As an IELTS instructor with over two decades of experience, I often encounter students who feel anxious about the IELTS Speaking test, especially when asked about their future plans. This question, often phrased as “What would you like to do in the future?” can seem daunting. However, it’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase your aspirations, language skills, and ability to think critically about your own life.
This article will delve into the significance of this question within the IELTS Speaking test, provide a clear roadmap on how to formulate impressive responses, and equip you with strategies to confidently tackle this question.
Why Does IELTS Ask About Your Future Plans?
The IELTS Speaking test assesses your ability to communicate effectively in English. This particular question helps examiners evaluate several key aspects:
- Fluency and Coherence: Can you speak smoothly and connect your ideas logically?
- Lexical Resource: Do you possess a wide range of vocabulary to express your future aspirations?
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Can you use a variety of grammatical structures accurately?
- Pronunciation: Can you be easily understood by native English speakers?
Beyond these core skills, the “future plans” question allows you to demonstrate your personality, maturity, and ability to think about your goals.
Crafting a Strong Response
Here’s a step-by-step approach to crafting impressive answers:
1. Understand Your Own Aspirations:
Before you even consider the English language, take time to reflect on your genuine goals. What are your passions? What do you hope to achieve in your personal and professional life? Authenticity is key to a compelling response.
2. Structure Your Answer:
A well-structured answer is easier for the examiner to follow and demonstrates your command of English. Consider using the following framework:
- Present Situation: Briefly mention your current situation (e.g., “Currently, I’m pursuing a degree in…”).
- Future Aspiration: Clearly state your main goal (e.g., “In the future, I aspire to become a…”).
- Reasons: Explain why this goal is important to you (e.g., “I’m driven by a desire to…”).
- Plan of Action (Optional): If relevant, you can briefly outline your steps to achieve this goal (e.g., “To get there, I plan to…”).
3. Use Vivid Language:
This is your chance to showcase your vocabulary! Instead of generic terms, use specific and descriptive words related to your field and aspirations.
- Example: Instead of saying “I want to get a good job,” say “I aspire to pursue a challenging career in software development that allows me to contribute to cutting-edge technological advancements.”
Sample Answer from an IELTS Speaking Test:
Examiner: What would you like to do in the future?
Candidate: Well, at the moment, I’m finishing my degree in environmental science. In the long term, I’m deeply passionate about tackling climate change. So, I aspire to work as an environmental consultant, advising businesses on sustainable practices. I believe it’s crucial for corporations to reduce their ecological footprint, and I’m eager to contribute to that positive change.
Tips for Success:
- Be Realistic: Your goals should be ambitious yet attainable.
- Connect to Your Present: Link your future aspirations to your current studies, work experience, or interests.
- Practice Makes Perfect: Rehearse answering this question multiple times using different vocabulary and grammatical structures.
- Think on Your Feet: Don’t memorize an entire answer. Be prepared to adapt and elaborate based on follow-up questions.
Conclusion
The “What would you like to do in the future?” question in the IELTS Speaking test is an opportunity to shine. By combining authentic self-reflection with a structured approach and strong vocabulary, you can deliver a confident and impressive response that highlights your English language proficiency and personal aspirations. Remember, the key is to be genuine, organized, and expressive.