Many Filipinos feel stressed when they talk about taking the IELTS or the International English Language Testing System examination, most especially the Speaking section. The speaking section is a one-on-one interview with a native English speaker or someone who is very proficient with the language. Filipinos are good English speakers; however, when they are put in a situation wherein they have to speak with a native speaker, they all feel nervous and anxious.
One problem that Filipinos have to get rid of is the feeling of anxiety during their IELTS speaking test. When someone is anxious, this can have an effect on the flow of ideas in the responses which will eventually ruin the examinee’s focus in the interview. To help examinees with the test, here are some tips for each speaking task in the IELTS speaking test.
TASK 1
The first task is an introduction. The examinee is asked very familiar questions in preparation for the much longer questions on the latter part of the test.
• Do not give too much detail on the responses. A couple of sentences as details is good enough.
• Listen to the question carefully. Answer what is asked.
• Do not stray away from the question.
• Give the examiner the chance to ask follow up questions. A yes or no response is not recommended.
Examples:
Q: Could you tell me your full name please?
A:My name is Ernie Angelo Mulat. You can call me Ernie throughout the interview.
Q: Does your name have any special meaning?
A: I am not exactly sure if it has a special meaning, but my mother got it from her favourite
Sesame Street Character, the one who lives with Bert.
Q: Tell me something about your hometown.
A: My hometown is located in the southern part of the city. It has a nice park where people
usually visit on the weekends. There is a good beach about 10 minutes from my home. Further, I
can say that my hometown is very quiet and peaceful since it’s far from the heart of the city.
TASK 2
In the second task, the examinee is given a cue card where a question is given with its guide questions. The examinee is given a minute to prepare and a couple of minutes for his or her response.
• Understand the task before giving the response. Make sure the guide questions are answered.
• Organize the ideas in the response. Use transition words.
• Make an outline. Write in words not in sentences.
Example:
Describe a special occasion when you had a really enjoyable meal.
You should say:
what the occasion was
who was at the meal
what you ate
and explain why the meal was so enjoyable.
Sample response:
Family gatherings have always been very special to my family. It was my 29th birthday that we really had an enjoyable meal.
My parents reserved a buffet dinner in Vikings. It is a buffet restaurant here in the city where food is really fabulous and very satisfying. Aside from my parents and my two sisters, three of my closest friends were also there. We ate really a lot as the restaurant is known for Asian and European cuisines. I was having a mouthful with the pasta and some green salad. The steak was also superb that everyone enjoyed.
The meal was enjoyable because the food was great. Everything was really tasty and delicious. However, what made that day really better was the thought of celebrating my birthday with my loved ones. I love my family and having them around, with my friends, is the best thing I had on my birthday.
TASK 3
The third task is a two-way discussion with the examiner. The topics are connected to the second part’s question.
• Listen carefully to the question. Understand first before making a response.
• Give elaborate responses. Give a general idea and explain further with details.
• Responses should be aligned with the question. Avoid getting out of the topic.
Examples:
Q: What do you think a healthy diet consists of?
A: Personally, I think a healthy diet is a balanced diet of greens and meat. People should eat
more greens and have less meat. For me, no meat is just crazy as our bodies need protein. I believe that people should choose carefully what they put inside their bodies by choosing vegetable and fruits more in their daily diet. Further, people should have fewer intakes of carbonated drinks and more on water to flush out toxins in the body.
Q: Should rich countries help poor countries with more than just food?
A: Indeed. Though many poor countries need food, they also need medicines to treat the sick
people. Not only people are dying from hunger but also from untreated diseases. Rich countries should provide these poor countries medical help by coming up with medical missions and providing free medicines. Since they are poor, it would be impossible for them to buy and maintain taking their medicines. Rich countries should handle this problem and make sure that the poor are not only fed but also treated from their sickness to be healthy.
The IELTS speaking exam becomes easier when candidate’s practice a lot. Find a speaking instructor or better yet, enrol in an IELTS review centers to get help from speaking coaches. They know how to improve not only on your speaking skills but also the confidence in using the language as well.
For more Ielts Tips you can refer to this link magtuonta.blogspot.com.
