[IELTS공부자료] Korea Herald연재-IELTS Sample Questions and Study Tips 4

Speaking: Part 2 Tips and Sample Answer

Tip: Part 2 involves the Examiner asking the candidate to speak about a topic for 1-2 minutes. The possible topics vary a lot but they are designed to be very accessible and with a little thought, it’s not too hard to think of things to say. After receiving the topic, candidates have one minute to think of their response and to make notes if they wish. It’s important to use this time to gather thoughts and to think about what you want to say. Try to be natural and engage the Examiner in what you have to say. Memorizing responses to possible topics is not encouraged as they are nearly always at least partially off topic and your job as candidate is to show how you can function in the language. Memorizing something proves nothing about your ability to communicate and would certainly limit your IELTS rating. Be natural and do your best to respond directly to the topic given. On the topic card candidates are given there are three bullet-point prompts that are designed to assist the candidate in focusing on areas relating to the topic. Examiners may pause or be slow to begin speaking if the candidate dries up. This is done to encourage candidates to utilize the full time available so try to provide more information on the topic if this happens. Examiners may ask one or two follow-up questions when you’ve finished your response to round off Part 2.  

Sample Topic

Describe someone you know who is very fit and healthy
- how you know this person
- what does he/she do to stay fit and healthy
- why he/she likes being fit and healthy

Candidate: Well, probably the fittest person I know is an old school friend of mine. We became friends when we were about 12 years old and we’ve done quite a bit of traveling together over the years. We catch-up for a drink about every two weeks these days. It’s strange, he wasn’t really into sports at school but about three years ago he told me he’d started running. I was really surprised because he was a bit overweight and he loves beer, pizza and watching sport on tv. Anyway, he started running and then cycled and swam a bit too. Just a few months later he told me he’d entered a half-marathon. He improved his diet, all healthy food and he rarely drinks nowadays. He finished the half-marathon in about two hours and then decided to do a full marathon. He finished that about a month ago. I was so proud of him. He says he does it because the more he runs, the better he feels. I think he’s got a lot more energy now and with good food too, he looks great. He says he’s thinking about doing another big run next year so even though he said the marathon was the hardest thing he’s ever done, clearly he see lots of benefits. Five years ago I would have said he was one of the least likely people I know to be really fit and healthy but he’s really surprised me with what he’s done in the last few years. It’s encouraged me to start running a bit too.

Possible rounding questions (note: the Examiner may or may not ask rounding questions)

Do you think it’s important to do sports and eat well?

Candidate: Sure, I think you get more out of life if your body is in good shape.

Do you try to eat well?

Candidate: Most of the time I do but I think it’s okay to enjoy the things I like sometimes too. I think eating chocolate and ice-cream is sometimes healthy for the mind, if not the body.