SPEAKING CORRECTION
3 RECORDINGS
What you’ll need to record your speaking test:
- Choose a quiet and comfortable place.
- You can use your own laptop, PC or phone to record your performance and then upload it on the site OR you can record yourself using the site’s built-in voice recorder.
- Make sure you have a timer or stopwatch. You can find plenty of them online or you can use your own phone.
- The recording should be between 11-14 minutes. No more, no less.
- Read each question and then answer it.
- For Part 2, don’t pause the recording during the 1-minute preparation time. You want to simulate the exam conditions. This is where the timer will come in handy. Remember the timings for each part: 4-5 minutes for Part 1 and 3 and 3-4 minutes for Part 2.
- Make sure you speak loud and clear.
- When you have finished, send your recordings at office@ielts-express.ro. Include your name, order number and test numbers.
VERY IMPORTANT: Don’t listen your recording(s) and don’t redo the test. If you do so, you’ll spot mistakes which you’ll avoid if you retake the test. It won’t be fair and the band score won’t be objective.
Choose three tests from the ones below and get started!
- TEST 1
- TEST 2
- TEST 3
- TEST 4
- TEST 5
- TEST 6
- TEST 7
- TEST 8
- TEST 9
- TEST 10
- TEST 11
- TEST 12
Part 1
Tell me something about your family.
What do you like doing most with your family?
Who are you close to in your family?
In what way is your family important to you?
Part 2
Describe a close friend.
You should say:
- how long you have known this person
- how you met
- what kind of person he/she is
and explain why you like him/her.
Part 3
Modern families
In what ways have families changed in the last hundred years?
Should we rely heavily on our families or is it better to try to be independent?
The elderly are sometimes considered the wisest members of society. What do you think we can learn from them?
Friendship
What do you expect from a good friend?
Are friends as important to you as family?
Do you think friendships change as we get older? How?
Part 1
What do you do to keep fit?
Are you good at sport?
What sports do you play?
What is the most popular sport in your country?
Part 2
Describe an exciting competition or sporting event you have witnessed.
You should say:
- what the competition or sporting event was
- when and where it took place
- who won
and explain why it was exciting.
Part 3
Keeping fit
What are the best ways to keep fit?
Do you think most people consider exercise a chore or do they find it fun ?
What is the most popular form of exercise in your country?
Healthy lifestyles
Do you think people in your country are less healthy than they used to be?
How can we encourage young people to stay healthy?
Should governments intervene to force people to be healthier?
Part 1
Do you work or are you a student?
Why did you choose that course or job?
What is the most difficult thing about your studies or job?
Part 2
Describe your dream job.
You should say:
- what qualifications or experience you would need
- what the job would involve
- what you think the most difficult thing about the job would be
and explain why it is your dream job.
Part 3
Education
Do you think science subjects are more useful than arts subjects?
Are students mature enough to choose what to study themselves or should their parents decide for them?
In your country, does having a university education help you into a better career?
Motivation
Do you think older or younger workers are more motivated?
How can managers increase motivation among their workforce?
Are people more motivated if the ir job involves helping others?
Part 1
Tell me about your country's climate.
What's your favourite kind of weather?
Does the weather influence your mood?
Is it worse to feel too hot or too cold?
Part 2
Describe your favourite season.
You should say :
- what the season is and when it occurs
- what the weather is like during this season
- what your typical activities are during this season
and explain why it is your favourite season.
Part 3
The environment
Are people in your country concerned about protecting the environment?
Does the responsibility for protecting the environment lie with governments or with individuals?
Does it help to educate young people on being green?
Pollution
What effects does pollution have on the environment?
Do you think we pollute more now than we did 50 years ago?
What do you think will happen if we do not reduce current levels of pollution?
Part 1
What's your mother tongue?
What other languages do you speak?
What do you think is the best way to keep in touch with friends?
Do people keep in touch differently now compared to fifty years ago?
Part 2
Describe a language other than English that you would like to learn.
You should say:
- what the language is
- where it is spoken
- what you think would be difficult and what would be easy about learning the language
and explain why you would like to learn it.
Part 3
Language learning
Is it considered important in your country to learn foreign languages?
What, in your opinion , is the best way to learn a language?
Why are some people seemingly better at learning languages than others?
English as a global language
How do people in your country feel about English being the world language?
Do you think the culture of English-speaking countries, as well as the English language, dominate the world?
Why do you think people feel it is important to continue speaking their local languages?
Part 1
What do you use the Internet for?
Does everyone have access to the Internet in your country?
Do you think older people are scared of new technology?
Do you think young children should have mobile phones?
Part 2
Describe a piece of electronic equipment that you find useful.
You should say:
- what the piece of equipment is
- when and where you got it
- what you use it for
and explain why you find it useful.
Part 3
Technological developments
What have been the most significant technological developments of recent years ?
In what ways have these developments changed society for the better and for the worse?
Are people in your country nostalgic about life before technology?
Science and ethics
Why do you think some people claim scientists interfere too much with nature?
Do you have anything against animal testing?
Is scientific progress always for the greater good?
Part 1
What are your hobbies?
What is your favourite musical instrument?
Do you prefer action films or comedies? Why?
Do you think it is important to read novels and poetry? Why?
Part 2
Describe a hobby you enjoy.
You should say:
- how long you have been doing it
- how often you do it
- what benefits you get from it
and explain why you enjoy it.
Part 3
Hobbies
Do you think men and women tend to have different types of hobbies?
Why do some people get obsessed with their hobby?
Do you think hobbies that keep you fit are better than hobbies that you can do sitting down?
Free time
Do you think it can be a disadvantage to have too much free time?
Should people feel a duty to do something constructive in their free time?
Do people have more free time now than in the past?
Part 1
What is your most vivid childhood memory?
Are you still in touch with your childhood friends?
What was your favourite toy when you were a child?
Is it important for children to have fun? Why?
Part 2
Describe a happy childhood memory.
You should say :
- when and where the incident you remember happened
- who you were with
- what happened exactly
and explain why it is a happy memory.
Part 3
Childhood
Do you think people often idealise their childhoods?
How does a person's childhood influence what kind of adult they become?
When does a child become an adult in your view?
Upbringing
Do you agree with the saying' children should be seen and not heard '?
Is it good for children to be exposed to frightening and sad experiences or should they be protected from these as far as possible?
Are children in your country generally well brought up?
Part 1
Tell me about your hometown.
In what ways has your town or city changed since you were a child?
How could your town or city be improved?
Are there any traffic problems where you live?
Part 2
Describe a place that you enjoy visiting.
You should say:
- where the place is
- what you can see and do there
- how it has changed since you first visited it
and explain why you enjoy visiting this place
Part 3
Home
Is it only children who experience homesickness?
Do you think it's better for children to grow up in the city or the country?
Why do some people retire to the countryside?
Patriotism
Are people from your country patriotic?
Why do people often feel proud of where they come from?
Does intense patriotism have any disadvantages?
Part 1
What is the most important festival in your country?
Do you think this festival will still be as important in the future?
Tell me how weddings are celebrated in your country.
What are some forms of traditional dancing in your country?
Part 2
Describe a festival that you enjoy.
You should say:
- when the festival occurs
- where it occurs
- what happens during it
and explain why you enjoy the festival.
Part 3
Historical sites
Are historical sites in your country popular with visitors?
Is it more important to preserve historical sites or make way for the developments of the future?
What do you think will happen to your country's historical sites in the future?
Culture - past, present and future
What is 'culture' for you?
Do you think that it is important for a society or culture to have a sense of continuity with the past?
How will your country's culture have changed in fifty years' time?
Part 1
Is your country popular with tourists?
What sights and activities would you recommend to a tourist visiting your town or region?
Do you enjoy active holidays?
Tell me what your ideal holiday would be.
Part 2
Describe a memorable holiday.
You should say:
- when you went on this holiday
- where you went
- what you did
and explain why it is memorable.
Part 3
The benefits of travel
Do you think it's true that travel broadens the mind?
Do young people and older people benefit differently from travelling?
How can you make sure you get the most from your travels?
The impact of tourism
What are the positive impacts of tourism?
What about the negative impacts of tourism?
How has tourism impacted tourist sites in your country?
Part 1
Tell me about where you live.
What are the advantages of living there?
What are the disadvantages of living there?
Animals
What is your favourite animal?
Why do you think some people like keeping pets?
Are there any animals you are scared of?
Are zoos popular in your country?
Food
Do you think men or women make the best cooks?
Is it important to teach children to cook from a young age?
What is a typical dish from your country or region?
Do people in your country or region eat traditional food or international food?
Part 2
Describe a personal achievement you are proud of.
You should say:
- what you achieved
- when you achieved it
- what was difficult about achieving it
and explain why you are proud of this achievement.
Part 3
The role of achievements in the world of education
Do you think that in your country academic success is more valued than other kinds of achievement, such as achievements in sport?
In your opinion, is it recognition and prizes that motivate students to succeed, or is it a personal sense of achievement?
What do you think makes some students more successful than others?
Motivation and achievement in the workplace
Some people think that a successful person is someone who earns a lot of money. Do you agree?
Would you say workers in your country were motivated primarily by money?
Do you think people in your country take the same pride in their work as they used to in the past?