The IELTS Speaking Test assesses a variety of skills, including fluency, coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range, and pronunciation. Particularly for questions like “Describe a time when you received good advice,” scoring high requires a well-structured answer, rich vocabulary, and elaborate examples. This type of question is common in the IELTS Speaking Test, reflecting its importance in everyday communication.
Part 1: Introduction and Interview Questions
In the first part of the IELTS Speaking Test, the examiner might ask you some general questions to help you ease into the conversation. Here are some common questions:
Frequently Asked Questions in Part 1
- Do you often ask for advice from others?
- What kind of advice do you seek most frequently?
- Who do you usually turn to for advice?
Sample Answer for a Part 1 Question
Question: Do you often ask for advice from others?
Answer: Yes, I frequently ask for advice, especially from people who have more experience than I do. For instance, I often seek financial advice from my parents because they have a lot of experience in managing finances and investments. Seeking advice helps me make more informed decisions and avoid potential pitfalls.
Part 2: Long Turn
The second part of the test is where you will be given a cue card and asked to speak on the topic for about two minutes. Here is a sample cue card based on the keyword “Describe a time when you received good advice.”
Cue Card
Describe a time when you received good advice. You should say:
- Who gave you the advice
- What the advice was
- Why it was good advice
- And explain how you felt about the advice
Sample Answer for the Cue Card
One memorable time when I received good advice was from my high school teacher, Mr. Roberts. During my final year of high school, I was struggling with deciding which career path to pursue. I was torn between studying engineering and going into medicine, as both fields fascinated me.
Mr. Roberts advised me to think deeply about what I was truly passionate about and to consider what kind of lifestyle I wanted in the future. He suggested that I shadow professionals in both fields to get a better understanding of what each job entailed. Following his advice, I spent a few days shadowing an engineer and a doctor. This experience was eye-opening as I realized that I was more drawn to the practical, problem-solving aspects of engineering than the clinical environment of medicine.
This advice was incredibly beneficial because it helped me make an informed decision about my future career. I felt grateful and relieved after following his suggestion, as it clarified my goals and set me on the right path.
Follow-up Questions for Part 2
- How did the advice affect your future decisions?
- Have you ever received bad advice? What happened?
Sample Answers for Follow-up Questions
How did the advice affect your future decisions?
The advice greatly impacted my future decisions. It not only guided me towards choosing the right career path but also taught me the importance of seeking experiential knowledge before making major life decisions. Since then, I have always tried to gain firsthand experience whenever I am faced with a significant choice.
Have you ever received bad advice? What happened?
Yes, I once received bad advice regarding a financial investment. A friend recommended a high-risk stock, promising quick returns. Unfortunately, I invested without doing thorough research and lost a significant amount of money. This experience taught me the value of due diligence and being cautious with financial decisions.
Part 3: Two-way Discussion
In this part, the examiner will delve deeper into the topic and ask more abstract questions. This is a great opportunity to show your reasoning, analytical skills, and the ability to discuss broader themes.
Sample Part 3 Discussion Questions and Answers
Examiner: Why do you think people tend to seek advice from others?
Candidate: People often seek advice from others to gain different perspectives and benefit from others’ experiences. This is especially true when someone faces unfamiliar situations or needs to make important decisions. For example, a person entering a new profession might seek advice from experienced colleagues to understand the best practices and pitfalls to avoid.
Examiner: Can receiving advice sometimes have negative consequences?
Candidate: Definitely. While advice can be very helpful, it can also lead to negative outcomes if it is not well-informed or suitable for the specific situation. For instance, advice based on personal bias or misinformation can mislead someone, causing them to make poor decisions. It is essential to evaluate the source and relevance of the advice before acting on it.
Useful Vocabulary and Structures
Important Words and Phrases
- Informed decision (noun): A decision based on adequate information and knowledge.
- Example: “He made an informed decision after carefully researching all his options.”
- Experiential knowledge (noun): Knowledge gained from personal experience.
- Example: “Experiential knowledge can often provide insights that are not available through theoretical learning.”
- Due diligence (noun): Comprehensive research and analysis before making a decision.
- Example: “Investors should always perform due diligence before committing money to a new venture.”
- Procrastinate (verb): To delay or postpone action.
- Example: “Procrastinating on important decisions can lead to missed opportunities.”
- Pitfall (noun): A hidden or unsuspected danger or difficulty.
- Example: “By recognizing the pitfalls, we can avoid common mistakes.”
Example Sentences using Key Phrases
- Seeking advice from experienced individuals helps me make informed decisions.
- Understanding the pitfalls of a situation beforehand can prevent many issues.
- The student’s experiential knowledge overshadowed the theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios.
Examiner’s Tips for High Scores
- Be Specific: Use specific examples and details in your answers to make them more engaging and believable.
- Rich Vocabulary: Enhance your vocabulary and use complex sentence structures to demonstrate language proficiency.
- Practice Fluency: Regular practice speaking on various topics will help improve your fluency and coherence.
- Seek Feedback: Practicing with a tutor or peer and receiving feedback can help you identify areas for improvement.
By following these tips and thoroughly preparing for each part of the IELTS Speaking Test, you can significantly improve your chances of achieving a high band score. Happy studying!