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IELTS Speaking | 8 Question Types You Must Prepare For — Transcript

by English Pro Tips - IELTS Preparation · 3,466 words · 523 segments · language en · Watch on YouTube

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0:00What questions will I get in the IELTS
0:02test? This is one of the most common
0:04things that students ask me. The problem
0:06is that there are hundreds of possible
0:08topics. So, trying to prepare an answer
0:10for every question is almost impossible.
0:13But, here's the good news. Although the
0:15topics change, the question types repeat
0:18again and again. Once you learn how to
0:21recognize these common question types,
0:23answering becomes [music] much easier.
0:26In this lesson, I'm going to show you
0:27the eight question types you should
0:30prepare before your IELTS speaking
0:32[music] test. For each one, I'll teach
0:34you vocabulary that you can use across a
0:36range of different topics and give you a
0:39natural model answer. This isn't about
0:42memorizing scripts. It's about building
0:44a set of reliable tools that will help
0:47you answer unfamiliar questions
0:49confidently and naturally. My name
0:51[music] is Eli and I was IELTS examiner
0:53for many years. I now put all of my best
0:56tips and advice in my IELTS courses.
0:58[music] My IELTS courses have already
1:00helped thousands of students achieve
1:02their desired IELTS score, and you can
1:03start them all for free at
1:06englishprotips.com.
1:07Let's get started. Do you like? What's
1:10your favorite? Do you prefer? One of the
1:12most common question types in IELTS
1:14speaking is about your preferences. The
1:17examiner might ask, "Do you like
1:19cooking? What's your favorite season? Do
1:22you prefer tea or coffee?" The good news
1:25is that all of these questions require
1:28very similar language. So, instead of
1:31preparing answers for hundreds of
1:33different topics, learn a few useful
1:35expressions that you can use almost
1:38anywhere. For example, instead of simply
1:40saying, "I like," try saying, "I'd have
1:43to say." For example, I'd have to say
1:45Italian food is probably my favorite
1:48because it's delicious and there are so
1:50many different dishes to choose from.
1:52This expression works brilliantly
1:54whenever you're talking about your
1:56favorite things. You can also replace I
1:58like with I'm quite keen on. For
2:01example, I'm quite keen on hiking
2:03because it's a great way to unwind and
2:06get some fresh air. This sounds much
2:08more natural than simply repeating I
2:10like again and again. When the examiner
2:13asks you to choose between two things
2:15like coffee or tea, don't just say
2:17coffee. Instead, say I personally
2:20prefer.
2:21For example, I personally prefer coffee
2:23because it helps me to wake up in the
2:25morning. Finally, a great way to explain
2:28your preferences what I like most about
2:31it is. For example, what I like most
2:34about hiking is that I can spend time
2:36with my friends while I'm doing it.
2:39Again, this expression works with almost
2:41any topic. Let's put it all together.
2:44>> Do you like cooking?
2:46>> I'm quite keen on cooking, to be honest.
2:48What I like most about it is that it's a
2:50great way to switch off after work. I
2:53know a lot of people like eating out,
2:54but I personally prefer home cooking
2:56because it's much healthier and much
2:58cheaper as well. Notice that I never
3:00said I like I like I like. Instead, I
3:03use several different expressions that
3:05you can also reuse in dozens of
3:07different IELTS topics. If you really
3:09want to improve your IELTS answers, what
3:11I suggest is that after this video, you
3:13go to the lesson in the description, do
3:15the quizzes, and then write your own
3:18answer for this question. Try to use at
3:21least two of today's expressions in your
3:24answer. You'll get feedback on your
3:26answer and a corrected version to help
3:28you study. Remember, guys, practice
3:30makes perfect. You can get all this and
3:33more at englishprotips.com.
3:36Another very common question type in
3:37IELTS speaking is about your habits and
3:40routines. The examiner might ask, "How
3:43often do you cook? Do you usually
3:46exercise? Or do you often go to the
3:49cinema?" Once again, instead of
3:51preparing answers for hundreds of
3:53different topics, learn a few useful
3:55expressions that you can use almost
3:58anywhere. Instead of saying
4:00every week or sometimes, try saying on a
4:04regular basis. For example, I go to the
4:07gym on a regular basis because it helps
4:09me to stay healthy. This expression
4:12works for almost any hobby or routine.
4:14Another useful expression is whenever I
4:17get the chance. For example, whenever I
4:19get the chance, I like to go hiking with
4:22my friends. This shows that you enjoy
4:25doing something even if you don't have
4:27the opportunity very often. If you don't
4:30do something very often, instead of
4:31saying not much or not often, try saying
4:35every once in a while. For example, I
4:38eat out every once in a while, but I
4:41usually prefer cooking at home. Finally,
4:44if you want to say that you do something
4:46very rarely, try using hardly ever. For
4:50example, I hardly ever watch television
4:52these days because I usually prefer
4:54reading or listening to podcasts.
4:56Let's put it all together. How often do
4:58you go to the cinema? To be honest, I
5:01only get to go every once in a while
5:03because I'm usually quite busy with
5:04work. Having said that, whenever I get
5:07the chance, I really enjoy going with my
5:09girlfriend because I love discussing the
5:11movie afterwards with her. However, we
5:13hardly ever have the same opinion on
5:15films because our tastes are so
5:17different. Notice how many phrases I
5:19showed the examiner for describing
5:21frequency. Every once in a while,
5:24whenever I get the chance, and hardly
5:27ever. This shows the examiner that I
5:29have a wide range of vocabulary, which
5:33helps me to get a higher score for
5:34lexical resource. In the IELTS test,
5:37examiners love to ask about your past
5:40experiences. Did you enjoy reading as a
5:43child? Have you ever been to a live
5:45concert? Or when was the last time you
5:47traveled by taxi? Let's learn some
5:50useful phrases that you can use for
5:52talking about the past. One of the most
5:55useful expressions is I used to. For
5:58example, I used to play football every
6:00weekend, but I don't really have time
6:02these days. This is a great way to talk
6:04about habits that have changed over
6:06time. Another useful expression is the
6:09last time I For example, the last time I
6:12went to the cinema was a few weeks ago
6:14when some friends invited me to watch
6:16the latest Mission Impossible film. Now,
6:19if the examiner asks, "Have you ever?" a
6:21great expression is I've only once. For
6:26example, I've only been scuba diving
6:28once, but I'd definitely love to do it
6:30again. Finally, if something has never
6:32happened, instead of just saying, "No."
6:34try saying, "I've never really For
6:37example, I've never really enjoyed
6:39running because I've always preferred
6:41team sports." Let's put it all together.
6:43>> Did you play any team sports when you
6:46were younger?
6:47>> Yeah, I used to play for my school
6:50football team. However, the last time I
6:52played was probably around 5 years ago
6:54at a friend's birthday. To be honest,
6:56since then, I've only really been into
6:58individual sports like climbing because
7:00I can fit them around my schedule.
7:02Notice that I didn't just answer, "Yes,
7:04I did." Instead, I talked about the past
7:06using used to, and then I compared it to
7:09the present and how nowadays I do more
7:11climbing. Comparing the past and present
7:14is a great way to extend your answers
7:17when you get asked questions about the
7:20past. If you want to practice this, then
7:22go to the lesson below where you can
7:24download the PDF, do quizzes, and even
7:26get AI feedback on your writing. What
7:29I'd recommend is to first watch the
7:31video until the end, then do the quizzes
7:34one by one, and then write your own
7:37answers and get AI feedback. Finally,
7:40the next day, review the PDF and write
7:43your answers to these questions. Again,
7:46this spaced repetition is what really
7:49helps you to learn. Remember, you can
7:51start all of my IELTS courses for free
7:54at englishprotips.com.
7:56Another very common question type in
7:58IELTS speaking is about the future. The
8:01examiner might ask, "Would you like to
8:03learn another language? Do you think
8:05you'll move house one day? Are you
8:08planning to travel anywhere soon?"
8:10Instead of always saying, "I want to,"
8:13try saying, "I'd love to." For example,
8:15"I'd love to visit Japan one day because
8:18I've always been fascinated by the
8:20culture." This sounds much more natural
8:22and enthusiastic. Another useful
8:25expression is, "I'm hoping to." For
8:27example, "I'm hoping to learn Spanish
8:29over the next couple of years because I
8:31travel there quite a lot." This is a
8:33great way to talk about something you'd
8:35like to achieve in the future. If you're
8:38already thinking seriously about doing
8:40something, try saying, "I'm planning
8:42to." For example, "I'm planning to buy
8:45my first house in the next few years."
8:47Also, if you want to say that you don't
8:49expect something to change anytime soon,
8:52you can use the expression "for the
8:55foreseeable future." For example, "For
8:58the foreseeable future, I think I'll
9:00continue working from home." Finally, if
9:03you're thinking about something that
9:04isn't a definite plan, you can say, "at
9:07some point." For example, "at some
9:10point, I'd like to start my own
9:12business." This sounds much more natural
9:14than simply saying, "one day." Let's put
9:16it all together. "Would you like to
9:18learn another language?" "Yeah, I'd love
9:21to, actually. I'm hoping to learn
9:23Spanish because I travel there quite a
9:25lot. I'm planning to take some online
9:27lessons after this year. For the
9:29foreseeable future, though, I think I'll
9:31probably keep learning online because it
9:33fits around my work. At some point, I'd
9:36also like to spend a few months living
9:38in Spain so I can become more fluent.
9:40Notice how my answer moves through
9:42different levels of certainty. I'd love
9:45to expresses a wish. I'm hoping to
9:47expresses an intention. I'm planning to
9:50describes a concrete plan for this
9:53foreseeable future explains what I
9:56expect to happen over the next few
9:58months or years. Finally, at some point
10:02introduces my long-term goal. Learning
10:05to express these different levels of
10:07certainty will help you give much more
10:09natural answers in your IELTS test. When
10:12you're writing your own answer to this
10:14question, see if you can follow the
10:16structures of my answer. Practice using
10:19I'd love to, I'm hoping to, I'm planning
10:22to, foreseeable future, and at some
10:25point. Remember, the more time that you
10:27spend practicing these phrases now in
10:30your preparation time, the more natural
10:32you'll be able to use these phrases in
10:34your real IELTS test. Within the IELTS
10:37test, you are guaranteed to get a
10:39question asking you to describe
10:42something. The examiner might ask,
10:44"What's your hometown like? Can you
10:46describe the area where you live? How
10:48would you describe your favorite
10:51teacher?" Instead of relying on simple
10:53adjectives like nice, good, or
10:55interesting, try learning a few
10:57expressions that help you give fuller,
10:59more natural descriptions. A really,
11:02really useful pattern is it's the kind
11:05of. For example, if you're describing a
11:07place, you can say, "It's the kind of
11:09place where everybody knows each other."
11:11If you're describing a person, you can
11:13say, "She's the kind of person who
11:15always puts other people first." If
11:18you're describing a hobby, you can say,
11:20"It's the kind of hobby that helps you
11:22switch off after a busy day." Rather
11:25than memorizing a different phrase for
11:27every topic, simply change the noun,
11:30place, person, hobby, school, film, or
11:33tradition, and then choose where, who,
11:37or that, depending on what you're
11:39describing. Another useful expression
11:42is, "What I like most about it is." For
11:45example, "What I like most about it is
11:47how peaceful it is." This helps you
11:49explain the best feature of something
11:51rather than simply listing adjectives.
11:54You can also use, "One thing that stands
11:57out is." For example, "One thing that
11:59stands out is the incredible
12:01architecture." This is a natural way to
12:04highlight the most memorable aspect of a
12:06place or a person. Finally, if you want
12:08to add a little balance to your answer,
12:10try saying, "Having said that." For
12:13example, "Having said that, it can get
12:15quite crowded during the summertime."
12:18This shows that you're able to describe
12:20both the positive and negative aspects
12:23of something. Let's put it all together.
12:25Tell me about your best friend. Well,
12:29actually, I've got lots of very close
12:31friends rather than one specific best
12:33friend, but I consider my friend Kat to
12:36be one of my best friends. We've known
12:37each other for years, and we get on very
12:39well. She's the type of person who
12:41always puts other people first, and what
12:44I've always liked most about her is how
12:46she looks out for those around her. One
12:48thing that stands out is how many of our
12:50mutual friends go to her when they're
12:52having a difficult time. Having said
12:54that, she can be a little bit stubborn
12:56at times, but I think that's just part
12:58of her personality. Notice how my answer
13:00becomes more detailed one idea at a
13:03time. I started by naturally qualifying
13:06the question instead of pretending I
13:08only have one best friend. Then I used,
13:11"She's the type of person who" to give a
13:14general description, a pattern you can
13:16easily adapt for other IELTS topics by
13:19changing the noun. Next, "What I like
13:22about her is" highlights my favorite
13:25quality, while one thing that stands out
13:29draws attention to her most distinctive
13:31characteristic. Finally, having said
13:34that adds a contrasting idea making the
13:37description sound more developed and
13:39balanced. IELTS examiners love you to
13:42compare things. They often ask questions
13:44like, is your hometown the same now as
13:47it was when you were growing up? Do you
13:49prefer living in the city or the
13:51countryside? Are paper books better than
13:54ebooks? Instead of simply saying A is
13:56better than B, try learning a few
13:58expressions that help you make more
14:01balanced comparisons. A really useful
14:04one is compared to. For example,
14:06compared to London, Edinburgh feels much
14:09more relaxed. This is a natural way to
14:11introduce a comparison. Another useful
14:13expression is while. For example, I
14:16enjoy going to the cinema while my
14:19brother prefers watching films at home.
14:21This [clears throat] helps you compare
14:23two people or ideas in the same
14:25sentence. You can also use on the other
14:27hand. For example, living in the
14:29countryside is much quieter. On the
14:31other hand, there aren't as many job
14:33opportunities. This is a great way to
14:36acknowledge both sides of an argument.
14:38Finally, if there isn't one clear
14:40answer, try saying it comes down to. For
14:44example, I think it comes down to
14:46personal preference. This shows that
14:48you're considering different
14:49perspectives rather than giving an
14:51overly simple answer. Let's put it all
14:54together.
14:55>> Do you prefer living in the city or the
14:58countryside? I'd probably say the city.
15:01Compared to the countryside, there's a
15:03lot more to do, especially in the
15:05evenings. While the countryside is
15:06definitely quieter and more peaceful, I
15:09enjoy having restaurants, cafes, and
15:11public transport right on my doorstep.
15:14On the other hand, if I wanted a slower
15:16pace of life, the countryside would
15:18probably be the better choice. So, I
15:20think it really comes down to what stage
15:23of life you're in and what you're
15:24looking for. Notice how I didn't simply
15:26say I prefer the city. Instead, I
15:29compared the two options from several
15:31different angles. Compared to introduce
15:34the comparison, while highlighted the
15:37main differences, and on the other hand
15:40showed that I could also recognize the
15:43advantages of the opposite position.
15:46Finally, it comes down to explains that
15:49that isn't one objectively correct
15:52answer. It depends on the situation.
15:54This kind of balanced comparison sounds
15:57much more thoughtful and natural than
15:59simply saying one thing is better than
16:02another. In general, part one questions
16:04are usually about your experiences and
16:06part three is more about your opinions.
16:08However, sometimes you still get asked
16:10part one questions that ask for your
16:13opinion. The examiner might ask, "Do you
16:15think children should have homework? Do
16:17you think your hometown is a good place
16:20for younger people? Do you think it's
16:22important to learn history?" Instead of
16:24simply saying I think over and over
16:26again, try learning a few more natural
16:29ways to express your opinion. A really
16:32useful expression is, "I'd say." For
16:35example, "I'd say reading is one of the
16:37best ways to relax." This sounds much
16:40more conversational than simply saying,
16:42"I think." Another useful expression is,
16:44"Personally, I think." For example,
16:46"Personally, I think public transport
16:49should be cheaper." This makes it clear
16:51that you're giving your own view rather
16:53than stating a fact. Finally, if your
16:55opinion isn't completely certain, try
16:57saying, "I guess." For example, "I guess
17:00it depends on the individual." This
17:03shows that you're willing to acknowledge
17:05some uncertainty rather than giving an
17:08overly confident answer. Let's put it
17:10all together. Do you think it's
17:11important to learn history? I'd say it
17:15is. Personally, I think learning about
17:17the past helps us to understand why the
17:20world is the way it is today. History
17:22teaches us valuable lessons that can
17:24help us avoid making the same mistakes
17:26again. Having said that, I guess it also
17:29depends on how it's taught because it
17:31can be quite boring if students are only
17:33expected to memorize dates. Notice how I
17:36expressed my opinion in several
17:38different ways instead of repeatedly
17:40saying, "I think." I'd say introduced my
17:42overall point of view. Personally, I
17:45think made it clear I was giving my own
17:47opinion and I guess softened my final
17:50point to show that my opinion wasn't
17:52absolute. Varying the way you express
17:55your opinions will make your answer
17:56sound much more natural and engaging.
18:00The final question type you need to
18:02prepare for is the follow-up question.
18:05In part one, almost any question can be
18:08followed by a simple
18:10why. For example, the examiner might
18:12ask, "Do you enjoy reading?" You will
18:15answer and then the examiner asks,
18:17"Why?" Examiners often use these short
18:20follow-up questions to encourage you to
18:22develop your answer and to make sure
18:24part one lasts for the correct amount of
18:27time. So, even if your first answer
18:30feels complete, always be prepared to
18:32explain it further. A really useful
18:34expression is, "The main reason is
18:37that." For example, "The main reason is
18:39that reading helps me switch off after
18:41work." This gives a clear and direct
18:44explanation. As another useful phrase
18:47is, "I think it's mainly because." For
18:49example, "I think it's mainly because
18:51reading forces you to focus on the
18:53story." This sounds natural and less
18:56formal. You can also say, "It's probably
18:58down to." For example, "It probably
19:00comes down to the fact that I've always
19:02had a vivid imagination." This is useful
19:05when there isn't one simple reason.
19:07Let's watch. Do you enjoy reading? Yeah,
19:10I do. I tend to read most evenings
19:12before I go to bed.
19:14>> Why?
19:15>> I think it's mainly because reading
19:16helps me switch off and forget about
19:19work for a while. It probably also comes
19:21down to habit because I've been reading
19:23before bed for many years.
19:25>> Notice that the follow-up question was
19:26only one word, why? However, it gave me
19:30an opportunity to extend my answer
19:32naturally.
19:33>> I think it's mainly because introduced
19:35my main explanation while it probably
19:39also comes down to allowed me to add a
19:41second reason.
19:43>> You don't need to prepare a separate
19:44answer for every possible why question.
19:46Instead, practice giving a clear reason
19:49and when possible adding a second
19:52explanation or a brief example. Most
19:54importantly, don't panic when the
19:57examiner asks another question. It
19:59doesn't mean your first answer was
20:01wrong. They may simply want you to say a
20:03little more or need to keep part one
20:06running for the required amount of time.
20:08At this stage, what I would recommend is
20:10to go to the lesson, do all the quizzes,
20:12and write your own answer for these
20:14questions. Then download the PDF and
20:17review the vocabulary again tomorrow. If
20:20you have time, it's a good idea to write
20:22your answers again. Remember, you can
20:24return to this lesson again and again.
20:27Spaced repetition is the best way to
20:30learn new vocabulary. The more time you
20:32take to practice this language now, the
20:34more naturally it will come to you in
20:37your exam. Thank you so much for being
20:39in this lesson with me. Best of luck
20:41with all of your studies, and I'll see
20:43you in the next lesson. Bye now.

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