1265010_pencils_and_pens(Answers from last time: I. a. studying, language, country, widely, spoken, advantages; b. overseas, students, learn, English, secondary, school, university, nowadays; c. their, knowledge, grammar, often, advanced, which, certainly, useful, foreigners, live, English-speaking, environment; d. preferable, make, friends, native, speaker, order, practise, conversation; f. reasonable, level, achieved, quickly, student, dedicated, study. II. a. was; b. is; c. are, are, those, live; d. use, is; e. was; f. was, was; g. is).

Dear student,

Today we shall discuss the Speaking portion of the IELTS exam. It takes between 11 and 14 minutes and is conducted by a trained examiner.

There are three parts:

Part 1

The candidate and the examiner introduce themselves. Candidates then answer general questions about themselves, their home/family, their job/studies, their interests and a wide range of similar familiar topic areas. This part lasts between four and five minutes.

Part 2

The candidate is given a task cardwith prompts and is asked to talk on a particular topic. The candidate has one minute to prepare and they can make some notes if they wish, before speaking between one and two minutes. The examiner then asks one or two questions on the same topic.

Part 3

The examiner and the candidate discuss more abstract issues which are thematically linked to the topic in part 2. The examination lasts between four and five minutes.

The speaking test assesses whether candidates can communicate effectively in English. The assessment takes into account Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range, Accuracy and Pronunciation.

Till then, here are some useful exercises for the IELTS:

I. Only some of the following words are spelt correctly. Circle those that are incorrect and spell them properly below:

inovative investigate irrelevent laborotory lecture literrally

ilogical matereal medier minimun monitor negative

negotiate noticable organise outline persentage parsuade policy

postgradaute postpon prediction preferrence prosess programe proposition

II. Choose the correct words or phrases that are missing in the following sentences, paying attention to the correct tense required:

1. Nobody believes that investment in telecommunications……….. lose money.

a) has ever c) would ever

b) had ever d) will ever

2. After………….. her lunch, the teacher began marking the essays.

a) finished c) finishing

b) had finished d) having finish

3. The student…………. very well in her first practical examination.

a) did c) had done

b) has done d) all of the above

4. It is hard to know why undergraduates…………… help with their assignments.

a) fail to seek c) are not seeking

b) will not seek d) all of the above

5. Most of the general public………….. to see a live theatrical performance.

a) have ever been c) are never wanting

b) have never been d) all of the above

Autor: Alexandru Macovescu – Trainer intern A_BEST Limba Engleză, Italiană şi Limba Română pentru Străini

Alexandru este absolvent al Facultăţii de Limbi şi Literaturi Străine, specializarea Engleză-Italiană. În 2010, a absolvit un masterat specializat în Traducerea Textului Literar Contemporan. Alexandru are o bogată experienţă atât în predarea limbilor engleză şi italiană cât şi în traduceri şi interpretariat şi exerciţiu în utilizarea, în contexte diferite, a limbilor străine. În prezent, Alexandru predă inclusiv cursuri A_BEST de limba engleză şi italiană, limbaj general şi de afaceri, precum şi cursuri de limba română pentru străini, în cadrul companiilor.