Model answer

I think that the person who is the most successful in my family would be my father. I think also that the
answer to the question Who is the most successful person in your family? basically depends on what
you think success means, so, my answer is in the context of working life, rather than personal life.
And that's why I've chosen my dad. He has a job that is rewarding. He feels like he's accomplishing
something, that is obviously personally and professionally satisfying, but he also feels like he's
contributing to society in a positive way, which is a quality that a lot of jobs these days seem to lack
and is something that I gauge success on.
It's a bit hard to explain exactly what he does, but basically he works for a charitable organisation that
runs retirement homes for old people, especially old people who haven't got much money. It's a
management job, but working in a context which is really worthwhile.
His success is due to a lot of different things basically ... finding the right job for him, one that suited
him and his personality as well as his qualifications, and the goals that he wants to reach in his
working life. But he's also just worked hard over a lot of years, which means that it's more likely that
he'll be successful, I guess, if success comes from hard work, which it often does.
I see my dad very regularly, about once a week. We often eat breakfast together before we go to our
respective workplaces, so, yes, I think that I'd have to say he was the most successful because he
enjoys what he does, as well as making a decent living out of it and I admire that in him. I think that in
a work context this is what success means.

IELTS Speaking : Free Time

Model answer 1
Well, I do quite a lot of sport actually. I go swimming twice a week. Theres a very good pool just
around the corner from my office. I swim for an hour and do about 40 lengths. I also cycle to work
when I can. Apart from that, I do a lot of reading and photography.

Model answer 2

When I was younger, I did a lot of surfing. I used to go snowboarding quite often too in the winter. But
I havent been for a long time, although I might go this year with some friends. These days I go cycling
when I can. At the weekends I like to cook and invite friends around for dinner. Im a big fan of cooking
programs, and often try to copy the recipes, but they dont always turn out very well.

Model answer 3
I dont have a lot of time to myself now that Im married with two young children. So, a lot of my free
time is used taking my kids to their activities. For example, on Saturday morning, I have to take my
son to his basketball games, and my daughter to football practice. Then I have to ship them off to
parties or friends houses. Two or three times a month, my wife and I go for a meal with friends, and
once a month, we go the cinema when my parents look after the kids. Theres a great little cinema
that shows independent or foreign films just near where we live.

Model answer 4
I have tennis lessons with a group of friends at the weekend. There are eight of us, four moms and
dads and four kids. The idea was that the lessons would give us the chance to do something sporty
with our children, and its great. The teacher is really good and we all have a fantastic time. Plus,
were getting better at tennis. Best of all, after an hour of tennis, the kids go off to play, and we can
have a drink and a chat. Now, thats my idea of playing sport. Apart from that, I also go out bowling
once a month.

Model answer 5
I play golf at the weekend. I get up really early on Sunday and play for about five hours with some
friends from work. While Im out, my husband prepares lunch which is usually ready by the time I get
back. Apart from that, I play online video games and read a lot. Also, I go for a drink after work every
Friday with my work colleagues. Theres a pub nearby and we usually stay there for a couple of hours,
which is good fun.

IELTS Speaking : Job

What you do
1. I'm a / an (+ job).
e.g. a nurse / an accountant / a builder
2. I work in (+ place or general area).
e.g. a hospital / an office marketing / social

3. I work for (+ name / place of the company).

e.g. Union Bank / IBM / Fiat / an international
bank

What your job involves

4. I'm in charge of
e.g. a big company
5. I'm responsible for
e.g. some workers in that department

6. I have to deal with

e.g. any complaints / overseas clients, mainly

Working hours

7. I run
e.g. the company / a restaurant

18. I have a nine-to-five job / I work nine-tofive

(regular working hours in Britain)

8. I manage
e.g. a shop in downtown

19. I do / work shift work.

(nights one week, days next)

Daily duties / routines

20. I am on flexi time.

(flexible working hours)

9. I have to go / attend (formal)

e.g. (to) a lot of meetings / conferences

21. I have to do / work overtime.

(work extra hours)

10. I visit / see / meet

e.g. patients / clients

22. I only work part-time / take a part-time

job.
(part of a day or a few days a week)

11. I advise
e.g. people / clients and give them help...
12. It involves
e.g. writing letters / filling in forms / doing a lot
of paperwork / using computers a lot of the
time

23. I am a workaholic. I work full-time.

(work too much)
24. I took early retirement.
(retire at 55 in Britain)

Getting a job

25. I am on / take sick leave.

(a period spent away from work, etc. because
of illness)

13. It's not easy to get / find work

e.g. in big cities / round these parts

26. I am on / take maternity leave.

(expecting a baby)

14. I'd love to do

e.g. marketing / this kind of work

27. I gave up work

e.g. in order to study

15. It's difficult to make a living as a / an

e.g. freelance writer

28. I was laid off (informal)

e.g. when the factory went bust

16. I've been offered a job

e.g. in that company / in London

29. I was made redundant.

(no longer needed and therefore out of work)

17. I've applied for a job

e.g. in a local company / in the accounts
department

30. I was dismissed (formal)

e.g. for refusing to obey orders
31. I was fired (informal)
e.g. for always being late
32. I am on / off duty.
(to be working / not working)

Other useful phrases

33. We usually take a break
e.g. for lunch / for ten minutes
34. We normally knock off work (informal)
e.g. about 5:30 p.m. and go off to a restaurant
nearby
35. I get some rest.
(a period of time when you relax after working)
36. I was rather inexperienced
e.g. for that kind of work
37. I have a lot of experience
e.g. in this area / of this kind of problem
38. I am sufficiently qualified
e.g. for this position
39. This is a job requiring
(a period of time when you relax after working)
40. I try to be hardworking.
(work hard)
41. I'm quite competent
e.g. at my job

48. I am acting
e.g. as a manager for the next couple of
months
49. I will take the place of
e.g. our manager when he leaves
50. The morning shift takes over from
e.g. the night shift at 9 a.m.
51. It is great teamwork
e.g. that helps get the job done on time
52. We teamed up
e.g. with another group to finish our project
53. We cooperate
e.g. with a German firm on this project
54. I was employed
e.g. as a secretary for a couple of months
55. I do casual work.
(not regular, usually paid hourly)
56. I've got a temporary job
e.g. working in a newspaper office
57. This factory has 200 employees.
(a person who is employed)

42. I try to work efficiently.

(work quickly without making mistakes and
wasting time)

58. The staff

e.g. are so polite and friendly

43. Efficiency is very important

e.g. in my job

59. They promoted

e.g. me to office manager

44. A lot of people do voluntary work.

(you want to do it and you're not paid)

60. I'm on leave

e.g. at the moment because...

45. I was promoted.

(get a higher position)

61. The post has been vacant

e.g. for some time

46. It is a demanding job.

(needing a lot of effort, care, skill)

62. I turned it down.

(to refuse one's offer)

47. I fill in for / stand in for / cover for

e.g. her while she is off sick

Payment
63. I am paid
e.g. every months and this pay goes directly
into my bank account monthly
64. My salary
e.g. is 20.000$ a year
65. I earn
e.g. 200$ a week as a hairdresser
66. With many jobs you get holiday pay and
sick pay.
(when you're off duty or ill)
67. I'm going to a pay rise.
(my pay goes up)

68. My average income

e.g. has risen 2% this year
69. I'm poorly paid / badly paid / don't earn
much.
(I'm paid very little money)
70. I have a high income / earn a lot / am
well-paid.
(I'm paid a lot of money)
71. My take-home pay / net income is 150$.
(money left after deductions)
72. My gross income is more than that.
(before deductions)

IELTS Speaking : Describing Places

Model answer
A place that I enjoy visiting is Prague. Its the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic, with a population of nearly
2 million. It lies in the north-west of the country, in the centre of the Bohemian region, which is a green and lush part of
Czech Republic.
There is lots to do in Prague. It has several universities, so first and foremost its a fantastic place to be a student. Its
buzzing, with a good nightlife, good restaurants and a lively cultural life. In fact, its a UNESCO World Heritage Site
and a cultural and economic centre of central Europe a few years back.
If you climb up to the hill overlooking the old town, you have an amazing view of the city. What strikes me most when I
go up there is all the traditional, pale buildings with their red roofs, and then right in the middle of it all, a remarkable
piece of art and engineering, the Charles Bridge. It is one of the most loved attractions in Prague that crosses the
Vltava River. It was built between the 14th and 15th centuries and connects Prague Castle with the Old Town. Today
you can walk across it and find many souvenir stalls or have your caricature drawn. There are many statues on the
bridge and some people think that if you touch the statue of St John of Nepomuk you will receive good luck and return
to Prague soon.
The last time I went to Prague, they were having a wine festival. People were tasting all kinds of wines from stalls on
the street, very informally and chatting with friends while they drank. It was wonderful.
How has it changed since I first visited it? Well, I would say it has undoubtedly become more trendy. Like I say, they
have built a stunning new museum. Another example is the Lennon Wall, a monument of recent vintage: It is a wall
covered in graffiti and pictures inspired by John Lennon and the Beatles. People have been drawing on the wall since
the 1980s and they continue to do so today. I would say the local inhabitants have become more overtly proud of their
city too. It has received quite a bit of recognition in recent times, which has really placed Prague well and truly on the
cultural map; something the inhabitants are always happy to talk to you about. In fact, that is something else I enjoy
about going there: the local people are invariably friendly and helpful.
When did you last go to Prague?
I last went there the year before last. I wish I could go more often, but unfortunately work commitments mean I cant.

IELTS Speaking : Family Tradition

Model answer
My favourite family tradition is most certainly Thanksgiving, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday. Actually, everyday should be a day of Thanksgiving. My family loves to celebrate
this holiday.
It is a yearly tradition for our family to gather at my grandmas house for Thanksgiving. I always look forward to this
event. My cousins and other family members that I do not get to see often are there. My grandma and other family
members prepare a big meal. There is always plenty for everyone. The main thing is of course the turkey. I like turkey,
especially the legs. My uncle never eats turkey. He says it is an ugly bird, and he doesnt want to eat it. When I was
younger, I would always want to get the wishbone and break it. We also have sides to go along with the turkey.
Everyone loves my grandmas mashed potatoes. We also have rolls, dressing, cranberry sauce, and yams. Then, for
dessert we have fresh pumpkin pie with whipped cream. Before we eat everyone always gathers around the table and
someone says the blessing.

Thanksgiving is always a good time of fellowship and bonding for my family. We usually watch some of the parade on
television or a football game. Sometimes after everyone is done eating, we play card games like Rook. You can see
why this is a favorite tradition for me and my family. I wish we could do it more often.

Part 2
Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a memorable journey you have made.

You should say:

where you were going

how you were travelling

why you were making the journey

and explain what made the journey so memorable.

Part 3
Travelling and learning

What do people learn from travelling?

Do you think the growth of international tourism is a good thing? Why (not)?

Tourism and culture

How has tourism changed the way people in your country live?

How should tourists behave when they visit your country?

Ways of travelling

What do you think is the best way for a tourist to travel if they want to learn about your country?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling by plane?

Part 2
Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a journey that you remember well.

You should say:

where you went

how you travelled

why you went on the journey

and explain why you remember this journey well.

Part 3
Reasons for daily travel

Why do people need to travel every day?

What problems can people have when they are on their journey, for example to work or school? Why is this?

Some people say that daily journeys like these will not be so common in the future. Do you agree or disagree?
Why?

Benefits of international travel

What do you think people can learn from travelling to other countries? Why?

Can travel make a positive difference to the economy of a country? How?

Do you think a society can benefit if its members have experience of travelling to other countries? In what
ways?

School

Part 2
Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a school which you went to.

You should say:

when you went there

how many people studied there

how long you spent there

and explain what you liked and disliked about it.

Part 3
Attitudes to education

How has education changed in your country in the last ten years?

Is a good education more important to a boy or a girl? Why?

The focus of education

How well do you think schools prepare young people for working life?

Do you think schools should teach subjects like art, music and dancing? Why (not)?

Education and technology

How important is it for schools to have computers for their students?

Is the Internet a valuable educational tool?

Adventure

Part 2
Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe an exciting experience in your life.

You should say:

when the experience took place

where the experience took place

what happened exactly

and explain why the experience was so exciting.

Part 3
Safety and danger

In what ways is life becoming safer, and in what ways is it becoming more dangerous?

Should people always avoid danger, or is it a good idea sometimes to take risks?

Taking risks

What risks should people try to avoid?

Do you think people take fewer risks as they grow older? Why (not)?

Adventure

How important is it to have adventure in our lives?

What do people learn about themselves from having adventures?

Newspapers

Part 2
Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a newspaper or magazine you enjoy

reading.
You should say:

what kind of newspaper or magazine it is,

e.g. fashion

how often you buy it

what articles and information it contains

and explain why you enjoy reading it.

Part 3
Attitudes to newspapers

In what ways are newspapers better for learning about the news than listening to the radio or watching
television?

Do you think newspapers should be completely free to say whatever they want?

Tastes in reading

What do people enjoy reading in your country?

Do you think it is important for people to read a lot? Why (not)?

Public and private lives

What sort of stories do newspapers and magazines publish about well-known or famous people in your
country?

Do you think the media should be allowed to publish stories about the private lives of public figures?

Sport

Part 2
Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.
Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.
You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe an exciting competition or sporting event

you have witnessed.
You should say:

what the competition or sporting event was

when and where it took place

who won

and explain why it was exciting.

Part 3
Sport & Health

What do you do to keep fit?

Are you good at sport?

What sports do you play?

What is the most popular sport in your country?

What are the best ways to keep fit?

Do you think most people consider exercise a chore or do they find it fun?

What is the most popular form of exercise in your country?

Do you think people in your country are less healthy than they used to be?

How can we encourage young people to stay healthy?

Should governments intervene to force people to be healthier?