GE3/Speaking Handout 8

IELTS SPEAKING PART 2 (2)

Skill Focus: Exam Focus:
- Speaking Part 2 - Using your notes

- Assessment criteria

❖ Using your notes during your part 2 talk

It is important to look at your notes during your talk. You can’t remember everything and this
is the reason why you have 1 minute to plan and write notes. Checking your notes will make
sure you keep a logical order and also make sure you don’t forget to talk about something. Of
course, you will not get a lower score if you look at your notes a lot. However, remember to
remain eye contact with the examiner because it shows your confidence. So, try to aim for a
balance - look at your notes as often as you need but also make sure you speak naturally by
looking up at the examiner.

1. Look at a student’s note on the right. Does the note answer all of the prompts on the cue- card
on the left?
Describe a tourist trip that you have been on which
● inca trail : 4 days camping,
you particularly enjoyed
trekking s. america
You should say:
- Where you went ● interesting archaeological sites
- Why you took the trip
● always wanted to go ….spanish -
- What you remember most about the trip
speaking
and explain why you particularly enjoyed this
trip ● made good friends

● sense of relief

● satisfaction

● breathtaking views

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2. Listen to the student giving her talk based on the notes she made above. As you listen, answer
the questions 1-7 (track 1)
1. What information does she start her talk with?
2. What tenses does she use mostly?
3. What words are specifically related to the topic?
4. What words does she use to express her feelings?
5. Does she speak for long enough?
6. Does she cover all three points?
7. How does she deal with the last part of the task?

❖ Assessment criteria

There are four areas (called the assessment criteria) which the examiner will focus on during the
Speaking test. You will be rated on the IELTS scale in each of these four areas.
3. Look at the table and the box below. The table on the left shows the four Speaking assessment
criteria and the box on the right shows a list of skills or strategies you need to use when you are
speaking. Match each of these skills and strategies, A-R, to one of the four assessment criteria.
The first four have been done for you.
Assessment Skills & Skills and strategies
criteria strategies
1. Fluency 1. A C A Use linking words v
B Choose appropriate words v
C Correct yourself v
2. 2. B D Use articles correctly v
Vocabulary E Use the right tense
F Emphasize words to convey meaning
G Get the stress right on long words
3. Grammar 3. D H Be able to keep going and talk on the topic
and I Find a way to say something when you don’t have the right word
accuracy J Be able to join your ideas
K Use complex spoken sentences
L Use a variety of words and expressions

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M Get the word order right

N Speak clearly
4. 4. O Produce sounds so that they can be understood
Pronunci- P Choose words that go well together
ation Q Use idiomatic language
R Use conditionals correctly

4. Read the transcript of the student’s talk below, then complete a table like the one below with
examples in the student’s talk of strategies (A-R). The first two have been done for you.
A Use linking words …even though you have all the luxuries
B Choose appropriate words altitudes of …
C

ΩTrack 1
In September, I went on a trip to Machu Picchu in Peru and did the Inca trail. Peru was a country
that I’d always wanted to visit, mainly because South America’s a different continent I had never
visited before, even though I’ve done quite a bit of travel. I guess Peru was high on my list of
priorities. Umm… so I did the Inca Trail, which was four days of camping and trekking, and it was
incredibly challenging. It was an experience unlike any I’ve ever had before.
I’ve done some camping and I’ve also done some bush walking in the past, but …. really trekking
at altitudes of sort of four and a half thousand meters was, um, was really unlike anything else…
It was absolutely spectacular…. the, um, and there are many interesting and intricate stone
archaeological sites to see along the way. I probably remember the friends that I trekked with the
most. ‘Cos you really are going through something together…it’s …. it’s an amazing thing to do,
even though you have all the luxuries really…when you …when you organize it through a tour
company. Ah! You have, um, you know… beds to sleep on in your tent and sleeping bags and
things like that, but it really is quite harsh, living. Uhm…so the friends that I made when I trekked,
were, ones that I hope to have for life…The views were absolutely breathtaking as well. I think
what I really enjoyed was the sense of absolute relief at the end, and the satisfaction of having
accomplished on something amazing. I’d willingly do it all over again.
5. Try giving a two- minute talk of your own on this subject. Follow the procedure for making your
own notes and then time your talk
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● Practice : Take one minute to prepare a short talk on the Part 2 topic below. Follow the
procedure for making your own notes and time for your talk.

● Now work with a partner, take turns to give a two – minute talk on this topic, using the
notes you have made. Time for each other’s talks.

● Exam-style questions

1. Describe a time you travelled by public 3. Describe a time when you missed a bus/
transport. train/ aeroplane.
You should say: You should say:
- when it happened
- what type of public transport you used
- where you were supposed to go
- where you travelled from and to
- what you did during the journey - how you missed it
- and explain how you felt about travelling in and explain what you did after you missed
this way. it.
2. Describe your favourite means of transport. 4. Describe an uncomfortable way that you
You should say: have travelled.
- what it is You should say:
- when and how often you use it - what kind of transport it was
- why you use it - who you were travelling with
and explain why it is your favourite transport. - why you were travelling that way
and what was uncomfortable about it

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