In this unit you will focus on the following:

  • Structuring your answer (2)
  • Narrative tenses
  • Describing when something happened
  • Pronunciation: Weak forms
  • What to do when you don’t know what to talk about
  • Clarifying

1. The individual long turn: Another candidate.

Watch the video of Tanya doing Part 2 of the speaking test. Which question is she answering?

1. Describe members of your family.
You should say: 
   what they look like
   what they are like
   how you get on with them

2. Describe someone who has influenced you.
You should say: 
   how you know them
   what your relationship is
   how they have influenced you

3. Describe someone you know well.
You should say: 
   how you first met
   what your relationship is
   how often you see them

2. Structuring an answer.

Now watch all of Tanya's long individual turn. Put the topics in the order she mentions them.

Now watch the video again. Turn on and read the subtitles.

TIP:

Note in the video that Tanya says Her name's Katerina and we knew each other at ...
Tanya meant to say: we met each other at ...
The verb meet is an action.
We met three years ago.
The verb know is a state verb.
I know her. I have known her for three years.

3. Narrative tenses.

Choose the correct option to complete sentences similar to ones from Tanya's talk.

4. Narrative tenses: Analysis.

Now look at sentences from another candidate's talk. This candidate talked about how her father had influenced her and about his life in Venezuela. Look at the pairs of sentences. What is the difference between them?

Choose the correct option.

5. Describing when something happened.

Match the two parts to complete the sentences. This exercise is in two parts. Scroll down to see the second part.

Part 1

Part 2

6. Describing when something happened.

Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.

7. Pronunciation: Weak forms.


TIP:

In natural speech people usually use weak forms of grammar words unless they want to emphasise these words. This is true in both formal and informal speech. Listen the examples below to hear the difference.

  I have done the exercises in this section.                                    
(A weak form of have.)
  I have done the exercises in this section – look, here they are.     
(A strong form of have, to make the sentence emphatic.)

 

Listen to the sentences. Is the underlined word weak or strong?

Listen again and repeat the sentences.

8. Pronunciation: Weak forms.

Listen the words to hear the difference between strong and weak forms.

 

 

  

Strong form

  

Weak form
1. was wɒz wəz
2. has hæz (h)əz
3. but bʌt bət
4. been bi:n bɪn
5. for fɔː fə
6. from frɒm frəm
7. your jɔː jə
8. you jəʊ jə
9. to təʊ tə
10. had hæd (h)əd

9. When you don’t know what to talk about.

TIP:

Occasionally, in an IELTS interview you have to talk about something you don’t know much about. You can make this easier by admitting your lack of knowledge and making hypotheses about the topic. Avoid changing the topic.


Put the words in order to make sentences that admit a lack of knowledge on different topics.

10. Really.

TIP:

Really is often used to make a negative statement either more tentative or stronger, depending on the position:

Stronger: I really can’t remember what she said. (= I have no idea what she said)
Really follows the subject.

More tentative: I can’t really remember what she said. (= I remember some things, but not others)
Really comes between the auxiliary and main verbs.


Put really in the correct place in the sentences. Make the sentences marked S stronger and those marked T more tentative.

11. Clarifying.

TIP:

If you realise what you have said doesn’t make sense, don’t panic – admit that you haven’t been very clear and try to explain again in a different way. The examiner will be impressed at your ability to clarify.


Use the words below to complete useful phrases for clarifying.

12. Task.

Now practise your answer to the Part 2 task:

Describe someone who has influenced you.  
You should say:  how you know them
  what your relationship is
  how they have influenced you

and explain what characteristic you most like about this person.

Rounding-off questions

  • What did you learn from this person?
  • How do you apply what you learnt in what you do?

Time yourself so that you get used to speaking for two minutes without support.

Remember to:

  • structure your answer.
  • use narrative tenses.
  • use a variety of phrases to describe when something happened.
  • use weak forms when appropriate.
  • admit a lack of knowledge when necessary.
  • not panic if things go wrong, and then rephrase and clarify what you have said.