This document provides tips and guidelines for candidates taking an IELTS speaking exam. It emphasizes the importance of giving full answers, asking for clarification if needed, and providing relevant responses to examiners' questions. It also offers examples of phrases to use to indicate thinking time and suggestions for speaking fluently and confidently during the exam.

1. Angelica
Labrador
Jackeline
Gutiérrez
Laura Villamil

2. TIMING: 13 Minutes
TYPES OF QUESTIONS
Part 1 Introduction and Interview (4-5mins)
Example:Example: Can you tell me about yourcountryCan you tell me about yourcountry?
Part 2 Individual long turn (3-4mins)
Example:Example: Describe someone in yourfamily who you
really admire?
Part 3 Two – way discussion (4-5mins)
Example:Example: What is the difference between big and
small weddings?

3. GIVING FULL ANSWERSGIVING FULL ANSWERS
Always expand your answers to simple, ‘yes’ or ‘no’
closed questions. (Questions beginning ‘Are you…’, ‘Do
you …’, etc.).
Explain your answers by giving reasons for what you say.
Do you like yourjob? YES, I LIKE
EXAMPLE
I like my job because it’s varied and it gives me
the opportunity to travel.
ASKFORCLARIFICATION IF NECESSARYASKFORCLARIFICATION IF NECESSARY
Mmmm, I did not understand OR I do not remember
EXAMPLE: Sorry, Could you repeat the question, please?

4. RELEVANT ANSWERS TO THE EXAMINER’S QUESTIONS.RELEVANT ANSWERS TO THE EXAMINER’S QUESTIONS.
THIS WILL HELPGET THE INTERVIEWOFF TO A GOODTHIS WILL HELPGET THE INTERVIEWOFF TO A GOOD
STARTSTART
EXAMPLEEXAMPLE
Q: Where are you from?
A: I’m from Buenos Aires. (Don’t stop there!) It’s the capital
city of Argentina and is also the largest city in the country. It
has a lot of history and is famous for having a rich culture. I
really like living there.
EXPRESS YOUROPINIONS; THE EXAMINERIS ASSESSINGEXPRESS YOUROPINIONS; THE EXAMINERIS ASSESSING
YOURABILITY TO COMMUNICATEYOURABILITY TO COMMUNICATE
Q: Do you prefer reading or watching TV?
A: I prefer watching TV. When I come home from work (Don’t
stop there!) I’m usually quite tired so I feel like relaxing. I find
sitting with my family in the living-room watching TV is relaxing
because we watch TV and chat together. For me, this is a

5. TO MAKE SOME NOTES ABOUT THE TOPIC YOU HAVE TOTO MAKE SOME NOTES ABOUT THE TOPIC YOU HAVE TO
SPEAKABOUT.SPEAKABOUT.
Always use your one minute preparation time - make notes of
the points you’d like to talk about
So that HE/SHE knows what to expect.
EXAMPLE: If the task card asks you to talk about a family
celebration you might begin: “I’m g o ing to talk abo ut a fam ily
ce le bratio n that is spe cial fo r m e . This ce le bratio n” (Don’t stop
there!)
You should say:
•what the celebration was for
•where it took place
•who was there with you

6. I don’t know = Well, I’m not an expert about that topic, but I can say
that….
Too = As well.
Gonna = Going to.
Wanna = Want to.
No = Not exactly.
Forto play = To play.
You know = As you know.
Like I said before = As I mentioned before.
In this part we must use ACTIVE VOICE – PASSIVE VOICE
EXAMPLE: We celebrated the Sara's birthday
Sara's birthday was celebrated by us
The ability to use COMPLEXSTRUCTURES such as relative
clauses:
EXAMPLE: the most famous one is called Greenwave, which is

7. This part of the test is designed to give you the
opportunity to talk about more abstract issues and
ideas
Answer the examiner’s question
Give some reasons why
Provide examples
Offer an alternative opinion

8. Q: Do you think advertising influences what people buy?
A: I think advertising affects the things that people buy,
whether they are aware of it or not. (Why) The reason for this
is that everywhere we go we see advertisements on the street
or on the side of buses. Even when we are at home we see
adverts on the TV or on the Internet. (Second reason) Also, the
amount of things that people buy nowadays has increased as
society has become more consumerist. (Example) Take, for
example, mobile phones. Almost everyone has a mobile phone
that works but many people still want to upgrade their phone to
get the newest or latest model. I think this is because
advertising encourages us to buy. (Alternative) Despite this, I
still think we have the choice to decide what to buy or whether
to buy. Advertising can influence us, but it can’t control us.

9. • That’s a difficult question, let me thinkfora second.
• That’s a very interesting question, let me think.
• It’s very difficult to know exactly, but I think/but I
believe/perhaps….
• It’s difficult to say, I think….
• I don’t really know forsure, but I would say…
In my opinion, [____], there are more benefits to going
to… (We use this expression when we want to tell people
what we think)
As a consequence of in my country [____] teachers receiving
bettertraining. (Before a noun ora pronoun).
In spite of [____] increased profits, some companies… (After
we just use a noun orpronoun).
Although [____] we are influenced by advertising, (we use a
subject and a verb)

10. • Talk as fluently as possible and be spontaneous.
• Speak more than the examiner.
• Relax, be confident and enjoy using your
English!
• Practice, Prepare by practicing speaking with a
friend or by recording yourself.
• Do this a few times until you’re happy you can
speak easily for two minutes.
• Use phrase to give yourself time to think:
“That is a good question”
“Well, let me think…”
“Let me see..”

12. FLUENCY AND
COHERENCE
LEXICAL
RESOURCE
GRAMMATICAL
RANGE AND
ACCURACY
PRONUNCIATION
A Band 9 “speaks
fluently with only rare
repetition or self-
correction”
A Band 9 “uses
vocabulary with full
flexibility and precision
in all topics”
A Band 9 “uses a full
range of structures
naturally and
appropriately”
A Band 9 “uses a full
range of
pronunciation
features with
precision and
subtlety”
A Band 6 “is willing to
speak at length,
though may lose
coherence at times
due to occasional
repetition, self-
correction or
hesitation”
A Band 6 “has a wide
enough vocabulary to
discuss topics at
length”
A Band 6 “may make
frequent mistakes with
complex structures
though these rarely
cause comprehension
problems”
A Band 6 “uses a
range of
pronunciation
features with mixed
control”
A Band 3 “speaks with
long pauses”
A Band 3 “uses simple
vocabulary to convey
personal information”
but “has insufficient
vocabulary for less
familiar topics”
A Band 3 “makes
numerous errors
except in memorized
expressions”
A Band 4 “uses a
limited range of
pronunciation
features”