IELTS Speaking Part 2
IELTS tip
In IELTS Speaking Part 2, you will be given a task card with a topic that you must talk about for between one and two minutes. Before you start speaking, you will have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You will be given some paper and a pencil to make notes.
On the task card, there will be a short description of a topic along with ideas about what to include in your talk. Remember that the examiner won’t speak during your talk. When you have finished speaking, or when the two minutes have passed, the examiner will ask you one or two extra follow-up questions about the topic to conclude Part 2.
Choose the correct answers to complete the tips.
1It is a good idea to give an introduction to your talk.
2You need to have enough to say about the different points on the task card.
3You should use the one-minute preparation time effectively.
4You need to use language that will help you to structure your talk.
5It is important to keep talking for the whole two minutes.
Part 2
You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes.
You have one minute to think about what you’re going to say.
You can make some notes to help you if you wish.
Describe someone whose creative or artistic work you like.
You should say:
- what you know about the life of the person
- what kind of creative work this person does / did
- why you like this person’s work
and describe the way this person’s work makes you feel
Complete the IELTS Speaking Part 2 response with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets. Listen to the model answer and check your answers.
OK, the person I’m going to talk about is David Mitchell. I (start) by saying that I’m afraid I (not / know) much about the background of David, except that he is from the UK, that he once (work) as an English teacher in Japan and that he has a son who suffers from autism. But I suppose the important question is, what is it that he does that is creative? Well, he is a novelist. In fact, he is an acclaimed prize-winning author, and I think he (publish) about seven novels – well, seven that I know of, anyway – and many short stories, too.
Two of his novels (be) among my favourite novels of all time. One is called Cloud Atlas, a set of stories from different times and places together that are interconnected in interesting ways. It almost feels like several different types of literature in the same novel. However, my favourite novel of his is called Bone Clocks, which is a kind of science fiction story that (follow) the life of one character from childhood to old age. I really couldn’t put it down. In fact, it was so good that as soon as I finished reading it, I (start) it again.
Anyway, so turning to why I (admire) David. I guess first and foremost it is for his writing ability. All the books of his that I (read) were real page-turners, combining original and, at times, highly intricate plots with very convincing and compelling characters who the reader could emotionally invest in. That, I would say, is his talent – to take you on a roller-coaster ride through another world and keep you entertained throughout and rooting for the characters. I would even go so far as (say) that he is one of the greatest living novelists in the world today. OK, so that’s it really.