IELTS Speaking Part 1: five simple rules

Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking test is supposed to be easy. You don't need to give 'difficult' answers, and you should try to avoid making mistakes.

Here are five simple rules for Speaking Part 1:

1. Keep your answers short, then stop with confidence.
2. Answer the questions using full sentences.
3. Use words from the examiner's question in your answer.
4. If possible, give a reason for your answer.
5. Don't forget to say "yes" or "no" when necessary.

Here's an example to illustrate these points:

Do you like parks?

Yes, I like parks because they are great places to relax. If you live in a city, a park is often the only place where you can escape from the noise and the traffic.

Comments

[jawairia]

Hi Simon,
can we say
I like parks because they are great relaxing place
Thanks

[katia]

listeing 7.5

reading 7.5

writing 7

speaking 8

this is my result!!!! it's your merit simon!!! thank you!!! keep doing this! it's awesome!!!!!
thanks thanks thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chris A.]

Hey Simon. Just Stopped By To Give You My Results

Listening: 7.5
Reading: 7.5
Writing: 6.5
Speaking: 7.0
Overall: 7.0

I Give You All The Credit. Your Site Is Fucking Amazing. Keep On Doing Your Daily Lessons. Working With Your Site For 2 Month Helped Me Improving My Grade By 1.
Thanks Again. I Wish You All The Best.

Chris A.

[Cena]

Hi Simon

I was wondering why READING in General Training is so tricky . I was sure that I answered all the questions and I remembered what I did but unfortunately I got 6 in READING . I became too frustrated and I dont know what I have to do .

[Herbert Appleby]

Hello Simon,

I am looking for some advice on weather to appeal the decision made on my test. I am English, born in Hammersmith and have always had poor writing skills. I need to score eight and above to get the points for an Australian VISA. I got 8.5 listening, 9 reading, 7.5 writing and 8.5 speaking for the most recent results. I have done the tests three times now and my writing has let me down with 6.5, 6.5 and 7.5 after studying your pdfs and here http://www.writingcentre.uottawa.ca/hypergrammar/ helped me with the incomplete sentences I was in the habit of writing. My spelling is also sporadic (some days good other days bad). I was writing an essay a day for two weeks but I was struggling to do a good one in the 40 mins the exam gives. I'm sure my essay could be an eight with a lenient marker. Why would I have lost half a point? Can you tell the difference between 7.5 and 8?

Thank you
Herbert

[w.Kadir]

Hi Dear
I am studying English Language in university language centre of Manchester (ULC) and I am going to take the Ielts exam in 21.01.2012 .I have been studying for this exam from 1 month ago but I need more time to improve my skills.before attendance in your class I want to practice and read more about Ielts.How can I prepare myself? Will you have writing course in January?I want to attendant in your writing class before my exam.
with regards

[daniel luo]

Hi Simon,

I got my result
Listening 7.0
Reading 6.5
Writing 5.0
Speaking 5.5

I found your website too late and I only studied your website for a week.
Can you give me some tips to improve my speaking and writing? please.

Best Regards

[bobur]

hi, Katia
well done!!! I wish I had a result as you have...
I was wondering if you could possibly share your experience and impressions. My face book account is bob.uz1101@facebook.com...

[daniel luo]

Hi Katia,
Please share your success with me as well, particularly in Speaking and writing. My email address: daniel.luo88@hotmail.com

[katia]

Hi Guys! I hop e my tips can help you.

1) in the first part of you preparation don't consider the time. Just focus on developing a good strategy!

2) speaking: i have an english friend i talked to almost everyday. Plus I followed simon's suggestion: i prepared some basic topic such as a description of a city, a book i read, an advertisement to be used in different question (be smart on that!). For example: you can use the description of the book to describe a movie! :D Then i downloaded simon's lesson and highlighted for each of them good vocabulary..

3) writing: First of all study how to structure your essay (this website is awesome!) and write, write, write. At the beginning is a good idea to read simon's sample essay to learn some good words. Then after few weeks you will be able to write full essay. I had a notepad where i wrote down all the good words and structure to be used (inversion, passive form, conditional...). For the second part the e-book of simon is really helpful!

[katia]

4) listening: ted website is extremely important! You can practice your listening and learn good vocabulary about topic (for example obesity!). I used to watch one video per day (they are short! around 20 min) and write down good expressions!

5) reading: do one reading per day. I found this website http://www.time.com/time/. They have article about everything!

I really hope it can help you! This website is the key to the success in this exam! :D

Good luck!!!and thanks simon!

[Mh]

Hi Herbert Appleby

I would be glad if you shared your success in writing and reading.
(student.ielts@gmail.com)
Many thanks

[Simon]

Hi Jawairia,

You can say:
- they are relaxing places
- they are great places to relax

...

Congratulations Katia and Chris A!

I'm glad the site helped you to get the scores you wanted. Well done!

...

Hi Cena,

Reading is very tricky in both the general and academic tests. I'm afraid I can't explain why you only got a 6, but my advice is to keep practising. Don't give up!

...

Hi Herbert,

It's difficult to explain the exact difference between 7.5 and 8 because it depends on 4 different areas: task response, coherence, vocabulary and grammar. Native English speakers tend to use good vocabulary and correct grammar, but they sometimes lose marks for task response and coherence - not answering the question in enough detail, or not developing ideas in an organised, logical way.

It won't do any harm to appeal. I'd give it a try if I were you. If you still don't get an 8, try to find someone who can check one or two of your essays to see what can be improved. One of my colleagues can help with that if you need it:
http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2011/10/essay-correction.html

...

Hi w.Kadir,

Just email me (ieltssimon@gmail.com) and I'll give you some information about my courses in Manchester.

...

Hi Daniel,

You just need to keep practising. You did well after only studying for one week, so let's see what happens if you study for a few months!

...

Hi Katia,

Thanks for sharing your tips. Really great advice!
...

Hi Mh,

Have a look at Katia's tips. Herbert was born in England, so that's why he got such high scores!

[Attou]

Hello Simon

I take ielts today , I am very happy because of your help
Believe me I don't forget you at all, every day I will remember you and I say for god to save you because you benefit the people.
You are good person not only because I take ielts I say that. I say that
because this is fact.

Thank you Simon

[Simon]

Thanks Attou. I wish you the best of luck!

[begüm]

Hi Simon,my exam will be 7th of January. Iwant to take at least 6. I can take 6.5 from listening and 6 from reading and writing. How can I take 6 from speaking? I am afraid of this part:(

[Simon]

Hi Begum,

The main thing is to speak with confidence and answer the questions in a 'natural' way. Don't worry about grammar or using 'difficult' words - just try to answer the questions and explain your ideas as best you can.

Good luck on the 7th!

[ALI AL-KHAYYAT]

PLEASE HELP ME IN READING SECTION I CAN ANSWER 15 QUESTION OUT OF 40 BUT I HAVE TO ANSWER AT LEAST 20 QUESTION TO ENROLL IN A COLLEGE PLEASE HELP ME I RELY ON YOU IN THAT ISSUE
ALI AL-KHAYYAT

[aliza]

can we make some notes in paper before speaking test?