The IELTS Speaking test is designed to assess a candidate’s proficiency in spoken English. It is divided into three parts: Part 1 (Introduction and Interview), Part 2 (Long Turn), and Part 3 (Two-way Discussion). As an IELTS Speaking Examiner, I will share tips and strategies to help you achieve a high score, focusing on the prompt: “Describe a time when you were very proud of someone else.”
Examiners assess fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. This guide will walk you through how to address the prompt effectively, providing sample answers and analysis for each part of the test.
Part 1: Introduction and Interview
Examiners often start with questions about your background, habits, and interests to make you comfortable and assess your basic speaking skills. Here are some example questions and responses:
Common Part 1 Questions
- Can you tell me about your family?
- What do you do in your free time?
- Have you ever been proud of someone close to you? Can you tell me about it?
Sample Answer for Part 1 Question
Question: Have you ever been proud of someone close to you? Can you tell me about it?
Answer: Yes, absolutely. I was particularly proud of my younger sister when she graduated from university with honors. She had worked extremely hard, balancing part-time jobs and extracurricular activities, and it was exhilarating to see her efforts recognized.
Part 2: Long Turn
In this part, you need to speak for 1-2 minutes on a given topic. You will be given a cue card with prompts to help guide your response.
Cue Card Example
Describe a time when you were very proud of someone else. You should say:
- Who this person is
- When this happened
- What the person did
- And explain why you felt proud of this person
Sample Answer for Cue Card
Answer: One time that stands out is when my best friend, Sarah, won a national writing competition. This happened about two years ago. She had been passionate about writing since her childhood, often staying up late to perfect her narratives. Her hard work finally paid off when she entered and won the contest, which was a significant achievement considering the fierce competition. I felt extremely proud because Sarah demonstrated resilience, creativity, and dedication. Witnessing her receive the award and the recognition she deserved was incredibly fulfilling for me.
Keywords and Phrases:
- Passionate about writing
- Perfect her narratives
- Hard work paid off
- Fierce competition
- Demonstrated resilience, creativity, and dedication
- Incredibly fulfilling
Follow-up Questions
How did Sarah react to winning the competition?
- Answer: She was over the moon! It was a mixture of disbelief and euphoria, as she hadn’t expected to win against such strong competitors. Her joy was contagious.
What impact did this achievement have on her life?
- Answer: Winning the competition boosted her confidence immensely and opened up numerous opportunities, including a scholarship to a prestigious writing program.
Part 3: Two-way Discussion
This part delves into more abstract aspects related to the topic. The questions are more complex and require deeper thinking.
Example Questions and Sample Answers
Question: Why do you think people feel proud of others?
Answer: People often feel proud of others when they see their hard work and perseverance yield positive outcomes. It’s an acknowledgment of the effort and dedication someone has put into achieving their goals, which fosters a sense of connection and admiration.
Question: Can sharing accomplishments impact relationships? How?
Answer: Absolutely. Sharing accomplishments can strengthen relationships by creating mutual respect and understanding. It also encourages a supportive environment where individuals feel valued and motivated to pursue their aspirations.
Keywords and Phrases:
- Hard work and perseverance
- Yield positive outcomes
- Sense of connection and admiration
- Strengthen relationships
- Mutual respect and understanding
- Supportive environment
Proud Moment
Vocabulary and Useful Phrases
Important Words and Phrases
Exhilarating [ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ] (adj.) – causing strong feelings of excitement and happiness.
- Example: Winning the race was an exhilarating experience.
Resilience [rɪˈzɪliəns] (n.) – the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.
- Example: Her resilience was evident in how she bounced back after every setback.
Perseverance [ˌpɜːrsəˈvɪərəns] (n.) – continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties.
- Example: His perseverance in the face of adversity is truly inspiring.
Dedication [ˌdɛdɪˈkeɪʃən] (n.) – the quality of being committed to a task or purpose.
- Example: Her dedication to her studies was apparent in her excellent results.
Mutual Respect – a reciprocal recognition of each other’s qualities and achievements.
- Example: A healthy relationship is built on mutual respect and trust.
Example Sentences
- Exhilarating: The feeling of crossing the finish line first was exhilarating for every participant.
- Resilience: Despite numerous challenges, her resilience never waned.
- Perseverance: His perseverance showcased his unwavering commitment to achieve his goals.
- Dedication: Her dedication to volunteer work has positively impacted many lives.
- Mutual Respect: Mutual respect between colleagues creates a harmonious work environment.
Conclusion
Practicing for the IELTS Speaking test requires not only understanding the format but also being able to express ideas clearly and concisely. Use the sample questions and answers provided to structure your responses effectively. Remember to incorporate varied vocabulary and demonstrate fluency in your speech.
Tips for Practice
- Record Yourself: Record your answers to gauge your fluency, pronunciation, and coherence.
- Seek Feedback: Get feedback from teachers or peers to improve your performance.
- Expand Vocabulary: Regularly learn new words and phrases and practice using them in context.
- Stay Relaxed: Keep calm during the test; nerves can hinder performance.
Utilize these strategies to enhance your speaking skills and aim for a high band score in your IELTS Speaking test.
For more information on related topics, you might want to check out these links: