Speaking Full Length Test 02 - Australia June 2014

Dear Students,

Here is an IELTS Speaking test from Australia - June 2014. These are some of the possible answers that you can give during your IELTS Speaking exam if the questions asked are of the similar fashion -

Interview

- Where are you from?

I am from Bhopal, which is the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. It is also known for its scenic beauty and is called as the City of Lakes.

- Can I see you ID?

Yes Ma'am/ Sir, here it is.

- Are you working or studying?

Presently I am studying. I have recently completed my graduation in Bacheors of Engineering from Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal and am now preparing for going abroad to pursue my further education.

- Which day of the week do you like the best? Why?

I really like Sunday the best out of all the seven days. The reason being it is the day when I can get some time to relax and enjoy with my family and friends. Also, as Sunday is generally a holiday, I do not have much burden of my academic work and thus I like it the most.

- Which day of the week do you like the least? Why?

To be honest, there is no particular day as such which I like the least, but if asked in specific, Fridays are not one of my most preferred choice. I do not like Friday like any other days, maybe because it is that time of the week when you are nearing weekend and are already a bit tired from the busy schedule through the week. Therefore, I really feel at times, that maybe after Thursdays or Wednesdays we should directly come to the weekends. 

- Given a chance, what daily task would you like to avoid?

Given a chance, I would like to avoid cooking food. I firmly believe that cooking good and delicious food requires a lot of pre-preparation and patience. Moreover, you require the right set of ingredients in the perfect quantity to get the correct taste. So I certainly think that cooking food should be carried out by people who are master in that and enjoy doing it, unlike me.

Cue Card

Talk about a good law in your country. Please say

• -          What law is it?
• -          Why is it a good law?
• -          Who does the law affect?
• -          What would have happened without the law?

Laws are one of the prime necessities to build a just society. Every country has its own set of rules, laws and regulations that they follow in order to maintain peace within the country. Almost all the laws framed by the government are good. One such good law which I would like to discuss today is the Law against Child Labour.

India is a country, where the problem of child labour is increasingly persistent in the society. One can often see small children working at various public places such as roadside restaurants, offices and other commercial areas. One of the prime reasons children in our country take up work at such an early age is to support their family through an additional source of income. Sometimes the children even work at factories and other manufacturing industries, where proper safety standards are not maintained, which puts their life at risk. In addition to it, in return of the work, they are not provided proper wages to live. The law proves vital in shaping the lives of such young children in the right direction. It prohibits any child below the age of 15 years to be employed commercially in any office, factory, industry or any other type of paid work by an employer. If found offending the law, the employer can be imprisoned or fined, or both the punishments can be applied with immediate effect.

The law is considered to be good, because it saves many small children from becoming a child labour. It is generally believed that a child's foremost birth right is to get proper education. However, at a time when he or she should be attending a school, they are forced to work due to varied circumstances. Furthermore, people at times, even exploit or harm them, not only financially, but mentally and physically as well. The law affects all the children who are working below the age of 15 years in any kind of commercial or industrial setup, and help them towards a better future.

I feel that without the law, child exploitation would have been prevalent in the society at a high rate. Although, even today, there are a lot of such cases coming to light, but without this law into existence the situation would have been far more worst. I believe more such laws should be implemented in order to help protect the life of young children.

 Discussion

- Talk about the role of a police officer in your country.

The role of a police officer in my country is to maintain law and order, yet at the same time, to look after the welfare and safety of the citizens. He should also be able to help people at the time of crisis and work towards making this society a better place to live in.

- What is the criteria to be a good police officer?

A good police officer should be physically strong and agile. Moreover, not only should he be hard-willed but at the same time, he should also be sympathetic towards those who are in need or in any problem or trouble. Apart from that, he should be sincere towards his roles and responsibilities and should himself abide by the law before ensuring that they are implemented correctly in the society.

- Do most people in your country abide the law?

Yes most people in my country abide by law. India is considered to be a peace loving country and all the citizens follow the set of rules and regulations that have been set by the government. This can also be judged by the fact that the crime rate in India is extremely less as compared to many other countries around the world.

- Do you think the law should be broken sometimes? If so, under what circumstances?

Yes, I believe that under certain special circumstances, it is totally correct to break the laws. For instance, in cases of self defense, if a person tried to save itself from the attacker and accidently hurts or kills it, I believe that individual should not be found guilty and should be given another chance to live in the society without any charges being pressed against him or her.

IELTS Speaking Cue Card 03 - Describe An Activity You Like doing

Describe an activity you like doing. You should say - 

1. Where you do it? 
2. Who you do it with? 
3. Why you enjoy doing it? 
4. And say what kind of people you would recommend that activity to and why? 

Sample Answer - 

There are varied activities that a person performs or engages in each day. Some of them are career oriented, while others can be recreational or leisure time activities. 

One such activity I like doing is to play outdoor sports such as cricket or football. I do this activity almost everyday during the evening hours, when I am generally free from my busy schedule. As I am also a member of the city's sports club, so I often visit the TT Nagar stadium to play these sports. I enjoy doing this activity with my college time friends. Apart from this I have also come to know a lot of new people of my age, who also actively take part in such activities and it is really fun and enjoying to play sports such as cricket and football with them. 

As it is said that "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" I like to do this activity because it helps me to relax myself after a busy day. Moreover, as sports are considered to be one of the best forms of physical exercise, I prefer to play them so that I can remain fit and healthy. I would like to recommend people of almost all age groups to engage in outdoor sports especially children and youngsters as it will help them to develop and grow both physically and mentally. 

In addition to it, playing sports eases out stress and can be helpful even against depression and other mental disorders. So it would be really beneficial for people if they indulge in outdoor sports on a regular basis. 

Some other activities one can talk about - 

Reading Books

Listening to Music 

Shopping

Travelling

Painting/ Art/ Dance

Photography 

Creative Writing

The points and response structure can be more or less on the same pattern as almost all the above mentioned activities, helps a person to relax mentally. However it can be noted that each activity has its own set of benefits and the key to answer such questions in an effective manner is to lay more stress on "Why you enjoy doing it?" part, as it will help you fetch more points which can be related directly to the question asked.

(This model answer can be followed as an example of a very good answer. However, please note that this is just one example out of many possible approaches.)

Sample 03 - IELTS task 02 - Government investment in arts and theater is a waste of money

Government investment in the arts, such as music and theater, is a waste of money. Governments must invest this money in public services instead. To what extent do you agree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge. You should write at least 250 words.

In the modern world, as the cities are constantly expanding, it has been lately observed that along with a considerable attention towards the construction of public services by the government, a lot of monetary aids are being provided to establish leisure time activities such as arts, music and theatre. Wherein, some people believe that this investment in arts and music by the government is a waste of money, and that it should be diverted towards more useful purposes such as the development of schools, hospitals and better infrastructure in any given region; there are others who contradict this opinion. I firmly believe that, as each coin has two sides, the above argument two has its own pros and cons, which will be discussed in the following essay.

To begin with, the investment being done by the government for the development of public services, it is highly essential for the development of any society. Public services are necessities such as hospitals, schools and roads, and betterment of such services helps in improving the quality of life in any given area. In addition to it, investing more on public services like education and health, by the government will help lessen the burden on families with financial disadvantage, and ensure that they are able to benefit from them in an effective manner. At the same time, it will also enable these public bodies to expand their services and provide better facilities to the citizens.

On the contrary, the role of governments in nurturing and developing arts and theatre in a given area can also be not neglected. Arts such as music and theatres also improve the quality of life for a country as it highlights vivid cultures and enables cross-cultural interaction between communities. Also, at times it is observed that these institutions operate on a non-profit basis and thus cannot sustain if the aids from the government bodies are not granted. Furthermore, these institutes can also be the first dedicated point of learning for individuals and allow them to witness the transformations within a society, thus changing their perceptions about the life of people.

To conclude, it can be stated that there are clear benefits of ensuring a large amount of investment goes into public services as this influences the quality of life for all the citizens. That said, I do not believe spending money on the arts is a waste of money as this too provides important benefits.  

(This model answer can be followed as an example of a very good answer. However, please note that this is just one example out of many possible approaches.)

Speaking Full Length Test 01 - Sri Lanka Jan 2014

Dear Students,

Here is an IELTS Speaking test from Sri Lanka - January 2014. These are some of the possible answers that you can give during your IELTS Speaking exam if the questions asked are of the similar fashion -

Speaking test

Interview

- What is your full name?

My full name is XYZ [Alternatively you can also say that you first name is ABC and your last name is XYZ]

- Can I see your ID?

Yes Sir/ Madam, here it is.

- Where are you from?

I am from Bhopal, which is the capital city of Madhya Pradesh and is also known as the city of lakes

- Do you work or study?

I am presently a student. I have recently finished by Bachelors in Business Administration from Bhopal School of Social Sciences, and then prepared for my IELTS examination.

- Is the city you come from is a small or a big one?

I would prefer to term my city as a big city, as it is presently in the development phase. In the past few years, many developmental activities have taken place in terms of the infrastructure and other facilities provided to the citizens. For example - better public transportation and entertainment zones are now a part of our city as well.

- How long have you been living there?

As I was born in Bhopal itself, and have done my entire studies from this city, I have been living here for nearly 26 years.

- Did you sing as a child?

Yes, I indeed used to sing when I was a child. I remember singing my very first song in a school function, and then have regularly performed in various family gatherings.

- Who is your favorite singer? Why?

My favorite singer is Arjit Singh. He is an Indian Singer and the reason I really like him is because, he is highly versatile. He has been known over the years for singing varied genres of musical composition with same ease and emotions, which always allure the listeners.

- How often do you walk?

I do not walk much often, but generally, when I want to relax myself from a busy day, I prefer to walk a few minutes near to my home.

- Do you walk in the city or in the countryside? Why?

As I live in the city, I am bound to walk in the city environment itself. Usually when I go for a walk, I choose a calm and peaceful place such as a garden, which is far less noisy as compared to the city's rush traffic.

- What should we do to improve walking tracks in cities?

I believe that in order to improve the walking tracks, dedicated walkers lanes should be developed in the city at some of the busiest places or near residential colonies. Moreover, improving the condition of the footpaths along the roads will also help in uplifting the condition of walking tracks in the cities.

- Do you think you’ll walk more often in the future? Why?

Yes, I personally feel that I will walk more often in future as I am planning to study abroad; and being a student I either will have the luxury of the public transportation or will have to walk to cover the distance.

Cue Card

·        Talk about a house/apartment that you have visited recently and liked. Please say

-         Whose house/apartment was it?

-         Where is it located?

-         Why did you like it so much?

Houses or apartments are one of the most basic amenities required by humans for living comfortable in the present world. Depending upon their architectural style, these houses can be categorized as Modern or traditional. One house which I recently visited and I really liked is that of my maternal grandmother. I visited this house, last week when we went there for celebrating my uncle's 50th Birthday.

The house is located at the countryside, just outskirts to the city of Bhopal. I really like this house because of many reasons. Firstlyas the house is located away from the noises and the busy city environment, it feels quiet peaceful to live at that particular place. In addition to it, the house in itself is quiet spacious. It was originally built nearly 30 years back, and since then had required minimal maintenance. There are nearly five bedrooms and a living area, where the entire family can gather at the same time for any family function. Moreover,it also includes two guest rooms, which are towards the rear end of the house, to make the visitors comfortable during the stay.

Although the most attractive feature of this house is its lush green garden. The house spaces, two separate lawns, which are well maintained. The front lawn has more than 50 varieties of plants, which specifically include nearly 13 different varieties of rose plants itself. Apart from that the rear garden, or the so called kitchen garden has a lot of herbal, fruits and vegetable plants and trees, which add up to the delicious flavor of the cuisines that are served there.

I really like this house so much because of all the sweet memories of me and my family associated with this place. I distinctly remember thatalmost all our family celebrations have taken place at this particular house and I have relived each and every moment spent at this place, a million times already in mind.

Tips for answering this Cue Card Sample:

Describing a house does not have to be an exact match with the house you actually recently visited and liked. You can talk about -

• Who the house belongs to
• How he/she is associated with your family / you
• The ambiance and the location
• The environment within the house
• Some sweet memories associated with the house - can be the reason why you like the house so much
• The number of rooms/ lawn/ or the space within the house
• You can even talk about the architectural style of the house - if the house was traditionally built or modern built

Discussion:

- Do you think the government spends a lot of taxpayers’ money to repair old buildings in your country?

Well I believe that at times government, does spend a lot of money for repairing and maintaing the old building within my country. Every other week, we read news about the renovation works being done at some place or the other, in order to restore the ancient buildings in their real look, which I believe has it's own merits and demerits.

- Is it good or bad in your opinion?

In my personal opinion it is more better or good than being bad, because these ancient buildings, such as palaces and other buildings of religious importance serve as a mirror to the world, which reflects a place's cultural and traditional heritage. This is the best way to showcase any other person from a different place, that how diverse and rich our roots are. In addition, it also reminds the citizens of that country, where they have come from and thus they value their historical traditions and cultural values.

Sample 02 - IELTS task 02 - Salaries earned by international sports professionals

Successful sports professionals can earn a great deal more money than people in other important professions. Some people think it is fully justified, while others think it is unfair. Discuss both these views and give your opinions.

Since historical times, a man has always been valued according to the work he performed. The tradition of calculating an individual's worth in accordance to his job role has continued through agesand in the modern world too, this seems prevalentin almost every field of work. However, it is often evident that people in some professions like sports earn a great amount of money as compared to other conventional professions such as teachers and doctors. While there are people who believe that this is completely justified, a few hold contradictionto the stated fact. I personally believe that,given the amount of hard work and dedication, it requires to build any career, all the professions should be valued equally in terms of the pay-scales.

To begin with, professionals who choose sports as their field of work often confront limited careers, often not spanning more than two decades. Moreover,sports as a profession demands constant practice and years of hard work to nurture the talents and capabilities an individual possess. In order to meet the expectations of the citizens of their respective countries, sports professionals have to make sacrifices on a personal front as well. For instance - due to the constant international tours and tournaments, a sports professional might stay away from his family on a regular basis. In addition, sports professionals also suffer from injuries and have to put in a lot of effort in order to gain the physical fitness and agility required to represent a country on the international level.

On the contrary, some might argue that the high salaries provided to sports professionals are not justified and other professions should not be discarded in front of it. It can be said that in professions like teaching or medical sciences, where an individual serves the community selflessly must be provided with the right incentives in order to encourage youngsters to take up such fields. Moreover, these professions too require tireless efforts and hard work on the side of the individuals, so that they perform their job roles with extreme precision. For example - a surgeon have to undergo years of training to become perfect in performing medical operations.

Thus, it can be concluded that, the money earned by successful sports persons can be justified to a greater extent as the competition is constant and a player is tested every time they perform in their relatively short career. The pressure from the media is intense and there is little privacy out of the spotlight. However, the role of other professionals in shaping up the society cannot be completely neglectedand they too should be given appropriate remunerations, which justify the amount of efforts they put in behind their work field.

 (This model answer can be followed as an example of a very good answer. However, please note that this is just one example out of many possible approaches.)

Sample 01 - IELTS task 02 - International versus Traditional Music

There are many different types of music in the world today. Why do we need music? Is the traditional music of a country more important than the international music that is heard everywhere now-a-days?

It is generally said that - "Where words fail, music speaks". The modern world is filled with different genres of music. The choice of music people listen to now-a-days varies according to not only demography, but also in accordance to the different age groups. Be it the modern international music or the rap music, or in that case the traditional classical music of any country, people listen to them with great interest. The main reason behind it is thatmusic has been an integral part of our lives, since the ancient times. The following essay will discuss the main reasons behind the necessity of music and whether the traditional music of a country is more important than the International music, which is popular worldwide.

To begin with, music impresses, inspires and at times it reveals an untold story. More often than not, it also remedies us and lets us understand others. Music is essential in a human's life as it breaks the dull monotony and acts as a memory catalyzer, reminding us of our sweet and sour memories. In addition to it, it relaxes our mind and acts as an emotional support.

When we draw a comparative study between the traditional and international music, I firmly believe that both these genres of music hold equal importance in their respective places. To start with, the advantages of hearing traditional music of any country, it is necessary as it helps preserve the traditions and cultures of a particular region. Moreover,it teaches individuals about their country's history. In addition, it helps the societies remember and retain their cultural identity. For instance- Indian classical music symbolizes Indian cultural heritage and is often considered sacred among various societal sects.

On the contrary, the International music helps us to relate to other people, cultures and countries as we all listen to it.It is more entertaining and fun to listen and is especially popular among the youngsters. Furthermore,it presents the emerging trends and thoughts. Likewise, it is also observed that the parameters for liking keep on changing with generations and international music reflects these variations.

Thus, to conclude, I believe that both international as well as traditional music weigh equal on a balance scale. Wherein the traditional music associates an individual to its cultural and traditional values, the international music acts as a unifying bond between people from different backgrounds and ethnicities. However, it is a blend of both and not just any one of them, which can revive, refresh and strengthen human emotions and values in the real sense.   

(This model answer can be followed as an example of a very good answer. However, please note that this is just one example out of many possible approaches.)

IELTS Speaking Cue Card 02 - Describe Your Favorite Restaurant

Describe your favorite Restaurant.

You should say:

1.     Where it is

2.     What it looks like inside and outside

3.     What kinds of foods they serve

4.     What makes this restaurant so special to you and others.

India is a land of diversity. These diverse variations are not only reflected in our lifestyle but also in the food we eat. As I love to eat, I prefer to go to restaurants often with my friends or family. One such restaurant which I would like to talk about today and which is one of my favorites is Jehan Numa Palace.

The restaurant is located near the upper lake in Bhopal and has a natural ambience surrounding it. Not only I like the spacious, serene environment and the tasty cuisines that the restaurant serves, but I have lots of memories related to this restaurant. I have often visited this restaurant for family get-togethers, reunion with school or college friends and at times during the marriage ceremonies of my loved ones. Due to this, the restaurant holds a special place in my life.

In addition,the restaurant has an ethnic look to its ambience, which transports the food lovers to an all together different era in time. It not only consists of ancient sculptures that were found near the city of Bhopal, but it also includes paintings of famous artists, which have been decorated on the walls. Moreover, the place is quite neat and clean and the staff is well mannered and provides excellent service to the customers. The interior decoration is charming and has a gorgeous feeling.

The restaurant offers several dishes including exotic desserts, ice-creams and also offers a separate place for the kids to play and have fun. To add on to it, the prices are reasonable and the foods are served quickly as opposed to some other restaurantswhere you will have to wait for a long time for your food to get served. The restaurant offers an array of cuisines such as Chinese, Italian, Indian, Thai, Pakistani and local menus that gives you a wide range and options to pick from. Also,the soft background music and instrumentals make the environment more enjoyable and soothing.

The place is one of the best joints to eat out and have a fun gathering with friends and family. A lot of foreign tourists prefer to eat at this place when they visit our city. The authority lets the customers provide their feedbacks and comments on foods and the place and as I have noticed they take prompt action on a customer complaint. The restaurant is very special to me and my friends because we meet their every weekend. Thus, I have a lot of sweet memories associated with this place.

Tips for answering this Cue Card Sample:

Describing a restaurant does not have to be an exact match with the restaurant you actually go a lot. You can talk about -

1. The dishes served
2. Affordable Prices
3. Easy access from home / centrally located
4. Quiet and nice environment.
5. Attractive decoration and view.
6. Playground for kids.
7. Service and behavior of the staffs.
8. Past memory related to the restaurant.

      (This model answer can be followed as an example of a very good answer. However, please note that this is just one example out of many possible approaches.)