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

· Well, quite honestly I don‘t think ever thought about that, but I guess...

· Actually, this isn’t something that I've ever considered, but in short...

· I’m not really sure how to put this, but I suppose generally speaking...

Look at the following complete structure:

"Would you like to move to another city?"

"Actually, this isn’t something that I’ve ever considered, but in short I suppose I would possibly consider moving cities, especially I had the chance to move to a coastal city like Xiamen or Sanya. If I lived in a seaside city I would be able to hang out on the beach every day and I would also have the opportunity to get into water sports like scuba-diving and possibly surfing."

Notice how the first structure used "verb+ing": "I suppose I would possibly consider moving cities..."

This structure is much more complex than the basic: "I suppose I would like to move to another city…”

Try to use one of the following structures for your first structure.

• 
  · I imagine I would possibly think about (verb + ing)...
  
• 
  · I guess I would maybe contemplate (verb + ing)...
  
• 
  · I would perhaps reflect on (verb + ing)...
  

Look at the activity questions again and try to use one "verb + ing" structure for each. Try to use a different verb from the question verb.

e.g.: "Would you like to learn another foreign language?

"Well, quite honestly I don’t think ever thought about that. But I guess I would maybe contemplate up a new language."

Now practice developing all of the "Would" questions in this section.

Summary of Part One Question Types

In Part One of the speaking test, most of the questions asked will be one of the seven types described in this section. There may be one or two questions that are not covered, but most candidates will find that all of their part one questions are covered by these seven types.

If the examiner asks a question that is not covered by these seven types, just remember the following rule:

Long response - Linking phrases - Complex sentence - Redundant language

One obvious question that has not been described in this section is the "Why" question. These questions are more common in Part Three but they occasionally appear in Part One. See the Part Three question types later in this book for ideas on how to answer these questions.