This post will look at strategies for giving a high-level part 2 answer.
In part 2 the examiner will give you a cue card that could ask you to talk about any subject. this will normally include something about your daily life and own experiences. The talk you give should be honest and show the examiner your ability to use English well.
When giving your talk, try to make sure that it is not too short – use the 1 minute allowed to make notes to your advantage, looking at the keywords and using them as prompts.
Strategy
When working on a strategy for answering part 2, you need to think about how to extend your answer as much as you can, so that you don’t run out of ideas and things to say.
Include the following in your answers, so that you can develop more ideas as well as including the bullet points on the cue card (if you want);
- Introduce the topic – I’d like to talk about……
- Give some background information (describe it in physical terms)
- The Past – say something about what you used to do / something you saw last year, etc (depending on the topic)
- Give your thoughts and feelings
- Include an example
- Say something about the future – What will you do in the future / where would you like to visit, etc (depending on the topic)
If you practice with past cue cards and find yourself running out of ideas while talking, look at your notes and refer back to an earlier point, expand on it and keep talking, while you think of other things to say.
Cue Card Example
The bullet points on the cue card above ask obvious questions about the topic. However you don’t need to follow this to just the bullet points on the card, you can say whatever you want about the chosen topic. Some students follow the bullet points and get a high score, while others have said they ran out of ideas.
Here are some ideas/questions to answer, that you could include when making notes and planning your answer for this cue card >>
- Introduce the activity (what it is) extend your answer and explain.
- The location (where) – explain
- Have you always done it? (When) have you just started doing it recently?
- Describe – give a good description of the activity (include here who you do it with)
- Give your opinion (why you like to do it).
- Will you continue to do it in the future?
Model Answer
I’d like to talk about walking my dog, we recently rescued a dog who was found by our neighbour by the side of the road. At the time he was only around 4 weeks old and quite ill, he was covered in fleas, had a belly full of worms and various skin conditions. He soon became healthy after many vet visits and now has grown into a large healthy dog, who has a routine of walks at certain times every day to burn off his energy. We started his walking routine slowly when he was little, as he was scared of the park at first. He soon loved to go there and looks really happy with the freedom he has to be able to venture out on his own.
I normally walk him around my village in the morning before work for around 45 minutes. Then in the afternoons after work at around 7 pm we will visit the park, so he can run free. He loves to be able to run around and explore the park, meeting up with other dogs and playing. He enjoys running after people jogging and cycling, showing them that he can go faster than them. He also likes to have his photograph taken with tourists when they are posing next to monuments in the park.
In my opinion, walking with my dog is great exercise, as we walk together (or run) daily for at least 2 hours. This is good for both of us, as he can burn off his energy and I can also keep fit. I also think that getting away from my desk and breathing in the fresh air is beneficial for my health and to clear my mind. It helps to keep my mental health in check, by taking these walks and having the time to think about things. I will continue to walk my dog every day, taking him with me to various locations on the island, as he also enjoys the beach and the town park, but these areas are busy in the summer months, so he will have to wait until the autumn.
Feedback
This is a high-level answer, as there are concrete words being used to tell a story (the story of the dog and the relationship to the activity). Words and phrases are used to describe thoughts and feelings. The bullet points have been covered with the extra information given, which extends the answer.
Practice
Practice as much as you can with past cue cards and develop a good strategy for answering in 1-2 minutes. Practice with your speaking partner or native speaking IELTS teacher, who will help you to improve.
Have you been practising? Does this strategy help you? Let us know in the comments >>
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