IELTS Speaking Part 2: which tense?

- Can you use the past tense when describing a person who is still alive?
- Which tense should you use when describing a person?

The answer to the first question is yes. You can say: "My father was always a good role model for me when I was growing up." This doesn't mean that your father is no longer alive; it just means that you are no longer growing up!

The answer to the second question is it depends. As we saw above, you can use the past tense, but it would also be easy to add the present and/or future tense: "My father was always kind to me when I was a child, and he still helps me whenever I need something. I'm sure he will always be there for me."

Comments

[Adel Ansari]

Helpful lesson.

[Mh]

Hi,

I think in Part 2 , one of the best method to remember well and being fluent is to use imagination. For example, when you are going to describe a person imagine how he/she looks like.It would be better to say a couple of sentences about his/her appearance.And if you are going to describe a place, journey and etc you can use this method to remember better. For those of abstract questions I think you should treat them like an essay with intro+ main body+ conclusion it helps to manage your speaking well.

[ahmad]

let me thing ,when i was a little boy my father always supported me to do my best in a fair way.over time i understood that fair way is not always fair in terms of fairness.because people are cunning and tend to decisive others to gain benefit on them.now still we have close bonds between us but it seems to that in this life anyone who follows exactly other"s path will not be self confident and sure about things he or she does

[Jay]

Hi today I got topic Task 2

in some community or in country old age are highly valued, while other youth are highly valued??

Discuss both side and opinion?

Hi simon could you give idea about that?? in future.

I have one question....

in listening

Section 1. use one number and/or word.

question: Date of birth: 5/2/1987

The speaker saied 5 feb 87,...So what to write?? I m so confused..

[Simon]

Hi Jay,

I'll try to look at that question soon.

For dates of birth, they don't usually ask for the year, so "5th February" would be correct. I think "5.2.12" would be accepted too (as one number).

[Jay]

thnx simon

I wrote

5/2/12

lets c

[Neema]

Hello Simon, in speaking, the question was what is your favourite room in your house and why?
I replied as follow: "my favourite part of my house is my kitchen because I love cooking. I can stay there for hours and hours just to prepare a meal that my husband would really love and my kids too. It's funny that when I am in the kitchen, my 18 months old baby also loves to hang out with me, carrying spatula or anything that I use for cooking. I hope someday he will be a better cook. "
Please tell me whether I replied in a correct way or anything wrong? Please tell me if I made any mistake. Thanks in advance.

[venu]

hi simon ....
i go my result today...
L-7.5,R-6,W-6.5,S-6.5
But i need a 7 in all categories....
Im so tired of givin this exam..frustated....what do i do now...i practised alot...:-(

[SImon]

It's fine Neema.

...

Hi Venu,

I'm afraid the only solution is to keep trying. Keep working hard and you will succeed!

[gangchil]

in my last attemt i got 7 in speaking but 5.5 in writing.i am depressed too.how can i improve?i need 7 individually.

[Maria]

Hi everyone
I am confusing of tense in some part 2 questions, not the past but the future. For example, 'Describe an environmental law you would like to see in the future:
What this law would be about?
How this law will take effects?
Why it is important to have this law?
What changes will happen because of this law?'

Can you give me the explanation of tense in each suggestion?
Thank you very much!

[Robin Ming]

Hi Simon,

In Part 2 when describing a story in the past, what tense should I use to describe that person's name?
Like should I say:'His name is (or was?) xxx, and he was a visiting scholar from China at that time". I'm confused because his name is always xxx, but the story itself was in the past, so which tense should I use in situations like this?

Thank you very much!

[Delfin Tursin]

Hi simon !

I need to ask something about part 2 speaking.
My question was about describe you like someone and enjoy studying or working with him or her.
Questions were; why you like, what you do together and where do you studying or working with him or her.
I described my friends but in the past however it was my example and I developed my answers according to that and I pointed whole questions by using my example.
However, examiner asked me extra question when part 2 finish, it was "would you like to see your friend ?" And I said yes.
Does it affect my score or I answered to question false. What do you think about that ?