Keywords for Part 2 of the Speaking Test: By now, you may be familiar with the concept of keywords, 1
and hopefully you may have used keywords for the Reading component of the exam. 2
Well, this is a strategy we can also utilize for Part 2, or the Long Turn of the Speaking Test. 3
OK, I know what you're thinking... 4
"Why is he mentioning keywords for the Speaking Test?" 5
Stay with me! 6
Before we get to the keywords for the Speaking Test, let's make sure you understand the structure 7
of IELTS Speaking. To review, 8
we have three parts and the exam's extremely precise, running from 11 to 14 minutes in duration. 9
Part 1 is the introductory component, which is the easy, warm up section. 10
If you know anything about this test already, you know that Part 1 is to put you at ease with questions 11
that can be answered with not much thought. 12
Topics will range from school to work, TV to movies, sports, even where you live and your favorite 13
color. 14
But then we head into Part 2, where you'll be assigned a speaking topic in a box, which is referred 15
to as the speaking prompt. 16
OK, here's where we refer back to keywords that was mentioned earlier on. 17
You won't be able to write on the prompt booklet provided by the speaking examiner, since it essentially 18
contains all the speaking prompts used by the examiner, 19
on the exam day. However, you will be given some blank paper where you can write as much as you want, 20
but only over a period of one minute. 21
While you can't underline or circle key words in the prompt, you can write down the keywords and then 22
all you know about them in point-form on the scrap paper. As a reminder, 23
you only have 60 seconds to plan your speaking for this part of the test. 24
So avoid writing complete sentences. 25
Hey, you can even write down ideas in your own language if it's going to be faster and easier! 26
The main thing - is that you try your best to organize your points clearly and in a logical manner, before 27
you start the Long Turn. 28
Unfortunately, some test takers fail to catch these keywords and some people choose to not even write 29
anything at all! 30
Look, if you don't want to stumble through this part of the test, it's best to jot down some notes 31
and make sure you're prepared before you start to talk. 32
An even better option would be to get online, find some speaking topics for IELTS, then perform 33
the following exercise first time yourself for a given writing prompt. 34
See how much you can write down about a topic in one minute. 35
Next, try to speak on that topic for one to two minutes. 36
You'll see how difficult it is to continue before you dry up and can't keep going. 37
If you can speak on a given topic for one minute, you're doing all right. 38
But if you can speak on a given topic for nearly two minutes, well, that's going to be exceptional! 39
Why? 40
Because your examiner will want you to speak as long as possible in order to assess your speaking skills 41
accurately. 42
Don't be concerned if you're talking for too long, since it's the examiners responsibility to interrupt 43
you inform you that this part of the test is complete. 44
Afterwards, you'll be asked a few follow up questions about this task, just to close this section before 45
moving to Part 3, which is a dialogue related to the subject of Part 2. 46
Some examiners claim they may know a test taker's score thirty seconds into the test, but really, the 47
examiner should be assessing you throughout the entire exam, all the way up until Part 3. 48
If you have a friend who is also taking the test, why not just give each of the speaking topics and 49
then time each other? 50
You could even find the speaking rubric online to see how you will be evaluated. 51
Remember, no one is ever born an exceptional and articulate speaker. 52
Like most things, it's a skill that takes time and practice to develop. 53
It's a skill that you too can have, if you put in the hard work and stay focused. 54
Let's park things here with a fantastic expression: 55
"Anything worth doing, is worth doing poorly at first."