IELTS Speaking Introduction questions | Tips, sample questions and answers

Emma, in a British Council IELTS preparation video, outlines strategies for making a strong first impression in the IELTS speaking test. She explains the structure of the test, focusing on the introduction and interview segment designed to ease candidates into speaking naturally. Emma emphasizes the importance of fluency, coherence, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, noting that intelligibility is key. She provides example questions and responses, covering topics like hometown, work, studies, and hobbies. Emma advises against one-word answers, encourages listening to English media for practice, and recommends joining IELTS Ready for additional resources and mock tests.

• The IELTS Speaking Test is structured into three parts: introduction and interview, which aims to set participants at ease and encourage natural conversation.
• The test duration is between 11 to 14 minutes, conducted in a room with only the participant and the examiner.
• The test evaluates fluency, coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.

"The purpose of the IELTS speaking test is to assess your fluency and coherence, so that's how clearly you can express yourself and connect your ideas together."

• This quote highlights the primary goal of the test, which is to evaluate how effectively a participant can communicate ideas clearly and logically.

"The Examiner will Mark you on your lexical resource which assesses your knowledge and use of vocabulary."

• This emphasizes the importance of using a wide range of vocabulary accurately during the test.

"When it comes to pronunciation, you will not be marked on your accent nor do IELTS examiners prefer any particular accent."

• This clarifies that the focus is on clear communication rather than the specific accent of the participant.

• The introduction phase involves basic questions to verify the participant's identity and ease them into the conversation.
• Typical questions include asking for the participant's full name and how they prefer to be addressed.
• Participants must provide identification that matches their registration details.

"When you first start your speaking test, the examiner will ask you, 'Can you tell me your full name, please?' or 'What can I call you?'"

• This quote provides examples of initial questions aimed at confirming identity and establishing a comfortable interaction.

"Next, your examiner will ask you to show your identification. Remember, this must be the same ID you used during registration."

• This stresses the importance of bringing the correct identification to the test, ensuring a smooth verification process.

• It's crucial to communicate clearly and confidently, focusing on the intelligibility of speech rather than accent.
• Practice using a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures to demonstrate language proficiency.
• Familiarize yourself with common questions and prepare responses to enhance confidence during the test.

"What truly matters is that you communicate your ideas so your examiner can understand you without too much effort. Intelligibility is what matters the most."

• This underscores the significance of being easily understood, which is a vital component of the evaluation process.

"Make sure you watch until the end of this video as I have some real IELTS speaking test questions for you to practice everything you've learned in this lesson."

• This encourages participants to engage with practice materials to reinforce learning and improve performance in the test.

• The speaking test begins with a request for identification, typically a passport or national identity card.
• Candidates should respond politely when asked for their ID.
• Initial questions focus on personal background, such as place of origin and current residence.

"When your examiner asks for your ID, you can respond with 'Sure, here you go,' or 'Sure, here you are.'"

• Candidates should be prepared with polite responses to initial requests for identification.

"After you've given your name and ID, your examiner may ask you, 'Where are you from?' You can respond with 'I'm from' or 'I'm originally from, but I currently live in.'"

• Prepare concise responses about your origin and current residence without unnecessary detail.

• Candidates may be asked to describe their hometown or current place of residence.
• Key aspects to include: location, size, notable features, and personal opinions or experiences.

"You can talk about the location, the size, what your hometown is known for, or any other personal opinions and experiences."

• Focus on significant characteristics of the hometown or residence, including personal perspectives.

"My hometown is located in the south of Spain and has a population of about 50,000 people. In the past, it used to be a booming fishing town with lots of bustling markets happening every weekend. However, nowadays it's pretty quiet, and there isn't much to do, but it still managed to keep its really friendly and tight-knit community."

• Example of a detailed description incorporating history, current state, and community atmosphere.

• Candidates might need to discuss interesting parts of their city or country.
• Consider cultural events, traditions, and personal experiences.

"In my opinion, one of the most fascinating aspects of my country is the traditional festivals. My favorite is the Lantern Festival, which is an annual event that's held in various parts of the country. People light paper lanterns and let them go, so they start flying through the sky. It's a stunning sight and a beautiful tradition which symbolizes the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations."

• Highlight unique cultural events and their significance, including personal impressions.

• The examiner may inquire about the candidate's occupation or studies.
• Responses should clearly state the current role or field of study.

"When discussing what you do, your examiner may ask you, 'Do you work or are you a student?' You can say, 'I work as a/an...' or 'I'm currently a student at University. I'm studying...'"

• Be prepared to succinctly describe your professional role or academic pursuits.

"I've been working as a maths teacher for the past 10 years at a secondary school in Cairo. My job involves planning and teaching lessons as well as helping to organize the after-school maths club."

• Example of a comprehensive response detailing job responsibilities and duration.

"If you mention that you're a student, you may be asked, 'What do you study?' You can respond by saying, 'I study...' and then the topic or 'I'm studying for my Master's Degree in...'"

• Clearly articulate your field of study and level of education.

• When discussing your field of study, include the reason behind your choice to provide a comprehensive answer.
• Expressing career aspirations or personal interests can clarify your motivation for selecting a specific subject.

"Honestly, I always knew that I wanted to be a doctor, so deciding to study medicine was a no-brainer for me."

• This quote highlights a clear, predetermined passion for the medical field, making the decision to study medicine straightforward.

"I come from a long line of doctors and surgeons, and I've always had so much admiration for healthcare professionals."

• This statement emphasizes the influence of family background and admiration for the profession as motivating factors.

• When asked about hobbies or interests, use phrases like "I'm a big fan of," "I love," or "In my spare time, I enjoy."
• Hobbies can reflect personal values, such as appreciation for nature or creativity.

"Yes, my main hobby is photography, especially capturing landscapes because, for me, it's a way to appreciate the beauty of nature."

• Photography as a hobby showcases an appreciation for nature and artistic expression.

"I've also been told I've got a green thumb, which comes in handy as I love gardening. I really enjoy watching my plants grow and thrive."

• Gardening as a hobby indicates a nurturing personality and enjoyment in seeing growth and development.

• Weekend activities can be a mix of outdoor and indoor pursuits, depending on personal preferences and weather conditions.

"Most weekends, I like to unwind by spending some time outdoors, so I either go hiking in the local forest or I go for a stroll in the nearby park."

• This quote illustrates a preference for outdoor activities as a form of relaxation.

"If it's raining, I prefer to curl up on the sofa with a good book and a nice cup of tea."

• Indoor activities such as reading provide a cozy alternative when outdoor activities are not feasible.

• A daily routine can reflect a balance between personal wellness and professional responsibilities.
• Starting the day with physical activity can set a positive tone for the rest of the day.

"My day usually begins with an early morning jog around the neighborhood as I find it's quite a refreshing way to start my day."

• Morning exercise is presented as a way to invigorate and prepare for the day ahead.

"I work as a nurse, so I'm usually kept quite busy throughout the day. I find that my workday changes from day to day, but I mainly attend to patients on the ward."

• The variability and demands of a nursing career are highlighted, emphasizing dedication and adaptability.

"In the evening, I have a meal with my husband, watch TV, then head to bed."

• Evening routines often involve winding down with family time and relaxation before sleep.

• Prepare a mental list of topics such as books, films, places, people, articles, festivals, and food to discuss during the IELTS speaking test.
• Avoid using one-word answers; instead, expand on your responses to demonstrate vocabulary and grammar proficiency.
• Ensure your answers are clear and concise without repetition or deviation from the topic.

"A quick tip to make sure you're more prepared for these specific questions is to create a mental list of things like books, films, places, people, articles, festivals, and food that you can talk about."

• This quote emphasizes the importance of being prepared with a variety of topics to discuss, which can help in providing detailed and varied responses during the test.

"The first tip is to not use one-word answers to impress your examiner and show off your vocabulary and grammar. Be sure to expand on your answers."

• Highlights the strategy of using detailed responses to showcase language skills effectively.

• Listen to English language podcasts and watch videos on the way to the test center to get in the right mindset.
• Practice speaking by shadowing exercises, which involve listening and repeating what is heard in recordings or videos.

"On the day of your test, listen to some English language podcasts and watch videos on your way to the test center. This may help you get in the mood for your test."

• Suggests using media to immerse oneself in the language, helping to mentally prepare for the speaking test.

"You can also practice your speaking by doing some shadowing exercises. This involves listening and repeating what you hear in a recording or video."

• Recommends shadowing as a technique to improve pronunciation and fluency by mimicking native speakers.

• Familiarize yourself with the test format to reduce anxiety and improve performance.
• Practice answering real IELTS speaking test questions, available for free through resources like IELTS Ready.

"You will feel more prepared for your test if you know what to expect, so to help you with this, practice answering some real IELTS speaking test questions."

• Encourages understanding the test structure and practicing with real questions to build confidence and readiness.

"You can find free speaking test questions when you join IELTS Ready. It's completely free to join, and you'll get full access to mock tests and activities to help you improve the skills you need for your IELTS test."

• Highlights the availability of free resources to aid in preparation, offering practical exercises and mock tests.

• Conduct a practice speaking test to simulate the introduction and interview sections of the IELTS speaking test.
• Engage in exercises that involve responding to typical questions about personal information, hometown, hobbies, and interests.

"Now, before we finish today, you're going to do a practice IELTS speaking test with me to help you prepare for your introduction and interview."

• Suggests engaging in practice tests to gain experience and improve performance in actual test conditions.

"Let's talk about where you live. Where are you from? Can you describe your hometown? What's the most interesting part of your city? Let's talk about your hobbies and interests. How do you usually spend your weekends? What was the last film you watched?"

• Provides examples of common questions that may be asked during the speaking test, helping test-takers prepare their responses.