IELTS Speaking Guide: Giving Answers with a Reason (Topic: Jobs)

In the first section of the IELTS speaking test the examiner will ask 3-4 questions about 1 topic.  You will normally be asked about 3 different topics.

Download lesson as pdf

---

Tip:  Never give memorized answers.  Try to speak naturally without sounding like you have memorized a speech.

Example:  Do you enjoy your studies?

Answer:  Yes, I do because this is a field that has continually inspired me since my childhood.

Vocabulary Building-Warm-Up

Look at the following categories.  Choose a letter and try to think of as many words as possible that are related to each category.

Example:

Letter:  T

Category:      Jobs

Possible Answers: teacher, technician, therapist, trainer, tennis coach

Use the following categories for each letter that you choose.

Jobs

Furniture in a dorm room

Things in a classroom

Items in an office

School subjects

Things you do at work

Professional skills

Reasons to go to college

Things on a college campus

In order to prepare properly for the exam, you need to think about how you would answer a question and give the reason for your answer.

1.  Why did you choose your job?

Answer:  ______________________________________

Reason: ______________________________________

Complete Sentence: __________________________________________ because __________________________________________

2.  Do you see yourself working at this job for a long time?

Answer:  ______________________________________

Reason: ______________________________________

Complete Sentence: __________________________________________ because __________________________________________

3.  What is your ideal job?

Answer:  ______________________________________

Reason: ______________________________________

Complete Sentence: __________________________________________ because __________________________________________

4.  Do you enjoy your studies?

Answer:  ______________________________________

Reason: ______________________________________

Complete Sentence: __________________________________________ because __________________________________________

5.  Why did you choose this major?

Answer:  ______________________________________

Reason: ______________________________________

Complete Sentence: __________________________________________ because __________________________________________

6.  What do you plan to do after graduation?

Answer:  ______________________________________

Reason: ______________________________________

Complete Sentence: __________________________________________ because __________________________________________

7.  What don’t you like about your studies?

Answer:  ______________________________________

Reason: ______________________________________

Complete Sentence: __________________________________________ because __________________________________________

Speaking Activity:  Practice asking and answering the above questions with a partner.  Try not to use your notes.

Listening Activity:  Practice asking the questions again but this time, write down your partner’s answers and think of a follow-up question to ask.

Partner’s Answers and Follow-up questions.

1.  Answer:  _____________________________________________________________________________

Follow-up Question:  ____________________________________________________________________

2.  Answer:  _____________________________________________________________________________

Follow-up Question:  ____________________________________________________________________

3.  Answer:  _____________________________________________________________________________

Follow-up Question:  ____________________________________________________________________

4.  Answer:  _____________________________________________________________________________

Follow-up Question:  ____________________________________________________________________

5.  Answer:  _____________________________________________________________________________

Follow-up Question:  ____________________________________________________________________

6.  Answer:  _____________________________________________________________________________

Follow-up Question:  ____________________________________________________________________

7.  Answer:  _____________________________________________________________________________

Follow-up Question:  ____________________________________________________________________