IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)IELTS speaking sample band 9 (Full test)
IELTS Speaking Band S: First of all, can you tell me about the kind of music you like? O: Sure, well, I’m a big fan of what you might call alternative electronica It’s hard to classify, because when you say ‘electronica’, people think of dance music, but I wouldn’t call it that Basically, I listen to a lot of stuff with hip-hop, funk or disco influences, but most of my friends think my taste in music is a bit weird S: I see And, where you like to listen to music? O: I listen to music pretty much any time that I’m at home So, if I’m doing housework, or cooking, or anything like that, I’ll put some music on Sometimes I also listen to music on the bus Especially if I’m going to play sport or to the gym, I’ll listen to some high-energy tunes on the way to get myself pumped up S: Yeah, okay Why you think music is so important in many people’s lives? O: Hmm… That’s a big question… [pause] Well, first of all music has always been part of human culture, so in that sense obviously it’s an important part of our lives I guess that’s because music can have such a powerful effect on our emotions Music can lift you up, or inspire you, or make you feel sad I’d certainly find it hard to live without it! S: Uh-huh I’d like to move on and talk about transport What’s the best way to get around your city? O: I live in quite a small town, so it’s very easy to get around You can walk or cycle to a lot of places, although some roads are a bit dangerous for bikes There are buses which are fairly reliable, but they’re not the fastest way to get around Finally, you can take a taxi or an Uber if you want to get somewhere fast and you don’t mind paying a bit extra S: Alright And, have you ever learned to drive? O: Yes, I learned in the UK as soon as I was old enough, although I have to say I haven’t driven for several years! I’m not sure if you’d want to get in a car with me, but I guess I’d pick it up again quite quickly There’s just not much point in having a car where I am now, because I can walk or ride my bike around town, and take public transport if I want to go somewhere else, for the weekend or whatever S: I see Do you think everybody should learn to drive? O: Er… That’s a strange idea I think it’s up to each person to decide It can be very useful in some places For example, where I grew up in the UK… It’s a rural area, and if you don’t have a car you’re pretty isolated If you live somewhere like that, you should probably learn to drive But, it’s still a choice, right? He also used linking words and connecting devices well Let’s look at one answer as an example: I live in quite a small town, so it’s very easy to get around You can walk or cycle to a lot of places, although some roads are a bit dangerous for bikes There are buses which are fairly reliable, but they’re not the fastest way to get around Finally, you can take a taxi or an Uber if you want to get somewhere fast and you don’t mind paying a bit extra Part Two of the IELTS Speaking Test Olivier: Now, I’m going to give you a topic and I’d like you to talk about it for one to two minutes You have one minute to think about what you are going to say You can make some notes to help you if you wish Describe something difficult you learned to You should say: – what you learned to – how you learned to it – why it was difficult and explain whether you’re glad that you learned to this or not O: Okay, please tell me about something difficult you learned to S: So, I’m going to tell you about learning to drive a car with manual transmission I’m from the States, and almost no one drives a manual there; most cars are automatic When I came to Europe, I found it was totally the opposite here; driving a manual is the norm, and automatics are rare I guess here they’re associated with very expensive, luxury cars Anyway, I had to learn to drive stick, and it was so difficult! It was doubly hard because I already knew how to drive, so it felt extra frustrating to be behind the wheel but unable to the things I would normally Maybe it wasn’t a good idea but I didn’t get any help; I could have gone to a driving school but I didn’t I just practiced and tried to learn by myself, by driving around car parks and open spaces and things like that That was okay, but when I went out and drove properly, on the streets with traffic, it was super stressful I just couldn’t get the clutch right, and then I’d stall and I’d be stressing out while everyone was honking at me I can’t say that I’m glad that I learned it I mean, I just learned to it because I had to, and I didn’t enjoy the experience! If it were up to me, I’d rather just have an automatic car O: Thank you So, what you use your car for? S: Mostly for getting to work I live quite far from the nearest metro station and the bus lines aren’t good, so it’s much easier to drive Sometimes we go out of town for the weekends, too Part Three of the IELTS Speaking Exam Olivier: Right, I’d like to ask some questions related to this topic First, let’s talk about learning new things What motivates people to learn new things? Stephanie: Wow… that’s a big question! Well, there are lots of reasons The main one I guess is just necessity For example, if you want to work in a particular field, you’ll need some specific training, skills, qualifications… Then, when you start a new job, you generally have to adapt and learn a lot of new things, even if you came in with a lot of theoretical knowledge What else? I think also interest is important… I mean, people learn to new things because they’re interested in them or they find something enjoyable For example, no one needs to learn to play a musical instrument, but a lot of people so because it brings them pleasure O: Do you think the way that people learn new things has changed compared to the past? S: Absolutely Of course, the Internet and the development of smartphones and other new technologies have had a huge influence We all have easy access to so much information now, which wasn’t the case in the past at all Before, people would need to dedicate a lot of time and effort to finding an expert, or doing research in order to learn about something new Now, you can find tutorials online, ask people for help in discussion forums, and things like that So, it’s a big difference, but I think it’s mostly for the better O: How you think technology will change the way people learn new things in the future? S: Hmm… I’m not sure I think we’ll see the same trends developing… What I mean is: the big changes have already happened, but I don’t think they’ve run their course yet So, a lot of people still have the idea that you learn something by going to a class, reading books, etc., and they haven’t realised that you just have more options nowadays To tie all this together, I think that in the future, education and learning will be more globalised and democratic, in that everybody will have similar opportunities to learn I suppose that might mean that formal education diminishes in significance, but I’m not sure that will actually happen O: Okay, let’s move on to talk about school and education How can parents or students choose the best school or university? S: In my experience, the only way to know what a school or university is really like is to talk to people who already study there and see what they say Of course, you can go and look around, but I don’t think you can learn very much just by walking around a school If you talk to some of the staff and students, you can get a feel of what kind of establishment it is, and whether it’s a good fit for you, or your child, whoever you’re talking about O: Mm-hmm How people in your country feel about private education? S: Huh… I really don’t know I went to a public school, and so did everyone I know It’s not really a topic which comes up that much, you know? Personally, I don’t have strong opinions; if someone wants to pay to send their child to a private school, then why not? Given that there aren’t that many private schools, it’s just not something that people are so aware of O: I see Do you think that university education should be free? S: Definitely, yes In the USA, university is insanely expensive; parents have to start saving up from the moment their child is born I think this leads to elitist outcomes… I mean that the richest kids go to the best universities, and if you don’t have a lot of money behind you, your options are more limited That said, I realize that graduates tend to earn more, so it might be fairer to have some kind of graduate tax, so that the people who erm… benefit from higher education also help to fund it That seems to me to be the fairest solution O: Thank you That’s the end of the speaking test ... Uber if you want to get somewhere fast and you don’t mind paying a bit extra Part Two of the IELTS Speaking Test Olivier: Now, I’m going to give you a topic and I’d like you to talk about it for... it’s much easier to drive Sometimes we go out of town for the weekends, too Part Three of the IELTS Speaking Exam Olivier: Right, I’d like to ask some questions related to this topic First, let’s... help to fund it That seems to me to be the fairest solution O: Thank you That’s the end of the speaking test