IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a film

A student asked me this question:

"If the question asks me to describe a film, can I ask for a different question because I don't like films and I never watch them?"

Here's my answer:

If the part 2 question is about something you don't like, you should try your best. The examiner is not allowed to change the task card.

You probably have family, children or friends who watch films. You could say: "I don't really like watching films, but my children love watching ....." Then describe the film that your children like, say why they like it, and explain why you think it's a nice film for children.

Choose a film now so that you are ready for this question. Search for a review of the film on Amazon. Write down the ideas you find, and practise with a friend.

Comments

[deepika]

hi my friends, i wanna make a request.If somebody really wish to practise speaking topics via skype it would be nice and benefecial for both parties,Zarin and I experienced this recently.we shared our information with each other.I wish to face my IELTS exam 29th of this month.I got band 7 for speaking in first attempt.IF ANYBODY REALLY WANT TO REFINE SPEAKING ABILITY PLEASE CONTACT ME. MY SKYPE ID IS sweet.sanju1

[mydream]

Hi Simon, I have found your blog for just one day. I really love your blog, and I will, of course, read your post every day and as much as I can. Before I found your blog, I had searched for the "magic formula" in many books, sites, and blog. Obviously, I failed, so I felt sad. But now I am sure that all I have to do is to work hard and believe in myself. At present, my English, especially my writing, is bad, but I will try my best to make my dream come true (I'm dream of getting a band 9 in writing and band 8 in speaking :d) and I think I will be studying and preparing for the test in one year.
Plus, I want to thank you for your advices about the differences between knowing the meaning of words and phrases and using them. I have been reading a lot of books and magazines, I have a lot of ideas but I can not write just one essays, I even don't know whether the words which I want to use in the essays is academic words or not . But now I realize that I must analyze some the phrases I read, looking up the words in a good dictionary until I can use them accurately.
I have one question, when I read the book "Essay writing for English tests" of Gabi duigu, an ex-examiner, she said "The series Firstly...secondly...thirdly...finally...in conclusion at the beginning of consecutive paragraphs reflects a lazy mind". To what extent do you agree or disagree :d
and what do you think a bout this sentence "Education has become an important thing in the last few decades". In this book, she wrote that a student who writes like this is not showing much intelligent????(I think she meant formulaic and thoughtless writing).
It is just my question, I don't want to make a comparison among the opinions of examiners and do not mean to be rude
Thank you, I really love your blog.

[shahla]

Hi simon
I want to thank you for this wonderful site .My exam is tomorrow and i will use your advices definitely ,please wish me luck Thankyou.
Hi Deepika you are doing the right job, its too late for me to join you now(i wish i do this earlier), but this will enhances the speaking skill for sure. Keep it up.

[kani]

There are various movies released every week either it be hollywood or bollywood in my country.But here i would like to talk about a hollywood movie BRAVEHEART. I saw this movie with my friends at my place.It's a epic historical drama directed by and starring Mel Gibson.He portrays Sir William Wellace,a 13th century scottish knight who gained recognisation when he came to the forefront of Firstwar of scottish independence by opposing King Edward I of england known as Long shanks because of his long nose.
I just love the whole concept of movie as you were always connected to the movie.It's not only a action thriller but it covers huge emotional moments which actually makes me fall in love with Wellace portrayed by Gibson(Kidding).The film ends with Mel Gibson's voice intoning that scottish won their freedom in this battle.
I think the movie depicts scottish history in a amazing manner and i was completely mesmerised by it.That's why this flick has won various national awards.SO,it is a complete,unique and must watch movie once in lifetime.

[kani]

hi sahala
GOOD LUCK for your exam and do share your test with us.
regards
kani

[Simon]

Great idea Deepika. I hope other students get involved.

...

Hi Mydream,

Thanks for your message - it shows real understanding of my advice and the way I'm trying to help students to learn.

About the "Firstly, Secondly, Finally" thing. I agree that it's best not to begin paragraphs in that way. I use "Firstly, Secondly, Finally" to organise ideas within a paragraph. Although it's a simple way of organising ideas, I think it can be extremely useful in exam conditions. It certainly won't affect your score if you use these words because your score really depends on the 'topic ideas' that you use, rather than the organisational words/phrases that you choose.

I also agree that the sentence "Education has become an important thing in the last few decades" is a bit 'thoughtless'. To write a good essay, you need to explain ideas in detail, and many students fail to go deeply enough into the topic. At the same time, IELTS is a language test rather than an intelligence test, so it is possible to get a good score even if some of your ideas aren't fully developed.

Hope this helps

...

Good luck tomorrow Shahla!

...

Good film choice Kani!

[Vir]

Hi Simon, I got my IELTS results few days ago and I thought I should thank you for the help that I got from your blog. I got 9, 9, 7.5, 8 and an overall band of 8.5. Writing section was my biggest weakness and I got through that using your advise on writing essays which are really simple to use.

I did actually use that "Firstly, secondly, Finally" format along with giving both sides of arguments (I found them easy to write as opposed to giving only one side). Also your 4 paragraph format is awesome because it really saves a lot of time in exam condition as you don't have to think much for writing first and last paragraphs.

I am really glad that I found your blog online and just a week of practice got me 7.5.
Thanks again.

[deepika]

i wish you all the best shahla and Zarin.Tomorrow is going to the best day in your life.God bless you both of you

[reema]

Wish u all the best shahla and zarin.

Congratulation vir you must be over the moon after getting your result.

Hi deepika hope u r doing well. If u don't mind can i ask u where r u going to take exam plz?

[DEEPIKA]

hi reema i am taking my exam in COLOMBO .SRI LANKA

[shahla]

A big THANKYOU for wishing me on my exam Simon, Kani, Deepika and Reema.
I will share the questions tomorrow. thanks again.

[DEEPIKA]

I have been watching more movies in central theater my home town since my teenage age.Among those movies i would love to memorize heart felt romantic dialogues from Titanic movie.It is an American epic romance and as well as disaster film which directed by James Cameron.It is fictionalized account of sinking great Titanic ship.Leonardo and Kate gave birth to immortal characters as Jack and Rose who fell in love aboard the ship during its ill-fated maiden voyage.Actually they were from different social classes.

Cameron inspired with the passionate of shipwrecks.I believe he tried to convey emotional message of the tragedy.I love this movie because it was full of paramount pictures which were cauciously captured.The sinking scene was the hardest part of the film could not put up with.Aithough it was supported by computer generated imaginary my heart didnot ready to accept as it imaginary.That much of intense feeling hide me from reality.And i believe this is a one of digital domain of movie history.

The film was very success commercialy with an unpresidanted box office performance and it was credited as the love story stole the world's hearts.Uncontrollable flood of tears sank me in deepest place of my heart with staying silent after experiencing this movie.This was a glorious hollywood epic which captivated almost all hearts without any gender gap.

Titanic was the greatest disaster movie ever made.The romance and emotionally charged aspects of the film were the outstanding capturing when movie produce.It's enormous emotive power was the key gate for every sensitive hearts for lamenting.Such purified movie with best romantic emotions really changed my attitudes towards sacrifice of love.While hypothermia caused death for a lovely one it was the great monumental theory for a true heart.Titanic as having generated such non stoppable tears it is the immortal sharing on love in this Earth

[DEEPIKA]

hi friends i picked some words from wikipedia.you can try it too

[reema]

Thanks deepika.

[Martin]

Hi Simon,

Great advice that "IELTS is a language test rather than an intelligence test, so it is possible to get a good score even if some of your ideas aren't fully developed."

I know you've already said that thousands of times, and I hope students can somehow keep it in mind all the time and not be bothered or influenced by some of the "unusual" questions from IELTS.

As always, thanks for your continued help and support to students from all over the world.

Regards,
Martin

[Simon]

Hi Vir,

Congratulations on getting such good scores! I'm really pleased that you found my advice helpful. Good luck with whatever you do next!

...

Thanks again Martin.

Note to students: please read Martin's comments!

[Dung]

Dear Simon,
When we talk about a film or a book that we find it interersting, should we use present tense or past tense???
Thank you very much!!!

[samah]

thank you very much indeed simon for this website,,,,,,my exam on 16th of june,,,,,,,,

[Rupinder kaur]

Hi there,

Today is my first day on your blog I am having my exam on first week of September And I have already give my exam perhaps. Now, I am taking coaching from British counsel the institute for ielts but i still need some more guidance related to reading module can anyone help me please. I am not able to get answers in reading module what will be the exact way to get the best result in reading. Rest I need to know about writing though.

Thanks
Rupinder