Let's prepare an answer for the question below.
Describe a café that you have been to.
You should say
- where it is
- why you went there
- what you ate or drank
- and explain why you liked or disliked the café.
If you've seen 'Speaking lesson 4' in my video course, you will already have some good vocabulary for describing a restaurant and the staff in a restaurant e.g. welcoming, inviting, warm, approachable, attentive, nice atmosphere, make you feel at home... I'm sure we can use some of these words and phrases to describe a café.
I'll show you my answer next week.
Do not waste your time preparing the questions that have low possibilities to show in the real exam.
Posted by: SimodoorDkiler | March 24, 2017 at 09:24
SimodoorDkiler
The details you prepare for a topic like this can be used for a wide variety of questions, such as questions asking about restaurants, visiting other people's houses, hotels, holidays, special occasions or weddings.
One of the keys to the speaking test is to be able to adapt descriptions for many situations.
Posted by: sjm | March 24, 2017 at 09:54
Dear SimodoorDkiler,
The speaking question above has just appeared in the real tests recently, it is quite common, between January and March 2017
Dear Teacher Simon,
They are very nice words, thank you very much!
Posted by: Nam Anh | March 24, 2017 at 11:46
Though I have looked them up in the dictionary, I am still quite confused between two words: preserve and conserve, especially when it comes to protect something, such as energy or wildlife.
Could anyone please explain it to me?
Thanks!
Posted by: Nam Anh | March 24, 2017 at 14:03
Nam Anh
This isn't a bad explanation:
http://www.english-for-students.com/Difference-between-preserve-and-conserve.html
'Preserve' means to keep something intact, and to make sure it doesn't change. 'Conserve' means to use something wisely and make sure it is not wasted. If you 'preserve' the environment, you make sure it is not touched. If you 'conserve' the environment, you make sure that it is used in a way that causes little damage. You can 'conserve' energy, but you cannot really 'preserve' energy, because energy is always being used, even in a small way.
Posted by: sjm | March 25, 2017 at 03:17
Thank you very much, Sjm! You are always smart, kind and helpful! I totally understand now!
Posted by: Nam Anh | March 25, 2017 at 06:42
Hi Simon,
I have a question about reading test and here is the question:
During this program you will meet the Director of Stduies, teachers and key administrative staff such as the Accommodation Officer and Student Counseller so that, right from your first day, you will know how each of them can help you during your time at the College.
A) Orientation for new students
B) Academic counselling service
Which answer related to question?
Posted by: Yigit | March 25, 2017 at 08:19
Thanks Simon and Sjm for your very nice advice. You are the best IELTS teachers in the world. I always follow your advices and it has helped me alot in improving my English.
Posted by: L | March 25, 2017 at 12:31
Hi Simon, I am a poor man, but i wanna study in Australia, and i should take an ielts exam. However I have no enough money to go to courses. Can you help me ? You speak vith me on skype and i want to listen your advise.
Posted by: Tofiiq | March 25, 2017 at 14:12
Dear Tofiig,
If you are reading this, click back and you will see lots of Teacher Simon's useful advice on Ielts. He has been posting lessons every day since 2009, so there must be at least 365x7 you can go over. If you want to get advice on a particular skill ( Reading, Writing Task 2...), you can see on the left of his home website, there is a section called Categories, click on what you want and it should take you to what you are looking for. Work on them everyday and you may find yourself quickly improved. I hope that you are doing fine, I have a dream and it's quite like yours, I want to study abroad and become a medical scientist, so I really hope that you can make your dream come true one day.
Dear Sjm,
I read a student's comment and if I am not mistaken, you are an IELTS teacher. Could I call you Teacher Sjm. In my country, students respectfully address their teachers as Teacher.
Thank you very much for all your help and advice.
Posted by: Nam Anh | March 25, 2017 at 15:26
If you want to you can, but sjm is also fine.
Posted by: sjm | March 26, 2017 at 00:17
Thank you for all your useful advice, Teacher Sjm!
Posted by: Nam Anh | March 26, 2017 at 17:42
Wow,
I'm lucky. Today my speaking test is this topic.
Thank you so much SIMON teacher.
Posted by: Elsa.hvn | March 28, 2017 at 06:06
This is my real speaking test part 2 on the 25th of March.
I had no Internet connection a few weeks ago that I couldn't visit your website until now.
What a surprise for me that I can see it here! Unfortunately, I don't think I did the test well.
Posted by: My | March 30, 2017 at 08:03
You should say:
· What the sport is
· How you know about this sport
· How easy it is to play this sport and explain what it was about this sport that makes it exciting (for you).
Posted by: julioa robat | April 14, 2017 at 12:24