Sample 04 - IELTS task 02 - Changes in life versus no changes

Some people enjoy change. They look forward to new experiences. Others like their lives to stay the same and they do not change their usual habits. Compare these two approaches to life. Which approach do you prefer and why?

SAMPLE ANSWER -

The only thing permanent in this world is change. With constant advancements in the field of science, technology and research, an individual has to regularly upgrade itself in order to grow both professionally and personally. While there are a few who enjoy change and try to gain new experiences, others prefer not to change and live their life in the same manner. The following essay will compare both these approaches.

To begin with, people who avoid implementing changes in their lives are the ones who seek stability and prefer to pursue their usual habits and routine. They at times are either too afraid to take risks or are not adaptable to new or unforeseen conditions and thus decide not to undergo changes. In addition, they might not see any direct benefits of change and hence take a vote against it.

On the contrary, people who decide to change wish to break life's monotony and learn by obtaining new experiences and confronting new occurrences. Moreover, at a certain point in life changes become a necessity to avoid stagnation. For instance, an individual working at a senior managerial position in a multinational company, can always try to venture into entrepreneurship after gaining years of significant work experience. Furthermore, people must change in order to fit in with today's society, which is changing, and developing each day, people need to change and adapt themselves with new technology so that they do not lag behind.

Thus to conclude, I firmly believe that changes transforms one's life in a positive manner as they make us stronger, more persistent and self-confident. Also, people who succeed in life like changes because it is impossible to be the best at some field without perfecting the present knowledge and gaining new experiences.

(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 06 - Talk about something you can do on a computer that you think is enjoyable

Talk about something you can do on a computer that you think is enjoyable. You should mention -

1.   What equipment or software you need to that?

2.   What you need to do to do it?

3.   What kind of people it is popular with?

4.   And say if you would like to spend more time doing it or not and why?

TIP -

The key to answer cue card questions in your IELTS examination is to begin with a suitable introduction which briefly gives an overview of the topic you will be speaking on and to end the question's answer with a proper conclusion.

A well set introduction and conclusion not only defines the flow of your task, and provides it with the much needed connectivity but also helps you to cover up nearly 30 seconds to 40 seconds of your speaking time in an effective manner.

Hence, always remember - NEVER forget an Introduction and Conclusion in your Speaking Cue Card Answer.

SAMPLE ANSWER - 

Ever since their development, computers have interfered in every aspect of a human's life. Be it work, home, studies or recreation, computers these days have become an indispensible part of our living. There are many things, which a person can do on a computer, but one thing which I really believe is quiet enjoyable to do is to play games on it.

Playing games on computers is one activity that is quiet popular among youngsters in the present day. They engage themselves in playing games both offline or even at times online with the help of an internet connection. As playing games on a computer requires the use of minimal software and hardware configuration, it has become highly recognized among the people of young age. To play a game, one might only require a computer, a game setup CD, a joystick for movement control and an internet connection through a modem. In addition to it, one at times might also require a graphic card, a sound card and memory space for playing high-definition games.

In order to play a game one has to successfully install the game setup on their computer's hard-disk drive, configure the necessary hardware devices and once done, run the executable file to enjoy. As already mentioned before, this kind of activity is quiet popular with teenagers and other school and college going students. The reason being they can involve in multi-player gaming with the help of internet and interact with people who enjoy doing the same activity from across the world. Moreover, gaming provides an instant adrenalin rush to the mind, which again attracts youngsters who are more inclined towards adventure and thrill as a means to entertain themselves. Now-a-days many gaming competitions are also being organized in order to encourage the young crowd to take up this activity.

Although, as excess of anything is bad for a person, I personally would not like to invest more time doing this, as I am presently a student and preparing for my further studies abroad. Playing games only serves as a leisure time activity for me, where I can relax myself of the hectic schedule and stress. However, I believe that if I indulge in doing it for a longer duration, I might lose my focus from my set goals on the academic front.

(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 05 - Talk about a book that you have read in the last year

Talk about a book that you have read in the last year. You should say- 

1.   Why you decided to read that book?

2.   How long it took you to finish it?

3.   What genre of book it was?

4.   And say if you would like to read something from the same author or not and why?

SAMPLE ANSWER - 

As it is said that books are a man's best friend, I believe that reading a book not only helps a person to enhance their knowledge and learn from the experiences of other people but it also allows individuals to learn about different cultures, traditions and lifestyles. I have been reading books ever since I was a child and have read many books of various authors from across the world.

My favorite author however is Paulo Coehlo, and the book which I would like to talk about today is The Alchemist written by him.

I decided to read this book, as it is considered to be an international best seller with more than a million copies of it sold worldwide, not only in English but also in various other languages. In addition, my decision to read the book was also inspired from lot of good reviews I heard about the book, from my friends, which eventually motivated me to read this novel. The book's genre is fiction and it is based on the life of a shepherd boy who travels far away from his hometown searching for the true treasure - the meaning of life.

In the pursuit of his, he interacts with people from different cultures and regions and learns from their experiences. Towards the end of his journey, he meets the alchemist who helps and enables him to achieve what he sought for.

Firstly, the book is worth a read as it gives a very important learning that the search for true happiness in life starts from one's own heart. Furthermore, as the language of the book is quiet simple, it is easy to understand and interpret the meaning. As I am presently a student and I have other academic obligations to fulfill as well, it took me nearly a week's time to read the book completely. In future if I get an opportunity to read more books, I would definitely like to read more from the same author. One of the most important reasons for it is that Paulo Coehlo imparts some of the most fundamental teachings of life in the most simplest yet effective manner. In addition, as he is also an international bestseller and have written more than 10 books, each of which have been widely appreciated by the reading community, I would love to read more of his literary works.

In the end, I would like to recommend everyone who loves to read, to once read the Alchemist as it has many learnings that can be implemented successfully by people in their day-to-day lifestyles.   

(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 04 - Describe an activity you often do

Describe an activity you often do. 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? 

One of the most basic way of answering this question is to talk about an activity [such as sports] you are well aware of, have been doing on a regular basis or have seen/ observed others doing it. Some suggestions to build your answer can be -

1. Sports activities such as cricket or football
2. Reading books
3. Traveling/ long drives
4. Shopping
5. Cooking
6. Watching a movie with friends / family
7. Photography among others

SAMPLE ANSWER - 

As an individual, I like to engage myself in a lot of different activities. These activities often help me to relax and take a break from the daily monotonous lifestyle I pursue. One such activity that I do often and would like to describe today is reading books.

As the saying goes - "A book is a man's best friend", I firmly believe that reading them not only educates us, but also helps us in gaining some of the most valuable experiences of life through the writings of others. I started reading books when I was in school and since then have developed this habit. Over the years, I have read books of different genres be it fiction, biographies or even travel memoirs. I mostly love to read books either at the comfort of my home or at a library where I can find some peaceful environment. I generally prefer to read alone, because it helps me to concentrate better on the book I am reading. However at times, I do find a good company during my visit to the city library and often I enjoy discussing the content and the author's writing with fellow readers.

I really enjoy doing this activity because it helps me to gain the much needed mental peace and allows me to take a break from the monotony of life. In addition to it, at times reading a book helps me to know about new places and cultures and even get to learn from the life experiences of others. Finally, reading books that describe the life of famous people, I at times do get inspired and motivated to live my life for a good cause.

I would like to recommend people of all age groups, be it children or youngsters or even those who work professionally to start reading books as it helps to refine an individual's personality and makes him or her more aware about the world and the society at large. Furthermore, reading a good book will also help a person to enhance its knowledge, which will be beneficial for him or her in the long run professionally.

(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 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.)