Many students worry too much about grammar. For speaking parts 2 and 3, it's more important to worry about the quality of your answers. The best way to improve the quality of your answers is by adding detail.
Example:
Describe your best friend. Say when you met him/her.
Short answer about when we met:
I met my best friend at school when I was 11 years old.
Detailed answer about when we met:
I met my best friend at school when I was 11 years old, so we've known each other for ... years. I remember we sat next to each other in my first science lesson at secondary school, and we had to work together to do an experiment. We got on straight away, and we've been friends ever since.
Notice that by adding more information I've also used more/better vocabulary and grammar.
very helpful.
thanks simon
Posted by: musharaf | Friday, July 27, 2012 at 13:35
Dear simon,
I remember that i had post my comment just now,but cant view it.
I have one question that not related to speaking part,is about writing task 2.Sorry for interrupt here.
I am reading all your task2 now,one by one,because i want to write down every topic u had given to us,copy some good vocab,google it to find out more relevant points and even write down some nice sentences that seems good to me.I follow your advice by having a vocab notebook and now i have even one essay notebook too ><
I want to ask will the question come out before repeat again or something that similar to that topic?Because i am not sure by doing so,i will improve my essay or not,feel so nervous now as my exam will be on 9,11/8.Is around the corner!!
Can you give me some suggestion,will i benefit by doing what i have done right now?
So sorry i havent write any full essay for task 2,but i did for task 1 already.
Thanks !
Posted by: yap | Friday, July 27, 2012 at 13:37
i have a question that how to maintain reading skills at the higher level.i have tried a lot to improve my reading ,but when i stop it in order to prepare other tasks ,i start missing some questions again.my exam is on 4th august.
Posted by: musharaf | Friday, July 27, 2012 at 13:40
Hi Simon
In part 2, if I want to answer the cue card below, according to question3 do I have to explain about a TV show in my country? cause I live in London and I do not watch TV shows in my country, so if I explain about a TV show in UK is it acceptable or it means I am changing the topic?!
...........................................................................
Describe a TV show that you enjoy.
You should say:
What type of show it is
How often it is on
How popular it is with other people in your country
Explain why you like it.
Posted by: Mahsa | Friday, July 27, 2012 at 14:12
Hi Yap,
They do repeat the same topics (although they usually find slightly different ways to ask the questions), so it will definitely help to study the topics I've covered here on the site.
...
Hi Musharaf,
Just keep reading articles and writing vocabulary in a notebook. Keep practising too!
...
Hi Mahsa,
It's fine to say you live in London, and talk about a TV show in the UK.
Posted by: Simon | Friday, July 27, 2012 at 23:44
Thanks you so much simon^^!!
Your reply give me feel much more confident.
Posted by: yap | Saturday, July 28, 2012 at 06:33
Hi Simon
I finished my listening this afternoon. But I am not very positive with the result.
My test time was 4:50, I went at 4:40 due to the traffic. I know I suppose to go around 30 mins earlier. The examiner was waiting for me. She didn't look very happy, the test went in a rush, every question she asked me, she didn't allow me to answer properly. I only answered 1 sentence and then she stopped me and went for the next question. I think I was the last student in her list.
I am just feeling very frustrated about the situation. What do you recon, Simon.
Cheers,
Penny
Posted by: Penny | Saturday, July 28, 2012 at 08:53
Describe your best friend.
I mate my best friend at university when I was a I'st year student of B.sc(Chemistry) 10 years ago. I exactly remember we used to go for coffee break at the same time, and also we used to perform practical in the same bath by sitting next to him. I also remember that I entitled him laughter channel for our batch. He was really a man who was making laugh at moment.
Posted by: ZIAUL HUDA | Sunday, July 29, 2012 at 20:46
I have know my best friend since I was in kindergarten. Her name is Rose and we are neighboors in our country. We went to the same school for primary grade and high school but then during our college we got separated because she went to the same school her brother are studying while I went to the university my dad chosen for me. Despite of the distance we do communicate to one another. During our college life we wrote letters but now we emailed one another and currently we update one another via facebook. Sir simon hope my answer To the question is okey and enough.or did I go off topic?
Posted by: Cel | Monday, July 30, 2012 at 10:21
Hi everyone.
I'd like to practise speaking with anyone who plans to get 7 or higher in speaking. I took the Ielts several times and my score in speaking varied for 6 to 7.5.
My skype is trang.ductran
Thank you
Posted by: Trang Tran | Monday, July 30, 2012 at 15:38
Hi Simon,
Thank you very much for your wonderful website.
I'd like to ask you about the tone in speaking test. Is it important and how does it contribute to the score?
Best wishes,
Posted by: Trang Tran | Monday, July 30, 2012 at 15:44
Hi Penny,
Try not to worry. I'm sure you did better than you think. Good luck!
...
Hi Trang,
I suppose the speaking test is 'semi-formal' - tone is not a big issue (just don't use slang!).
Posted by: Simon | Monday, July 30, 2012 at 16:27
Hi Simon, I want to clarify something... In speaking part 1 and the topic is about home town. If the examiner ask " How is it like ther ?" what does it mean? Or shall I saw what exactly is she asking because I believed that the stated question is broad and can mean anything... Please answer
Thanks
Posted by: Zeladea | Wednesday, August 01, 2012 at 12:35
Hi Zeladea,
The question should be "what is it like there?" You could answer by saying something like "it's a nice place and it's especially good for shopping" (i.e. a description of the place).
Posted by: Simon | Thursday, August 02, 2012 at 15:03
Ah okey.. Thanks
Posted by: Zeladea | Thursday, August 02, 2012 at 17:44
Hi Simon,
I get a problem with describing a garden or a historical building. It is really difficult for me to talk about the detail. Could you give me some advice?
I'm from Vietnam, and I didn't visit any historical building before.
Posted by: AnhHong | Monday, August 06, 2012 at 02:16
Good afternoon sir,
"We got on straight away" what's that sentance means?
Posted by: graccy | Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 07:18
Hi Graccy,
It means 'we became friends straight away' or 'we liked each other straight away'.
Posted by: Simon | Sunday, August 12, 2012 at 12:03
Dear Simon,
Plaese say your opinion about my answer.
Describe your best friend. Say when you met him/her.
What a memorable question. I met my best friend when I was a 2end year student in the university. I studied pharmacy while she was a medical student. She was my new roommate and we had to live with each other for about 5 years. At first, I wasn't sure whether we could be good friends or not and it made me nervous a little because I had an unpleasant experience with my last roommate. Oh! In fact, I had very annoying time. Fortunately, she was very nice and kind. I should say that to my mind living with she is one of my best memories. We used to go out at the weekends and take pleasure and even travel on vacations. Besides, we worked on some scientific projects in the university that were very successful and published in international journals. Although we both graduated and live in different cities, we kept in touch and we've been friends until now. All in all, my firm belief is that a good friend can be even closer than a sister.
Posted by: Haniye | Monday, August 13, 2012 at 16:36
Dear Simon,
I have a lot of vocabulary to show my opinion in speaking test. However,i have a big problem in test time that I usually think the good answer by Vietnamese first and then i translate to English. How to overcome it??? Help me, please
Posted by: Sally | Monday, September 03, 2012 at 09:41
I thought i never had a best friend.But recently i realized i have one.She was my cathecism school teacher when i was 11 years old.We always go for fishing and hiking.We exchanges advices and ideas.We separated our ways when i study college and became a nurse.We communicate through cellphones and email.She got sick and loss her memory.No one in her family that she remembers.And to my big surprise she's always calling my name as what her loveones told me.I help her to remember every detail about her.She regain her memory and we cherish each other.Now i know it is true that mind can forget but the heart will never not.
Posted by: amber | Friday, September 07, 2012 at 06:57
pls anybody can correct my answer..grammar,wordings etc..Thanks
Posted by: amber | Friday, September 07, 2012 at 06:59
Now i know it is true that mind can forget but the heart will never not.
correction: Now i know it is true that mind can forget but the heart will not.
Posted by: amber | Friday, September 07, 2012 at 07:01