Ielts speaking--how to improve your bandscore

Chapter Eight:
Concluding expressions
How important is drawing a conclusion in Speaking part 2 and 3 answers?
Part 2 questions ask the IELTS takers to narrate a story or to describe something.
In the narration, it is important that the speaker connects the sentences logically.
One of the meanings of logical presentation is that there is a beginning and an
end. This is where conclusion comes in. Therefore, a speech without a
conclusion appears unsettled. This means that you are not through with the
answer yet. The question is, does this affect your band score? There is no
criterion explicitly stating the importance of a conclusion. However, it is already
given that when we speak or talk, we really have to end it. And your ability to do
this demonstrates your control of the language and its level of sophistication.
In IELTS Writing, numerous websites and articles emphasize the importance of a
conclusion. In fact, in structuring your essay, the concluding paragraph is always
part of many paragraphs. The same thing is true in Speaking. The only difference
is that the concluding sentences are spoken.
What are the different strategies for making a conclusion in part 2 of the
Speaking test?
Usually, the sentences in part 2 are the answers to wh- questions. They state
facts. Stating how you feel in a certain event and mentioning how it influences
or impresses you are common ways of putting an ending to your two-minute
speech. See the example below:
Describe an area of countryside you know and like.
You should say the following:
1. Where it is
2. What its special features are
3. What you and other people do in this area
4. Why you like it
Sample answer:

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There is a place located in one of the municipalities in my province called Little
Boracay. It is just an hour’s ride from my hometown and is situated in a place far
from the noise of the town and people. Many local tourists spend their long
vacations on this white- and powder-like-sand beach. This is because the beach
is the most popular attraction in the area. Most spots you can see are not man-
made, and the cost is very affordable. If you wish to unwind, this is a perfect
place for you because there are hardly any people so you can avoid the crowd
that you usually see in famous beaches. This place was a part of my high school
years, and I have a lot of memorable experiences with classmates and teachers in
this special spot.
Another way to conclude is to reword the events you have narrated and make a
final comment about them. Let us have another example:
Describe an important choice you had to make in your life.
You should say the following:
1. When you made this choice
2. What you had to choose between
3. Whether you made a good choice
4. How you felt when you were making this choice
Sample answer:
Every person has been confronted with a situation wherein he has had to make a
choice. This can vary depending on the how many times you have had to make a
decision and how important that decision was. I once made a choice that
completely changed my life. I was twenty-nine when I had to decide whether to
get married or to pursue my studies first. I chose the former because it was the
thing that could grant me happiness at that time, and I believed I made the right
choice. Married life is indeed a blessing, especially when you see your children
growing. Making a choice is really challenging because the options are equally
important, but when you choose, consider your feelings and recall them when
your choice doesn’t work perfectly.
You can also conclude your answer by restating your main idea. This is usually
your first sentence in your answer. When you restate it, you have to use
synonyms of the keywords in your main idea. Below is another example:
Describe a language you would like to learn.

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You should say the following:
1. What the language is
2. Where it is spoken
3. Why are you are interested in this language
4. Whether you will ever have a chance to learn it
Sample answer:
It has really been my desire to learn Mandarin—a language spoken in China,
Taiwan, and other places where there is a concentration of Chinese people. There
are several reasons why I would like to learn this language, and one of them is
employment in the future. Many believe that China will become the world’s
superpower. If this happens, Mandarin will be an international language just like
English these days. So more than likely, the employers will be hiring applicants
with the ability to speak Mandarin. It would also follow that many people would
then be interested in learning this language. I will therefore be able to help them
through tutorials, which again is a potential job in the future. However, I am not
certain if I would have a chance to learn this language and if I could learn it
quickly since its features are totally different from my first language. It would
certainly be interesting to be able to learn Mandarin, if given the chance.
You can also wrap up your answer by giving a recommendation. Look at the
example below:
Describe something you do to forget about work or study.
You should say the following:
1. What the activity is
2. How often you do it
3. How it helps you forget
4. Whether people should try to do the same thing
Sample answer:
Every day is such a busy day for a working mum like me. As a mother of two
and being employed by two companies, I don’t really have time for myself on
weekdays. So on weekends, I should see to it that I have an hour or two to go for
a walk. Early on Saturday morning, I leave the house and take a walk alone. This
is a time when I can take a deep breath and see the wider space of grassland.
And it helps me to de-stress when I see things apart from the computer and move

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freely outside the four corners of my room. I can feel freedom and an energizing
beauty from the detoxifying environment. I believe people should try this
sometimes and experience how I feel.
Another strategy to conclude is to give a prediction. This is to show how you
think this situation will look in the future. Here is an example:
Describe something healthy you enjoy doing.
You should say the following:
1. What you do
2. Where you do it
3. Who you do it with
4. Why you think doing this is healthy
Sample answer:
Going for a walk even for an hour is good for your health, and this is an activity
that I do on weekends. This is best done early in the morning when the sun is not
hot enough to make me feel tired quickly. Near my house, there is a vast field of
grass that is uninhabited. I walk around the place with my husband and two
children, and it is so comfortable since it’s grassy and surrounded by trees. The
environment itself is very clean, and since there are trees, I am certain that my
family has an ample supply of oxygen. The activity can also help us stay fit, as it
aids blood circulation, and through this, I also burn a lot of fat. This will remain
an activity for me and my family.