Question Type 1: Basic Description Questions. Ielts speaking test. Part 1

Description Structures
When responding to description questions, you need to begin with a lead-in phrase. (This is an example of a linking device I redundant language). Possible lead-in phrases include the following:

• 
  · OK then...
  
• 
  · Right, ok...
  
• 
  · Alright...
  
• 
  · Well...
  
• 
  · Well, you know...
  
• 
  · Well first of all...
  
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  · Actually...
  

We can add a "pointing phrase" next, to signal to the listener that the first point is coming. (This is another example of a linking device / redundant language.)

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  · ...the first thing I should mention is that...
  
• 
  · ...the point I’d like to begin with is that...
  
• 
  · ...I could start off by saying that...
  
• 
  · ...my initial point would be that...
  
• 
  · ...I need to start off by pointing out that...
  
• 
  · ...the main thing you need to know is that...
  
• 
  · ...I suppose I should begin by highlighting the fact that...
  
• 
  · ...you may (or may not) be aware that in fact...
  
• 
  · ...I really need to kick of with the point that...
  

Most of the above contain interchangeable words. Now you are ready to describe your first point.

Activity
Example question: "Tell me about the street that you live in."
Think about one important point you can describe about your street (it could be location, size, appearance, the buildings etc.). Do not give the name as this is not really describing (and the name would probably be in Chinese so you would not be using examples of topic-related vocabulary.) Select a lead-in phrase and a pointing phrase.
· Now describe your first point.
· Choose different lead-in and pointing phrases and practice describing the first point about your street.
The first point needs to be developed with a complex sentence. Notice in the example how the candidate uses a structure with "that".
"...the first thing I would say is that it‘s absolutely enormous, maybe even one of the biggest cities in Asia I guess."
This is a simple but effective way to join your linking phrase with the detail sentence. The result is a complex structure. Notice how the candidate then uses another linking word "maybe even" to add more details.
Activity
Example question: “Tell me about your studies or job.”
Choose a lead-in and pointing phrase. Introduce your first point and use a structure with "that”. Add a linking word to introduce a detail about your first point. Now we can look at the full structure.
1) Lead-in phrase
2) 1st pointing phrase
3) Point I
4) Linking word / phrase + detail about point I
5) 2nd pointing phrase
6) Point 2
7) Linking word / phrase + detail about point 2
8) 3rd pointing phrase
9) Point 3
10) Linking word / phrase + detail about point 3
Examples of 2nd pointing phrases:

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  · Another point which I could add is that...
  
• 
  
• 
  · A second feature which I should mention is that…
  
• 
  
• 
  · As well as that, I could say that...
  
• 
  
• 
  · On top of that I can also add that...
  
• 
  · Also, I suppose I should say that...
  

Examples of 3rd pointing phrases:

• 
  · And I shouldn't forget to mention that.
  
• 
  · In addition to what I've just said, I can add that..
  
• 
  · Something else that I need to comment on is that…
  
• 
  · I guess I could also remark on the fact that...
  

So a complete response might look something like this:

"Well first of all, the main thing you need to know is that... (point I) ... In fact ... (detail I)... On top of that I can also add that... (point 2) ... which means... (detail 2) ... Something else that I need to comment on is that... (point 3)...So actually (detail 3)…