Categories
Classroom Resources Free Downloads IELTS Speaking

IELTS Speaking Feedback Sheet

cropped-IELTS-Academic-Logo.jpgThis article is part of the Teach IELTS series at IELTS Academic, an online provider of skills training for IELTS and English as a foreign language.


Are you looking for an easier way to calculate IELTS Speaking scores?

The assessment criteria for IELTS Speaking are publicly available, but the official document is not exactly classroom-friendly. Not only is the language filled with jargon, the complexity is so great that explaining it all in class would drastically reduce any speaking practice time available to students.

IELTS Academic has produced a simplified version of the IELTS Speaking scoring rubric that is faithful to the official version but designed to be more accessible for students. This IELTS Speaking Feedback Sheet organises the IELTS Speaking assessment criteria into 12 basic attributes. Try using it as a tool for pair practice in your next IELTS Speaking lesson.


IELTS Speaking Feedback Sheet


Download this IELTS Speaking Feedback Sheet as a PDF for classroom use.


Fluency and Coherence

Does your partner:

  • Avoid silence or hesitation?
  • Speak at length on each topic?
  • Use words to connect ideas?

Lexical Resource

Does your partner:

  • Use a wide range of vocabulary?
  • Use idioms and collocation?
  • Paraphrase?

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Does your partner:

  • Speak in complex sentences?
  • Use a variety of grammatical forms?
  • Avoid grammatical mistakes?

Pronunciation

Does your partner:

  • Pronounce words accurately?
  • Join sounds together?
  • Vary intonation?

Scoring:  Students can give their partner a score of 0-3 for each skill where 0=Not at all, 1=A little, 2=Sometimes, and 3=Always. Dividing the total by four will produce a rough estimate of the student’s overall IELTS Speaking score.


cropped-IELTS-Academic-Logo.jpgThis article is part of the Teach IELTS series at IELTS Academic, an online provider of skills training for IELTS and English as a foreign language.


Categories
Classroom Resources Free Downloads IELTS Writing

IELTS Writing Answer Sheet: Free Download

A practice version of the official IELTS writing answer sheet

This practice version is modified for teacher/student use and available only on IELTS Academic as a free PDF download. Unlike the official IELTS writing answer sheet, the practice version includes 12-point double-spaced lines for easier correction and annotation. There are also other features that make the practice version better suited to classroom use:

IELTS Writing Answer Sheet (Practice Version)
Keep track of student assignments with fields for name, class, teacher, and date

IELTS Writing Answer Sheet (Practice Version)
Fully articulated scoring rubric and space for teacher feedback

Click here to download this IELTS Writing Answer Sheet

Categories
Classroom Resources Free Downloads IELTS Speaking Part 3

IELTS Speaking Part 3: 50 Practice Questions by Topic

Let’s face it, nobody looks forward to IELTS Speaking Part 3! Giving your opinion on quite unfamiliar topics is a challenge, even for a native speaker.

But remember, the examiner doesn’t care about your opinions. He or she wants to know if you can respond in English to unfamiliar questions, that’s all. Read the three hints below before you attempt to answer the questions. 


You can also download these IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions as a set of cards for classroom use.


Hints for IELTS Speaking Part 3

Hint #1: Your opinions aren’t important. How you respond is. That means you should focus your preparation on key phrases and strategies to handle difficult issues. See some examples here.

Hint #2: The examiner isn’t interested in knowing your opinion, only your English ability. If you have no opinion, try to talk about other people’s opinion on the subject instead.

Hint #3: Hesitations are very bad for your IELTS Speaking score. Use filler expressions to avoid any long silences. Our list of emergency language for IELTS speaking may help.


IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #1: Role models

  • Which type of people are respected most in your society?
  • Do you agree with this situation?
  • What happens when young people lack good role models?
  • What standards of behaviour should teachers set?
  • Do you agree that you should never meet your heroes?

IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #2: Travel and transport

  • How easy is it to travel around your country?
  • Which method of travel do you consider safest?
  • Has travel become safer in recent years?
  • What are the pros and cons of low-cost air travel?
  • How do you think people will travel in the future?

IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #3: Universities

  • Is higher education too expensive in your country?
  • Should all students pay for their university education?
  • What advantages do universities bring to society?
  • Which is more important, research or teaching?
  • How should students spend their summer vacations?

IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #4: Sports and competition

  • Why are some sports fans so passionate?
  • Is there any violence at sporting events in your country?
  • Should athletes be better role models?
  • What benefits do international sporting events bring?
  • Is it important for a country to win lots of medals?

IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #5: Leadership and politics

  • Do you think people are born to be leaders?
  • Can leadership skills be taught?
  • Why are elected politicians often so unpopular?
  • What should a leader do to remain popular?
  • Do you think unelected heads of state are a good idea?

IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #6: Life experience

  • Do you agree that we learn best from our mistakes?
  • What’s the best way to gain experience in life?
  • Can we gain life experience from books and movies?
  • Which is more important, experience or potential?
  • What experience do you wish you’d gained?

IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #7: Retirement and old age

  • At what age should people retire from work?
  • What problems can people face after retirement?
  • How important are retirees to your country’s economy?
  • When should you start saving for retirement?
  • Why do some companies encourage early retirement?

IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #8: Photography and the image

  • Is it easy to take good photographs?
  • What are the pros and cons of digital photography?
  • Should people share their photographs online?
  • When can an image be worth a thousand words?
  • Is a photograph a reliable form of identification?

IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #9: Inventions and copyright

  • Which invention has transformed your country most?
  • Would you like to be an inventor?
  • How long should someone be able to profit from an idea?
  • Do you think intellectual property laws are too strict?
  • Should all medicines be free to manufacture?

IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic #10: The internet and social media

  • Which websites are popular among your generation?
  • Is using the internet a social or solitary activity?
  • How has the internet changed social behaviour?
  • Should companies check job applicants’ online profiles?
  • What will be the next big development online?

Categories
Classroom Resources Free Downloads IELTS Speaking Part 2

IELTS Speaking Part 2: 10 Practice Questions

Afraid of IELTS Speaking Part 2? Don’t be. Try to see it as a great chance to tell a little story about your life!

As these ten practice questions show, the topics in IELTS Speaking Part 2 are always familiar. All you need to do is tell the story using the correct tense, some linking words, and a few examples of natural collocation. That’s all the examiner wants to hear!


You can download these IELTS Speaking Part 2 practice questions as a set of cards for classroom use. There is also some Useful Language for IELTS Speaking Part 2 here.


Hints for IELTS Speaking Part 2

Hint #1: Pay careful attention to the verb tenses used in the question. Appropriate use of verb tense will have a big influence on your final score.

Hint #2: Identify the main topic and try to paraphrase it at least once. Demonstrating the ability to paraphrase is also a big factor in your final score.

Hint #3: Don’t worry too much about answering every single part of the question. The main thing is to speak for two minutes on the topic suggested by the card.


IELTS Speaking Part 2 Question #1: Special person

Describe someone who has had a special influence on your life. You should say:

• Who the person is
• When you met this person
• What special qualities this person has

And explain how this person has influenced your life.


IELTS Speaking Part 2 Question #2: Memorable journey

Describe a memorable journey you have made.

You should say:
• Where you went
• How long the journey lasted
• What happened during the journey

And say if you will ever make the same journey again.


IELTS Speaking Part 2 Question #3: Study method

Describe a good study method you use.

You should say:
• What the method is
• Where you learned it
• Whether you think many other people use it

And explain why this method is effective for you.


IELTS Speaking Part 2 Question #4: Sporting event

Describe a competitive sporting event you have attended.

You should say:
• When the event was held
• What happened
• Which team or player you supported

And explain why you think the winner was successful.


IELTS Speaking Part 2 Question #5: Good leader

Describe someone you consider a good leader.

You should say:
• Who the person is
• How you know the person
• What the person’s style of leadership is like

And explain what makes this person a good leader, in your view.


IELTS Speaking Part 2 Question #6: Difficult experience

Describe a difficult experience you have had in the past.

You should say:
• What happened
• Why it was difficult
• If you were able to overcome the difficulty

And explain what you learned from the experience.


IELTS Speaking Part 2 Question #7: Future hobby

Describe a hobby you want to take up when you are much older.

You should say:
• What the hobby is
• What special equipment is needed, if any
• When you want to take it up

And explain why this is a suitable hobby for older people.


IELTS Speaking Part 2 Question #8: Favourite photograph

Describe your favourite photograph.

You should say:
• What the photo shows
• Who took it
• Where it is kept now

And explain how you feel when you look at this photo.


IELTS Speaking Part 2 Question #9: Useful tool

Describe a tool you use in your everyday life.

You should say:
• What the tool is
• What it is used for
• How often you use it

And say what you would do if you didn’t have this tool.


IELTS Speaking Part 2 Question #10: Internet business

Describe an internet business you would like to start.

You should say:
• What the business would be
• What it would involve
• How you would start it

And explain why you think the business would be successful.


Categories
Classroom Resources Free Downloads IELTS Speaking Part 1

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Practice Questions by Topic

IELTS Speaking test this weekend? Try these 50 practice questions from Part 1 first. The questions cover ten common IELTS Speaking topics and hints are also provided. 


You can also download these IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions as a set of cards for classroom use.


Hints for IELTS Speaking Part 1

Hint #1: Remember that topics in IELTS Speaking Part 1 are always about you and your culture. It is not necessary to use complex academic vocabulary or provide very long answers. It is more important to demonstrate a natural use of English and give a clear, concise answer of 2-3 sentences.

Hint #2: There are ten IELTS Speaking topics here, but in Part 1 of the actual test you will only be asked four to eight questions, usually on two different topics. These 50 practice questions are designed to get you comfortable talking about a wide range of subjects you could face in the test.

Hint #3: Try asking these questions to a native speaker to see how they respond. It doesn’t matter if they have no knowledge of IELTS. Being natural is the most important thing in IELTS Speaking Part 1.  If you need more phrases to make your speech sound natural, our Useful Language for IELTS Speaking Part 1 is a great resource.


IELTS Speaking Topic #1: You and IELTS

  • Why are you taking IELTS?
  • How many times have you taken IELTS?
  • What do you enjoy about learning English?
  • Is there anything you dislike about learning English?
  • How will you use English in future?

IELTS Speaking Topic #2: Lifestyle

  • What do you do in your free time?
  • Do you have a busy social life?
  • Do you lead an active life?
  • Has your life changed much in the last year?
  • What would you like to change about your lifestyle?

IELTS Speaking Topic #3: Family

  • How many people are there in your immediate family?
  • Who do you get on best with in your family?
  • Do you have a large extended family?
  • What do you do together with your family?
  • Why is family important to you?

IELTS Speaking Topic #4: Friends

  • Do you have a lot of friends?
  • Who is your best friend and why?
  • Who would you most like to be friends with and why?
  • What kind of person is it easy to make friends with?
  • Who are more important to you, friends or family?

IELTS Speaking Topic #5: Work

  • Do you have a job right now?
  • What did you want to be when you were a child?
  • Are there good job opportunities in your home country?
  • What job do you think you will be doing in five years?
  • What skills and qualifications are required for this job?

IELTS Speaking Topic #6: Hometown

  • Where were you born?
  • Do you consider this place your home?
  • How important is your hometown to you?
  • How many people live in your hometown?
  • What is your hometown famous for?

IELTS Speaking Topic #7: Books

  • How many books do you have at home?
  • Do you prefer to buy books or borrow them?
  • What book would you take on a long journey?
  • How easy is it to read books in English?
  • Have you given up reading a book recently?

IELTS Speaking Topic #8: Films

  • How often do you go to the cinema?
  • Are cinema tickets expensive in your country?
  • What are the advantages of seeing a film at the cinema?
  • Do you usually watch films alone or with others?
  • Which actor would you like to play you in a film?

IELTS Speaking Topic #9: Music

  • How do you listen to music?
  • Are your music tastes varied?
  • Do you like to sing along to your favourite songs?
  • Are you learning a musical instrument at the moment?
  • Is live music popular in your country?

IELTS Speaking Topic #10: Travel

  • Where was the last place you visited on holiday?
  • Would you like to go back there again?
  • What kind of tourist destination do you usually prefer?
  • Has a foreign visitor ever stayed at your home?
  • What’s the best way to save money while travelling?

Categories
Classroom Resources Study Tips Teacher Tips

Top 5 IELTS Textbooks for Classroom Use

With more than a million test-takers annually, more and more publishers are getting into the IELTS textbook market, with varying results. Choosing a coursebook for a group of students is a serious responsibility because, along with the teacher, the book may well be the most important influence on their test preparation over the following months. I’ve taught groups using all the most common IELTS textbooks, and these are the five I’ve found to be most reliable:

Focus on IELTS (New Edition) (Longman)

Focus on IELTS has long been a popular choice for teachers and it’s easy to see why. There’s a good balance between authentic Academic IELTS test items and meaningful group exercises, while the inclusion of a grammar reference guide and extra writing practice make this a solid friend for classroom use. The new edition corrects most of the mistakes in the first edition and adds more EAP elements such as critical thinking and reflective learning. One remaining drawback is the lack of a version with full answer key and scripts. Also available in a Foundation edition that introduces test practice more gradually. Rating 9/10

Objective IELTS Intermediate/Advanced (Cambridge)

One unique aspect of the Objective series is that test practice exercises are mostly written to focus students’ attention on a particular item type. There’s also an attractive presentation, discussion-led format, and strong grammar coverage throughout both books. The inclusion of test items from both the Academic and General Training modules in both books can be either a blessing or a curse depending on your teaching situation. A self-study student’s book with answer key and scripts is available for a slightly higher price, and there’s a teacher’s book with regular practice tests. Be warned: the level of questions in Objective IELTS Advanced is extremely challenging. Rating 8/10

Categories
Classroom Resources Study Tips Teacher Tips

Top 5 IELTS Textbooks for Self-study

Over the years I’ve been asked countless times which IELTS textbooks are best for independent study. For me, the main criteria are a full answer section, preferably one with explanations of answers, and an approach to the test that breaks down strategies into simple steps that learners can follow. Here are five textbooks I’ve recommended many times in the past:

Focus on Academic Skills for IELTS (Longman)

At first glance this seems to be a supplement to Focus on IELTS, but it’s actually a radically different kind of coursebook, one very well suited to self-study. Test strategies are broken down into easy-to-follow processes, and authentic test items are supplemented with directions in blue text. There’s also a full answer key. The new edition of the book includes both audio CDs and is therefore an even more complete package than the first edition. The only drawback is that it’s a little too process-oriented for classroom situations. Rating 9/10

Grammar for IELTS/Vocabulary for IELTS (Cambridge)

Vocabulary for IELTSIndependent learners will appreciate these self-study guides from Cambridge which focus on grammar and vocabulary with an academic dimension. Suitable for all low- to high-intermediate-level students. Both books come with an audio CD, which means that test-takers are activating more than just their reading and writing skills. Of course, it is ideal if these books can be supplemented with opportunities for spoken output such as a group lesson or study buddy. Rating 8/10

Categories
Classroom Resources Free Downloads IELTS Speaking Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Practice Tests

IELTS Speaking Practice Test 2: Work

Do you have a job right now? Try this IELTS Speaking practice test with a partner. You can also download a PDF of this IELTS speaking practice test for classroom use.


IELTS Speaking Part 1: Interview (4-5 minutes)

Answer the following questions about your personal habits and preferences.

Do you have a job right now?

What kind of work would you like to do in the future?

What qualifications are required for this job?

How many hours would you like to work each week?

Do you consider it important to have a career?


IELTS Speaking Part 2: Individual long-turn (3-4 minutes)

You have 1 minute to read the instructions in the box and prepare an answer. You can make notes. After your preparation time has ended, please speak for 1 to 2 minutes on this topic.

Describe a job that you consider highly important

You should say:

what the job is

what the job involves

why it is important

and explain if people who do this job are appreciated enough by society


Follow-up question: Would you consider doing this job yourself?


IELTS Speaking Part 3: Discussion (4-5 minutes)

Let’s talk about some issues related to work. Support your opinion with relevant examples and make comparisons where possible.

Jobs in your country

What jobs are most popular among young people these days?

Are there enough jobs for people who want to do this kind of work?

Is it easier to change jobs now than in the past?

Careers

Do people usually choose the right career?

Is it a good idea to leave a secure job in order to pursue a dream?

What career advice should be given to young people?


Categories
Classroom Resources Free Downloads IELTS Speaking Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Practice Tests

IELTS Speaking Practice Test 1: Childhood

What kind of child were you? Try this IELTS speaking practice test with a partner. You can also download a PDF of this IELTS speaking practice test for classroom use.


IELTS Speaking Part 1: Interview (4-5 minutes)

Answer the following questions about your personal habits and preferences.

Where did you grow up?

Was that a good place to grow up?

What do you remember most about growing up?

What kind of child were you?

Did you ever get into trouble at home or school?

Do you miss anything about your childhood?


IELTS Speaking Part 2: Individual long-turn (3-4 minutes)

You have 1 minute to read the instructions in the box and prepare an answer. You can make notes. After your preparation time has ended, please speak for 1 to 2 minutes on this topic.

Describe your best friend during childhood.

You should say:

who the person was

why you became friends

what you used to do together

and explain if you keep in touch with your friend now.


Follow-up question: Would you like to go back to your childhood?


IELTS Speaking Part 3: Discussion (4-5 minutes)

Answer these questions about childhood. Support your opinion with relevant examples and make comparisons where possible.

Childhood friends

Do children find it easy to make friends?

Why do some people grow apart from their childhood friends?

Is it better for children to have a few close friends, or many?

Childhood changes

Has the image of childhood changed in your country?

At what age do children become adults?

Do you think children should be treated the same as adults?