IELTS Speaking module: The most important minute

In the second part of the IELTS speaking test, you are given a topic and a minute to prepare. You are then expected to speak extempore on the topic for 60 seconds. The one minute that you get to prepare on the topic can decide whether you get your desired band score in IELTS or not.

Here are a few tips to prepare in those crucial 60 seconds.

1. Expected topics: IELTS examiners will usually give you a common topic about things that we do or encounter in our day to day life. The topics given do not require any expert knowledge. You may be asked to talk about an object, a friend, a trending news etc. For example, if you are asked to speak on “something important that you own” you should:

• Talk about the place you got it from
• Talk about the duration that you have had it for
• Talk about what you use it for
• Provide an explanation of why it is important to you

You will be given a minute or two to speak on the topic. To prepare, you will be given 60               seconds. You may make notes if you wish to.

2. Getting ready in 60 seconds: First of all focus on the topic, as quoted by the Ezinearticles. You need to ensure that you talk only about this item and nothing else. If you speak about anything else you will not be awarded points. Now say, for example, you wish to talk about your mobile phone. For the bullet point number 1 above, you may say

• Gift from parents/ grandparents etc.
• Purchased in Delhi/Mumbai/New York etc.
• Was a pleasant surprise for you

For bullet point No. 2 you may want to say

• Was gifted a year ago
• Got it just in time as your older phone was almost 5 years old
• You feel that the life of a mobile phone is only about 5 years so this phone should last you another 4 years

Similarly, you can prepare for points 3 and 4.

3. Language preparation: There are “structural languages” that you can prepare beforehand which can be used for any topic. Examples are,

• Firstly, I would like to tell you about
• As I mentioned earlier
• As a consequence

Preparing these “structural languages” gives you two advantages. Firstly, it helps to impress the examiner. Secondly, you get some extra time to focus on the topic at hand.

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