Describing Yourself
ambitious good fun nosy reliable
blunt hard-working open-minded
self-assured clever impatient outgoing
sociable creative judgmental
over-sensitive stingy
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Vocabulary: Relationships
Match phrases 1-8 with definitions a-h.
2
Decide if sentences 1-6 refer to the city or the
country.
1 Urban regeneration involves bringing derelict buildings back into use.
2 It's very remote.
3 I live right in the centre, within easy walking distance of shops,
restaurants and bars.
4 I like living here because I love all the hustle and bustle.
5 Where my auntie lives is idyllic and the pace of life is very slow.
6 You don't see many detached houses here. It's all high-rise flats.
3
Listen and complete the texts about
changes to the speakers' hometowns.
4
IELTS Speaking Exam: Part 1
You are going to hear questions that are
typical of Part 1 of the exam. Listen to
each question and give your answers. Try
to use the vocabulary you have learned
so far.
Focus on your use of tenses, particularly
when talking about changes to your town
or city.
5
Now listen to the sample answers .
6
Exam Tip:
It is perfectly acceptable to say negative things about your
hometown or any other topic.
For example:
There is not much for young people to do or It used to be
peaceful but now it's built up and congested.
However, focusing exclusively or almost exclusively on
the negative in all your answers will affect the impression
the examiner gains of you . Although you will not be
judged specifically on your attitudes, it is probably better
to present yourself as a predominantly positive person.
7
Add the following suffixes to words 1-12
below to make nouns. Use each suffix
twice.
-ness -ee -ism -hood -ment -ship
8
IELTS Speaking Exam: Part 2
Read this Part 2 question. Give yourself one
minute to plan your answer, making notes if you
wish, Then talk for one or two minutes.
9
10
Avoid Being Too General
General statement such as,
Music is very important to me.
are OK for beginning a reply,
but they don’t demonstrate your ability
to use English for complex purposes.
Avoid Being Too General
Give each of these replies a grade from 1 to 5
depending on how well you think it demonstrates
the candidates ability (5 is the highest).
1. My taste have changed over the years. I used to listen a lot
of very commercial pop music. Now I mostly listen to rock
and jazz.
2. I love music. I listen to it nearly everyday, and I can’t image
living without it. It’s one of the most important things in
my life.
Read the information card below about a man called
Mubarak. The card contains useful vocabulary for
talking about studies and work so look up any words
you do not know in a dictionary.
13
Talk about Mubarak
14
Listen to Mubarak talking about his
studies and dream job. He uses some
useful vocabulary.
15
Listen again and write the words and phrases
which correspond to definitions 1-11.
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IELTS Speaking Exam: Part 1
You are going to hear questions that are typical of Part
1 of the exam. Listen to each question and give your
answer.
Record your answers.
Now listen to the sample answer and note down any
useful words and phrases.
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IELTS Speaking Exam: Part 2
Read this Part 2 question. Give yourself one
minute to plan your answer, making notes if
you wish. Then talk for one to two minutes.
Describe your dream job.
You should say:
what qualifications or experience you would need
what the job would involve
what you think the most difficult thing about the job
would be
and explain why it is your dream job.
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Grammar: Speculating
The questions above ask about an unreal situation. To
talk about an unreal situation, you can use would +
infinitive.
Example: My dream job would be to teach children to
sail.
You probably do not know about every aspect of your
dream job. For example, you may not know exactly
what the job would involve. If this is the case, you will
have to speculate.
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Here is some useful language for speculating:
• maybe, perhaps: Perhaps the job is more difficult than it seems.
• It is fairly/quite/very/extremely {un}likely {that} ... : It is fairly likely I
would need more qualifications. It is extremely unlikely that I would
ever get such a job.
• I'd hazard a guess {that} ... : J"m not sure, but J"d hazard a guess that
it's not as well paid as being an accountant.
• It is quite possible {that} ... : It is quite possible that managers often
wish they didn 't have so much responsibility.
• I imagine/suspect {that} ... : I suspect that I wouldn't find it a very
satisfying role.
You can also use modals to speculate:
• must + infinitive: Being a miner must be a dangerous job.
(You are guessing, but you are almost certain it is dangerous.]
• can't + infinitive: It can't be very rewarding.
(You are guessing, but you are almost certain it is not rewarding .]
20
Speculate about jobs 1-8 using the language on page 27. Think
about work hours (how long and what part of the day they
work), how much job satisfaction they have, what their job
involves, etc.
Examples: Being a politician must be difficult because there’s
always somebody who disagrees with you.
I'd hazard a guess that a chef works longer hours than a clown
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Speculate about Jobs
1 a politician
2 a university lecturer
3 a clown
4 a chef
5 a musician
6 an office junior
7 an astronaut
8 a soldier
22
Rewrite sentences 1-4 using the alternatives to if in brackets
1 I"ll get into university if I get straight As. [provided that)
_____________________________________
2 If my CV doesn't stand out, I will never be called for an
interview. (unless)
_____________________________________
3 If I pass my final exams, I've got a chance of getting my dream
job, (as long as)
_____________________________________
4 I will never be an athlete, even if I train really hard. (no matter
how)
_____________________________________
23
Match questions 1-5 to their responses a-e.
24
Tick the activities you have done on holiday.
For each activity you have enjoyed, say when
and where you did it and what you liked
about it.
For each activity you have not done or do not
like, say why
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Vocabulary: Tourism
Consider the impact each of the following has on tourism, especially
in developing countries. In each case, decide whether it is the
economy, environment, or local people that are most affected and
say whether the impact is positive or negative
a Hotels are built on previously unspoilt beaches.
b Tourism can bring higher levels of employment. _
c There is increased investment, especially from foreign companies.
d There is improved infrastructure, such as roads and airports.
e Jobs in tourism are often low paid and seasonal.
f Tourists drop litter and cause footpath erosion.
g Big hotels and tourist sites may take trade away from smaller
businesses.
h Income from tourism can go into conserving the natural
environment.
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Grammar: Short answers
• Yes answers consist of: Yes + subject + auxiliary
verb or be.
Do you enjoy going on holiday with your parents?
Yes, I do.
Can you afford to go on holiday this year?
Yes, we can.
Were you skiing when you fell? Yes, I was.
Are you sure? Yes, I am.
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Grammar: Short answers
• You can use other words in short
answers:
Yes, I certainly do.
Yes, we can - just about.
Of course I am.
I'm pretty sure she is.
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Grammar: Short answers
• Or you can use other phrases:
Did your mum enjoy her holiday?
I believe so, yes.
Would you go back again?
Definitely.
Would you recommend it?
Without a doubt.
29
Grammar: Short answers
• You can use do, does, did to respond to
statements or questions with no auxiliary
verb or non-auxiliary be:
So, your sister likes action-packed holidays.
Yes, she does.
Many people prefer relaxing holidays.
I suppose they do.
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Grammar: Short answers
• For no answers, we usually use the contracted form :
So, you didn't enjoy that holiday.
I didn't, no.
Has she got travel insurance?
No, she hasn't.
Are they from your hometown?
No, they aren't.
Are you going on holiday soon?
I'm not, unfortunately
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Grammar: Short answers
• You can use other phrases to respond negatively:
Is it hot in Norway in the spring?
I don't think so.
Do you enjoy camping?
No, not really.
Do the local people benefit from tourism?
I doubt it.
Would you ever go on a skiing holiday?
Definitely not!
32
IELTS Speaking Exam: Part 1
You are going to hear questions that are
typical of Part 1 of the exam. Listen to
each question and give your answer. Use
short answers where appropriate.
Now listen to the sample answers.
33
Expressing yourself indirectly
Exam tip: If you don’t know the word for something, you will
need to express it in an indirect way.
For example, if you don ·t know the term brochure, instead of
We looked in a travel brochure,
you could say
We looked in a magazine with information about all kinds of
holidays.
34
Match the beginnings of sentences 1-8
with the endings a-h.
35
IELTS Speaking Exam: Part 2
Read this Part 2 question. Give yourself one
minute to plan your answer, making notes if you
wish. Then talk for one or two minutes.
36
For each sentence a-d, underline the word(s) that
you think is/are given extra stress
a I wanted to go but I couldn’t. I was broke.
b Did you say her name was Julie? - No, Julia.
c My husband really enjoyed the mini break, but I
didn't.
d Was your purse on the table when it was stolen? -
No, it was under the table.
37
Vocabulary: Health and diet
Read definitions 1-10 and then complete the
words and phrases related to health and diet.
There is one space per letter. Some letters have
been given to help you.
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