Name: IELTS Speaking Task 1 - How to get a high score
Uploaded: 2014-06-17T03:11:34.000Z
Duration: 19 min 18 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

To-infinitive

Hi, there. My name is Emma, and in today's lesson, we will be looking at how to do well

on the speaking part of the IELTS. So the speaking part of the IELTS is divided up into

Present continuous

three sections. Today, we're just going to be looking at section No. 1. So first of all,

I will explain how to do well -- oh, sorry. First, I'll explain what happens in Part 1

of the IELTS. And from there, we'll look at some things you should do to do well and some

things you shouldn't do, okay? So let's get started.

So what happens in Part 1 of the IELTS? Well, first of all, the speaking Part 1 of the IELTS

is for both those taking the General IELTS exam and the Academic. So whether you're taking

the Academic or the General IELTS, it's the same test with the same questions.

Okay. It lasts between four to five minutes. It's made up of first an introduction. So

the examiner is going to introduce himself or herself. Then, you will introduce yourself.

So for example, "Hi. My name is Emma. Nice to meet you." Okay, so there's an introduction.

And then, the examiner is going to ask you some questions about yourself. So these questions

aren't that difficult. Usually, they're about where you're from. So for example what city

you were born in, where you grew up. They might be about work. They might be about what

you study, about your friends, about your hobbies, food, sports, and another thing I

don't have up here, family. Family is also common on this part of the IELTS. Okay? So

usually, the examiner, after introducing himself or herself, they will talk to you about two

Now, the way they mark this part of the IELTS is they're looking specifically for pronunciation,

okay? So can they understand what you're saying? Do you pronounce things well? They're going

to be looking at fluency. So what's "fluency"? Well, do you go, "Uh, um, uh, uh" a lot during

the test? Or do you speak very clearly, in a very nice rhythmic way? Do you use organizers

or transitions? "First of all, secondly, finally." Do you use words like this? "Another reason."

Or do you have problems speaking at a normal rate? So they look at that in fluency."

Then, they mark you also on vocabulary. Do you use words like "good, bad" a lot? Those

are very low-level words. Or do you use high level words that really show off your vocabulary?"

The final thing you're marked on is grammar and accuracy. So for example, do you only

use the present test for the whole test or are you able to correctly use the present

tense, the past tense, present perfect, future? How well is your grammar? Okay?

So don't panic. Maybe you're weak in grammar. Maybe you make some mistakes in grammar. But

you're marked equally on these four components, okay? So now, let's look at some tips on how

to do well on Part 1 of the speaking part of the IELTS.

Okay. So what are some of the things we should do to get a good mark in Part 1 of the IELTS

for speaking? Well, we have a list here of dos. Okay? So these are things you want to

do. So the first thing that's very important is when you first meet the examiner, okay?

If you're very nervous, and you don't make eye-contact, and you look at the floor the

whole time, you're not going to do well on the IELTS even if your English is pretty good.

So it's very important to present yourself with confidence, okay? You want to go into

that test and know you're going to do well. If you think you're going to do well, you're

going to do a lot better. Okay? If you think you're going to do badly, you're probably

going to do badly. So think you're going to do well, and be confident. Okay?

Another important thing is be friendly. Okay. You want to smile. Body language is actually

You want to make eye-contact, okay? So don't look at your feet. Don't look at your hands.

Look at the examiner. But you don't have to stare at them, okay? Just look at them when

Another thing a lot of students forget is they don't act excited when they're answering

questions. So what do I mean by this? Well, they talk with a monotone. So for example,

"Do you like playing sports?" This is a common question on the IELTS. A student might respond,

"I really like playing basketball. Basketball is a good sport." Okay. If the examiner hears

that, you're probably not going to get a good mark. You should act excited about what you're

saying. Okay? "Yes. I love sports. Basketball is my favorite. It's, you know -- I love watching

basketball. It's a lot of fun to play." If you seem excited, you will do better.

Okay. The next thing that's very important is the vocabulary you use, okay? So remember,

you're getting marked on four different things. One of these things is vocabulary. So how

do you improve your vocabulary mark? Well, don't use simple, easy, boring, low-level

words like, "I like basketball because it's good. I don't like soccer because it's bad."

Okay? These words, "bad, good ", they're too easy. You need to try to find vocabulary that

is higher level and practice before you do the IELTS. So for example, a good thing to

do is look at the list of topics you will probably be asked about. Food is a very common

thing they will ask you about. So try to come up with vocabulary in advance and practice

this vocabulary about the different topics. So for example, I know they may ask me a question

about food. So I might learn some words that have to do with food. Maybe I don't know the

word "cuisine". Well, if they ask me a question about food, I can say, "My favorite type of

food -- I love Indian cuisine." Okay? And there you go. They've just noticed you used

a higher level word. Same with friends. A common word we use when we talk about friends,

we talk about "acquaintances". Okay? So this is another good word to use. So again, try

to come up with vocabulary for each of the different topics, and practice.

Okay. Now, in this part of the IELTS, the examiner may ask you about what you like.

"Do you like to play sports? What hobbies do you like? What are your favorite foods?"

Now, one thing a lot of students do is they overuse "I like". "I like this. I like that.

I like this. I like that." This is not going to help you with your vocabulary mark. So

instead of using "I like" a lot, try something different. "I enjoy playing basketball. I

enjoy hanging out with my friends. I really love yoga. I really love bowling." Okay? "I

prefer playing sports to doing other activities." So "I enjoy, I really love, I prefer" -- I'm

sure you can come up with more, but it's good to practice these types of expressions before

Another key tip: Expand your answers. So what does this mean? Well, maybe the examiner asked

you a question, "What is your favorite food?" Or -- sorry. Let me think of a good example.

"Do you like to play sports?" Okay? The examiner might ask you that. Some students might just

say, "No." And that's their answer. "Do you like to play sports? Do you like to cook?"

"No." Well, the examiner is not going to be able to judge your English if you answer questions

yes or no. You have to give bigger, longer answers. So this is what I mean by expand.

Don't just say "yes" or "no". Even if you don't know what to say, make something up.

So for example, a common question they ask, "Where are you from?" Now, I could just say,

"I'm from Toronto." Or, "Toronto." This isn't going to help my IELTS mark. It's better if

I expand this answer. "I'm from Toronto. It's actually the biggest city in Canada. It's

also considered one of the most multicultural cities in the world." I don't have to talk

too long about Toronto. I don't want to say the whole history of Toronto. I don't want

to keep talking and talking and talking. But I don't want a very short answer. So you need

to find an answer that is not too short and not too long. You want something in the middle.

One way to expand your answers is by giving examples. So I asked this question earlier.

You know, "What's your favorite food?" "Oh, I love Indian cuisine." How can I add to this?

I can give examples. "My favorite dish is palak paneer. It's made from spinach, a type

of cheese they use in India, spices. You know, we often eat it at my house." So there. Instead

of just saying, "I like Indian food", I've given a lot of examples. And that's what you

Finally, most importantly, practice. Okay? So you know the types of questions you're