IELTS Speaking Test Part 2 - Problems.
After completing Part One
(usually after 4~5 minutes) the examiner will move onto Part Two of the
speaking test.
In Part Two the examiner
gives the candidate a topic card and the candidate has one minute to prepare
and make notes. After the one minute preparation time the candidate is required
to talk about the topic for between one and two minutes (as a rule you are
expected to speak for at least I minute 30 seconds - anything less than this
and your "Fluency" score may be reduced).
Candidates
do not need to worry about “timing” in Part Two because the examiner will stop
the candidate when the clock hits two minutes.
The
best strategy in Part Two is to keep talking until the examiner says stop.
Candidates are naturally nervous in this part of the test so it is not good to
try to guess the time.
IELTS myth: most people
believe that in the speaking test, Part One is the easiest. Part Two is more
difficult and Part Three is the most difficult section. With regard to
performance, this is not usually the case. Most candidates perform quite well
in Parts One and Three but the Part Two performance is usually the worst part
of the interview (i.e. the language quality is lower than other Parts).
IELTS Speaking Test Part Two Problems.
The
biggest problem with Part Two is that candidates focus on content. Most people
are so busy trying to think about “what to say” and as a result they forget
about "language content" of their speech.
As
we have already concluded, there are no marks for content, so a Part Two that
focuses on content will score quite low on the marking system.
I
think it is good time to repeat myself here: The examiner is NOT listening to
what you say – he / she is only listening to how you say it!
In
the past, many of my students have approached me with questions like:
In Part
Two is it OK for me to describe a Chinese book?
In Part
Two should I describe A or B?
In
Part Two, what if the examiner isn‘t familiar with the thing that I describe?
All
of the above questions are totally irrelevant. The examiner is not concerned
with your choice of content (however it must be related to the topic.)
During
Part Two, the examiner is focused on the marking system. Any features of the marking
system that you produce in Part Two will influence your score: content will not
affect your score.
So
again we can see that content or ideas are irrelevant. It really does not
matter what you choose to talk about as long as you are talking on the topic. '
A
good Part Two is NOT focused on "telling the examiner something".
In the same way as Part
One, during Part Two you should be focused on the following features of
language.
Fluency
During
a 2-minute talk it is essential to use linking words, linking phrases and
fillers (redundant language).
Vocabulary
Uncommon
words and idioms will significantly increase your “Vocabulary” score. In Part
Two try to find words that are directly related to your topic area (most of the
Part One vocabulary from the previous chapter can be used in Part Two). Don’t
forget to paraphrase.
Grammar
Whatever
you are saying in Part Two, say it with complex sentences and if necessary use
a variety of tenses (see the detailed section on tenses in Part Two).
Part Two does NOT need to
be:
Interesting
Some of the best Part Two
performances are actually quite boring! Here you must remember that the
examiner has probably heard 1000's of Part Two responses. Even if your content
is genuinely interesting (e.g. you played football with the Chinese National
Team), it will not influence your score in any way.
Original
It
does not matter if you describe the same movie that everyone else has described
- the examiner is only listening to how you describe it. In some ways
describing the same thing as other candidates can be work to your advantage - if
you are focused on language, your 2-minute talk will be noticeably better than
other candidates.
Familiar
It
does not matter if the examiner is not familiar with the thing that you are describing.
In fact, if you describe something unusual or unfamiliar, then you will
probably need to explain or paraphrase. Paraphrasing directly increases your
score!
True
Some of the best Part Two
performances are lies! Even if the examiner knows you are lying, this cannot
affect your score. Obviously you should avoid outrageous lies, such as,
"Last year I went to the moon with my classmates."
