words

 There is no idiomatic language.  Idiomatic vocabulary

 The grammar is correct but it is very basic grammar.  Linking phrases

 There are no complex sentence structures.  Different tenses (how many are used?)

 The tense use is limited.

This answer is therefore typical of a lower score (4-5). Description Structures

Now consider the following answer: When responding to description questions, you need to begin with a lead-in phrase.
(This is an example of a linking device I redundant language). Possible lead-in phrases
Well as you can probably guess I come from Beijing and I have lived here all my life, include the following:
although at the moment I'm studying in another city - Tianjin. I suppose if I had to
describe Beijing, the first thing I would say is that it's absolutely enormous, maybe even  OK then...
1
  Right, ok... "...the first thing I would say is that it‘s absolutely enormous, maybe even one of the
biggest cities in Asia I guess."
 Alright...
This is a simple but effective way to join your linking phrase with the detail sentence.
 Well... The result is a complex structure. Notice how the candidate then uses another linking
 Well, you know... word "maybe even" to add more details.

 Well first of all... Activity

 Actually... Example question: “Tell me about your studies or job.”

We can add a "pointing phrase" next, to signal to the listener that the first point is Choose a lead-in and pointing phrase. Introduce your first point and use a structure with
coming. (This is another example of a linking device / redundant language.) "that”. Add a linking word to introduce a detail about your first point. Now we can look
at the full structure.
 ...the first thing I should mention is that...
1) Lead-in phrase
 ...the point I’d like to begin with is that...
2) 1st pointing phrase
 ...I could start off by saying that...
3) Point I
 ...my initial point would be that...
4) Linking word / phrase + detail about point I
 ...I need to start off by pointing out that...
5) 2nd pointing phrase
 ...the main thing you need to know is that... 6) Point 2
 ...I suppose I should begin by highlighting the fact that... 7) Linking word / phrase + detail about point 2
 ...you may (or may not) be aware that in fact... 8) 3rd pointing phrase
 ...I really need to kick of with the point that... 9) Point 3
Most of the above contain interchangeable words. Now you are ready to describe your 10) Linking word / phrase + detail about point 3
first point.
Examples of 2nd pointing phrases:
Activity
 Another point which I could add is that...
Example question: "Tell me about the street that you live in."
 A second feature which I should mention is that…
Think about one important point you can describe about your street (it could be location,
size, appearance, the buildings etc.). Do not give the name as this is not really describing  As well as that, I could say that...
(and the name would probably be in Chinese so you would not be using examples of  On top of that I can also add that...
topic-related vocabulary.) Select a lead-in phrase and a pointing phrase.
 Also, I suppose I should say that...
 Now describe your first point.
Examples of 3rd pointing phrases:
 Choose different lead-in and pointing phrases and practice describing the first point
about your street.  And I shouldn't forget to mention that...
The first point needs to be developed with a complex sentence. Notice in the example  In addition to what I've just said, I can add that...
how the candidate uses a structure with "that".
 Something else that I need to comment on is that…
2
  I guess I could also remark on the fact that...
Question Type 2: Liking
So a complete response might look something like this:
A very common type of questions in Part One is the "liking" questions. For example:
"Well first of all, the main thing you need to know is that... (point I) ... In fact ... (detail "Do you like animals?"
I)... On top of that I can also add that... (point 2) ... which means... (detail 2) ...
Something else that I need to comment on is that... (point 3)...So actually (detail 3)… As an examiner I have asked this style question hundreds of times. A common response
might be something like:
Activity
"Yes. I like animals. I like cats and dogs because they are very lovely.”
Practice saying the full sample structure with your own points and details for the
following questions: If you have read and understood what has been written so far in this book, you should be
starting no see the problems with this answer. This answer lacks all the features common
 Tell me about the house / flat you live in. in native-speaker style English. The answer focuses I00% on content.
 Tell me about your city Expressing likes and dislikes is actually quite a large area of the English language and as
a result there is a wide range of language available to express these functions. When the
 Describe your hometown.
examiner asks, "Do you like animals?" your answer should display some ability to
 What is your main ambition? express these functions using a range of appropriate language.
 Tell me about your job. “I like” and “I don’t like” do not display any ability to skillfully or flexibly express these
functions. In most cases, the examiner probably used "like" or “don't like" in the
 What makes you happy question, so candidates who use these words are simply recycling the question words in
 Tell me about your family. the form of a statement.

Now write out your own full describing structure using the example phrases. Now For these questions, the first step is to find some alternative language for "liking". The
practice using your structure for the questions above. following expressions can be used for all general topics:
 I’m fairly / pretty keen on...
 I’m quite / pretty fond of
 I'm really into...
 I'm totally mad about
 I'm quite a big fan of...
 I'm quite partial to
 I simply adore...
 I'm quite passionate about
 I’m quite enthusiastic about...
 I generally prefer... (use only when comparing)
Most of the adverbs are interchangeable in this list.
One advantage of the IELTS vocabulary marking system is that if you use an uncommon
word incorrectly or in the wrong context, you will still get some credit for trying to use
3
the word.  ...but in particular…
For example, if a candidate said: "I’m quite enthusiastic about Korean food." Compare it  ...to be more precise...
with: "I like Korean food."
Native-speakers wouldn‘t normally use the word "enthusiastic" to describe food, but the  ...particularly...
first sentence is better than the second because it attempts to use an uncommon  ...to be more specific...
vocabulary item (quite enthusiastic).
 ...especially...
So don't be afraid to use any of the words from the list - they are all worth more to your
score than "I like" or "I enjoy".  ...to be more exact...
We return to the question: "Do you like animals?" The aim of our answer is to use about  ...specifically...
3 or 4 "liking" expressions.
 ...to be more accurate...
Look at the following answer:
Now add your second "liking" expression with the specific type.
“Well to be quite honest, in general I would say that actually quite keen on animals, but
Example: "Well in general I would say that I'm quite passionate about Italian food, to be
in particular I would probably have to say that I'm really into domestic pets like dogs. I
more specific, I would probably say that I’m really into pizza and pasta."
guess the reason why I'm a fan of dogs is because I adore their loyalty and
companionship. In addition to dogs I suppose also pretty passionate about endangered Now add a linking phrase to introduce the first reason:
species, especially dolphins and things like that and this is due to the fact I feel some
degree of responsibility towards wildlife protection."  And I guess this is probably because...
 This could be because...
Activity
How many "liking" expressions can you find in the answer? How many linking phrases  This might be because...
can you find? How much redundant language is there? Find examples of uncommon or  This is due to the fact that...
topic-specific vocabulary. (Note "things like that" - the meaning of "like" is not the same
as the meaning in the question.)  I suppose the reason has something to do with the fact that…

Possible starting phrases for "liking" questions include: "Well in general I would say that quite passionate about Italian food; to be more specific
I would probably say that I'm really into pizza and pasta. This is mainly because my
 Well in general I would say that", girlfriend is Italian so she always cooks Italian cuisine at home."
 Actually, I suppose that for the most part I’d probably say that... Now use a linking phrase to introduce your second point.
 Well, to be honest I should really say that...  As well as this...
 Of course I think I'd have to say that...  To add to this...
 Certainly I would definitely say that...  In addition to this...
 Well, I guess that generally speaking I would certainly say that ... Use another "liking" expression: "As well as this, I’m quite partial to vegetarian food."
Then select the first "liking" expression and add the topic word or a general category of Now be more specific:
the topic.
"As well as this, I’m quite partial to vegetarian food especially things like bean curd.
Example: "Well in general I would say that I’m quite passionate about Italian food: ..." This could be because... I'm quite conscious of healthy eating and bean curd is a fat-free
food and it's high in nutritional value."
Now you need to add a linking word or phrase to introduce a specific type of the topic or
category (eg. pizza). So the complete structure looks like this:
4
"Well to be quite honest, in general I would say that I’m actually quite keen on.... but in
particular I would probably have to say that I'm really into...you know, things like... I Question Type 3: “Disliking” Questions
guess the reason why I am a fan of...is because I adore...In addition to this I suppose also "Disliking" questions are quite common in Part One of the speaking test. The answers
pretty passionate about.... especially...and things like that, and this is due to the fact can be very similar to the "liking" questions but with "disliking" vocabulary.
that..."
The following language can be used to express “dislikes".
Use the structure above to answer the following questions:
 I’m not so keen on...
 What food do you like?
 I’m not really that fond of...
 Do you like listening to music?
 I’m not much of a fan of...
 Do you like reading?
And for very strong "dislikes" use the following:
 Do you like shopping?
 I totally detest...
 What do you like about your hometown?
 I really can't stand...
 What do you like about your studies / job?
 I absolutely loathe...
Now answer the questions using your own structure.
In your answer, try to use a "dislike" and a "strong dislike" phrase. Use the same style of
structure as the "liking" answer but change the linking phrases.
Example:
"Is there anything you don't like about your hometown?"
“Of course I think have to say that I’m not so keen on the weather. To be more precise, I
really can‘t stand the summer months. This is due to the fact that the temperatures can
get as high as 40 degrees so it can be quite uncomfortable if you don‘t have air
conditioning in your house. In addition to this, I'm not really that fond of the public
transport system. And I guess this is probably because the buses are too old and the seats
are really hard, so long journeys are usually pretty bumpy."
Now answer the following "disliking" questions using a similar structure:
 Is there anything you don't like about your school / studies?
 Is there any food you don‘t like?
 What’ the worst thing about shopping?
 Are there any clothes that you don‘t like?
 What type of weather do you dislike?
Summary of "Liking / Disliking" Questions
The most important thing is to avoid the simple vocabulary (like, dislike. enjoy, love,
hate) and replace these with the expressions given in this chapter.

5
Many candidates put "likes" and "dislikes" in the same answer (usually the "liking"
question). This is not wrong, but as we have seen, the answers to these questions can be Question Type 4: “Types of” Questions
quite long, so it is better to split them into two separate answers. Another common type of questions in Part One is "types of" questions.
Remember: Give a developed answer to every question. In the past I have heard answers
like these: For example:
Do you like animals? - No, I don’t like animals. "Tell me about the different types of public transport in your city."
Do you like reading? - No, I like watching TV instead. The most common problem with these questions is shown in the following answer:
Is there anything you don’t like about your hometown? - No. I like my city. "In my city there are many types of public transport, for example, buses, taxis,
motorcycle taxis, trains, planes, ferries and mini-buses."
As a rule, if the examiner asks you if you like something, give a positive answer (yes)
even if that answer is not true. In the same way, if the question is: "Is there anything you In this answer, the candidate lists seven types of public transport. However, the answer is
don’t like about...?" you should also give a positive answer (yes). 100% content and there is no evidence of native-speaker style language. Some
candidates may believe that get one mark for every type of transport that they list but
Speaking positively is much easier than speaking negatively and it is easier to give this is not true.
reasons and examples to say "why" rather than "why not".
One reason for this answer is that in spoken Chinese it is quite common to give these
Remember: Base your answer on language not on fact or truth. You do not get any marks "list" style answers.
for telling the truth!
A good answer to these questions should be structured and developed in the following
way.
Begin with an opening phrase:
 Well actually...
 Of course, you know...
 Sure, obviously...
 Of course, it goes without saying…
 OK, certainly...
Then use one of the following:
 ...there’s quite a mixed variety of...
 ...there’s quite an extensive diversity of…
 ...there's quite a wide range of...
 ...there's quite a diverse mixture..
 ...there’s a fairly broad range of...
So the opening line might be:
"Of course, it goes without saying that there’s quite a mixed variety of public transport
in my city.”
6
Now use the following structure to introduce the first type: So the first part of the answer could be:
 But I guess the most adj. ...would probably be... "Of course, it goes without saying that there's quite a mixed variety of public transport in
my city. Though I think the most commonly-used would potentially be buses. And the
 However, I suppose the most adj. ...could possibly be... explanation for this could be that they are so cheap and reliable. The average bus fare in
 Though I think the most adj. ...would potentially be... my city is about one yuan for a single journey.

 Yet I imagine the most adj. ...may well be... Notice that the detail sentence doesn’t repeal the word "buses", instead it uses the
pronoun "they" (some answers will need "it").
 Still, I suspect that the most adj. ...could perhaps be...
Also notice that the detail sentence uses a linking word "in fact" to make a complex
In these structures you will need to select an adjective which fits the question. Here are structure.
some possible adjective suggestions:
Now use a linking phrase to introduce a second type.
common commonplace influential
 Besides (buses), …
popular frequent prevalent
 As well as (buses), …
fashionable trendy notorious
 In addition to (buses), …
famous well-known crucial
 Another kind of (public transport) would be...
widely-used widely-known prominent
 Another form of (public transport) worth mentioning could be...
important significant widespread
 A second variety of (public transport) would be something like...
standard conventional celebrated
 A subsequent category would be something like...
hip with-it commonly-used
So the next part of the answer might be:
usual customary commonly-known
"As well as buses, a second variety of public transport would be something like taxis."
current fashionable notable
Add a linking phrase to develop the second type:
best-selling up-to-date renowned
So the first sentence could be:  And the main characteristic of (taxis) is that...

"Of course, it goes without saying that there's quite a mixed variety of public transport in  And the unique aspect of (taxis) is that...
my city. Though I think the most commonly-used would potentially be buses."  And one exceptional aspect with (taxis) is that...
Now use a phrase to add a detail: Add the detail with a linking word to form a complex sentence:
 The thing with buses is that... "As well as buses, a second variety of public transport would be something like taxis.
 I assume buses are so + adj. because... And one exceptional aspect with (taxis) is that they are certainly the quickest way to get
around town. So if you‘re in a hurry then taxis are the best bet (= the best choice).”
 The point I want to add about buses is that...
Now you need to add a vague end line:
 And what you have to realize with buses is that...
 And of course there‘s the usual things like...
 And the explanation for this could be that...
 And obviously you can also find things like...
 And the basis of this is that...
7
  Likewise, as might be expected, there are things like... See the individual topic sections later in the book for vocabulary ideas on types and
kinds of particular topics.
 And naturally, there are things like...
So the final sentence might be:
"Likewise, as might be expected, there‘s things like ferries, motorcycle taxis and trains,
although these are not as widely-used as the first two that I mentioned."
So the finished structure might look something like:
"Of course, it goes without saying there's quite an extensive diversity of... (topic) Still, I
suspect that the most + adj. could perhaps be... (type) And what you have to realize
with... (type l) is that... In fact / so / but / because... (detail)
Another form of... (topic) worth mentioning could be... (type 2) And the main
characteristic of (type 2) is that... (detail) (+ linking word / complex structure). And
naturally, there‘s things like... (2 or 3 other types)"
Use the complete model structure to answer the following questions:
 Tell me about the types of sports that are popular in your country.
 What kinds of restaurants are popular in your country?
 What types of shops can be found in your local area?
 What types of things do people collect in your country?
 What hobbies are common in your country?
 What types of TV programmes are popular in your country?
Now design your own structure using the language options provided in this section.
Summary of "Types of" Questions
Don’t repeat the adjective used in the question. Example:
"What kinds of restaurants are popular in your country?”
In your answer, don’t use “popular”. Example:
“Yet I imagine the most widespread may well be…”
Sometimes candidates struggle to find content for these questions, because they
generalize their answer too much. Example:
"What kinds of restaurants are popular in your country?”
If you say "Chinese restaurants", this is far too general and it is difficult to introduce
other types of restaurants.

8
  Well in all fairness...
Question Type 5: “Wh- / How Often” Questions
 In actual fact...
This question type is very common in Part One. Look at the following examples:
 In fact, in all honesty...
 How often do you go to the cinema?
Now select a "depends" phrase:
 At what time of day do you usually read?
 ...I think I would have to say that it really depends.
 Where do you usually buy your clothes?
 ...I suppose I would have to maintain that it kind of depends really.
 Who do you spend your weekends with?
 ...I imagine that it would depend on the situation.
 When do you listen to music?
 ...I guess my answer would be determined by different conditions.
The problem with these questions is that many candidates give very direct "information-
focused" responses. It is quite common for candidates to respond to these questions in Now select a linking phrase:
the following way:  Like for instance...
 Maybe once a week.  More precisely like...
 In the evenings before I sleep.  Like more specifically...
 In New World Department store.  Like, to be more direct...
 My parents or my friends.  You know like, to be exact...
 At weekends and in the evenings. Notice that all of these linking phrases include the word "like". In these structures "like"
As we have discovered, it is almost impossible to achieve a high score with this style of is a conjunction used as a meaningless filler word. This is very typical of informal
answer. The key to these questions is to answer the question with two or three different native-speaker English.
responses. Example: It is important to get the next step exactly right. The success of this structure relies on
“How often do you go to the cinema?" the following conditional grammar structure:

"Well to be honest, I think I would have to say that it really depends. Like for instance, if Select one of the following:
I have the money, then it‘s quite possible that I will watch a movie in the cinema, two or  If (situation A)... then I will most likely...
three times a month. You know cinema tickets are pretty pricey in China. Whereas in
contrast, if I’m broke, it‘s more likely that I watch movies at home on DVD: you  If (situation A)... then it's quite possible than I will...
probably know that DVDs are quite cheap here, especially compared to the price of a
 If (situation A)... then as a consequence I will probably...
cinema ticket."
 If (situation A)... then I guess it’s quite likely that I will
The key to the answer is the structure "it depends". If you use this, you can produce a
"situational contrast" which allows you to use contrast language (linking words). Your answer is going to compare two different situations or conditions. These can be
quite flexible. Here are some possible ideas to use:
The first step is too select an opening phrase:
Situation A Situation B
 Well to be honest...
Weekdays Weekends
 Well in truth...
Summer Winter
 Actually to be fair...
9
 Good weather Bad weather  When you go out in the evenings, what do you usually do?
Term time School holidays  How often do you play sports?
If I’m alone... If I’m with friends  How often do you eat out in restaurants?
If I’ve got a lot of time… If I'm fairly busy… Summary of "Wh- / How often" Questions
So the opening sentence might be: If you follow the example structure, make sure that you choose two situations that are
"Well in all fairness, I imagine that it would depend on the situation. Like for instance, if very different. It is easier to contrast two clearly different situations.
(situation A)... then I will most likely... so / because / in fact..." Make sure that you use "if" and "will" for both situations. This is a fairly complex
Answer the following question, introducing one situation. (Develop the situation using a grammar structure but it is easy to construct accurately. This type of answer directly
complex structure.) influences the "Grammar" score and the "Fluency" score in your speaking lest.
"How much time do you spend listening to music?"
(If possible try to avoid repeating the question vocabulary "listening to music".) Now
you can compare situation A with situation B. Add a compare linking phrase:
 Whereas in contrast...
 Though, at the same time…
 Whereas on the other hand...
 While, oppositely...
Select one of the following:
 If (situation B)… then it’s more likely that I’ll…
 If (situation B)… then it‘s almost certain that I will...
 If (situation B)… then I will almost always...
 If (situation B)… then I will most certainly...
Remember to develop situation B with a complex structure.
Now answer the following questions using the fully developed structure for two
situations. (If you want to give a
longer response you could even introduce a third situation.)
 How often do you go to the cinema?
 Where do you usually go shopping?
 When do you usually read?
 At what time of day do you usually listen to music?
 Who do you spend your evenings with?
10
 It is possible to use this type of structure for many, but not all, "Yes / No" questions.
Question Type 6: “Yes / No” Questions
Look at the list of questions at the beginning of this section and decide which ones you
In Part One, the examiner might ask you questions which appear to be direct "Yes / No" would be able to answer with this structure.
questions.
The structure can be built in this way. First, use an opening phrase:
Look at the following examples:
 Well in actual fact, if I think about it, I guess that in many ways...
 Do people wear special clothes at weddings in your country?
 OK, well in reality, I suppose that to some extent...
 Is watching TV a popular activity in your country?
 Alright. I guess that on the one hand...
 Do you think it is important to play sports / do physical exercise?
 Well certainly in some ways...
 Is fast food popular in your country?
Now make your first statement (e.g. It’s fairly important...). Develop the first statement
 Is healthy eating important? using a linking structure:
 Can you play a musical instrument?  ...especially when you consider that...
 Do you think it‘s important for children to learn to play a musical instrument?  ...particularly if you think about the point that...
 Is food expensive in your country?  ...especially with regard to the point that...
 Is education free in your country?  ...and this is definitely the case with...
 Do you think you are an ambitious person? Try using this structure to give a "Yes" answer for the following questions:
A common problem with these questions is that many candidates begin their answer  Is crime a problem in your country?
with a direct "Yes" or "No" and then or more details to explain their answer.
 Do people in your country often keep pets?
This is not wrong, but these answers are often too simple in grammar structure and lack
the essential linking phrases.  Is it always good to be ambitious?

A better answer is to answer BOTH "Yes" and "No". By doing this you will produce a Now you need to introduce your "No" answer. First use a linking phrase:
response with better quality language structures.  But you also have to understand that...
Look at the following example:  Even so, you could also say that...
"Is healthy eating important?"  At the same time you could say that...
"Yes, healthy eating is important, because..." After describing your "No" answer, you can "round-off " the answer with one of the
If you answer in this way, you are limiting your answer to a fairly basic structure. following phrases:
Now look at the next example:  So all in all I guess my answer would have to be yes and no.
"Well in actual fact, if I think about it. I guess that in many ways it's fairly important;  So on the whole I suppose the answer has to be yes and no.
especially when you consider that a healthy diet can help to prevent a variety of diseases
 So all things considered I guess the answer is both yes and no.
and health problems such as diabetes and obesity. But you also have to understand that
eating unhealthy food in moderation is not overly harmful. In fact unhealthy food is  So in the main, I suppose the answer is probably yes and no.
often tastier than healthy food so I guess it’s fine to eat a little junk food now and then.
So all in all I guess my answer would have to be yes and no." Use the full structure to answer the following questions:
11
  Do many people work on farms in your country?
Question Type 7: “Would” Questions
 Is food expensive in your country?
Look at the following questions:
 Is public transport expensive in your country?
 Would you like to move to another city in the future?
 Do you think that it is important to spend time alone?
 Would you like to change your job?
Some “Yes / No" questions in Part One cannot use this "Yes and No" style of response.
Look at the following questions:  Would you like to live near the sea?

 Is watching TV a popular activity in your country?  Would you like to learn another foreign language?
 Can you play a musical instrument?  Would you like to be in a film?

 Are friends important to you?  What would you like to change about your city?
With questions like this it may be difficult to answer both yes and no. It is probably  What would you like to change about your school (school in the past)?
much easier to give a "Yes" answer. Use the structures given to introduce your "Yes"
 Would you like to change your name?
idea and then develop this single idea with one or two reasons or details.
When the examiner asks these questions, he or she is listening carefully to one aspect of
Summary of "Yes / No" Questions your answer. What do you think is the most important aspect of your answer for these
The most important thing is to avoid repeating the question structure with a "Yes" or questions?
"No". Example: Look al the following example:
"Is fast food popular in your country?" "Would you like to change your name?"
"Yes, fast food is very popular in my country, especially..." "No, I don't want to change my name. In fact I think I'm really fond of my name because
As we have seen before, repeating the question structure does not have any significant it has quite a deep and significant meaning, and as well as this, my mother chose it for
influence on your score, so if you want a high score - DON'T DO IT! me so she doesn’t want me to change it. Actually I am sure I will never change my
name!"
With these questions you need to think quite quickly, especially if you want to give a
“Yes and No" style answer. You don't need to have wonderful ideas for your "Yes and Is this a good answer?
No" answer. Just something that gives you the chance to use the structure. Remember - What is good about this answer?
the examiner is not marking your ideas.
What is missing from this answer?
The grammar aspect of these questions 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 tense in your answer.
In fact the examiner is expecting you to produce an example of this verb tense.
The form of the second conditional is quite simple:
If + past simple, would / could / might + infinitive verb.
e.g.: If I lived near the sea, I would be able to eat fresh seafood.

12
 If I had the time, I would go for travelling. “No I wouldn’t like to move to another city, because if I lived in another city I
wouldn‘t have any friends.”
The second conditional is used to talk about a present or future time, to describe an
event that is unlikely (hypothetical). Try to make some negative sentences for the questions (remember your details and
reasons can be either positive or negative structures, but they should be second
e.g.: If I worked in a factory, I would be tired every day! (But I don‘t work in a
conditional).
factory and it’s unlikely that I will work in a factory in the future.)
Sometimes candidates begin these questions with: "I never thought about it." This is not
Activity 1 a good example of native-speaker language. The following structures can be used to
Think of one basic second conditional structure for each question: use positive begin your answer.
sentences. Try to use different words for each example.  Well, quite honestly I don‘t think ever thought about that, but I guess...
e.g.: "Would you like to move to another city in the future?"  Actually, this isn’t something that I've ever considered, but in short...
"I would like to change cities if I had the chance.” Or "If I had the chance I
 I’m not really sure how to put this, but I suppose generally speaking...
would like to move to another city."
Look at the following complete structure:
 Would you like to change your job?
"Would you like to move to another city?"
 Would you like to live near the sea?
"Actually, this isn’t something that I’ve ever considered, but in short I suppose I would
 Would you like to learn another foreign language? possibly consider moving cities, especially I had the chance to move to a coastal city
 Would you like to be in a film? like Xiamen or Sanya. 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
 What would you like to change about your city? scuba-diving and possibly surfing."
 What would you like to change about your school? Notice how the first structure used "verb+ing": "I suppose I would possibly consider
moving cities..."
 Would you like to change your name?
This structure is much more complex than the basic: "I suppose I would like to move to
 What job would you like to do in the future? another city…”
 Would you like to live in a foreign country? Try to use one of the following structures for your first structure.
 Would you like to be a professional photographer?  I imagine I would possibly think about (verb + ing)...
When you add a reason or detail, you need to use more second conditional structures:  I guess I would maybe contemplate (verb + ing)...
e.g.: “Would you like to move to another city in the future?”
 I would perhaps reflect on (verb + ing)...
“I would like to change cities if I had the chance, because if I lived in a
Look at the activity questions again and try to use one "verb + ing" structure for each.
different city I would make lots of new friends and I could try lots of new kinds
Try to use a different verb from the question verb.
of food. Also I might be able to find a well-paid job."
e.g.: "Would you like to learn another foreign language?
Activity 2
"Well, quite honestly I don’t think ever thought about that. But I guess I would
Go back to the previous activity questions and develop your answer with details or maybe contemplate up a new language."
reasons, using more examples of the second conditional. (Try to use some examples with
"might" and "could".) For some of these questions it is possible to use a negative form. Now practice developing all of the "Would" questions in this section.
e.g.: “Would you like to move to another city?”
13
Summary of Part One Question Types Part One Topics
In Part One of the speaking test, most of the questions asked will be one of the seven
In this section each Part One topic is presented with possible questions and example
types described in this section. There may be one or two questions that are not covered,
uncommon vocabulary and idiomatic language relevant to that topic. (Remember - one
but most candidates will find that all of their part one questions are covered by these
of the most important aspects of the marking system is uncommon and idiomatic
seven types.
vocabulary.)
If the examiner asks a question that is not covered by these seven types, just remember
Most of the idioms have been explained in simple English, but the vocabulary has not
the following rule:
been translated into Chinese.
Long response - Linking phrases - Complex sentence - Redundant language You should use these topic pages as a learning tool. Select one or two topics per day and
use a good dictionary to translate the words yourself: in this way you will be actively
One obvious question that has not been described in this section is the "Why" question.
learning the new vocabulary. You will find it easier to remember the words if you have
These questions are more common in Part Three but they occasionally appear in Part
translated them yourself.
One. See the Part Three question types later in this book for ideas on how to answer
these questions. Topic 1: Where you live
 Tell me about your hometown / street / apartment.
 What do you like about your hometown / street / house / apartment?
 Tell me the good things about your house.
 Is there anything you don’t like about it?
 Would you like to move to another city / street / house/ apartment?
 What would you change about your city?
 Would you recommend your area / street as a good place to live?
Nouns
winding street suburb architecture back alley
the locals (= people) local cuisine shopping district
residential area estate neighborhood municipality
apartment complex capital
Adjectives
sprawling regionally important commercial powerful
unique distinctive built-up affluent
industrial provincial

Idioms
run-down (= in bad condition)
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 Some areas are run-down. When there's a problem I have to pick up the pieces.
up-market / chic (= fashionable) Topic 2b: What you do - your studies
Some neighborhoods are becoming very up-market / chic.  What are you studying?
Topic 2a: What you do - your job  Where are you studying?
 Tell me about your job. / What job do you do?  Why did you choose this college / university?
 Why did you choose this job?  What’s good about where you‘re studying?
 What do you like about your job?  What would you like to do after your studies?
 How long have you been doing this job? Nouns
 Is there anything you don't like? schoolwork branch of learning field of study discipline
Nouns lecturer theory
profession line of business occupation line of work Verbs
Verbs revise comprehend succeed in become skilled in
be involved in share responsibility for work within a team Adjectives
Adjectives hands-on (= practical) job-related theoretical reputable
hectic exhausting taxing intricate highly regarded compulsory optional
undemanding Idioms
Idioms pass with flying colors (=pass with a high score)
work flat out (= work very hard) I passed my entrance exam with flying colors.
Sometimes I have to work flat out. sail through (= finish sth. easily and quickly)
on the go (= very busy) I can usually sail through all my assessments.
I’m always on the go. to flunk (= to fail / perform badly)
get to the bottom of (= solve) I always seem to flunk my compulsory maths tests.
I have to get to the bottom of problems related to... cross that bridge when sb. come to it (=deal with a problem when it arrives)
pull out all the stops (= make a special effort) I’m not worried about that now – I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
When it’s busy I have to pull out all the stops. Topic 3: Hobbies/ Free-time activities
take charge of (= manage)  Do you have any hobbies?
I often have to take charge of the whole department.  What do you do in your free time?
pick up the pieces (= take responsibility)  What hobbies / free-time activities are popular in your country?

15
  Is it important to have a hobby? Nouns
 Why is it important for people to have free-time activities? team game spectator sport physical activity squad
 Is it harmful to spend too much time on a hobby? solo sport

 What free-time activities would you like to try in the future? Verbs

Nouns compete challenge get fit lose weight

leisure pursuit spare time pastime stay healthy

Verbs Adjectives

amuse oneself by unwind by kill time by strenuous physical energizing revitalizing

Adjectives Idioms

fascinating captivating time-consuming appealing have a crack at (= had a try at)

Idioms I had a crack at baseball but it was too strenuous for me

take up (= start) get into shape

I've recently taken up swimming. I‘ve been trying to get into shape by going to the gym.

take part in
I frequently take part in group activities like...
get into (= enjoy)
Recently I’ve been getting into fishing.
have a go at (= try)
I'd really like to have a go at scuba diving.
idle away the hours (= spend time)
In my time off I often idle away the hours by playing guitar.
Topic 4: Sports
 Do you like playing sports?
 How often do you play sports?
 What sports are most popular in your country?
 Do you think it is important to play a sport?
 What sports would you like to try in the future?
 Do you prefer watching or playing sports?

16
Topic 5: Television Topic 6: Music
 Do you like watching TV?  Do you like listening to music?
 How much time do you spend watching TV?  What types of music do you like listening to?
 When do you usually watch TV?  Where do you usually listen to music?
 What types of TV programme do you like watching?  Can you play any musical instruments?
 What types of TV programme are popular in your country?  Do you think it's important for children to learn to play a musical instrument?
 Why do children like watching TV?  Do you prefer listening to live performances or recorded music?
Nouns Nouns
telly (= TV) episode series soap opera harmony melody lyric synthesizer
documentary mainstream sitcom audience concert gig (= concert) album tune
viewer portable CD player MP3 player a hit record
Verbs Verbs
turn on / off / over tune in sit in from of the telly broadcast download (MP3's) burn CD's put on a CD / piece of music
repeat produce televise Adjectives
Adjectives funky catchy soothing atmospheric
witty enlightening mind-numbing (= boring) Idioms
televised live-broadcast attention-grabbing (= interesting) blow one’s mind
pre-recorded The music was so amazing it blew my mind.
Idioms set sth. to music
watch the box (= watch TV) The composer managed to set the lyrics to music.
I often watch the box at weekends. chill out to (= relax)
channel surf (= change TV channels frequently) I often chill out to atmospheric ambient music.
I usually sit in front of the telly and channel surf.

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Topic 7: Reading Topic 8: Email
 Do you like reading?  What do most people in your country use email for?
 How often do you read?  What do most people in your country use email for?
 What do you like to read?  What are the advantages of email?
 Where do you usually read?  Are there any disadvantages?
 Do you read for pleasure or to get information?  Do you think that email will replace letter-writing?
Nouns Nouns
a work of fiction biography novel novelist email account electronic message attachment spam (= junk mail)
poetry author literature best-seller commercial correspondence (= business communication) cyberspace
Verbs Verbs
scan skim browse flick through send out deliver delete
flip through Adjectives
Adjectives web-based prompt speedy virtual
fictional gripping contemporary classical time-consuming
Idioms Idioms
read up on (= read about) snail mail (= sending letters through the post)
I often read up on modern literature. Snail mail is extremely time-consuming.
have one’s nose in a book (= read a book) lost in cyberspace (= lost somewhere on the Internet)
I always have my nose in a book. Sometimes emails get lost in cyberspace.
a coffee-table book (= a large book that one leaves on the table, often with photos etc.) at the push of a button
I sometimes flick through a coffee-table book. With email you can send a message at the push of a button.

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Topic 9: Learning English Topic 10: Writing
 How long have you been learning English?  How often do you write something by hand?
 What do you find difficult about learning English?  What types of things do you usually write by hand?
 What advice would you give to someone starting to learn English?  Do you think it is important to have good handwriting?
 Would you like to learn another language in the future?  What are the advantages of writing something by hand?
Nouns Nouns
expression irregularity syntax learning handwriting calligraphy correspondence script
strategy diary journal
Verbs Verbs
become skilled at sth. make progress recall scrawl scribble sth. down (=write sth. quickly) keep a diary
Adjectives Adjectives
tough (= difficult) effortless (= easy) intricate hand-written illegible sloppy (= untidy) clear (= tidy)
Idioms personal
learn by heart (=remember) Idioms
It’s quite tough to learn expressions by heart. put pen to paper (= write by hand)
swot up on (=learn) I don‘t put pen to paper very often.
I find it effortless to swot up on the irregular verbs. put...in writing
block out (= ignore) A diary is a cool way to put your thoughts in writing
It’s a good idea to block out your first language. jot down (= write quickly)
I might jot down a new idea in my notebook.

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Topic 11: Clothes Topic 12: School (that you went to when you were younger--NOT
 What types of clothes do you like wearing? your current school)
 Where do you usually buy your clothes?  Tell me about a school that you went to when you were younger.

 Did you wear a school uniform when you were younger?  What did you like about that school?

 What can we learn about a person from the clothes that they wear?  What subject did you like best at that school?

Nouns  What would you like to change about that school?

clothing garment trend clothes Nouns

boutique rules and regulations subject matter curriculum tutor

Verbs Verbs

flaunt show off dress up cram (= remember a lot of information in a short time) clarify

Adjectives punish reward assess

stylish chic well-made hard-wearing Adjectives

Idioms monotonous thought-provoking authoritarian easy-going

the in thing (= fashionable) Idioms

This summer, baggy jeans are the in thing. off by heart (= remember l00%)

at the height of fashion (= fashionable) We had to learn all our lessons off by heart.

Sports clothing is at the height of fashion. off the top of one's head (= without any help)

up-to-the-minute (= the most recent) We had to recite famous stories off the top of our heads.

I don't really follow up-to-the-minute fashions. come down like a ton of bricks (= punish severely)

dressed to the nines (= wearing very formal clothes) My maths teacher used to come down on us like a ton of bricks if we couldn't
work out some problems.
If a person is dressed to the nines, then it usually means they want to impress
someone.

20
Topic 13: Restaurants Topic 14: Friends
 How often do you eat out in restaurants?  How much time do you spend with your friends?
 What types of restaurants do you like best?  What do you usually do with your friends?
 What types of restaurants are common in your city?  Do you prefer spending time with your family or friends?
 What are the advantages of eating out in restaurants?  Is friendship important to you?
 (See Topic 31: Cooking and Topic 36: Food.) Nouns
Nouns companion acquaintance best-buddy (US) best-mate (UK)
eatery cuisine meal specialty dish company sibling shared interests (= similar hobbies)
delicacy service décor selling Verbs
Verbs get together hang out with socialize
eat out dine out feast on sample Adjectives
Adjectives sociable gregarious out-going chummy
regional swanky posh low-cost extrovert introvert
unsophisticated
Idioms
Idioms
own flesh and blood (= family relative)
not as good as it's / they’re cracked up to be (= not as good as people say)
Obviously my siblings are my own flesh and blood so I love them very much.
Lots of the posh restaurants are not as good as they’re cracked up to be.
soul mate (= best friend)
run of the mill (= average, typical)
I usually hang out with my soul mate.
In my neighborhood there are quite a few run of the mill eateries.
a sounding board (= a good person to talk to)
set sb. back (= cost sb. an amount of money)
I can use my best male as a sounding board when I have problems.
The swanky restaurants will set you back quite a lot of money.

21
Topic 15: Festivals Topic 16: Meeting new people
 Do you often celebrate festivals in your culture?  Do you often meet new people?
 What do people usually do during festivals?  In your country where can you meet new people?
 Which is your favorite festival?  How easy is it to meet new people in your city?
 Do you think festivals are important?  Is it possible to meet people from other countries where you live?
Nouns  (Sec vocabulary for Topic 14: Friends.)
celebration festivity reunion family get-together Nouns
ceremony ritual legend folklore individual meeting point gathering place nightclub
Verbs Verbs
celebrate reunite revisit pay one‘s respects to congregate flock to meet for the first time crowd together
Adjectives get acquainted with befriend
cheerful customary long-established time-honored Adjectives
Idioms approachable antisocial
push the boat out (= have a party) Idioms
We really push the boat out during spring festival celebrations. bump into (= meet)
make merry (= drink and cal)
It’s quite easy to bump into someone from another country.
People always make merry on New Year's Eve.
make somebody’s acquaintance (= get to know somebody)
slap-up meal (= big meal)
It's possible to make somebody's acquaintance online.
There is usually a customary slap-up meal.
in high spirits (= happy)
Everyone is in high spirits just before midnight.

22
Topic 17: The sea Topic 18: Computers
 Have you spent much time near the sea?  How often do you use computers?
 What do people usually do when they visit the sea?  In what ways do people use computers in your country?
 Why do people like spending time near the sea?  How did you learn to use a computer?
 Would you like to live near the sea?  How much have computers changed your life?
Nouns Nouns
coast shoreline seashore water’s edge laptop worldwide web online shopping chat
wave scuba diving marine wildlife sea breeze room forum online gaming
beach resort Verbs
Verbs surf (the net) browse (website) sit in front of (the computer)
sunbathe get a suntan paddle go for a swim Adjectives
Adjectives digital electronic virtual computer-literate
marine rocky sandy pebbly Idioms
tropical exotic coastal (water) crystal-clear technophobe (= someone who can’t use a computer)
Idioms I used to be a technophobe but now I am computer-literate.
go for a dip (= go swimming) call up (= find and read)
You can go for a dip in the crystal-clear water I can use the Internet to call up current news items.
get one’s sea legs (= get used to being on a ship / boat) conk out on (= break)
I went sailing but it took me a while to get my sea legs. My old computer conked out on me.
do… by hand
Some tasks I prefer to do by hand, like writing letters.

23
Topic 19: Collecting things Topic 20: Dancing
 Have you ever collected anything?  Do you like dancing?
 What things do people collect in your country?  What kinds of dancing are popular in your country?
 Why people like collecting things?  Is traditional dancing popular among young people in your country?
 Would you like to start collecting something new in the future?  What kind of dancing do people like watching?
Nouns Nouns
collection postage stamp autograph album ballet ballroom dancing salsa break-dancing
personal value ethnic minority
Verbs Verbs
hoard accumulate classify collecting boogie twist twirl
have an obsession for collecting have a fixation with Adjectives
Adjectives rhythmic ritual ceremonial
antique vintage rare valuable Idioms
high sought-after worthless two left feet (describing someone who cannot dance)
Idioms I can’t dance at all, in fact I've got two left feet.
a one-off (= only one of its kind) all the rage (= fashionable)
I have a very rare stamp; in fact it’s a one-off. Nowadays break-dancing is all the rage.
here and there (= in different places)
I sometimes find valuable stamps here and there.
once in a blue moon (= not very often)
Once in a blue moon you can find a really rare example.

24
Topic 21: Learning languages Topic 22: Weather
 What languages do you speak?  What’s the weather like where you live?
 Do you think it's important to learn a foreign language?  What do you do when the weather is bad?
 What languages are spoken in your country?  What type of weather do you like best?
 Would you like to learn another language in the future?  Would you like to have that type of weather all year round?
Nouns
Nouns
native tongue dialect verbal communication
climate average temperature shower spell
Verbs
blizzard
be fluent in converse chat
Verbs
Adjectives
drizzle shift vary
understandable unintelligible meaningless
Adjectives
Idioms
(rain) torrential sun-drenched muggy (= humid)
have a chinwag (= have a conversation)
clammy (= humid) balmy (= warm) sweltering (= hot)
When I travelled to France, I tried to have a chinwag with the locals.
chilly (=cold) nippy (=cold) sunny
all Greek (= a language that one doesn’t understand)
Idioms
When I went to Korea, I tried to converse with some people but the native
tongue was all Greek to me. chuck it down (= rain heavily)
In spring it usually chucks it down for days on end.
rain or shine (= in all weather)
Rain or shine - I love to be outdoors.
like a sauna (= a hot and humid place)
My city is like a sauna in summer.

25
Topic 23: Happiness Topic 24: Shopping
 What kinds of things make you happy?  Do you like shopping?
 What do you do if you feel unhappy?  How often do you go shopping?
 Is unhappiness always a bad thing?  What kind of shops are there in the area where you live?
Nouns  What’s the worst thing about shopping?
pleasure satisfaction depression frame of mind Nouns
Verbs essential luxury independent retailer chain
cheer up brighten up go through (a bad time) store market stall
Adjectives Verbs
contented gloomy overjoyed dejected purchase flog (slang for “sell”) haggle pick out
Idioms Adjectives
in high spirits (= happy) inexpensive low-priced pricey over-priced
I am always in high spirits when I go out with my friends. fake genuine posh classy
on cloud nine (= happy) Idioms
After I win at basketball I feel like I’m on cloud nine. the real McCoy (= genuine, not fake)
down in the dumps (= sad) Most chain stores only stock the Real McCoy goods.
I usually feel down in the dumps if my football team loses. going for a song (= offered at a low price)
If I see some classy products going for a song – I might be temped.
rip sb. off (= cheat sb.)
Some market stalls rip you off – they always flog fake stuff.

26
Topic 25: Films Topic 26: Weekends
 Do you like watching films?  What do you usually do at the weekends?
 What types of film do you like watching?  What do people usually do at weekends in your country?
 How often do you watch Elms?  Do you think your weekends are long enough?
 Do you prefer watching films at home or at the cinema?  How important do you think it is to have free time?
Nouns  (Use the same vocabulary for Topic 3 Hobbies / Free-time activities.)
big name star director current release Nouns
DVD release oldie (= old movie) soundtrack blockbuster leisure pursuit spare time pastime time off
flick (slang for movie) the picture (= the cinema) Verbs
Verbs amuse by unwind by kill time by
produce direct start in act in Adjectives
play the lead role soothing pleasing engaging
Adjectives Idioms
unforgettable avant-garde tear-jerking spellbinding let one’s hair down (= relax)
thrilling samey action-packed big-budget At weekends I usually let my hair down.
Idioms take it easy (= relax)
film buff (= someone who loves films) On Saturdays I take it easy.
I wouldn’t describe myself as a film buff. slip by (= (time) passes quickly)
box-office smash (= a very successful film) I feel like the weekend slips by too quickly).
I find most box-office smashes to be a bit samey.

27
Topic 27: Going out in the evening Topic 28: Animals
 How often do you go out in the evening?  Do you like animals?
 Who do you usually spend your evenings with?  What types of animals do people keep as pets in your country?
 When you go out in the evening what do you usually do?  How do most people feel about animals in your country?
 Do you think there is enough to do in the evening in your city?  What are animals used for in your country?
Nouns Nouns
dusk nightlife nightspot discotheque wildlife species domestic animals mammal
cafe reptile dairy farming
Verbs Verbs
go for a stroll wander around pay a visit to protect conserve raise (farm animals)
Adjectives Adjectives
invigorating happening (= fashionable) late-night endangered extinct domesticated
Idioms Idioms
regular haunt (= a place one regularly goes to) flora and fauna (= all animals and plans)
My regular late-night haunt is a trendy little café. People in cities don't really care about flora and fauna.
drop in on (= visit) like one of the family
I sometimes drop in on my neighbors. People treat their dogs like one of the family.
the wee hours (= very early in the morning – after midnight) make a fuss over (= care very much for)
I usually have to get home before the wee hours. People often make a fuss over their pets.
in the dead of night (= very late at night)
Occasionally I go for a stroll in the dead of night.

28
Topic 29: Routines Topic 30: Family
 What time do you usually get up in the morning?  Tell me about your family.
 Are your weekday and weekend routines different?  What kind of things do you and your family do together?
 What’s your favorite time of day?  Who does the housework in your family?
 What’s the worst part of the day for you?  Would you prefer to have a larger or smaller family?
Nouns Nouns
habit fixed schedule agenda routine family unit relative household chore (= housework)
Verbs family circle family connection
wake up get out of bed retire (= go to bed) Verbs
Adjectives adore admire enjoy the company of
later than usual earlier than normal flexible inflexible Adjectives
rigid habitual affectionate intimate distant
Idioms Idioms
the daily grind (= everyday work routine) it's in the blood (= a natural Part of one’s character)
At the weekend I can forget about the daily grind. All my family are really fond of reading - I guess it’s in the blood.
get away from it all (= get away from the daily work routine) run in the family (= be a shared family characteristic)
It’s a good idea to get away from it all at least once a month. My brothers and I have big ears - it runs in the family.
get into the swing of (= get used to) born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth (= born into a rich family)
I find it quite easy to get into the swing of my study routine. I wasn’t exactly burn with a silver spoon in my mouth - my family is quite
normal.
early bird (= someone who gets up early)
I’m not much of an early bird.

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Topic 31: Cooking Topic 32: Weddings
 Can you cook?  Have you ever been to a wedding?
 Who usually does the cooking in your home?  What do people usually do at weddings in your country?
 How do people usually learn to cook in your country?  What clothes do people usually wear at weddings in your country?
 What are the advantages of being able to cook?  Which people are usually invited to weddings?
Nouns Nouns
cookery cuisine ingredient recipe marriage ceremony bride groom honeymoon
home economics bile to eat (= snack) oven bridal gown banquet best man bride’s maid
Verbs Verbs
become skilled at prepare entertain (=have guests) get married give presents drink a toast
Adjectives Adjectives
yummy full of flavor nourishing hot from conventional customary ceremonial
home-cooked famished Idioms
Idioms tie the knot (= get married)
lip-smacking (= delicious) When people decide to tie the knot, they usually want to lead a steady life.
When I entertain guests I try to prepare some lip-smacking recipes. get hitched (= get married)
burn to a crisp (= burn food) My cousin got hitched when she was 21 years old.
Once I tried to prepare steak for my friends but it came out burn to a crisp. raise a glass (= drink a toast)
rustle up (= cook sth. quickly without a recipe) The bride and groom have to raise a glass with all the guests.
It’s good to be able to rustle up a quick bite to eat when you‘re famished. give (the bride) away (part of a traditional wedding ceremony)
The bride is given away by her father or mother.

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Topic 33: Public transport Topic 34: Travelling
 What types of public transport can be found in your city?  How much travelling have you done?
 What type of public transport do you use most?  Do you prefer travelling alone or in a group?
 Are there any public transport problems in your city?  When you visit new places, what do you like to do?
 How would you improve the public transport system in your city?  What places would you like to visit in the future?
Nouns Nouns
transport network bus system minicab traffic package tour independent travel tourism tourist
congestion delay fare commuter tourist trap sightseeing holiday-maker travel agent
journey rush hour Verbs
Verbs go backpacking go sightseeing
commute catch (a bus / train) Adjectives
Adjectives touristy tacky overdeveloped exclusive
old-fashioned inefficient well-organized government subsidized luxurious
Idioms Idioms
packed like sardines / jam-packed (= very crowded) off the beaten track (= to a place not usually visited by tourists)
During rush hour the buses are always jam-packed - actually the passengers are When I go backpacking I prefer to go off the beaten track.
packed like sardines.
rough it (= live in uncomfortable conditions. cg. camping)
pile-up (= traffic accident)
When we went camping we had to rough it for two days on the mountain.
Sometimes there are serious pile-ups on the main roads.
see the sights (= visit the famous places)
get stuck in traffic (= get stuck in a traffic jam)
I always try to see the sights.
Buses always get stuck in traffic during rush hour.

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Topic 35: Names Topic 36: Food
 Do you like your name?  What foods do you like eating?
 Does your name have any special meaning?  Is there any food that you don‘t like?
 Who usually chooses babies' names in your country?  What food is popular where you live?
 Would you ever change your name?  Is fast food popular in your country?
Nouns  (See Topic 13: Restaurants and Topic 31: Cooking.)
surname last name middle name nickname Nouns
meaning cuisine regional dish calorie flavor
Verbs Verbs
christen settle on signify pick out eat out dine out eat at home
Adjectives Adjectives
conventional insignificant auspicious scrumptious appetizing revolting fattening
Idioms wholesome peppery sugary vinegary
be named after (= have the same name as someone else) Idioms
My father named me after my great-grandfather. wolf down (= eat very quickly)
nothing out of the ordinary (= common, ordinary) When I’m in a hurry I wolf down some fat food.
My name is nothing out of the ordinary – it’s quite common. sink one's teeth into (= eat (some special food))
run of the mill (= typical. ordinary) I love to sink my teeth into a juicy steak.
My name is actually very run of the mill. something about it (= something strange or special)
I can‘t stand seafood. There’s just something about it not sure about.

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Topic 37: Birthdays Topic 38: Seasons
 How are birthdays usually celebrated in your country?  Tell me about the seasons in your country.
 What gifts do people receive on their birthdays in your country?  What is your favorite season?
 Do people eat special food on their birthdays in your country?  Do the seasons affect people’s behavior?
 Which birthday is most important in your culture?  Do you wear different clothes in different seasons?
Nouns Nouns
get-together shindig greeting card surprise time of year climate average temperature variability
Verbs Verbs
get older grow older crack open a bottle of wine vary fluctuate differ
Adjectives Adjectives
unexpected customary seasonal unpredictable erratic constant
Idioms Idioms
throw a party (= have a party) in blossom (= many flowers opening)
Most people throw a party on their 21st birthday. When you see the cherry trees in blossom you know spring is on its way.
let one’s hair down (= enjoy oneself) down south (= in the southern part of a country)
People can really let their hair down on their birthday. Down south the winters are much milder.
push the boat out / paint the town red (= have a big celebration) up north (= in the northern part of a country)
On their 21st birthday most people really push the boar out / paint the town red. Up north the winters can be quite harsh.

33
Topic 39: Birds Topic 40: Photography
 Are there many birds where you live?  Do you like taking photographs of new places?
 How do people in China feel about birds?  Is photography popular in your country?
 Do birds have any special meaning in your culture?  What kinds of photographs do you like looking at?
 Should we protect birds?  Would you prefer to buy a postcard or take a photograph of a new place?
Nouns Nouns
poultry domestic fowl (= farm birds) species snapshot likeness landscape shot studio print
habitat migratory bird resident bird pest Verbs
Verbs get (photos) developed pose for the camera
symbolize offer protection provide food for Adjectives
Adjectives photogenic camera-friendly picturesque photographable
rare endangered widespread commonplace Idioms
mythical fairy-tale symbolic do justice to... (= represent or illustrate... accurately)
Idioms Photographs don't do justice to the beauty of natural places.
on the wing (= flying) touch...up (= repair... on the surface)
In my city you can often see pigeons on the wing. The good thing about digital photos is that you can much them up afterwards.
dart in and out (= move quickly between two things, e.g. trees) strike a pose (= position oneself in a certain way)
Almost every day I catch a glimpse of a woodpecker darting in and out of the I never strike a pose in from of the camera - I'm not really photogenic.
pine trees near my house.
zoom in on (= use a zoom lens to get a closer view on a camera)
in one’s own backyard (= near where one lives)
My camera has a zoom lens so I can really zoom in on things and get fine detail
You never really see rare birds like owls in your own backyard. in my shots
ten a penny / dime a dozen (= very common)
Sparrows are ten a penny in my city - you can see them everywhere.

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Topic 41: Flowers Topic 42: Buildings
 Do you like flowers?  What types of buildings are there in your city?
 On what occasions do people give flowers in your culture?  Do you prefer old or new buildings?
 Do any flowers have a special meaning in your culture?  Are historical buildings important?
Nouns  Would you like to live in an old building?
flora petal lotus flower a bunch of (roses etc.) Nouns
florist hay fever a bouquet of flowers architecture structural design skyscraper office
artificial flower (= silk flower) block residence
Verbs Verbs
cultivate sneeze construct erect renovate demolish
Adjectives Adjectives
fragrant sweet-scented elegant well-designed unsightly contemporary
Idioms old-fashioned
in bloom (= when flowers are opening) Idioms
Roses give off a sweet fragrance when they are in bloom put up (= build)
reminiscent of (= reminding sb. of) They are putting up loads of unsightly office blocks.
The fragrance of flowers in blossom is reminiscent of spring. do up (= repair)
They should do up some of the old-fashioned residences.
pull down (= demolish)
They are pulling down older neighborhoods to make way for the new
skyscrapers.

35
Topic 43: Rain Topic 44: Museums
 Do you like rain?  Do you like museums?
 What do you usually do when it rains?  How often do you visit museums?
 How do people feel about rain where you live?  What types of museum can be found in your country?
 What do you think is worse, too much rain or not enough rain? Nouns
Nouns Natural History Museum antique artifact fossil
drizzle shower torrential rain downpour Verbs
Verbs put on display put on show exhibit
pour down spit (=rain lightly) Adjectives
Adjectives rare antique
showery damp waterlogged (clothing) waterproof Idioms
soaked take sth. in (= look at sth.)
Idioms It takes about a full day to take in all the museum.
chuck it down (=rain heavily) make a day of sth. (= spend a whole day doing sth.)
In spring it often chucks it down. I’m quite into making a day of walking around the science museum
get wet on view / on display
I really hate getting wet. There are loads of prehistoric fossils on view.
put off (= cancel a planned activity)
clear up (= stop raining)
If it’s pouring down with rain I will usually put off any outdoor activities until it
clears up.

36
Topic 45: Relaxation Topic 46: Cycling
 What do you usually do to relax?  Do you like cycling?
 How much time do you usually have to relax?  Is cycling popular in your country?
 What do people usually do to relax in your country?  What are the advantages of cycling?
 Do you think it’s important for people to relax?  How often do you walk to places?
 (Note: Most sporting activities are not "relaxing", so do not talk about sport for Nouns
this topic.)
pushbike mountain bike biking bike-riding
Nouns
Verbs
break rest
peddle slow down speed up
Verbs
Adjectives
unwind recuperate
invigorating energetic environmentally-friendly
Adjectives
Idioms
soothing comforting calming
had it (= broken)
Idioms
My old pushbike has had it so I’m saving up to buy a new mountain bike.
take a breather (= relax)
run the risk of
I’ve moved the front lawn, and I’m just taking a breather before taking the back
If you leave your bike in public place, you run the risk of having it stolen.
lawn.
chill out (= relax)
Stop working; take it easy.
take it easy (= relax)
Don‘t worry: take it easy.
put one’s feet up (= relax)
On weekends, we always put our feet up.

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Topic 47: Healthy eating Topic 48: Hotels
 Do you like eating healthy food?  Do you like staying in hotels?
 Do you think it is important to eat healthy food?  How often do you stay in hotels?
 Is fast food popular in your country?  What types of hotels can be found in your city I country?
 Do you think people eat healthier food nowadays compared with people in the  What are the advantages of staying in a hotel?
past?
Nouns
Nouns
hostel hotel-chain (= Holiday Inn) room service
calorie cholesterol vitamin mineral
Verbs
Verbs
In English we do not usually say "live in a hotel". The common verbs are:
munch (= eat) lose weight put weight on
reside in a hotel stay in a hotel be a hotel guest or resident
Adjectives
Adjectives
nutritious nourishing wholesome harmful (to one’s health)
spartan (=basic and simple) luxurious exclusive
Idioms
Idioms
in good shape / in good condition (= having a healthy body)
get the royal treatment (= be treated as if one is a king or queen)
She's in good shape after months of training.
If you stay in an exclusive hotel, you usually get the royal treatment.
pig out (= eat a large amount of food, usually unhealthy food)
at one’s beck and call (= read to serve sb.)
We pigged out on pizza last night.
In most luxury hotels there are loads of staff at your beck and call.
a Big Mac Attack (modern slang for eating Macdonald’s fast food)
creature comforts (= things that make people comfortable)
The Child is having a Big Mac Attack.
In 5-star hotels there are usually loads of creature comforts.
junk food (= unhealthy fast food)
Junk food has little or no nutrition.
a fast-food joint (=a restaurant which serves fast food)
There's a fast-food join in the street corner.

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Topic 49: Outdoor activities Topic 50: Memories of the past
 Do you like doing outdoor activities?  Do you like to think about the past?
 How often do you do outdoor activities?  How do you feel when other people talk about their memories?
 What outdoor activities are popular in your country?  Do you keep photographs to remind you of past events?
 Do you think it's important for people to spend time outdoors?  What can people learn from the past?
Nouns Nouns
outdoor interest leisure pursuit recollection childhood early years
Verbs Verbs
breathe fresh air feel the wind in one’s face reminisce muse over recall
Adjectives Adjectives
bracing refreshing revitalizing reminiscent (memories) amusing
Idioms Idioms
out in the open air hang on to old memories (= remember sth. for a long time)
We always have a picnic out in the open air. I'm not really the sort of person who likes to hang on to old memories - I prefer
to look to the future.
hark back to (= remember sth. in the past)
Some of my friends often hark back to our childhood memories.
the here and now (= the present day)
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)
Some people often rake up old memories.

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Topic 51: Childhood Topic 52: Colors
 Did you have a happy childhood?  What’s your favorite color?
 What part of your childhood do you remember most?  What can we learn about a person from the colors they wear?
 What makes a happy childhood?
 Do any colors have a special meaning in your culture?
 What would you like to change about your childhood?
Nouns
 (Use the same vocabulary as Topic 50: Memories of the past.)
vibrant colors (=vivid colors) dull colors hue (= shade of a certain color)
Nouns
Verbs
early years infancy formative years adolescence
signify symbolize
Verbs
Idioms
grow up develop
give sb. the red carpet treatment (= treat sb. like a VIP)
Adjectives
Last night, we were given the red carpet treatment at the banquet
childish adolescent
red tape (= official rules)
Idioms
in the prime of one’s life (= in one’s early years) He hated red tape.

In the prime of my life, I gained lots of prizes. see red (= become angry)

vim and vigor (= energy) Her criticisms were enough to make anyone see red.
During my adolescence I used to always have so much vim and vigor. in the red (= owing money)
My bank account is 50 dollars in the red.
in the black (= not owing money to anyone)
A business must stay in the black to keep on.
green with envy (= jealous)
The other boys were green with envy when Joe bought a car

40
Summary of Part One Topics Part Two of the Speaking Test
All of these Part One topics are the authentic topics that have been used in the speaking After completing Part One (usually after 4~5 minutes) the examiner will move onto Part
test for the last 5 years. Two of the speaking test.
The speaking test recycles these topics but generally speaking, there will be 10 topics in In Part Two the examiner gives the candidate a topic card and the candidate has one
use for around 3 months. After 3 months these topics will be changed to a different set of minute to prepare and make notes. After the one minute preparation time the candidate is
10. required to talk about the topic for between one and two minutes (as a rule you are
expected to speak for at least I minute 30 seconds - anything less than this and your
The speaking test does not introduce new Part One topics very often. On average 8
totally new topics are introduced in a year. These new topics are introduced gradually: so "Fluency" score may be reduced).
you will not suddenly encounter new topics in Part One. It is more likely that you will Candidates do not need to worry about “timing” in Part Two because the examiner will
see one or two new topics introduced in each set of 10 topics.
stop the candidate when the clock hits two minutes.
The best strategy in Part Two is to keep talking until the examiner says stop. Candidates
are naturally nervous in this part of the test so it is not good to try to guess the time.
IELTS myth: most people believe that in the speaking test, Part One is the easiest. Part
Two is more difficult and Part Three is the most difficult section. With regard to
performance, this is not usually the case. Most candidates perform quite well in Parts
One and Three but the Part Two performance is usually the worst part of the interview
(i.e. the language quality is lower than other Parts).

Part Two Problems

The biggest problem with Part Two is that candidates focus on content. Most people are
so busy trying to think about “what to say” and as a result they forget about "language
content" of their speech.
As we have already concluded, there are no marks for content, so a Part Two that
focuses on content will score quite low on the marking system.
I think it is good time to repeat myself here: The examiner is NOT listening to what you
say – he / she is only listening to how you say it!
In the past, many of my students have approached me with questions like:
In Part Two is it OK for me to describe a Chinese book?
In Part Two should I describe A or B?
In Part Two, what if the examiner isn‘t familiar with the thing that I describe?
All of the above questions are totally irrelevant. The examiner is not concerned with

41
your choice of content (however it must be related to the topic.) Familiar
During Part Two, the examiner is focused on the marking system. Any features of the It does not matter if the examiner is not familiar with the thing that you are describing.
marking system that you produce in Part Two will influence your score: content will not In fact, if you describe something unusual or unfamiliar, then you will probably need to
affect your score. explain or paraphrase. Paraphrasing directly increases your score!
So again we can see that content or ideas are irrelevant. It really does not matter what True
you choose to talk about as long as you are talking on the topic. '
Some of the best Part Two performances are lies! Even if the examiner knows you are
A good Part Two is NOT focused on "telling the examiner something". lying, this cannot affect your score. Obviously you should avoid outrageous lies, such
as, "Last year I went to the moon with my classmates."
In the same way as Part One, during Part Two you should be focused on the following
features of language. The Topic Card
Fluency The topic cards are printed in the same way. The basic topic is presented and there are
During a 2-minute talk it is essential to use linking words, linking phrases and fillers some guidelines or prompts on the card.
(redundant language). Describe an interesting trip you have been on.
Vocabulary You should say:
Uncommon words and idioms will significantly increase your “Vocabulary” score. In Where / When you went
Part Two try to find words that are directly related to your topic area (most of the Part
One vocabulary from the previous chapter can be used in Part Two). Don’t forget to What you did there
paraphrase. Why it was interesting
Grammar Whether you would like to go on a similar trip again.
Whatever you are saying in Part Two, say it with complex sentences and if necessary use One of the most important things to remember is that the card is slightly misleading!
a variety of tenses (see the detailed section on tenses in Part Two).
On the topic card, it says "You should say..." This is not actually true: the guidelines on
Part Two does NOT need to be: the card are simply there to help you! If you want to talk about those aspects, then that is
Interesting OK; however if you don't want to follow the guidelines, that is also OK.

Some of the best Part Two performances are actually quite boring! Here you must The prompts on the card are not compulsory questions - you are not required to provide
remember that the examiner has probably heard 1000's of Part Two responses. Even if answers.
your content is genuinely interesting (e.g. you played football with the Chinese National As long as you are describing some aspects of the main topic "an interesting trip you
Team), it will not influence your score in any way. have been on", there is no problem.
Original For most of the topic cards it is a good idea to use the guidelines because it means you
It does not matter if you describe the same movie that everyone else has described - the have to think less about content and can therefore concentrate more on language, but if
examiner is only listening to how you describe it. In some ways describing the same there is a guideline prompt that you don't like or you think is a little difficult, e.g.,
thing as other candidates can be work to your advantage - if you are focused on "Whether you would like to go on a similar trip again", feel free to ignore it and just talk
language, your 2-minute talk will be noticeably better than other candidates. about some other aspect of your trip.

42
Irrelevant content The sea A river, take, sea

Although we have said that content is irrelevant to your score - you cannot produce two- Seasons A season
minute content that is not related to the topic. Clothes An item of clothing
A fairly common problem in Part Two is that candidates talk about a topic different to Photography A photograph
the one on their card. Example:
Hobbies A hobby
Describe a sport that you like playing or watching.
Sports A sport
Sometimes a candidate will say:
Animals An animal
I don’t like sport so I will describe my favorite hobby which is playing
computer games. Buildings A building

Clearly this is off-topic and Part Two speeches which are off-topic are marked down – This list could go on, but the main thing to realize is that most of the topic areas for Part
basically you lose marks. Two are very similar to Part One. This is to your advantage because it means you can
use Part One language in your Part Two.
If you are given the topic “sports”, the examiner is expecting to hear language
(especially vocabulary) related to that topic. If you avoid the topic, you will not produce There is no danger of repetition here because if you are given a certain topic in Part One
language related to your topic and your score will be seriously affected. you will NOT get the same topic in Part Two. So if the examiner asks you about
"animals" in Part One, you will not get the Part Two topic "Describe an animal..."
Later in this section we will look at how to select your content in Part Two.
Instead of making a huge list of Part Two topics it is easier to put all of the topics into
Part Two Topics groups or categories.
One of the challenging aspects of Part Two is the huge number of potential topics. The most obvious categories are as follows:
Naturally with such a wide range of topics every candidate has certain topic areas that he
 Experiences / Past events
or she is comfortable with and others that they find more difficult.
In the strategy section of this chapter hopefully this problem will be addressed, but first  Objects / Material possessions
it is probably a good idea to look at the Part Two topics.  People
One important aspect to recognize is that many of the Part One topics are recycled as  Places
Part Two topics.
 Media related
Examples:
 Others (anything that doesn‘t fit into the 5 categories above.)
Part One Topic Part Two Topic
One of the advantages of grouping topics together is that when you look at the
Restaurants A restaurant relationships between some of the topics you will see that it is in fact possible to use the
Reading A book same content for more than one topic card.

Public transport Form of public transport In this way you don't need to prepare a separate response for every topic card, you can
reuse the same language for many different topics.
TV TV programme

43
The individual topic cards are given later in this section. Three-step Preparation Method.
There are a number of different ways to deal with Part Two and some are more effective Step 1: Selection
than others.
Selecting the "right thing" to talk about is quite important if you want to produce a good
From our earlier observations we can conclude that the best strategy is one which quality Part Two.
focuses directly on the features detailed in the marking system and produces as many of
these features as possible in the 2-minute time Game. As we have already discussed, the examiner doesn’t care what you talk about but here
we are not talking about the examiner - we are talking about you.
One important area that is often neglected is the one minute preparation time. In my
experience many candidates actually cause problems for themselves in the one-minute If you choose the wrong thing to talk about you might have problems talking for two
preparation time. minutes on that topic. If you have problems finding content, the quality of your language
will suffer.
Activity
The important first step is to select something that is easy to talk about. Once you have
Look at the following topic card and make notes for one minute. something easy to talk about, you can concentrate on language features and ways to
Describe an interesting building in your city. increase your score.

You should say: Easy topics should:

What the building looks like  Have lots of features

What it is used for The more features your topic has, the easier it is to keep talking or developing your Part
Two. This is not always possible for every topic but generally it is easier to talk about
Why it is interesting "bigger" things than "smaller" specific things.
How often you visit this building.
 Be expandable
Most people write notes in the following way:
This is similar to the point above. but you should choose something that is expandable,
 a Chinese building / old i.e. you can keep adding points on to the end of your speech (maybe by telling a story).

 its very old  Include some "invented" aspects (i.e. lies)

 a library / books The easiest things to describe are not always the true things. If you have only been on a
trip once in your life and you went to the West Lake in Hangzhou, this does not give you
 once a month much to talk about. It would be a good idea to say that you spent a week in Hangzhou, a
What often happens is that most people write "answers" to the guidelines and prompts week in Suzhou, a few days in Wuxi and a few days in Shanghai. You might be lying –
and usually those "answers" are in very simple language. but by doing so you are making your Part Two much, much easier.

When Part Two begins people are focused on their notes - their notes contain basic It might not be possible to cover all the 3 points above but if the topic seems particularly
answers to the prompts so the focus of their Part Two is basic answers in response to the difficult it is probably best to invent your content.
prompts. Obviously, this is not an effective strategy. Ignore the adjective
At this early stage one effective strategy is to ignore the prompts altogether and use a Many people get distracted by the adjectives which often appear in the topic description,
simple Three-step Preparation Method.
44
e.g. look at the following Part Two topic cards: "An interesting building in your city..." Activity
Don’t try to think of a building that is particularly interesting. You don’t lose marks if Look at the following example. Topic: Describe some travelling you like to do.
your building is not very interesting and you don‘t get more marks if your building
Vocabulary:
seems very interesting. Just choose "any building" that fits the topic loosely.
exciting interesting opportunity tourism
Don‘t go with the first idea
sightseeing attractive backpack explore
Usually the first idea in your head is the worst idea. It is usually a good idea to ignore
the first idea in your head and go with the second or even third idea that you come up excursion leave special mountain
with. Ask the question: "Can this word be used for many other topics?"
Activity Topic-related words are:
Look at the following topics and use the selection method to choose "easy" subjects to tourism sightseeing backpack
talk about
explore excursion
 An interesting trip you have been on
The other words are not directly related to the topic and could probably be used for
 An important building in your city many Part Two topics, e.g., interesting (this word could be used for almost every topic).
 A subject you liked at school It is not wrong to use the common words during your Part Two talk, but at this
 Something interesting or unusual you do in your free time preparation stage you need to find uncommon topic-specific words.
Activity
 A walk you take regularly
Find uncommon topic-specific vocabulary for the following topics:
 Some travelling you would like to do
 A film that you have seen
 A happy event in your life
 A song / piece of music
Some examples of "easy selections" and "difficult selections":
Topic Easy Difficult  A school subject

An important building A shopping mall Your school library  A neighbor

A trip To Hong Kong To Yellow Mountain Uncommon or topic-specific vocabulary is given for each topic card later in the book.
Most of the vocabulary given in the Part One topic section of this book will he related to
A famous person A singer / actor A politician / leader many of the Part Two topics and can be used in your Part Two talk.
Step 2: Vocabulary Step 3: Grammar Point
The next step in the one-minute preparation is to write down as many examples of This is one of the most important considerations for your Part Two talk. Most candidates
uncommon vocabulary as possible. The vocabulary must be directly related to the topic. completely ignore this aspect. Different Part Two topic cards require different grammar.
A good method is to ask the following question: "Can this word be used for many other Look at the following topics and think about the required grammar content for each.
topics?" If the answer is "Yes" then that word is NOT directly related to the topic.  Describe an object you use every day.
45
  Describe a vehicle that you would like to own. Conditional Tense... I would / could

 Describe a happy event in your life. luxury millionaire

In Part Two, there are 3 basic tense requirements: some topics need mostly present If you prepare in this way you are focusing on language and this will have a direct
tenses; others need past tenses, others need conditional tenses. influence on score.

When you look at your topic card, decide which tenses you need to use.
Example:
1. Describe an activity you enjoyed in an English lesson.
(Mostly past tenses) e.g.: The teacher asked us to pretend
2. Describe a place in a city that you know well.
(Mostly present tenses) e.g.: This place is quite special because it has
3. Describe a vehicle which you would like to own.
(Mostly conditional tenses and some present tenses for describing)
e.g.: If I had a helicopter I would be able to...
Helicopters are an expensive luxury.
When the examiner gives you paper and pencil for making notes, write down the type of
tense on the paper. In this way when you look at your notes you will be reminded that
you should be using a certain tense and this will significantly improve your grammar
performance during your talk.

Preparation Summary
Remember you only have one minute to prepare so you really don’t have time to write
sentences or phrases. The most important thing to write on your paper is probably a few
vocabulary items and a grammar reminder.
Example: Describe an item of clothing you like Io wear.
Pair of jeans
Present Tense + Past Tense
designer brand trendy
comfortable
Describe a vehicle that you would like to own.
Helicopter

46
 This sentence has 3 strong features. It contains complex linking structures, redundant
Producing a Good Quality Part Two Talk language and complex grammar (sentence structure).
The Fluency-based Strategy Another advantage of using this type of structure is that you don’t really need much
content because you will probably spend almost one minute producing the complex
This strategy focuses on the fluency aspect of the marking system. Earlier in this book
linking phrases.
we concluded that linking words and linking phrases can increase your "Fluency" score
– this strategy is based on producing good quality linking structures in your two-minute If used correctly, this structure will have a positive affect on your "Fluency" and
talk and combines these with complex sentence structures. "Grammar" scores.
First look at the following topic card. Now look at the second prompt: “How often you play / watch it” (you need to change
"you" to "I")
Describe a sport that you like playing or watching.
Going on to my next point which is how often I play it. I really need to add that
You should say:
if I have enough time I usually play it about twice a week. In fact...
What the sport is
And then the third prompt: "Why you like it". The third sentence could be:
How often you play / watch it
And now with reference to why I like it, the point I want to make here is that...
Why you like it
And the last prompt: "Whether it is popular in your country". The fourth sentence:
Whether it is popular in your country.
And so finally then, if I have time, in answer to the question of whether it is
The first thing to notice is that all topic cards have one thing in common. popular in my country, really I should mention that...
Look carefully at the 4 prompts on any topic card and you should notice that they all So the final structure (without content) might look like this:
share the same grammar feature.
I guess I could begin by saying something about what the sport is, and I think I
What the sport is would have to choose... Going on to my next point which is how often I play it,
I really need to add that... And now with reference to why I like it, the point I
How often you play / watch it
want to make here is that...
Why you like it And so finally then, if I have time, in answer to the question of whether it is
Whether it is popular in your country. popular in my country, really I should mention that...

Most people think that these are 4 questions. Look carefully – they are not questions: Practice reading the structure above. Depending on the speed it should take you between
they are in fact a single clause or part of a sentence (statement). This fact is true for 30 ~ 45 seconds. This means that you only need about one minute of content. As there
every Part Two topic card. are 4 points, you only to find about seconds of actual content for each point.

For this strategy, you can divide your talk into 4 Parts (the 4 prompts). Take the first one Now look at the next topic card with a complete structure with content.
for example: "What the sport is".
You can use this to create your opening sentence.
I guess I could begin by saying something about what the sport is, and I think I
would have to choose football. Most people know that football is...
47
 Going on to my next point which is why he is famous, I really need to add that he is a
Describe a famous person you would like to meet.
world-renowned martial arts film star as well as being a successful director. In fact he
You should say was probably the first Chinese actor to achieve blockbuster success in Hollywood.
Who the person is Fluency: the sentence begins with a linking structure and contains 3 more connecting
Why he / she is famous structures: "I really need to add that", "in fact", "as well as".

Why you would like to meet this celebrity Vocabulary: topic-related uncommon words: world-renowned, blockbuster success.

What you would like to do if you met this person. Grammar: the use of the connecting structures makes it one long and complex
sentence.
I guess I could begin by saying something about who this person is, and I think
I would have to choose the superstar Jackie Chan from Hong Kong. And now with reference to why I would like to meet this celebrity, the point I want to
Going on to my next point which is why he is famous. I really need to add that make here is that I have always been a big fan of martial arts movies, so if I had the
he is a world-renowned martial arts film star as well as being a successful chance to meet one of my childhood idols, it would be a dream come true.
director. In fact he was probably the first Chinese actor to achieve blockbuster Fluency: begins with a linking phrase, and contains 2 other connectives.
success in Hollywood.
Vocabulary: topic-related uncommon word: childhood idol; idiomatic phrase: dream
And now with reference to why I would like to meet this celebrity, the point I
comes true.
want to make here is that I have always been a big fan of martial arts movies, so
if I had the chance to meet one of my childhood idols, it would be a dream Grammar: the sentence is complex and contains examples of conditional tense - "so if I
come true. had the chance to meet one of my childhood idols, it would be…”
And so finally then, if I have time, in answer to the question of what I would
And so finally then, if I have time, in answer to the question of what I would like to do if
like to do if I met him, really I should mention that I would probably ask him to
I met him, really I should mention that I would probably ask him to teach me a few
teach me a few special Kung Fu tricks and I would possibly invite him out for
special Kung Fu tricks and I would possibly invite him out for dinner at a classy
dinner at a classy restaurant or something like that.
restaurant or something like that.
The structure is complete in the example above but it probably needs slightly more
Fluency: begins with a linking phrase and contains redundant language – or something
content (maybe one more sentence for each point). However, there are many very good
like that.
features in the example so far.
Vocabulary: uncommon words: tricks, classy.
Analysis
Grammar: the sentence structure is complex and contains examples of conditional
I guess I could begin by saying something about who this person is, and I think I would
tenses: "would probably", "would possibly".
have to choose the superstar Jackie Chan from Hong Kong.
Overall Analysis
(The first point is quite simple, but for most Part Two topics the first point is usually just
a simple factual introduction.) Each of the four points covered in this Part Two talk focuses on all 3 areas of the
marking system (we can’t really work on pronunciation at this stage).
Fluency: the sentence begins with a linking phrase and contains redundant language.
In summary, everything the candidate says is in some way increasing the speaking score.
Vocabulary: one topic-related word – superstar.
Notice that the actual "content" that is presented doesn't really make any difference to
Grammar: complex structure and use of complex tense – "I would have to choose..."
the score.
48
This style of response is probably the easiest way to achieve a score of 7 or higher in
A. Opening phrase + the first prompt from card
Part Two.
 Ok then, I guess I could start off by answering who the person is...
Important Note
 Alright then, in response to the first question of who the person is...
Notice that in the answers. the candidate doesn’t change the wording from the topic
card. If you start changing the wording you will begin to make grammar errors and this  So to begin with, in reply to the initial point of who the person is...
will reduce your "Grammar" score.
 Ok, I’ll start the ball rolling by touching on the matter of who the person is...
You can make very slight changes if you are 100% sure the change is correct, e.g.:
 Right then, like to get cracking by pointing out who the person is...
Who the person is -> Who he is
 So I suppose I should commence with the first aspect which is who the person
Why you would like to meet this person -> Why I would like to meet this star is...
Changing one or two words is fine but change the actual structure of the clause on the  Initially then, I’d like to get started by looking at who the person is...
topic card or your whole sentence could be grammatically wrong.
 So, to start with I’ll talk about who the person is...
Language for the “Fluency-based Strategy”
 So, to start with I’ll talk about who the person is...
As mentioned earlier in this section the four linking structures and four topic card
prompts work for EVERY Part Two topic. You will need to create your own 4 linking  So I guess I could kick off by stating who the person is...
phrase structures.  Ok so my first point here would obviously be who the person is...
The examples below can be combined in any order and they will all work with every Before you add your content sentence, you need to add another linking phrase:
prompt on every topic card.
 ...and I think I would have to choose...
When you choose your four structures, try to select sentences that don’t repeat the same
vocabulary (e.g.: "point", "subject" etc.)  ...and I’d have to go for...

Don’t waste time and energy learning and memorizing every possible linking phrase  ...and I’d probably select...
given below. Choose one from each section and learn those 4 so that you can produce
 ...and my choice is going to be...
them perfectly and naturally. Practice using those 4 for as many Part Two topics as you
can.  ...and the one I’d pick is...

Most of the following language can also be used in Part One and Part Three; so if you So your opening sentence might be:
have time to spare it will be useful to get used to this way of making sentences.
Ok, I’ll start the ball rolling by touching on the matter of who the person is, and
have to go for Jackie Chan.
It would be a good idea to develop this first sentence further using a simple linking
structure: because, for the reason that, actually, who is, which is (was), where, in fact,
although, particularly, especially.
Ok, I’ll start the ball rolling by touching on the matter of who the person is, and
I'd have to go for Jackie Chan for the reason that...
49
Remember, the first point will probably be your shortest point; so don’t worry if you  Moving onto the business of why I would like to meet this celebrity...
can’t develop it with lots of details.
 Drawing attention to the matter of why I would like to meet this celebrity...
B. The second point the second prompt from card
 Proceeding with the issue of why I would like to meet this celebrity...
 Going on to my next point which is why he is famous...
 Moving forward onto the area of why I would like to meet this celebrity...
 Continuing then with the next point of why he is famous...
Now add your second linking phrase:
 Now with regard to the next question of why he is famous...
 I would like to explain that...
 Next then in response to the point of why he is famous...
 What I’d like to make clear is that...
 Regarding the theme of why he is famous...
 You really have to understand that...
 Now on the subject of why he is famous...
 What like to shed light on here is that...
 Now concerning the matter of why he is famous...
 I suppose I should underline the fact that...
Before you explain this point you need to add a second linking phrase (similar to your
So the third point could be:
first point).
Moving onto the business of why I would like to meet this celebrity, the chief
 ...and what I’d like to add here is that...
explanation would most likely be that I would probably ask him to leach me a
 ...and what I need to emphasize here is that... few special Kung Fu tricks.

 ...and what I ought to stress here is that... Now use another linking word to develop this point into a longer sentence (give reasons.
details, explanations etc.)
 ...and the thing that needs to be highlighted here is that...
D. The fourth point the fourth prompt from card
 ...and what I have to mention here is that...
If you give fairly long responses for the other points, you might not have time to cover
Notice that all of these linking structures end in "that". This means it is very easy to the last point. This is not a problem, as long as you have produced all of the linking
make a complex sentence structure by adding a simple clause. structures in the first 3 points – your Part Two talk will be fine.
So the second point might be: The last linking phrase:
Now concerning the matter of why he is famous, and the thing that needs to be
 Finally then, if I there‘s time, I could deal with the last question of...
highlighted here is that he is a world-renowned martial arts film star.
 To end with, if I still have time, I could take care of the final question of...
You should develop this point using a basic linking word with one or two details which
help to explain your first point. Remember - you don’t really need to speak for more  As a final point, if time permits, I'd like to bring in the point of...
than 40 seconds on any of the 4 points, so don’t introduce too many details.
 To cut a long story short, as my very last point, with reference to the question
C. The third point the third prompt from card of...
 Processing to the subject of why I would like to meet this celebrity… It will probably be unnecessary to develop this point because hopefully the examiner
will stop you around this point.
50
Most people find that when they use this method, they reach the two-minute mark just
Examples of Part Two Using the Fluency Method
after saying this final linking phrase.
Describe an animal that can he found in your country.
Strategy Summary
You should say:
The reason why this strategy is called the "fluency-based strategy" can be illustrated
below. What type of animal it is

Your overall answer will look something like this: Where it can be found

1. Linking phrase + prompt + linking phrase + details + connective... Whether you have seen it

2. Linking phrase + prompt + linking phrase + details + connective... What other people think of this animal.

3. Linking phrase + prompt + linking phrase + details + connective... Preparation Notes

4. Linking phrase + prompt + linking phrase + details + connective... Panda

In the marking system, linking phrases and connectives feature heavily in the fluency Present Tense + Past Tense
scoring and so obviously an answer of this type has an enormous affect on your national symbol nature reserve
"Fluency" score.
endangered species protected
It is interesting to note that most people only produce 3 or 4 linking phrases in their
whole interview. However, if you use this system you will produce 8 of these in your Part Two Talk
Part Two talk alone! So to begin with, in reply to the initial point of what type of animal it is and the
It is also important to realize that the overall structure produces a large amount of one I’d pick is the giant panda. Actually there are two types of panda, the lesser
complex grammar structures. or red panda and the commonly known giant panda which is the national
symbol of China.
Advice Now concerning the matter of where it can be found, and what I ought to stress
As the author of this book, an IELTS examiner for 5 years and an IELTS trainer for 6 here is that because it is an endangered species it lives mostly in protected
years, I strongly recommend all candidates to use this strategy in Part Two. It instantly nature reserves in Western China although it is also possible to see them in zoos
transforms what is usually the worst part of the speaking test into the highest scoring around the world.
Part. Moving onto the business of whether I have seen it, I suppose I should
underline the fact that I visited the Panda Sanctuary in Chengdu 2 years ago
while I was travelling in Sichuan Province. It was actually a one-day tour of the
pandas’ habitat which included lectures from conservation experts.
As a final point, if time permits, I’d like to bring in the point of what other
people think of this animal. I guess that most Chinese people feel some sense of
patriotism towards the giant panda because it is recognized globally the
archetypal Chinese animal.

51
Describe a useful skill that you would like to learn. Describe your childhood home.
You should say: You should say:
What the skill is What type of house it was
Why you would like to learn it Where it was located
Whether it would be difficult to learn What you liked about it
Whether you think you will learn this skill in the near future. Whether you still live in this house / flat.
Preparation Notes Preparation Notes
Tai Ji / Tai Chi Rural cottage
Conditional Tense + Present Tense PAST TENSES!!
would / could / might thatched roof backyard
Part Two Talk Part Two Talk
Ok, I’ll start the ball rolling by touching on the matter of what the skill is, and Right then, I’d like to get cracking by pointing out what type of house it was,
I'd probably select the Chinese martial art Tai Ji, a skilled art which is used to and I’d have to go for the house that I was born in, which was a spacious rural
promote physical and spiritual well-being. cottage in a mountainous area of Northwest Hubei. Actually this was a single
Continuing then with the next point of why I would like to learn it, and what I storey house with about five bedrooms.
ought to stress here is that I would really like to get in shape because at the Regarding the theme of where it was located, and the thing that needs to be
moment quite unfit. Ever since I was a kid I’ve been kind of fascinated by Tai highlighted here is that it was set in lush fields near a range of mountains near
Ji, especially the way it can help you to relieve stress and improve overall the border with Sichuan Province. Actually it was quite isolated - the nearest
physical fitness. town was about l0 km away and the roads were quite bumpy.
Progressing to the subject of whether it would be difficult to learn, you really Moving forward onto the area of what I liked about it, I would like to explain
have to understand that it would probably be quite demanding at first, then that although I don’t remember too much about it, the things that have always
again I’m sure I would be able to deal with the challenge, although it might be stayed in my mind are the thatched roof which made it nice and cool in the hot
tough to master some of the complicated breathing exercises. summer months and the communal courtyard that we shared with our
So to end with, if I still have time, I could take care of the final question of neighbors.
whether I think I will learn this skill in the near future, and I should say that I Finally then, if there’s time, I could deal with the last question of whether I still
have in actual fact already signed up for a Tai Ji class which is run at the local live in this house and as already mentioned I was born in this house but I
martial arts centre near where I live. moved out when I was about 5 years old.”

52
 People 1: A famous person
Part Two Topic Analysis
Describe someone who is famous in your country. (Or describe a famous
The following pages offer most of the Part Two topic cards with suggested ideas for person who you admire.)
selection, uncommon vocabulary and some grammar tips. You should say:
The topics are arranged into basic groups, e.g., people, places, events etc. Who the person is
Remember you do not need to memorize or learn the language on the topic cards Why he / she is famous
because you will be able to look at the card throughout your Part Two talk. Why you admire this person
It is important to try to learn and remember uncommon vocabulary for each of the topic What you would do if you me this person.
areas.
Suggestion
The most important thing to remember is that you can use the same content or Choose a star who is famous in more than one area, such as a pop star who also acts in
vocabulary and grammar for many different topics (e.g., a teacher, an old person). movies and TV shows (e.g., Mo Wenwei / Andy Lau).
Section 1: People Uncommon Vocabulary

1. A famous person a big name megastar celebrity renowned

2. A sports star well-known legendary admirer fan

Grammar Point
3. A singer or musician
Use mostly present tenses. Use one example of "used to" to describe something in the
4. A character from a story / film / TV programme past:
5. An old person She used to be a TV show host.
6. A teacher who has influenced you Use an example of present perfect tense:
7. A neighbor I’ve been an admirer of her for many years.

8. A child you know Use an example of "would / could / might" to talk about the last point:
If I met her I would like to have dinner with her.
9. A family member
10. Compare two family members
11. Someone who you have studied or worked with.
12. A friend
13. A happy person who you know
14. A successful leader who you admire
15. Someone you know who speaks another language

53
 People 4: A character from a story / film / TV programme
People 2: A sports star
Describe a character from a story / film / TV programme.
Describe a sports star who is famous in your country.
You should say:
You should say:
Who the character is
Who the person is
When you first saw or heard this story / film / TV programme
Why he / she is famous
What kind of person this character is
What is special about him / her
Why you like this character.
Whether you would like to meet this person.
Suggestion
Suggestion
You can cover all 3 characters by talking about a character from Journey to the West,
Choose someone like Li Ning. This gives you the chance to talk about his sporting
Zhu Bajie or Sun Wukong.
achievements as well as his successful business and clothing shops.
Uncommon Vocabulary
Uncommon Vocabulary
legend mythical fairy-tale amiable
spectator sport gymnastics prodigy world champion
good-honored
Olympic gold medal winner
Grammar Point
Grammar Point
Use the same grammar as People 1: A famous person. Use past tenses to describe when the story was first written etc.:

People 3: A singer or musician The story was originally written about 500 years ago.

Describe a singer or musician that you admire. I first read the story I saw the film / programme when I was living in Beijing.
You should say: Use present perfect tense:
Who the person is I’ve always been a big admirer of Zhu Bajie.
What type of music songs he / she plays People 5: An old person
Why you admire this person
Describe an old person who has influenced you.
Whether this person is popular in your country.
You should say:
Suggestion
Who the person is
Choose the same person as People 1: A famous person (e.g., Mo Wenwei / Andy Lau).
How you know this person
Uncommon Vocabulary
Use the same vocabulary as People 1: A famous person, and also use some vocabulary How he / she has influenced you
from Part One Topic 6: Music. Whether this person has influenced other people.
Grammar Point Suggestion Talk
Use the same grammar as People 1: A famous person.
54
Talk about a teacher (the same as the next topic). (Exactly the same as People 5: An old person.)
Uncommon Vocabulary People 8: A child you know
old aged pensioner elucidate (= explain) put in plain words Describe a child that you know.
well-respected tutor mentor inspiring You should say:
Grammar Point Who the child is
Use a mix of past tenses: How you know this child
We first met when I was studying in my primary school. What you like about this child
He used to be my Chinese teacher. What things you do with this child.
Use future tenses: Suggestion
I will always remember how he... Choose a young relative (cousin, brother or sister).
I will never forget how he... Uncommon Vocabulary
People 6: A teacher who has influenced you youngster kid youthful
Describe a teacher who has influenced you. relative chummy immature
You should say: (See also Part One Topic 14: Friends.)
Who the teacher is Grammar Point
Where and when you met him / her Use a mix of past tenses:
How he / she has influenced you I’ve known this kid ever since he was a baby.
Whether you still know this teacher. He used to live in the same community with me.
(Exactly the same as People 5: An old person.) Use future structures:
People 7: A neighbor I will always remember how he...
Describe a neighbor who you get on well with. I will never forget how he...
You should say:
Who the neighbor is
How long you known this person
What you like about this person
How often see this person.

55
 People 11: Someone you have studied or worked with
People 9: A family member
Describe someone you have studied or worked with.
Describe a family member who you like.
You should say:
You should say:
How the person was
Who the person is
When you first met this person
What you like this person
Whether you had a good relationship
What things you do together
Whether other people liked this person.
Whether you think you are similar to this person.
Suggestion
(Exactly the same as People 8: A child you know.)
Invent someone. Don’t talk about a real person. Choose a classmate or workmate who
People 10: Compare two family members
was also your friend and focus on friendship as well as studying or working.
Compare two members of your family.
Uncommon Vocabulary
You should say:
Use vocabulary from Part One Topic 14: Friends; Part One 2a and 2b: Your job / studies.
Who the two people are
Grammar Point
How they are similar
Use a mix of past tenses:
How they are different
We always used to...
What you like about these two people.
Use future structures:
You can use most of the same content from People 8: A child you know, but you can
I will always remember how we used to…
invent a twin brother or sister for that child, so you can talk about "my young cousins
who are identical twins". I will never forget about the times when we used to...
Uncommon Vocabulary People 12: A friend
identical impossible to tell apart like two peas in a pod Describe a close friend.
likeness outward appearance trail You should say:
Grammar Point Who the friend is
You need to use some comparative structures: Where and when you first met
A tends to be more... (adj.) whereas in contrast B seems to be more... (adj.) On What you like about this friend
the one hand, A is usually quite... (adj.) while B is often fairly... (adj.) One
Whether this person is popular with other people.
remarkable similarity is that they both... One clearly distinguished distinction is
that... Exactly the same as People 11: Someone you have studied or worked with. Talk about
your friendship in the past. Use past tenses to increase your grammar score.
56
Uncommon Vocabulary Grammar Point
Use vocabulary from Part One Topic 14: Friends. Focus on the past tenses:
People 13: A happy person who you know He would always...
Describe a happy person who you know. He frequently used to...
You should say: Use future structures:
Who the person is I will always remember how he used to...
How you know this person I will never forget about the times when he used to...
What things you do together People 15: Someone you know who speaks another language
Why you think this person is happy. Describe someone you know who speaks another language.
Exactly the same as People 11: Someone you have studied or worked with. Talk about You should say:
your friendship in the past. Use past tenses to increase your grammar score.
Who the person is
Uncommon Vocabulary
How you met this person
Use vocabulary from Part One Topic 14: Friends; Part One Topic 23: Happiness.
What other language he speaks
People 14: A successful leader who you admire
What you like about this person.
Describe a successful leader who you admire.
Suggestion
You should say:
Use the same content as People 5: An old person; People 6: A teacher who has
Who the person is influenced you. (Say that your teacher speaks Korean or French.)
What makes him / her a good leader "People" Summary
Why you admire this person As you can see, there are many different topics about “people”. It is not necessary to
learn or produce different language for each topic.
Whether this person has influenced you.
Generally it is better to focus on past events when talking about people as this will
Suggestion
increase your "Grammar" score. Most of the language presented for each topic can be
Do not choose a famous leader or politician. Invent a leader or manager who you reused for other topics.
worked with. (If you are still a student, say that you used to have a part-time job.)
Uncommon Vocabulary
leadership quality supervision guidance
support encourage

57
Section 2: Places Place 1: An important building
1. An important building Describe an important building in your city.
2. A historical building / place You should say:
3. A famous building Where the building is located
4. A place of natural beauty What it looks like
5. A peaceful place What it is used for
6. A quiet place How often you visit this place.
7. A place in your city that you know well Suggestion
8. A walk that you regularly take It is quite difficult to describe traditional Chinese architecture in English, so it is best to
avoid this area. An easy building to describe is a multi-functional building, e.g. a
9. A garden / park
shopping and entertainment centre.
10. A river, take or sea you have visited
Uncommon Vocabulary
11. A shop
prominent well-known landmark
12. A library
See also Part One Topic 42: Buildings.
13. A museum you have visited
Grammar Point
14. Your childhood home
Use past tenses:
15. Your idea of an ideal house
It was originally constructed way back in 1890. Years ago it was primarily used
16. A restaurant as a government office. Now its main function is… I used to go there quite a lot
17. A city you would like to visit when I was a kid.

18. A country you would like to visit Place 2: A historical building / place

19. A city / town / village you have visited Describe a historical building you have visited.

20. A monument You should say:

21. A hotel Where the building is located

22. Your favorite room What it looks like

What it is used for
Whether this building is popular with tourists.
(Exactly the same as Place 1: An important building.)

58
Place 3: A famous building Use past continuous and past simple:
Describe a historical building your have visited. The first time I visited this place I took quite a few photos while I was walking
around
You should say:
Use future tense:
Where the is located
It’s going to be enlarged next year; it will include a boating take.
What it looks like
Place 5: A peaceful place
What it is used for
Describe a peaceful place that you have visited.
How often you visit this place.
You should say:
(Exactly the same as Place 1: An important building.)
Where the place is
Place 4: A place of natural beauty
Where you visited this place
Describe a place of natural beauty that you have visited.
What you did there
You should say:
Why you think it was peaceful.
Where the place is located
(Exactly the same as Place 4: A place of natural beauty.)
What kind of place it is
Place 6: A quiet place
What you did there
Describe a quite place that you know.
What is special about this place.
You should say:
Suggestion
Where the place is located
Invent one – don’t talk about a real one. You can talk about "a newly-developed
riverside park with botanical gardens". What type of place it is
Uncommon Vocabulary How often you go to this place
a bamboo wooded area tranquil lush shrub Whether there are other quiet places where you live.
tropical plant gorgeous flower stunning plant life (Exactly the same as Place 4: A place of natural beauty.)
rock sculpture unspoiled
get away from the hustle and bustle of the city get closer to nature
Grammar Point
Use present perfect tense:
I’ve actually been there a few times.

59
 Place 10: A river, take or sea you have visited
Place 7: A place in your city that you know well
Describe a river, take or sea that you have visited.
Describe a place in your city that you know well.
You should say:
You should say:
Where this place is
What type of place it is
Why you went there
How often you go there
What you liked about this place
What you do there
Whether you would like to go there again.
Whether it is a popular place.
Focus on a river or take but describe the park area beside the river or take. By doing this
(Exactly the same as Place 4: A place of natural beauty.)
you can use the content from Place 4: A place of natural beauty.
Place 8: A walk that you regularly take
Place 11: A shop
Describe a walk that you regularly take.
Describe a shop that you like.
You should say:
You should say:
Where you walk
Where the shop is
How often you walk there
What type of shop it is
Why you like to walk there
How often you visit this shop
Whether other people like to walk there.
What you like about this shop.
(Exactly the same as Place 4: A place of natural beauty.)
Use some of the content from Place l: An important building. Combine this with
Additional Vocabulary vocabulary from Part One Topic 24: Shopping.
go for a stroll amble get a breath of fresh air Place 12: A library
Place 9: A garden / park Describe a library that you have visited.
Describe a garden or park that you know. You should say:
You should say: Where the library is located
Where it is located What you use it for
How often you go there How often you visit this place
What you do there What special features it has.
Whether there are other places like this where you live. Suggestion
(Exactly the same as Place 4: A place of natural beauty.) Talk about the central library in your city. (Invent this if you don't know about it.) Say
60
that the library is a well-equipped multimedia library.
Place 14: Your childhood home
Uncommon Vocabulary
Describe your childhood home.
old publication specialist journal historical record
You should say:
facility interactive software Internet access
Where this place is located
audio-visual borrow lend
What type of house it is
overdue (pay a) fine
How long you lived there
Grammar Point
What you liked about this place.
Use past tenses:
Suggestion
It was first established in 1995.
It is quite difficult to describe city accommodation. It is probably easier to talk about a
I used to borrow textbooks and course books when I was studying. home in the countryside. (Even if you have never lived in the countryside, you should be
able to describe a typical countryside house.)
Use an "if" clause:
Uncommon Vocabulary
They never fine you, even if the returned books are overdue.
single-storey an isolated rural community central courtyard
Place 13: A museum you have visited
meadow a typical rustic style bungalow veranda
Describe a museum that you have visited.
thatched roof dried grass close-knit
You should say:
Grammar Point
What type of museum it is
Use a mix of past tenses:
Why you visited this place
I used to live...
What you liked about it
I lived there for 7 years.
Whether you would like to go there again.
While I was living there...
Suggestion
We moved out when I was 11 years old.
You can talk about a provincial or metropolitan museum, e.g. Hubei Provincial
Museum / Beijing Metropolitan Museum. Use present tenses:
Uncommon Vocabulary My relatives are still living there.
Use vocabulary from Part One Topic 44: Museums. I've been back there a few times.

61
 décor.
Place 15: Your idea of an ideal house
Uncommon Vocabulary
Describe idea of an ideal house.
Use a mix of vocabulary from: Part One Topic 13: Restaurants; Part One Topic 31:
You should say:
Cooking; Part One Topic 36: Food.
What type of house if would be
Grammar Point
Why you would like to live there
Use a conditional structure to express a recommendation:
What special features it would have
If asked, I would most definitely recommend this place on the basis that...
Whether you think you will ever live in a house like this.
Use past tenses to describe your experience in the restaurant. Use present tenses to
Suggestion describe the features of the food etc.
Use the same content as Place 14: Your childhood home. Place 17: A city you would like to visit
Grammar Point Describe a city you would like to visit.
You must use conditional tenses (if + would / could / might): You should say:
If I could choose my dream house, I would probably opt for... Where the city is
It would have... Why you would like to visit this city
If I could pick and choose, I would like it to be / have... What you know about this city
If it was... then I might be able to... Whether you think you will visit this place in the future.
If it had... then I would be able to... Suggestion
Place 16: A restaurant Choose any city that you know something about. The trick with this topic is to talk about
Describe a restaurant that you have visited. a city in a different country, e.g. New York.

You should say: Uncommon Vocabulary

Where the restaurant is located native custom renowned indigenous culture landmark

What type of restaurant it is (Use vocabulary from Part One Topic 34: Travelling.)

What you liked about this place Grammar Point

Whether you would recommend this place to others. You must use conditional sentences because the topic card says - "a city you would like
to visit" (i.e. a city you have not visited already):
Suggestion
If I had the option to choose any city, I would probably pick...
Say that the restaurant is located within the important building as described in Place 1:
An important building. Expand this by adding details about the food, service and interior The reason why I would select this place is because I would love to... and I
might be able to...
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Use a present perfect tense + past simple tense: Place 20: A monument
Ever since I was a kid I have always had a real yearning to visit this place. Describe an important monument in your city or country.
Place 18: A country you would like to visit You should say:
Describe a country you would like to visit. Where it is located
You should say: What it looks like
What the city is Why it is important
Why you would like to visit this country Whether it is famous.
What you know about this country Suggestion
Whether you think you will visit this place in the future. This is quite a difficult topic to talk about. Because the topic is a monument, it is not
really acceptable to describe a building. The most common type of monument is
Use the same content, vocabulary and grammar as Place 17: A city you would like to
probably a statue in memory of something or someone; so this is the easiest one to talk
visit, but change it to country and focus on one city in that country, e.g. USA, New York
about. Use the basic content from Place 4: A place of natural beauty as an introduction
City.
and then continue by talking about a monument in the park or garden.
Place 19: A city / town / village you have visited
Uncommon Vocabulary
Describe a city / town / village you have visited.
historical memorial shrine place of pilgrimage carved
You should say:
cenotaph bronze sculpture dedicated to engraved
When you went there
honoring commemorative plaque
What you did there
Grammar Point
What you liked about this plan
Use mostly present tenses; include some past tenses:
Whether you would like to visit this place again.
I remember when I first saw this bronze sculpture; I was quite impressed by the
Use the same content, vocabulary as Place 17: A city you would like to visit, but say that engraved commemorative plaque.
you have actually visited this place. Talk about a city that you know something about,
Place 21: A hotel
e.g. a famous city - London or Paris.
Describe a hotel you have stayed in or visited.
You do not need to use conditional (if + would) grammar for this topic. You must use a
mixture of past and present tenses: You should say:
I spent a week in... Where the hotel is located
I had never been there before so I was rather enthusiastic about this trip. When you stayed there / visited this place
One the second day, while I was shopping, I saw... Why you went there
I haven't been back to this place since that first visit. What you liked about it.
63
Suggestion
Section 3: Experiences
Use a combination of Place 1: An important building and Place 16: A restaurant. Say that
1. Something difficult that you did well
you haven't actually stayed in this hotel but you have dined in the restaurant.
2. Something you would like to succeed in doing
Place 22: Your favorite room
3. A skill you would like to learn
Describe your favorite room in your home.
4. A short course
You should say:
5. A happy event
What room it is
6. A party
What it looks like
7. A special meal
What you use it for
8. A wedding you have attended
Why it is your favorite.
9. Some important advice
Suggestion
10. Some help that you received
The easiest room in the house to describe is the living room. You can describe all the
electronic equipment (DVD player, Hi-fi etc.) and all the activities you do in this room 11. Some important news
(reading: watching TV, films etc.) 12. Some important family news
Uncommon Vocabulary 13. An important letter you received
sitting room (=living room) furnish redecorate 14. An important letter you sent
all mod cons (= many modem appliances) 15. An interesting trip you have been on
Grammar Point 16. The best holiday you have been on
Try to use a mix of tenses: 17. Some long distance travel you would like to do
When I was at school, I used to do my homework on the sofa. 18. An activity in an English lesson
When I was kid, I always played in the living room. 19. An important decision
I've been living in this house for about I0 years. 20. An important change in your life
21. An event that changed your life
22. A busy time in your life
23. A festival that is popular in your country
24. Something dangerous you would like to do

64
Experience 1: Something difficult that you did well Experience 2: Something you would like to succeed in doing
Describe something difficult you did well. Describe something you would like to succeed in doing.
You should say: You should say:
What you did What you would like to succeed in
Why it was difficult Why you would like to do this
How you managed to do it Whether you think it would be difficult
Whether you think you will do this thing again. Whether you think you will achieve in the near future.
Suggestion Suggestion
Talk about a skill that you have learned. The obvious choice is a language (NOT English Although this topic is not actually a real "experience", I have included it in this section
– choose another language, e.g. Korean, Japanese or Vietnamese). You will need to lie because it is almost the same as Experience 1: Something difficuIt that you did well.
for this topic. It is quite easy to do – just describe your experience of learning English Talk about the same content (or language) but change the grammar.
but change it to another language.
Grammar Point
Uncommon Vocabulary
Use some present tenses to describe the language. You must use some conditional
Use vocabulary from Part One Topic 9: Learning English and Part One Topic 21: structures:
Learning languages.
I imagine that the grammar would be quite tricky.
You can also use vocabulary from People 6: A teacher who has influenced you.
I might have problems with the pronunciation.
Additional words:
I guess I would be able to cope with the written script.
easier said than done (= difficult) get to grips with (= get familiar with)
If all goes to plan. I would like to start learning this next year.
overcome tricky deal with
Experience 3: A skill you would like to learn
Grammar Point
Describe a skill you would like to learn in the future.
You can use some present tenses to describe some aspects of the language:
You should say:
Japanese is based on Chinese script.
What the skill is
Use mostly past tenses to describe your learning experience:
Why you want to learn it
At the outset I found it quite tricky; I used to get confused by...
Whether you think it would be difficult
Whether you think you will learn in the near future.
Suggestion
Use exactly the same content, vocabulary and grammar as Experience 2.
65
Experience 4: A short course It was my 18th birthday; at that time I was studying at…
Describe a short course that you have taken or would like to attend. I had never had a birthday party before so I was quite thrilled.
You should say: Use a future tense + past tense:
What the course is about I think I will ever forget the cake that my friends had bought.
Where you did it or would do it Experience 6: A party
Why you choose or would choose this course Describe a party you have been to.
How it has benefited or will benefit you. You should say:
Suggestion Where the party was held
Use exactly the same content as Experience l: Something difficult that you did well and Who attended the party
Experience 2: Something you would like to succeed in doing. This topic card gives you
What you liked about the party
the choice of a course you have attended or a course you would like to attend. Talk about
a course "you would like to take". If you do this you must use conditional tenses (if + Whether you often go to parties.
would / could / might) and this will increase your grammar score. Suggestion
Experience 5: A happy event Use exactly the same content, vocabulary and grammar as Experience 5: A happy event.
Describe a happy event in your life. Experience 7: A special meal
You should say: Describe a special meal you have eaten.
What the event was You should say:
What you did Where you had this meal
Why it was happy What food you had
Whether this type of event is common in your country. Why it was special
Suggestion Whether this type of meal is common in your country.
The obvious choice for this topic is a birthday party. Suggestion
Uncommon Vocabulary Use exactly the same content, vocabulary and grammar as Experience 5: A happy event.
celebrate celebration a birthday bash (= a birthday party) Focus more on the food aspect. Use: Part One Topic 13: Restaurants; Part One Topic 36:
Food.
Use the vocabulary from: Part One Topic 13: Restaurants; Part One Topic 23:
Happiness; Part One Topic 36: Food; Part One Topic 37: Birthdays.
Grammar Point
Use a mix of past tenses:
66
 Uncommon Vocabulary
Experience 8: A wedding you have attended
recommendation guidance suggestion beneficial
Describe a wedding you have attended.
Use Part One Topic 9: Learning English; Part One Topic 21: Learning languages; People
You should say:
6: A teacher; Experience 1: Something difficult that you did well.
When it was
Experience 10: Some help that you received
Who got married
Describe some help that you received.
What happened at the wedding
You should say:
Whether this was a typical wedding in your country.
Who helped you
Suggestion
What the help was
This topic is not very flexible. Choose any wedding or invent one.
Why you needed this help
Uncommon Vocabulary
How you felt after receiving this help.
Use Part One Topic 32: Weddings.
Suggestion
Grammar Point
Exactly the same as Experience 9: Some important advice.
Use a mix of past tenses:
Experience 11: Some important news
I had never attended a wedding reception before so I was quite thrilled.
Describe some important news that you have received.
Some guests were quite drunk towards the end because they had been drinking
You should say:
all day.
What the news was
Experience 9: Some important advice
How you heard about this news
Describe some important advice you received.
Why it was important
You should say:
Whether it influenced you.
Who gave you this advice
Suggestion
What the advice was
It should be quite easy to talk about passing an exam. Choose an important exam like the
Why it was important
"Zhong Kao”. If you do this it will give you a good opportunity to paraphrase.
How this advice helped you.
Uncommon Vocabulary
Suggestion
compulsory state administered exam conscientiously
At first this topic appears to be quite difficult. The easiest choice is to talk about a
multi-discipline (= many subjects) test-preparation
teacher who advised you to learn another language (NOT English). If you talk about this
then you can use vocabulary from other topics. taxing (=difficult) pass mark certificate of great consequence
67
Grammar Point
Experience 14: An important letter you sent
Use a variety of past tenses:
Describe an important letter you sent.
Around that time I was studying in a local middle school.
You should say:
I had been preparing quite conscientiously for quite a while.
When you seen it
I was quite surprised that I had passed because I had found it quite taxing.
What if was about
The news arrived by post; it was delivered while I was sitting down to
Why it was important
breakfast.
Whether it influenced you.
Experience 12: Some important family news
Suggestion
Describe some important family news.
This is quite an easy topic. There are many options to choose from. However, the best
You should say:
option is probably a letter of complaint about a product or service. (If you choose a
What the news was "product", then you can use the same content for another topic later in this chapter.)
How you heard about this news Uncommon Vocabulary
Whether it was important complaint unacceptable compensation
How you felt when you heard this news. proprietor (= shopkeeper) disgruntled (= unsatisfied) criticize
Suggestion not up to scratch (= unacceptable) get one's money back
Exactly the same as Experience 11: Some important news. Grammar
Experience 13: An important letter you received Use a variety of past tenses:
Describe an important letter you received. I originally sent the letter last month because I had previously bought a...
(product)
You should say:
When I first bought this... (product) the proprietor had initially told me that...
When you received this letter
At first the... (product) had been quite satisfactory, but later I noticed that...
What the letter was about
How you felt when you read it
Why it was important.
Suggestion
Exactly the same as Experience 11: Some important news.

68
Experience 15: An interesting trip you have been on Experience 17: Some long distance travel you would like to do
Describe an interesting trip you have been on. Describe some long distance travel you would like to do.
You should say: You should say:
Where / When you went Where you would go
What you did there How you would get there
Why it was important Why you would choose this place
Whether it influenced you. Whether the trip would be expensive.
Suggestion Suggestion
Use exactly the same content and language as Place 19: A city / town / village you have This topic is not actually an experience because the card states "would like to do". It has
visited. Use vocabulary from Part One Topic 34: Travelling. been included in this section because the actual vocabulary and content can be exactly
the same as Experience 15: An interesting trip you have been on; Experience 16: The
Experience 16: The best holiday you have been on
best holiday you have been on. Remember to use vocabulary from Part One Topic 34:
Describe the best holiday you have been on. Travelling.
You should say: Grammar Point
Where / When you went You must use conditional tense:
How travelled there If I had the option to travel to any destination, I would probably pick...
Why you choose to go to this place The reason why I would select this is because I would love to...and I might be
What you liked most about this holiday. able to...

Suggestion Use a present perfect past simple tense:

Use exactly the same content and language as Place 19: A city / town / village you have Ever since I was a kid I have always had a real burning desire to visit this place.
visited. Use vocabulary from Part One Topic 34: Travelling. Experience 18: An activity in an English lesson
Describe an activity in an England lesson that you enjoyed.
You should say:
Where you would go
How you would get there
Why you would choose this place
Whether the trip would be expensive.

69
Suggestion Experience 20: An important change in your life
Talk about a play or performance that your English class produced. Describe an important change in your life.
Uncommon Vocabulary You should say:
a drama production theatrical performance English script When this change happened
an adaptation of a famous play scene take part in What the change was
stage costume audience Why it was important
Grammar How this event has influenced your life.
Use past tenses to describe the event. Use passives to describe the details: Suggestion
The play was performed by... Exactly the same as Experience 19: An important decision.
The script was written by... Uncommon Vocabulary
The costumes were made from... transformation have an influential effect on inspire a change
The scenery was made of... a fresh start transformed
Experience 19: An important decision Experience 21: An event that changed your life
Describe an important decision that you made. Describe an event that changed your life.
You should say: You should say:
When you made this decision When this event happened
What the decision was What the event was
Why this decision was important How you felt about this event
Whether this decision changed your life. How this event changed your life.
Suggestion Suggestion
Describe your decision to start learning a new skill or language. Use some of the content Exactly the same as Experience 19: An important decision; Experience 20: An important
from Part One Topic 9: Learning English; Part One Topic 21: Learning languages; change in your life.
Experience l: Something difficult that you did well. Say that this decision was important
because you made many new friends on this course. Use some vocabulary from Part
One Topic 14: Friends; Part One Topic 16: Meeting new people.
Grammar Point
All of the sentences should use past tenses.

70
 Suggestion
Experience 22: A busy time in your life
Describe the same aspect of Spring Festival from Experience 22: A busy time in your
Describe a busy time in your life.
life (describe the preparations for the festival).
You should say:
Uncommon Vocabulary
When this time was
See Part One Topic 15: Festivals; Experience 22: A busy time in your life.
Why it was busy
Experience 24: Something dangerous you would like to do
How you felt during this time
Describe a describe something dangerous you would like to do.
Whether you would like to a similar experience in the future.
You should say:
Suggestion
What the activity is
Talk about preparation for Spring Festival (describe the shopping and other
Why you would like to do it
arrangements that you prepared before the actual festival).
Why you think it is dangerous
Uncommon Vocabulary
Whether you think you will do this in the future.
hectic eventful preparation arrangement
Suggestion
necessity essential luxury
This is quite a strange topic and it can be difficult if you haven't prepared for it. The
Grammar Point
easiest choices are extreme sports, such as mountain biking, snowboarding, parachuting
All sentences use past tenses: etc.
While I was shopping, I remember that the shops were really packed out (= Uncommon Vocabulary
crowded).
extreme sports adrenalin sports risky (= dangerous)
I felt exhausted because I had been shopping non-stop for a whole week.
hazardous (= dangerous) breathtaking (= exciting) take risks
Experience 23: A festival that is popular in your country
Grammar point
Describe a festival that is popular in your country.
You must use some conditional structures:
You should say:
I’d love to have the chance to have a go at mountain biking.
What the festival is
It would without doubt be quite risky.
What time of year it is
It would need quite a lot of careful preparation.
What people do during this festival
I doubt I’ll ever have the chance to actually do it.
Whether this festival has changed in recent years.

71
 Grammar Point
Section 4: A TV programme
Use a mix of present and past tenses:
1. A TV programme
I remember when I originally saw the first episode...
2. A radio programme
The show is still running to this day.
3. A film
They have aired repeats of the show many times over the years.
4. A story from your childhood
Media 2: A radio programme
5. A book
Describe a radio programme that you have listened to.
6. A song or piece of music
You should say:
7. A newspaper or magazine
What type of programme it is
8. A website
What it is about
9. An advertisement
How often you listen to it
10. A photo
Whether it is popular in your country
11. A piece of art
Suggestion
Media 1: A TV programme
You can use the same content as Media 1: A TV programme, but change it into a radio
Describe a TV programme that you have seen
programme (e.g., a radio version of journey to the West).
You should say:
Uncommon Vocabulary
What type of programme it is
radio station radio play long-running series narrator
What it is about
broadcast audio effects the script (= the words)
How often you watch it
Grammar Point
Whether it is popular in your country
The same as Media 1: A TV programme.
Suggestion
Choose a famous TV series such as Journey to the West or another long-running series
based on a historical legend.
Uncommon Vocabulary
See Part One Topic 5: Television.
long-running be based on air (=broadcast)
cast episode series

72
Media 3: A film Media 4: A story from your childhood
Describe a film that you enjoyed watching. Describe a story that you remembered from your childhood
You should say: You should say:
What type of film it was What the story was about
When you saw it How you first heard this story
Why you enjoyed it Why you remembered this story
Whether this film is popular in your country. Whether it is still popular today.
Suggestion Suggestion
Choose a recent famous movie. (Hollywood movies are easier to describe.) Use the same story as Media l: A TV programme (e.g. Journey to the West).
Uncommon Vocabulary Uncommon Vocabulary
See Part One Topic 25: Films. See People 4: A character from a story / film / TV programme.
a Hollywood blockbuster a box-office smash hand down over the generations the outline of the story
a big-budget production animated special effects fairy-tale be founded on
an impressive script an unforgettable soundtrack Grammar Point
a strong cast (= famous actors / actresses) Use a mix of past tenses:
Grammar Point The story itself has been retold hundreds of times.
Use a mix of present and past tenses: The tale was first read to me by my grandfather.
When I originally saw the film, it had been out for a quite while (be out = It was originally written by...
release).
Media 5: A book
It has been aired on TV a couple of times.
Describe a book that you enjoyed reading.
It has recently been released on DVD.
You should say:
When you first read it
What it was about
Why you enjoyed it
Whether this book is popular in your country.

73
Suggestion It has a very catchy tune (=The song is very memorable).
Use a similar story to Media 1: A TV programme; People 4: A character from a story / It is usually performed by a full orchestra.
film / TV programme (e.g. Journey to the West).
Grammar Point
Uncommon Vocabulary
Try to use some past tenses:
See also Part One Topic 7: Reading.
I used to hear it every day at school.
a masterpiece of classic fiction the complete unabridged edition
It was written about 50 years ago.
hardback version paperback version
Media 7: A newspaper or magazine
illustrated edition the narrative style
Describe a newspaper or magazine that you have read.
the plot based on four central characters
You should say:
Grammar Point
What type of newspaper or magazine it is
Use a mix of past tenses:
How often you read it
The book has been reprinted hundreds of times; It was originally written
What you like about it
hundreds of years ago. When I first read it, I had already seen the TV
production of the story. Whether it is popular in your country.

Media 6: A song or piece of music Suggestion

Describe a song or a piece of music that you like. It is probably easier to describe a magazine for this topic because magazines usually
have more features than newspapers. Choose a general lifestyle or general interest
You should say:
magazine such as Hope, Time, National Geographic or Cosmopolitan.
What the song or piece of music is
Uncommon Vocabulary
When you first heard it
publish monthly regular feature
Why you liked it
editorial comment photo-journalism
Whether it is popular in your country.
film and book reviews
Suggestion
Grammar Point
It is quite difficult to describe a pop song. An easier choice would be the Chinese
Try to use some past tenses as well as present tenses:
national anthem (the National Song).
I first came across this magazine when I was in university.
Uncommon Vocabulary
I have been reading it for about 2 years now.
It was originally composed by...
I used to have a subscription (= It was delivered to my address by post).
The lyrics are very patriotic.

74
 Suggestion
Media 8: A website
The easiest choice is to describe a government TV advertisement about an
Describe a website that you have used.
environmental issue such as energy conservation or anti-litter campaign.
You should say:
Uncommon Vocabulary
What the website is
a long-running TV campaign public awareness
What you used it for
energy conservation influence alter one's lifestyle
How you found out about it
Grammar Point
Whether you have used other websites similar to this one.
Try to use a mix of tenses:
Suggestion
I can remember the first time that I saw it.
At first this seems like a difficult topic. If you choose a "big" website with many features
It used to be broadcast every night at prime time.
it is much easier. A good choice would be sina.com or Baidu.com, because they have so
many functions. It is still being shown today.
Uncommon Vocabulary Media 10: A photo
multi-functional web-based community online games Describe a photo that you like.
message forums music downloads You should say:
Grammar Point What the photo is
Try to use some past tenses: When it was taken
I first discovered it by accident - I followed a link from another website. Why you like it
I have been using it for about 2 years now. Whether you have other photos in your home.
Now it's much more popular than it used to be. Suggestion
Media 9: An advertisement This can be a difficult topic if you select the wrong photo. An easy option is a holiday
photo - then you can describe some aspects of the holiday.
Describe an advertisement that you have seen.
Uncommon Vocabulary
You should say:
See Part One Topic 40: Photography.
What type of advertisement it is
bring back fond memory
What it is about
frame original print enlarge
When you first saw it
Grammar Point
What you like about it
Use mostly past tenses:
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 I took the photo whilst on holiday 3 years ago.
Section 5: Objects
While I was on that holiday I spent a lot of time travelling.
1. Something useful
The thing that I remember most about the holiday was when I...
2. An object you use every day
I've hung the photo on my wall.
3. A piece of equipment you use every day
Media 11: A piece of art
4. Something electronic that you use often
Describe a piece of art that you have seen.
5. An item of clothing or jewellery
You should say:
6. Something old
When / Where you saw it
7. A piece of furniture
What it looked like
8. Something you made yourself
What you like about it
9. A toy
Whether you have seen any other types of art.
10. A vehicle you would like to own
Suggestion
11. Something expensive you would like to buy
This can be a difficult topic. An easy option is to describe a sculpture - then you can use
12. A gift or present you have received
the same content as Place 20: A monument.
13. Something you bought which you were not happy with
Uncommon Vocabulary
14. A handcraft
See Place 20: A monument.
15. A national product
Grammar Point
Object 1: Something useful
Use a mix of tenses:
Describe something useful you use every day.
When I first saw it I thought it looked like a...
You should say:
When I looked more closely I noticed that it had...
What the object is
I have seen a similar sculpture in...
What you use it for
Why it is useful
Whether it was expensive to buy
Suggestion
Many people describe computers or mobile phones. These are fine but you must
remember to use some complex language in your description - don't just list the different

76
functions and features.
Object 3: A piece of equipment you use every day
Uncommon Vocabulary
Describe a piece of equipment you use every day.
handy (= useful) versatile valuable to sb.
You should say:
make use of multipurpose multifunctional
What the piece of equipment is
indispensable
What you use it for
Grammar Point
Whether other people use it
You can use many different tenses for this topic:
How your life would be harder without it.
I make use of it...
Suggestion
I've had it for 2 years.
Exactly the same as Object 1: Something useful.
I originally bought it...
Object 4: Something electronic that you use often
My life would be difficult without it because...
Describe something electronic that you use often.
I couldn’t imagine life without it.
You should say:
Object 2: An object you use every day
What it is
Describe an object you use every day.
Where / When you bought it
You should say:
What you use it for
What the object is
How your life would be harder without it.
What you use it for
Suggestion
Whether other people use it
Exactly the same as Object 1: Something useful.
How your life would be harder without it.
Object 5: An item of clothing or jewellery
Suggestion
Describe an item of clothing or jewellery that you like to wear.
Exactly the same as Object 1: Something useful.
You should say:
What the item is
Where / When you bought it
What it looks like
How often you wear it.

77
Suggestion
Object 7: A piece of furniture
Clothing is quite hard to describe. It is probably easier to describe an old watch that you
Describe a piece of furniture in your home.
own. (Lie if you don’t own one!)
You should say:
Uncommon Vocabulary
What it is
antique old-fashioned design precious
What it looks like
of great personal value hand down show off
What it is used for
Grammar Point
Whether it was expensive.
You can use a mix of past tenses:
Suggestion
I've had it for years.
This can be quite difficult if you choose something basic like a sofa or bed. It is a good
It was made in 1903.
idea to lie for this topic - describe an antique piece of furniture. You can use some of
It has been repaired a couple of times. language and phrases from Object 5: An item of clothing or jewellery.
It used to belong to my great-grandmother. Uncommon Vocabulary
Object 6: Something old professional furniture restorer delicate fragile
Describe something old which has been in your family for a long time. ornamental decorative
You should say: Grammar Point
What the thing is Exactly the same as Object 5: An item of clothing or jewellery.
How old it is Object 8: Something you made yourself
What it is used for Describe something you made yourself.
Whether it is valuable. You should say:
Suggestion What the thing was
Exactly the same as Object 5: An item of clothing or jewellery. How you made it
Why you made it
Whether you still have this thing today.
Suggestion
This topic is also quite difficult if you choose something basic like a greeting card. A
good suggestion is a kite which you made yourself.

78
Uncommon Vocabulary Suggestion
assemble put together attach glue (v.) Many people describe cars or bicycles - these are too simple and do not give you enough
content to be able to keep talking and use complex language. It is easier to select
Grammar Point
something quite unbelievable like a helicopter, luxury yacht or private jet plane. (The
This topic needs mostly past tenses: question is "would like to own", so you can be quite imaginative.)
I created all the parts from scratch made them all myself. Uncommon Vocabulary
It took me about a day to complete it. extravagant show off status symbol
I had never made a kite before so it was quite tricky. high-speed luxurious pricey (= expensive)
I used to play with it every day. price-tag
I have no idea what happened to it - I think it got thrown away. Grammar Point
Object 9: A toy Use conditional structures:
Describe a toy that you enjoyed playing with as a child. It’s just a fantasy; I doubt I’ll ever be able to afford this.
You should say: If I owned this vehicle I might be able to...
What the toy was I would most probably use it to...
Who bought it for you Object 11: Something expensive you would like to buy
Why you liked it Describe something expensive you would like to buy.
Whether you still have this toy. You should say:
Suggestion What the thing is
Exactly the same as Object 8: Something you made yourself. (A kite could be defined as Why you would like to buy it
a toy.)
What you would use if for
Object 10: A vehicle you would like to own
Whether you think you will buy this thing in the future.
Describe a vehicle you would like to own.
Suggestion
You should say:
Exactly the same as Object 10: A vehicle you would like to own.
What the vehicle is
Why you would like to own it
Whether it would be expensive today
Whether you think you will buy this vehicle in the future.

79
 Grammar Point
Object 12: A gift or present you have received
Use mostly past tenses and some conditional structures:
Describe a gift or present you have received.
I would never purchase this brand again.
You should say:
I would probably pay a little extra next time and choose a well-known brand.
What the gift was
Object 14: A handicraft
Who gave it to you
Describe a handicraft that can be found in your country.
Why they gave it to you
You should say:
How you felt when you received it.
What the handicraft is
Suggestion
How it is made
Use the same content as Object 5: An item of clothing or jewellery. Say that one of your
family members gave you this old piece of family jewellery as a birthday gift or What it is used for
graduation gift.
Whether it is easy to find.
Object 13: Something you bought which you were not happy with
Suggestion
Describe something you bought which you were not happy with.
Do not try to describe the famous Chinese "red knots" - these are very difficult to talk
You should say: about for 2 minutes. A much easier option is bamboo furniture.
What the thing was Uncommon Vocabulary
Where / When you bought it practical furniture armchair stool versatile
Why you were not happy with it raw materials fast-growing an creative skill
What you did about the situation. durable long-established traditional technique
Suggestion environmentally sustainable
The best way to deal with this topic is to focus on the problem and solution rather than Grammar Point
the actual object. Use any object from the previous topics (e.g. computer or mobile
Use some past tenses:
phone) and focus on the reason why you were not happy with it.
This long-established traditional technique has been practiced for thousands of
Uncommon Vocabulary
years. It has remained unchanged for centuries.
purchase (=buy) splash out on (=pay a lot of money for)
break down go wrong
get one's money back manufacturer
offer a refund / replacement technical fault retailer

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 Suggestion
Object 15: A national product
This is probably the easiest of all Part Two topics. It really doesn't matter what hobby
Describe a product from your country that is famous.
you describe – remember to use complex vocabulary.
You should say:
Uncommon Vocabulary
What the product is
Use the vocabulary from Part One Topic 3: Hobbies / Free-time activities.
What it is used for
Grammar Point
Where it can be found
You can use a wide range of tenses:
Whether it is useful.
I’ve been doing this for years.
Suggestion
I originally took up this activity 5 years ago.
Exactly the same as Object 14: A handicraft.
I used to do it every day but now I only spend a few hours a week doing it.
Section 6: Hobbies and Activities
I will never forget the first time I tried this.
1. A free-time activity
Hobby / Activity 2: A hobby you would like to take up
2. A hobby you would like to take up
Describe a hobby or activity that you would like to take up in the future.
3. Something you do to help you relax
You should say:
4. A sport (a)
What the hobby is
5. A sport (b)
Why you want to do it
6. An outdoor activity
Whether it is popular in your country
7. A game
Whether you think you will start doing this in the near future.
8. Something you like to do at weekends
Suggestion
Hobby / Activity 1: A tree-time activity
With this topic you can choose any hobby but remember this is a "would-like" question
Describe a free-time activity that you enjoy doing. so you must focus on why you would like to do this in the future.
You should say: Uncommon Vocabulary
What the hobby is Use the vocabulary from Part One Topic 3: Hobbies / Free-time activities.
What you like about it Grammar Point
Why you started doing it You must me conditional structures:
Whether this hobby is popular in your country. If I could choose any hobby, I guess I'd like to take up...
I suppose it would be quite fascinating.
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 I might have the chance to... Suggestion
I'm not sure if I will actually be able to start doing this. It is actually quite difficult to describe many common sports such as football or
basketball because each sport has its own specialist vocabulary. It is much easier if you
Hobby / Activity 3: Something you do to help you relax
choose a range of sports such as athletics. It is probably easier to describe "playing"
Describe something you do to help you relax. rather than "watching", because you can use more vocabulary to describe why you like
You should say: playing it (especially the physical benefits).

What the activity is Uncommon Vocabulary

How often you this Use Part One Topic 4: Sports.

Why you like this Grammar Point

Whether this is popular in your country. The same as Hobby / Activity 1: A free-time activity.

Suggestion Hobby / Activity 5: A sport (b)

A common problem with this topic is when candidates describe a sport such as football. Describe a sport that you would like to try.
A physical sport is not a form of relaxation, so a description of a sport will often be You should say:
judged as "irrelevant" or "off-topic" by the examiner. You should actually describe
What the sport is
something "you do to help you rest". The easy choices are music, reading, TV or radio
etc. (In the past I have heard candidates try to describe "sleeping" - I think it almost Why you would like to try it
impossible to describe sleeping for 2 minutes.)
Whether this sport is popular in your country
Uncommon Vocabulary
Whether you think you will start doing this in the near future.
Use vocabulary from Part One Topic 26: Weekends; Part One Topic 45: Relaxation.
Suggestion
Grammar Point
It is important to notice that this is a sport that you have not tried before. One option is
The same as Hobby / Activity 1: A free-time activity.
to describe an extreme or dangerous sport. (See Experiences 24: Something dangerous
Hobby / Activity 4: A sport (a) you would like to do.) A second option is to take the sport from the previous topic card
and say that you have never tried this sport before.
Describe a sport that you enjoy watching or playing.
Uncommon Vocabulary
You should say:
Use Part One: Topic 4: Sports; Experiences 24: Something dangerous you would like to
What the sport is
do.
Where / When you play or watch it
Grammar Point
Why like watching / playing this sport
Use the same structures as: Hobby / Activity 2: A hobby you would like to take up;
Whether it is popular in your country. Experiences 24: Something dangerous you would like to do.
I'd love to have the chance to have a go at mountain biking.
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 It would without doubt be quite risky.
Hobby / Activity 7: A game
It would need quite a lot of careful preparation.
Describe a game that you enjoyed playing when you were a child.
I doubt ever have the chance to actually do it.
You should say:
Hobby / Activity 6: An outside activity
What the game was
Describe an outside activity that you enjoy doing.
Haw the game is played
You should say:
Why you enjoyed it
What the activity is
Whether this game is still played today.
How often do you do it
Suggestion
Why you enjoy it
It is important to realize that this topic card is about a game and NOT a sport. The
Whether it is a popular activity in your country. easiest options are children’s games that involve pretending to be adults, such as
hospitals, war, families, shops etc.
Suggestion
Uncommon Vocabulary
This topic is so general that you have many options to choose from. You can repeat the
content from the following: Hobby / Activity 4: A sport (a); Place 8: A walk that you amuse oneself make-believe imagination
regularly take.
play-acting act out the role of imaginary
Uncommon Vocabulary
imitate mimic
outdoor in the open air fresh air invigorating
Grammar Point
refreshing bracing energizing
This topic needs mostly past tenses:
Grammar Point
I can recall that we regularly used to amuse ourselves by...
Use some past tenses:
Whenever we had free time, we would often...
When I wasn’t so busy I used to do this more frequently.
I can still remember how we sometimes used to...
I’ve been doing it on and off for about 2 years now (on and off = irregularly).
I initially took up this activity after I left school.

83
Hobby / Activity 8: Something you like to do at weekends Section 7: Other Part Two Topics
Describe something you like to do at weekends. 1. An animal
You should say: 2. An environmental problem
What the activity is 3. A subject that you liked at school
Why you do it at weekends 4. An ideal job
What you like about this activity 5. Food
Whether it is popular in your country. 6. Type of clothes
Suggestion 7. Favorite month or season
This is a very simple topic. You can select content from any of the previous Hobby / 8. Type of weather
Activity topic cards.
9. Extreme weather
Uncommon Vocabulary
10. Something good about your personality
See Part One Topic 26: Weekends.
11. A future plan or ambition
Grammar Point
12. An important invention
Use the same grammar as Hobby / Activity 6: An outside activity.
13. A form of public transport
14. A public event
15. A sporting event
Others 1: An animal
Describe a wild animal that can he found in your country.
You should say:
What the animal is
Where it can be found
How people in your country feel about it
Whether you have seen it.
Suggestion
The obvious choice here is the giant panda. (There is a full example of a Part Two
description of a panda in the section of this book entitled "Examples of Part Two Using

84
the Fluency Method".) Grammar Point
Uncommon Vocabulary You can use past, present and future tenses:
national symbol endangered species nature reserve The problem started back in the 1970's.
protected natural habitat conservation It has been getting worse ever since.
Grammar Point It will continue to worsen if we don't find a way to deal with it.
Use a mix of present and past tenses: If we don’t act soon, it might be too late to reverse the climate changes.
I have seen it once. Others 3: A subject that you liked at school
It used to be more common but now it is extremely rare in the wild. Describe a subject that you liked at school.
I visited the Panda Sanctuary last year. You should say:
Others 2: An environmental problem What the subject was
Describe an environmental problem in your country. Why you liked it
You should say: Whether you were good at this subject
What the problem is How this subject helped you later in life.
Whether it is serious Suggestion
What causes this problem Some subjects are easy to describe: sports, languages, music or art. Other subjects are
more difficult to describe: mathematics, Chinese or history. The easiest choice is
How it can be solved.
probably a foreign language.
Suggestion
Uncommon Vocabulary
Many candidates choose "air pollution" or "water pollution”. These are ok but it is not
Use Part One Topic 9: Learning English; Part One Topic 21: Learning languages; People
easy to use complex vocabulary because they are both quite general problems. It is
6: A teacher who has influenced you.
better to choose a more specific problem such as "air pollution from car exhaust fumes".
Do not choose "noise pollution" or "light pollution" - these are too difficult to describe Grammar Point
for two minutes.
You need to use mostly past tenses:
Uncommon Vocabulary
At that time I was studying in middle school.
car exhaust emissions carbon monoxide fumes leaded petrol
My favorite subject used to be...
global warming climate change rising sea levels
I used to enjoy it because...
global resolution international agreements
I remember the teacher always used to...

85
 Suggestion
Others 4: An ideal job
Choose a "style" of food rather than one particular dish. For example, it is much easier
Describe your idea of an ideal job.
to describe "seafood" than "lobster". It is not easy to describe a regional style of Chinese
You should say: cooking, e.g. Sichuan food, because most of the vocabulary needed for this would be
What the job is Chinese. Some easy examples include: seafood, vegetarian food, fast food, junk food,
home-cooked food etc. Don’t tell the truth. Don’t describe your favorite food - describe
Why you would like to do this job any type of food that you can easily talk about for 2 minutes (even if you don’t actually
Whether it would be easy to do this job like this food).

Whether it would be easy to find a job like this. Uncommon Vocabulary

Suggestion Use Part One Topic 13: Restaurants; Part One Topic 31: Cooking; Part One Topic 36:
Food.
Choose any job that involves a variety of activities such as a travel guide or journalist.
Then you can talk about the travel aspect of the job as well as the job itself. Grammar Point

Uncommon Vocabulary Try to include some past tenses:

Use the vocabulary from Part One Topic 2a: What you do-your job. I used to eat this food quite a lot.

Grammar Point I remember the first time that I tried it.

You must use conditional structures: When I was younger I wasn't so keen on this food but I've become quite fond of
it now.
I guess my dream job would be something like...
Others 6: Type of clothes
It would allow me to...
Describe the type of clothes you like wearing.
I would have the opportunity to...
You should say:
It might even be possible for me to...
What type of clothes you like
Others 5: Food
Why you like them
Describe the type of food that you like eating.
Where you buy them
You should say:
Whether these clothes are popular in your country.
What type of food it is
Suggestion
How often you eat it
Remember the topic card states "type of clothes", not a particular item of clothing. Some
Why you like it examples could be sports clothes, traditional Chinese clothing, expensive designer label
Whether this food is popular in your country. clothes or fashionable clothes.

86
Uncommon Vocabulary
Others 8: Type of weather
Use Part One Topic 11: Clothes.
Describe your favorite type of weather.
Grammar Point
You should say:
Try to include some past tenses:
What the type of weather is
When I was younger I used to prefer wearing...
What you do during this type of weather
As I got older I started to get into trendy clothes.
Why it is your favorite
This style of clothing didn't use to be so fashionable.
Whether people often talk about the weather in your country.
It started becoming trendy about 5 years ago.
Suggestion
Others 7: Favorite month or season
Use the same content as Others 7: Favorite month or season.
Describe a month or season that you particularly like.
Uncommon Vocabulary
You should say:
Use the vocabulary as Others 7: Favorite month or season.
What the month or season is
Grammar Point
Why you like it
Use the same grammar as Others 7: Favorite month or season.
What you do during this month or season
Others 9: Extreme weather
What makes this month or season special..
Describe some extreme weather that you have experienced.
Suggestion
You should say:
It is easier to describe a season. For example, if you choose summer, you can describe
What the extreme was
seasonal food, summer activities, summer clothes and the weather.
Where / When you experienced it
Uncommon Vocabulary
Why it was extreme
Use Part One Topic 22: Weather; Part One Topic 38: Seasons.
Whether this type of weather is common in your country.
Grammar Point
Suggestion
Try to include some past tenses:
The topic card states "extreme weather", so it is not possible to use exactly the same
When I was a kid I didn’t use to be so fond of summer because...
content as the previous topic. The easiest choice is probably a summer "heat wave" (an
I remember in the summer months we often used to... unexpected period of unusually hot weather), or a winter "cold snap" (an unexpected
period of unusually cold weather).
As I got older, I started to appreciate summer more because...
Uncommon Vocabulary
heat wave cold snap unanticipated
87
out-of-the-blue (=without warning) severely hot / cold
Others 11: A future plan or ambition
Use also Part One Topic 22: Weather.
Describe any future plan or ambition you have.
Grammar Point
You should say:
You can use a mix of tenses:
What the plan / ambition is
When I was younger the weather used to always be quite predictable.
How long you have had this plan / ambition
I had never experienced such extreme temperatures.
Why you want to do this
I hope I never have to witness these weather conditions again.
Whether you think you will do this in the near future.
Others 10: Something good about your personality
Suggestion
Describe something good about your personality
Choose the easiest option - say that you would like to move to another country. This
You should say: gives you lots of lifestyle aspects to describe (including work and study).
What this thing is Uncommon Vocabulary
Why you think it is good aspiration desire motivated have big ambitions
How it influences your life build castles in the air (idiom) a dream come true (idiom)
Whether other people would agree that this is a good thing. Grammar Point
Suggestion Use a mix of tenses, especially future and conditional tenses:
This is not an easy Part Two topic. The easiest option is to choose "honesty". Ever since I was a kid I have had the desire to...
Uncommon Vocabulary I have never been the kind of person to build castles in the air.
truthful straightforward tell the truth It would really be a dream comes true if I could...
vouch for a reputation for down to earth I really hope that I will be able to...
put one’s cards on the table (idiom) Others 12: An important invention
Grammar Point Describe an important invention before the age of computers.
Try to use some conditional sentences: You should say:
My friends would vouch for my honesty. What the invention is
I would say that I have a reputation for being down to earth. How it has changed people’s lives
If I am in a difficult predicament I will always put my cards on the table. Why you think it is important
Whether it is still used today.

88
Suggestion Grammar Point
There are many possibilities for this topic, but remember the topic card states that the Use a mix of tenses:
invention must be "before the age of computers". Easy options include: the telephone,
When I was younger I used to take the train about one year.
the jet aircraft, the generation of electricity or gunpowder.
If I have the choice, I will generally opt to take a bus.
Uncommon Vocabulary
The train system has recently been upgraded.
discovery innovation creator conceive
Others 14: A public event
revolutionize think up
Describe a public event that you enjoyed.
Grammar Point
You should say:
Use a mix of tenses:
What the event was
The idea was originally conceived and thought up by an inventor (I can't
remember his name). When and where you saw it

I think it was created some time in the twentieth century. Why you liked it

It has played an important part in people’s lives. Whether you would like to see this kind of event again.

Life wouldn't be the same without it because it has enabled people to... Suggestion

Others 13: A form of public transport There are many possible choices for this topic but the easiest is probably the Olympic
Games. This topic is easy because there are many different features that you can talk
Describe your favorite form of public transport.
about. Some people might argue that the Olympic Games is not actually a public event:
You should say: in fact this topic is quite confusing (even to an examiner), because the word "public
event" is so vague and unspecific. For this reason it is perfectly acceptable to select the
What type of transport it is
Olympic Games.
How often you use it
Uncommon Vocabulary
Why it is your favorite
international occasion the world’s most celebrated sports meeting
Whether it is popular in your country
prestigious competition globally renowned
Suggestion
Grammar Point
Candidates often misunderstand the meaning of "public transport". Public transport
You need to use many examples of past tenses:
includes: trains, buses, taxis, river ferries, underground trains (metro) and trams. It does
not include bicycles, cars or air travel. Buses or trains are probably the easiest to It was actually the first time I had seen this prestigious sporting competition.
describe.
It was broadcast live on TV.
Uncommon Vocabulary
I spent hours watching the main events.
Use Part One Topic 33: Public transport.
I was quite surprised to notice that...
89
Others 15: A sporting event Part Three of the Speaking Test
Describe a sporting event that you have seen.
The format
You should say:
You know when Part Three has started because you will hear the examiner say:
What the event was
Ok we've just been talking about (public transport) and now like to ask you one
When and where you saw it or two general questions related to this topic. So first of all let’s talk about…
What you liked about it Part Three should take 4-5 minutes. This includes the time it takes for the examiner to
Whether you would like to watch this type of event again. introduce topics and ask questions.

Suggestion It is important to realize that in Part Three the focus of questions and topics changes.

Use exactly the same content and language as Others 14: A public event. As we have already seen, in Part One and Part Two the focus of the topics and questions
is "you" or "your life".
Finishing or "Rounding Off" Part Two
Part One Part Two
After your two-minute talk the examiner might ask you one or two very basic questions
Do YOU like... Describe YOUR favorite
about your Part Two content. Examiners call these questions "rounding off" questions.
For example, in Part Two your topic was "Describe your favorite form of public How often do YOU... Describe something YOU like doing...
transport." Let’s say you described buses. After you have finished talking, the examiner
Tell me about X in YOUR city. Describe something that is popular in YOUR country
might ask questions like:
In Part Three, there is a definite change in the focus. The questions are no longer about
Are the buses cheap in your city?
you or your life. The general focus of Part Three is "other people" or "society in
Did you travel to the test today by bus? general". The questions in Part Three may be based on things in your country, things in
general (no particular place) or they may be about global issues.
These simple questions are used to close Part Two of the speaking test. You DON’T
need to give a complex answer to these questions. This is the only time in the speaking There is a direct relationship between your Part Two topic and your Part Three topics.
test when you should give simple answers. It would be line to answer: However, it is important to realize that your Part Three topics will not be exactly the
same as your Part Two topic.
Yes, about 2 yuan for a single journey.
For example, in Part Two your topic was:
No, actually I came by taxi.
Describe an interesting trip you have been on.
The examiner will want to move on to Part Three as quickly as possible - so do not try to
give long responses to these questions. (You described a trip to Hong Kong.)
In some situations the examiner will not ask these questions and will move straight to In Part Three, your examiner might ask you questions about:
Part Three.
Different types of trips and holidays
Do not worry if the examiner does not ask these questions - it means that the total timing
Travelling abroad / travelling in your own country
for Part Two has reached 3 minutes. This is usually a positive thing because it means
your Part Two talk was quite long. The importance of tourism

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The examiner will NOT ask about: It is also important to remember that your actual opinion is not being marked in Part
Three.
Travelling to Hong Kong
Many people like to call Part Three a "discussion". I would rather not use this word
Your favorite ways of travelling
because it gives us the idea that content is important. As with all parts of the speaking
Why you like travelling test, you are being marked on your linguistic ability - NOT your ideas or content.
This aspect of Part Three is important to understand because the content of your answers Part Three Question Types
must be based on "general ideas" and not your "personal information".
Part Three actually contains a wide number of different topics and questions. It would be
It is important to remember that your ideas are not being tested - the examiner is only almost impossible to memorize answers in Part Three.
testing your ability to express your ideas in spoken English.
The best strategy for Part Three is to ignore the actual topic and question and focus on
Candidates who continue to talk about themselves in Part Three will lose marks. the "language function" of Part Three questions.
Part Three questions and strategies are given later in this chapter. These language functions require specific grammar aspects, so for this reason, most of
Part Three and Score Adjustment our Part Three responses will be based on grammar.

It is quite obvious that Part Three is the most demanding section of the speaking lest. Look at the following question:
This is because the questions and topics are more complex than Part One and Part Two. Are houses nowadays the same as houses 50 years ago in your country?
There is a specific reason for the increased difficulty in Part Three. An experienced With all Part Three questions it is a good idea to ask the following question:
examiner can accurately award a speaking score midway through Part Two. At the end
Why is the examiner asking me this question?
of Part Two, if your examiner has decided that you are a speaking 6, he or she will then
use Part Three to push you to your language limit – e.g., push you "linguistically" to see With this example the answer should be:
if you can actually get 7.
The examiner is testing my ability to demonstrate my ability to compare two things.
Part Three seems difficult because the examiner is pushing you to your "linguistic limit".
This will be our first question type.
Generally speaking, most people’s score stay the same after Part Three. In other words,
Part Three Question Type 1: Comparing
the examiner decided that you were a 6 after Part Two, and your performance in Part
Three didn't make him change his or her mind. This is one of the most common Part Three question types. It usually appears very early
in Part Three (the first or second question). The comparing question can be asked in
In some circumstances, the score may be reduced in Part Three. This usually happens
different ways:
with candidates who have recited a lot of Part One and Part Two content, they usually
find that it is not possible to use recited content in Part Three.  Time comparison
More importantly, it is possible to use Part Three to increase your score. If you fully Are houses nowadays, the same as houses 30 years ago in your country?
understand the functions of Part Three questions, you can produce language that should
(This type of comparison question requires the use of mixed tenses.)
increase your score.
 Social group comparison
In this chapter we will focus on one particular strategy for dealing with Part Three
questions. Do men and women like the same types of books?

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 Do old and young people like the same holidays?  Sure, without a doubt...
 Geographic comparison  Unquestionably...
Are houses in North China the same as houses in South China? Now say that there are some differences:
Although these questions look quite different, they all require a very similar answer. The  There are a number of underlying differences here.
important thing to remember is that you do not get marks for the "differences" that you
describe. Some candidates simply list a number of differences - this does not produce a  There are a variety of possible differences here.
good quality answer. For this question type you need to use "comparative" structures.  There are a range of potential distinctions here.
Look at the following answer:
Now introduce the first difference:
Do men and women like the same hobbies?
 However, I guess that the most significant would be that...
I think men and women like different hobbies, for example men are fond of
many types of sporting activities such as football and basketball. Also they  Though I suppose that the most obvious would he that...
prefer things like watching action movies and going to bars, but women like  But I would say the most fundamental would be that...
hobbies such as shopping, watching TV, singing KTV and charting online.
Now use a sentence to describe the first difference. For example, "...men tend to
This answer is simply a list of different hobbies: it is focused on content. It does not prefer..."
produce the "comparative" language that is required for this type of question.
Develop this first difference with a simple linking word: especially, particularly, in fact,
Now look at the next answer to the same question: such as, for example, specifically.
Well obviously there are a number of clear differences. However, I guess that Now use your first comparative linking structure:
the most significant would be that men tend to prefer sporting activities such as
football or basketball. Whereas in contrast women prefer things like shopping  Whereas on the other hand...
for clothes. In addition to this, another possible distinction might be that men  On the contrary...
usually like watching films: while on the other hand, women are more likely to
prefer watching soap operas on TV.  Though quite the opposite...

This second answer contains similar content to the first answer but the content is Now add your next sentence. For example, "...women are generally keener on..."
presented with comparative structures. The comparative language here is: whereas, in Develop the second part of the first difference with a simple linking word: especially,
contrast, while on the other hand. These two comparative linking structures will particularly, in fact, such as, for example, specifically.
increase your score. Now you need to build your own comparative answer. Begin with
an opening linking phrase: So you have described one difference. Now you need to introduce a second difference.
Begin with a linking word:
 Well obviously...
 In addition...
 Well undoubtedly...
 On top of this...
 Well clearly...
 Additionally...
 Well unmistakably...
 Moreover...
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  As well as this... Now use your own answer structure to practice the following compare questions.

 After that...  Are schools nowadays the same as schools in the past?

Say there is another important difference.  Are TV programmes nowadays the same as TV programmes in the past?

 ...a second key distinction would be that...  Are restaurants nowadays the same as restaurants in the past?

 ...a subsequent contrast could be that...  Are free-time activities nowadays the same as 20 years ago in your country?

 ...a further distinction might be that...  Are shops nowadays the same as shops when you were younger?
Now describe the second difference. For example, "...men are quite keen on..."  Are trips nowadays the same as trips that your parents had when they were
young?
Now use your second comparative linking structure.
 In what ways are magazines different to newspapers?
 While on the other hand...
 Do adults and children make friends in the same way?
 Conversely...
 Are families nowadays the same as families in the past?
 Alternatively...
 Are buildings nowadays the same as buildings 100 years ago?
 Then again, in opposition...
Then give a sentence to describe the second Part of the second difference. You only need  Is public transport nowadays the same as public transport 20 years ago?
to describe two differences.  Do old and young people like the same hobbies?
 Tenses for Time Comparison  Do men and women have the same attitudes to shopping?
Sometimes people call these questions "changes" questions. However the question "How  What's the difference between things made by hand and things made by
has X changed in recent years?" is actually the same question as, "Is X nowadays the machines?
same as X in the past (20 years ago, 50 years ago etc.)?"
 Do people nowadays eat the same food as people 50 years ago?
The answer is actually the same, because if you describe the changes you are simply
describing the difference between past and present.  Is the weather in North China the same as the weather in South China?

In your answer, when you describe the past, the easiest tense to use accurately is "used  How has education changed in recent years in your country?
to". For example:  Nowadays, do people make new friends in the same way as people 20 years
 X used to be much smaller... ago?

 X didn't use to have as many...  Are the ways in which people become famous nowadays the same ways that
people became famous 100 years ago?
 X always used to be more...
This is not a complete list of every comparison question in Part Three, but if you can
 X didn't use to be as... confidently use your comparative structure for all of these questions, you will have no
problem answering this type of question - regardless of the topic.

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Part Three Question Type 2: Predicting regard to...
Look at the following question: "What will houses be like in the future?" Introduce your first prediction.
Now ask yourself: "Why is the examiner asking me this question?" Initially, I guess that we might begin to see...
The answer is simple: "The examiner is testing my ability to use future prediction To begin with, I'd predict that we will most likely have...
structures."
Primarily, it looks quite probable that we are going to have...
The following answer is quite common for this type of question:
First of all, I would envisage that we are going to have...
I think that in the future, houses will be much bigger, and maybe they will be in
Use a sentence to describe your first prediction. (Try to use basic future tenses when
some strange places such as on the moon or under the sea.
giving details.) Try to develop the sentence with a basic linking word.
The answer above directly answers the question with acceptable "predictions". However
Initially, I guess that we might begin to see houses that are made of plastic
the language used to present these predictions is very basic. Now look at the next answer
materials because these will be much cheaper and easier to construct.
to the same question:
Now introduce your second prediction.
Certainly, I’m sure that most people would agree that there will be a number of
major changes related to this. Initially, I guess that we might begin to see  At the same time, I suppose it’s quite probable that we may have...
houses that are much bigger. At the same time, I suppose it's quite probable that
 As well as this, some people claim that we will probably start to see…
we may have houses under the sea. And who knows, it could even be possible
that we'll see the arrival of houses on the moon.  On top of this, I imagine it's quite likely that we will soon have...
The content of this answer is basically the same as the answer but the language used is  Likewise, I would imagine that we may even be able to see...
much more complex. The answer lists 3 different predictions and each prediction is
Use a sentence to describe your second prediction. (Try to use basic future tenses when
presented with a different future structure:
giving details.) Try to develop the sentence with a basic linking word.
 ...I guess that we might begin to see…
At the same time, I suppose quite probable that we may have houses that are
 ...I suppose it's quite probable that we may have... controlled by computer because this will make home life much easier.

 ...who knows, it could even be possible that we’ll see... Now introduce your third prediction. It is not always possible to make 3 realistic
predictions, so you can make your final one quite unrealistic.
Now you will build your own "predicting answer structure”. Begin with an opening
linking phrase:  And who knows, it could even be possible that see the arrival of...

Certainly, I’m sure that most people would agree that there will be a number of  And you never know, it could even transpire that we’ll have...
major changes related to this.
 And I know a bit of a crazy thought, but one day we may even have...
I'm sure that in years to come we will see a number of changes related to this.
 And who knows, there’s even a chance that we will have...
I reckon that in the not so distant future there are going to be a few imminent
It is probably not necessary to develop your last prediction, but if you can add a detail
changes with regard to...
use a basic future tense. Practise your prediction structure with the following questions:
I imagine that in the near future, we will witness some major changes with

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  What will schools be like in the future? There are some "why" questions in Part One of the speaking test but they are more
commonly asked in Part Three. Look at the following question and answer:
 What will restaurants be like in the future?
Why do so many people want to be famous?
 What types of people will become famous in the future?
In my opinion there are many reasons. Firstly people think they can make more
 What will shops / shopping habits be like in the future? money, live in a big house, drive an expensive car and travel around the world.
 What will public transport be like in the future? The reasons in this answer are quite acceptable, but they are presented in a basic
 What types of hobbies will become popular in the future? structure which lacks linking phrases. This answer also lacks complex vocabulary. Now
look at the next answer:
 What types of trips / holidays will people take in the future?
In my opinion I guess I would have to say that there are probably a number of
 What will cars be like in the future? factors involved. Primarily, one key motivation would be because they think
 What will TV programmes be like in the future? they would be able to make more money. As well as this a subsequent incentive
might be because they want to live in a big house and drive an expensive car.
 What kinds of gifts will people gave in the future?
This answer actually contains less ideas or reasons, but it presents the reasons with
 What kinds of skills will become important in the future? complex linking structures. The word "reason" is also replaced with 3 different complex
vocabulary items (factor, motivation and incentive).
 What new inventions do you think we will see in the future?
Now build your own "why" structure. Begin with a linking phrase:
 What environmental problems will we see in the future?
 Well in my opinion I guess I would have to say that...
 Do you think we will see any changes in the weather in the future?
 Well in my view, I suppose I would say that...
 Do you think we will read books in different ways in the future?
 Well in my estimation, I guess that...
 Do you think we will get news in different ways in the future?
 Well generally it's my belief that...
It is important to remember that some of these prediction questions are quite difficult in
their content. It is not always easy to think about the future. As a basic guideline the Now use a structure to say that "there are many reasons".
following changes should be useful for these topics:
 There are probably a number of factors involved.
 Changes in variety (There will be a wider variety.)
 There are obviously a number of motives surrounding this idea.
 Changes in price (Things will become cheaper or more expensive.)
 There are unquestionably a number of explanations for this.
 Changes in size, materials or appearance
 There are undoubtedly a variety of justifications behind this.
 Changes in location
Now introduce the first reason:
 Changes in form (Things will become Internet based. / There will be electronic
 The chief cause might be that...
versions.)
 The main basis is probably because...
Part Three Question Type 3: Why questions

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  The key explanation is possibly because... can sleep on the train.

Introduce the second reason: Although this answer describes some advantages, it does not use appropriate language to
express these advantages. In fact, the only word used "advantage" is recycled from the
 As well as this, a subsequent factor could be because...
question. Now look at a different answer to the same question:
 At the same time, a secondary motive could be that... Well I suppose that there are quite a few clear benefits, but I would probably
 Additionally, a further rationale might be due to the fact that... say that for the most part, the one thing that really stands out is that trains are
really cheap, especially for long distance travel - you can travel from one side
If you want to talk about a third reason, you can use a similar structure to the ones
China to the other for a few hundred yuan. I guess that another obvious plus
above. Remember try not to repeal the vocabulary, i.e. if you have used "factor" in one
point is that it is much faster than travelling by road - so you can save time by
sentence, in your next sentence use a different word, e.g., "motive". The more "reason"
travelling on trains. Along with this, a further merit is that you can sleep quite
words you use, the higher your vocabulary score.
comfortably on long train journeys.
Now practise using your structure for the following "why" questions.
In this answer, the candidate has used appropriate language to express "advantages":
 Why is it important to protect old / historical buildings? clear benefits, obvious plus point, further merit.

 Why do so many people move from the countryside to cities? Now create your own "advantages" structure. (You will build a structure that develops
each advantage.) Begin with an opening linking phrase that explains that "there are
 Why is it important to protect the environment? many advantages".
 Why do people like to know about the private lives of famous people?  Well I suppose that there are quite a few clear benefits.
 Why do many people want to live abroad?  Clearly there are a number of obvious merits.
 Why do people like travelling to foreign countries?  Sure there are a few favorable aspects.
 Why is it important to learn a foreign language?  Obviously there are a number of positive features.
 Why do children find it easier to learn to play a musical instrument? Now highlight the most obvious:
 Why are supermarkets so popular nowadays?  But I would probably say that for the most part, the one thing that really stands
 Why is it important to play sports? out is that...

 Why is watching TV so popular around the world?  But it goes without saying that the most apparent would be that...

Part Three Question Type 4: Advantages  Although I guess that the most visible would be that...

These questions sometimes appear in Part One, but they are much more common in Part  However, I guess that the most evident would be that...
Three. Look at the following question and answer: Add a simple sentence which describes the advantage: "...trains are really cheap..." Now
What are the advantages of travelling by train? develop this advantage with one of the following structures:

I think there are many advantages; for example it is quite cheap, it's usually  This is obviously favorable because...
faster than road travel, you can usually take a train to any destination and you
 This is undoubtedly positive for the simple reason that...
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  This is without doubt beneficial because...  What are the advantages of getting news from newspapers?
Add a simple sentence to explain why it is an advantage: “… you can travel from one  What are the advantages of online (Internet) shopping?
side China to the other for a few hundred yuan."
 What are the advantages of listening to the radio (compared with TV)?
Now introduce your second advantage:
 What are the advantages of advertising?
 At the same time a second bonus might be that...
 What are the advantages of hand-made products?
 Besides this, a second plus point could be that...
Part Three Question Type 5: Disadvantages
 As well as this a further favorable aspect would be that...
An advantage question is often followed by a disadvantage question.
Add a simple sentence to explain the advantage and develop it with one of the
What are the advantages of train travel?
following:
(Your answer)
 This is clearly advantageous because...
Are there any disadvantages?
 This is definitely valuable since...
Your disadvantage answer should be similar to your advantage answer. You need to use
 This is surely a positive feature because... appropriate vocabulary to describe the disadvantages. Begin with a linking structure to
For most questions, two advantages should be enough to produce a good quality answer. explain that there are some disadvantages:
There is no need to list every advantage.
 I think it’s fair to say that there are a few negative aspects.
A common problem for this type of question is when candidates also try to describe
 I’m sure most people would agree that there are some drawbacks.
disadvantages in their answer. This is unnecessary because usually (not always) the
examiner will ask about disadvantages in the next question. Now use your advantages  Of course there are a couple of shortcomings.
structure to practise answering the following questions.
Now introduce your main disadvantage:
 What are the advantages of travelling by air?
 I guess the most impractical characteristic would be that...
 What are the advantages of having a private car?
 I suppose the most unfavorable quality might be that...
 What are the advantages of zoos?
 Unquestionably, the most adverse feature would be that...
 What are the advantages of playing team sports? Describe the main advantage with a simple sentence, for example: "...trains are often
 What are the advantages of being famous? overcrowded..."

 What are the advantages of watching films in a cinema? Now use a linking structure to develop this disadvantage.

 What are the advantages of living in cities?  Most people would agree that this is problematic because...

 What are the advantages of using a public library?  This is an obvious weakness because...

 What are the advantages of spending time in a foreign country?  This is a clear limitation because...

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Add a simple sentence to explain why it is a disadvantage, for example: "...on a long  What are the disadvantages of zoos?
journey you might not be able to find a seat."
 What are the disadvantages of eating out in restaurants?
Now describe your second disadvantage.
 What are the disadvantages of online (Internet) shopping?
 Correspondingly, an additional weak point may be that...
 What are the disadvantages of being famous?
 Supplementary to this, a further handicap may be that...
 What are the disadvantages of living in cities?
 At the same time, another stumbling block might be that...
 What are the disadvantages of living in the countryside?
Add a simple sentence and develop it with one of the following structures:
 What are the disadvantages of living near the sea?
 And the trouble with this is that...
 What are the disadvantages of living in an old building?
 And this can be a hassle because...
 What are the disadvantages of advertising?
 This is usually an aggravation because...
Part Three Question Type 6: Problems
So a complete answer to the question might look like this:
This type of question is not as common as the previous five types, but it is often used in
What are the disadvantages of train travel? topics that deal with nature, environment, social problems or global problems. Example:
I think it's fair to say that there are a few negative aspects. I suppose the most "What problems are caused by the increase in use of private cars?"
unfavorable quality might be that trains are often overcrowded at certain times As you should now understand, your aim here is to present two problems using
of year. This is a clear limitation because on a long journey you might not be appropriate "problem" vocabulary. Begin with an opening linking phrase to explain that
able to find a seat which means you have to stand up for hours. At the same there are problems:
time, another stumbling block might be that train tickets are sometimes difficult
to buy, especially around Spring Festival, and this can be a hassle because it  Obviously we can say there are quite a lot of dangers with regard to this issue.
means you can’t always travel on the actual day that you want to.  It's universally accepted that there are a few hazards involved with...
When the examiner hears this answer, the first thing he will notice is the appropriate  This issue is weighed down with a few problems.
disadvantage language: negative aspects, unfavorable quality, clear limitation, stumbling
block, hassle. Because you have used these words in complex linking structures, it Now highlight your main problem:
affects your score in three ways: fluency – grammar – vocabulary.  At the outset, the most crucial predicament is that...
Now use your disadvantage structure to practise the following Part Three questions:  First and foremost, one major worry is probably that...
 What are the disadvantages of shopping in supermarkets?  Essentially, one fundamental concern is probably that...
 What are the disadvantages of using technology in education? Add a simple statement and develop it with one of the following structures:
 What are the disadvantages of going on holiday in foreign countries?  This is clearly alarming because...
 What are the disadvantages of having a fixed daily routine?  This fact is unmistakably perturbing because...
 What are the disadvantages of machine-made products?
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  This need to be seen as a sensitive matter because…  What are the problems facing the natural environment?
Now introduce your second problem with one of the following linking phrases:  What problems are associated with overcrowded cities?
 Additionally, another major cause for concern has to be the fact that...  What problems are associated with the Internet?
 Equally worrying is the suggestion that...  What problems are associated with globalization?
 Another matter which causes unease is the point that...  What problems are caused by the use of too much technology?
Add a simple statement and develop it with one of the following:  What problems are associated with the news media (journalists)?
 And the short-term and / or long-term implications of this are that... Part Three Question Type 7: Solutions
 And the underlying repercussions of this are that... If the examiner asks a "problem" question, it will normally be followed by a "solution"
question. It is a good idea to make a back reference to the two problems that you
 And the principal upshot of this is probably that...
described in your previous answer. For this reason it is a bad idea to describe more than
So a final answer to our first question might look like this: two problems in the previous answer, because you might forget what the actual problems
were. First, begin with a general statement:
It’s universally accepted that there a few hazards involved with the increase in
the use of private cars. Essentially, one fundamental concern is probably that it  In my view there are a number of actions that could be taken.
leads to an increase in pollution. This fact is unmistakably perturbing because
 I honestly believe that there are a few ways to tackle these problems.
we are facing huge global pollution problems at the moment.
Additionally, another major cause for concern has to be the fact that cars consume huge  Well I think we could go about this in a number of ways.
amounts of our energy resources. And the underlying repercussions of this are that we Highlight your first solution:
will soon be confronted with a global energy crisis."
 When dealing with the first problem, the easiest way to work it out would be
Some candidates try to offer solutions to the problems in the same answer. In most cases to...
the examiner will follow the "problem" question with a "solution" question, so do not
offer the solutions until you are asked this question.  In reaction to the initial issue, the most effective way to get to the root of the
problem would be to...
What are the problems associated with the increase in car use?
Give a brief statement to explain the solution. Now offer a solution to the second
(Your answer) problem:
How could these problems be solved?  Now, taking into account the second challenge, the only way to get to the
Use your "problem" structure to answer the following questions: bottom of this dilemma would be to...

 What problems are caused by international tourism?  Taking on the second problem, the most successful way to confront this would
be to...
 Tourism can cause problems in natural areas.
So a complete answer might look like this:
 What are these problems?
What are the problems associated with in the increase in car use?
 What environmental problems are common in your country?
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 (See answers to previous problems)
Additional Tips
How could these problems be solved?
1. Giving examples
In my view, there are a number of actions that could be taken. When dealing
with the first problem, the easiest way to work it out would be to develop new 2. Paraphrasing
technology for car engines which doesn't cause serious air pollution, maybe 3. Vague language
some kind of special exhaust filter. Taking on the second problem, the most
successful way to confront this would be to invest heavily on research into 4. Asking for help
alternative energy sources. In fact, I've heard that we have already produced a 5. Example interview scripts
car which runs on water.
6. Suggested further reading
If you are confident enough, you might want to develop these points further, but don’t
do it if you are not sure that you have the vocabulary to continue producing good quality 1. Giving examples
language. It is always better to produce a medium length answer that is accurate in its Sometimes you can finish your answer with an example structure but you do not need to
language than a longer answer that contains many mistakes. do this with every question; one or two times in the speaking test is more than enough.
Go back to the problem question section and practise your "solution" structure for the Look at the previous answer to the "problem" question.
problems that you thought about for each example question.
It’s universally accepted that there a few hazards involved with the increase in the use of
Summary of Part Three Question Types private cars. Essentially, one fundamental concern is probably that it leads to an increase
There are some questions in Part Three that have not been covered in this section. in pollution. This fact is unmistakably perturbing because we are facing huge global
However, the 7 types that have been explained are definitely the most common. pollution problems at the moment. Additionally, another major cause for concern has to
be the fact that cars consume huge amounts of our energy resources. And the underlying
If you are asked a question that does not fit any of these structures, you can try to adapt repercussions of this are that we will soon be confronted with a global energy crisis."
the language to fit that question.
It would be quite easy to add an example to this answer:
Remember the basic rule should always be: begin with a linking phrase, introduce an
idea then develop it a linking structure. Do not list ideas. Separate your ideas with Actually I think this idea is best illustrated with the example of oil which is
linking phrases. Most Part Three questions only need 3 ideas. running out at an alarming rate.

As I have stated before, to score 7 in speaking you do not need to produce great answers You don’t get extra marks simply for adding an example. However, your score will be
to every question - you just need to produce some great language in response to some of influenced because you have used a complex linking structure:
the questions. Actually I think this idea is best illustrated with the example of...
Use the following structures to introduce an example:
 In fact, this concept can be illustrated by the example of...

 As a matter of fact, this point can be demonstrated with the case of…

 In actual fact, this notion can be confirmed by the example of…

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 remember the name of something or someone: "You need to use a thingummy when you
2. Paraphrasing open a bottle of red wine."
Paraphrasing is extremely important in the speaking test because it directly affects your Grammatically these simply replace the name of the person or object that the speaker
vocabulary score. cannot remember and never change their form. Other placeholders include:
To achieve a vocabulary score of 7 or 8, the examiner needs to hear at least one example whatsit thingy thingummy
of effective paraphrasing. Paraphrasing means saying or explaining something in your
own words. In the speaking test it is used to explain vocabulary gaps (words that you When you paraphrase, try to use one of these placeholders. Look at the following
don't know in English). example:

A good tip for paraphrasing is the "forget-explain-remember" rule. With this strategy One of the major problems with shopping online is that there are loads of err...
you deliberately forget a particular word. Then you explain the word and then you what is called...
remember the word. Look at the following example: You may think this is not a very good way to impress your examiner, but this is exactly
An additional problem with cars is that they produce a lot of ...em... I can't what native speakers do when they forget a word.
remember the word, but it's the gas that comes out of the car exhaust...oh When you paraphrase you need to first let the examiner know that you have forgotten
yeah...carbon monoxide. That's what I mean. the word (or you don't know the word in English). Use the following linking phrases to
In this example the candidate has produced some effective paraphrase and used a begin paraphrasing:
complex vocabulary item (carbon monoxide), so the vocabulary score has been  I can’t remember the English word; I’ll have to explain what I mean here.
influenced in two ways.
 Actually, I can’t seem to remember the word; let me try to put it into plain
It is usually a good idea to think of some examples of this before the test, but the words.
following examples should be quite helpful because they can be used for many topics.
 The word has slipped my mind; I’ll try to paraphrase it for you.
For buildings: architecture, interior décor, elevator, escalator.
Use the following language to explain your word:
For people: optimistic, open-minded, assertive, sarcastic.
 Well what it is... it is a kind / type of...
For objects: warranty, guarantee, replacement.
 In some ways it’s similar to...
It really doesn’t matter which word you decide to paraphrase as long as it’s an
uncommon vocabulary item.  actually something like a...
In addition, many Chinese words can be paraphrased, especially if there is no exact Continue your paraphrasing with:
English equivalent, such as:
 And it’s made from...
Huo Guo, it’s a type of dish that is served in a pot and the pot is usually heated
on the table, so the food is cooked in from of you.  It’s often found...

This example of paraphrasing is worth more marks than simple saying "hot-pot".  It’s used by / for...

Placeholders  It involves...

Placeholders are words that replace something when a speaker does not know or cannot  One of the most unique features of X is that...

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  And I should also mention that... or 5 examples across the whole interview.

Then "remember" the word: Quantities

Oh... I think I’ve just remembered it; the word I’m looking for is X. Vague language is very common with numbers when expressing quantity, frequency or
the time. Lower numbers are often expressed by phrases such as: a couple of, a few.
3. Vague Language Whereas, larger numbers are rounded up with: about, around or replaced with: lots of,
One language feature that sounds like native-speaker English is vague language. Vague loads of.
language is best described language that is not exact. With vague language, "a couple" does not usually mean “two”; it can mean "up to three"
Look at the following example: or even "four". When you do not want to give accurate numbers, you can use the
following:
You usually need to buy them in a special shop like a craft shop or somewhere
like that.  There were about 30 odd students in my class.

The phrase "or somewhere like that" is vague language.  There were about 30 or so people at the party.
Use the following vague language in your answers:  She’s not that old.
Rounding up the time:  I'd say she's about 40-ish.
I arrived about half past six.  There are a lot of / lots of / loads of choices.
When I arrived it was almost half past six.  I’ve been to Beijing a couple of / a few times.
When I arrived it was half six-ish.  I think I saw about / around 10 or so.
It was nearly half past six when we arrived.
4. Asking for help
List completers include words such as things and stuff.
In the speaking test there are strict rules about how much help the examiner can give
 I usually watch documentaries and things like that. you. These rules are different for each Part of the test.

 I usually watch documentaries and stuff like that. In Part One the examiner is allowed to repeal the question TWO TIMES if you don’t
understand it. lf you don’t understand a certain word and ask about that word, the
 I’m quite fond of reading magazines and things / stuff. examiner is not allowed to explain it; the question will be repeated in exactly the same
 I might buy a book or something like that. way.

 I usually buy books and DVDs or stuff like that. If you do not understand the question in Part One or if you just didn’t hear it clearly, it is
fine to ask the examiner to repeat it. Use the following language:
 I might buy a book or whatever.
 I'm sorry I didn’t quite catch the question; could you ask it again please?
 I might go to the park or whatever.
 I’m sorry I missed that one; could you repeat it please?
 I might go with my classmates or whoever.
As a rule, if this happens two or three times in Part One, there will be no problem. If it
Do not use too many list completers in your speaking test. A good guideline would be 4 happens more than 4 times, then the examiner will reduce your fluency score (usually by

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one point, i.e. 5 will be reduced to 4). Where do you normally read? (Use Part One "It depends" structure)
In Part Two, it is unlikely that you will need the examiner to repeat anything because the What types of books are popular in your country nowadays? (Use Part One "Types of"
examiner doesn’t actually say much. However, if there is a word on the topic card that structure)
you don't understand, then the examiner is allowed to quickly explain that word to you
Let’s talk about music now. What types of music do you like listening to? (Why?) (Use a
(usually by replacing it with an easier word or giving an example). You can avoid this
mix of Part One "Types of" and "Liking" structures)
problem by checking all the topic cards featured in this book.
How much time do you spend listening to music? (Use Part One "It depends" structure)
In Part Three the rules are less strict. The examiner will explain vocabulary, change the
wording of questions or simplify the questions whenever necessary. This shouldn’t Where do you usually listen to music? (Use Part One "It depends" structure)
happen very often because when Part Three begins the examiner should have a very OK, now I’m going to give you a topic and like you to talk about it for one to two
clear idea of your language level and he / she will ask the questions in a way in which minutes. Before you talk you’ll have one to two minutes to think about what you are
you should be able to understand quite easily. going to say and you can make some notes if you wish, do you understand?
5. Exam interview scripts I’d like you to describe the type of clothes you like wearing. (One minute preparation)
The following pages give a clear picture of what a complete interview looks like. OK, so remember you have one to two minutes for this, so don’t worry if I stop you. I’ll
Remember that your interview might be slightly different to these because the number of tell you when the time is up... Can you start speaking now please?
questions asked will depend on the length of your answers. Topic Card
This section is only intended to give you a full picture of what the whole interview looks Describe the type of clothes you like wearing.
like on paper. For the first example there are suggestions of what type of answer
You should say:
structure to use.
What kind of clothes you usually like to wear
Interview 1
Why you like these clothes
Good afternoon, my name is... Can you tell me your full name please?
Where you buy them
OK, can I see your ID card please?
Whether these clothes are popular in your country.
In this first part like to ask you some questions about yourself. So first of all let’s talk
about where you live. Do you live in a house or a fat? (Simple direct answer) OK, we’ve been talking about clothes that you wear and now like to discuss with you
one or two more general questions related to this. So first of all let’s consider clothes and
Tell me the good things about your house or flat. (Use Part One "Liking" structure)
fashion. Do men and women have different ideas about fashion? (Use Part Three
Is there anything you don’t like about it? (Use Part One "Disliking" structure) "Comparing" structure)
Do you think you will move to another area in the future? (Use Part One "Would" Why do teenagers like to follow fashion? (Use Part Three "Why" structure)
structure)
What are the disadvantages of following fashion? (Use Part Three "Disadvantages"
Now let’s move on to talking about reading. Do you like reading? (Use Part One structure)
"Liking" structure)
OK, now let’s move on to talk about uniforms. Why do some companies prefer their
How often do you read? (Use Part One "It depends" structure) staff to wear uniforms? (Use Part Three "Why" structure)

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Interview 2 consider different kinds of help. Generally, what kinds of help do people often need in
their lives?
Good afternoon, my name is... Can you tell me your full name please?
Do you think, in general, society is helpful?
OK. can I see your ID card please?
Do you think people were more helpful in the past than they are nowadays?
In this first part I’d like to ask you some questions about yourself. So first of all let’s talk
about where you live. Tell me about the area that you live in. What do you like about the What kinds of help will people need in the future?
area? Is there anything you don't like about the area? Do you think you will continue to
live in this place for a long time?
Now let’s move on to talk about films. How often do you watch films? What types of
films do you like watching? Do you prefer watching films alone or with someone else?
Is it better watching films at home or in the cinema?
Let’s talk about birthdays now. Do you usually spend your birthday with your friends or
with your family? What do children generally do on their birthdays in China? Are
birthdays important? What is the most important birthday or age which is celebrated in
China?
OK, now I'm going to give you a topic and I’d like you to talk about it for one to two
minutes. Before you talk you’ll have one to two minutes to think about what you are
going to say and you can make some notes if you wish, do you understand?
I’d like you to describe some help which you received in the past. (One minute
preparation)
OK, so remember you have one to two minutes for this so don’t worry if I stop you. I’ll
tell you when the time is up... Can you start speaking now please?
Topic Card
Describe the help which you received in the past.
You should say:
What type of help you received
Who helped you
Why you needed this help
How you felt after you received this help.
OK, we’ve been talking about the help you received in the past and now I’d like to
discuss with you one or two more general questions related to this. So first of all let’s

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 What type of house it is
Interview 3
How long you lived there
Good afternoon, my name is... Can you tell me your full name please?
What you liked about this place.
OK, can I see your ID card please?
OK, we’ve been talking about your childhood home and now I’d like to discuss with you
In this first Part I’d like to ask you some questions about yourself. So first of all let’s talk
one or two more general questions related to this. So first of all let’s consider different
about what you do. Do you work or are you a student?
kinds of houses. Are houses nowadays different to houses in the past?
What are you studying?
What kinds of houses will be common in the future?
Why did you choose this college / university?
What are the advantages of living in an old house?
What’s good about where you’re studying?
Why do some people like to move to a different home?
What would you like to do after your studies?
Let's move on to talk about collecting things. Have you ever collected anything?
What things do people collect in your country?
Why do people like collecting things?
Would you like to start collecting something new in the future?
Now let’s talk about weather. What’s the weather like where you live?
What do you do when the weather is bad?
What type of weather do you like best?
Would you like to have that type of weather all year round?
OK, now going to give you a topic and I’d like you to talk about it for one to two
minutes. Before you talk have one to two minutes to think about what you are going to
say and you can make some notes if you wish, do you understand?
I’d like you to describe your childhood home. (One minute preparation)
OK, so remember you have one to two minutes for this, so don't worry if I stop you. I'll
tell you when the time is up… Can you start speaking now please?
Topic Card
Describe your childhood home.
You should say:
Where this place is located

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