FULL IELTS SPEAKING TESTS WITH ANSWERS of 2021-22 BY AMAN IELTS || FREE SPEAKING FOR IELTS || SEPT 2021 QUESTIONS OF IDP EXAM

IELTS SPEAKING EXAM PAR
T 1

IELTS SPEAKING EXAM PART 2

Talk about a special day which was not that expensive or for which you did not have to spend a lot of money
You should say:
what was the occasion
where you went
what you did to
and explain how you felt about the day.
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IELTS Cue Card Sample Answer

OK, so one special day that I can remember was when I was living in Mexico for a brief period and I among the people I was working with was another girl, from England.

One of the things we used to do when we had time off was to visit the pyramids in the areas near where we lived, and we would climb the pyramids and take photographs of them.

On one occasion, we got up early and we got on a small bus which took us about 40 minutes outside the town where we were living at the time, to a small village.

The village was located at the foot of a very tall, or large, pyramid and we planned to climb it along with some of the locals.

It was a lot of fun it was very good exercise as well because the climb with all the different steps, it seemed like just claiming upstairs for a couple of hours, however, when we reached the top the view from the top of the pyramid was absolutely amazing.

We probably spent about 20 minutes or 25 minutes maybe at the top and there was a group of people who had climbed with us and we talked with some of them, we took some pictures, we rested, we had something to eat and something to drink, just a snack.

Then when we felt rested enough we started the descent, started to climb down, it was actually more difficult because of the inclination, it's a lot easier climbing up then going back down but it was actually slightly faster and by the time we arrived back down it was very early in the afternoon.

We were really hungry, so we decided to stop in the village at the bottom of the pyramid and have something to eat. We ate lunch, we had a local dish which included chicken, rice, and salad, and some other things, it was delicious and was served in a typical rustic or country style restaurant.

Then we spent a short time wandering around the small village and the marketplace which was where we looked in some of the shops, chatted with some of the people there, before we took a bus back to the city.

The entire day didn't cost a lot of money, only the cost of the bus and the food that we ate. The climbing part was actually free, so it was a very enjoyable and special day.

The reason it was a special day was 'cause it was the last time that the two of us climbed together, we had climbed many different pyramids together before, so it was the last thing that we did it together.

Shortly after that day, we went or moved to different places and so it was impossible to continue visiting the different pyramids and all the different places together, so overall it was a really nice enjoyable and special day, and it didn't cost a lot of money.

IELTS SPEAKING EXAM PART 3

Special occasions & celebrations:

Why do many people typically associate celebrating special occasions with spending a lot of money?

The clue is in the word ‘special’. Normally whenever something is special, people associate it with something better than normal, so it’s logical that if people have a special celebration it will cost more than a normal or regular celebration.

If you look at some of the special celebrations such as important birthdays or a wedding or anniversary, then you’ll see that many people usually spend quite a lot of money because they believe it shows the importance of the occasion, how special it is for them.

Because such occasions don’t happen all the time they can justify spending a lot because it’s not an everyday or common occurrence. And that makes it even more special and worth spending – to make it even more memorable.

What sorts of things are essential in order to have a special celebration with family or friends?

If I think about some of the special celebrations we have had in my own family… they usually involve a lot of food and drink, and obviously, all the members of the family coming together in a nice place.

When it’s a celebration with friends it might be a little bit different. We might go out to someplace to eat or even dance or something.

The most important thing of all, before considering, food, music, drink, the place, and what the people do when they are together, is simply the people that come to the celebration.

For example, when I think about family celebrations when I was younger, two of the most important people I always remember being there were my grandparents. Somehow, a family get-together without them was just not the same – so any special celebration had to include them, otherwise it wasn’t special.

Spending money:

How do people spend their money differently nowadays compared to in the past?

There are probably a couple of differences, such as the fact that many young people nowadays spend money much more easily than their parent or grandparents did.

They don’t plan and save and think so much about what they spend their money on – they tend to just spend on whatever they want at the time.

There are a couple of reasons for this. It’s much easier to get d=credit nowadays, so it’s easier to spend money you don’t have. And there’s a lot more peer pressure to have certain things and appear to be successful through consumption.

Some people might say that consumer trends are changing and that young people are choosing to spend their money on more socially aware companies, but at the end of the day, they are still spending more easily than previous generations.

Modern consumerism makes it easier than ever to spend money, what are the consequences of this for society?

The biggest and most serious consequence is how easy it is for people to get into debt. Because it is so easy to spend money on credit cards, etc. people can quickly lose control of their finances if they aren’t very disciplined about what, or how much, they spend.

There is a lot of pressure to consume, from advertising, from peers, from society in general – consumption is seen as a good thing and is positively encouraged all the time.

Easy credit and easy payment options like swiping your credit cards, paying your phone, shopping online, etc. all these things make it potentially very easy to lose control of exactly how much you are spending.
Using credit is not a bad thing, as long as you have a stable job and are sure that you can pay your bills every month when they arrive. But today’s economy is much more fragile than in the past, and subject to very dynamic changes sometimes.

Some people are still recovering from the financial crash back in 2008 because they lost their source of income due to the layoffs and downsizing which a lot of companies implemented to try and save money.

IELTS SPEAKING EXAM PART 1

Where you live:

Where are you living at the moment, is it far from here?

I live at home with my parents. Our home is about 30 minutes from here, in the suburbs of the city.

Do you like where you live? Why?

Yes, I love it. It’s a nice peaceful, safe neighborhood. My family has lived there for a long time. We know all the neighbors and there are all the amenities you need close by, so it’s a really great place to live.

Work:

Have you ever had a part-time job?

Yes, when I was younger.

*Alternative question if the answer is negative: Why not?

Well, my parents always wanted me to focus on my academic studies and so they never encouraged me to find a part-time job.

And after graduating from university I started working full time, so I’ve never worked on a part-time basis.

Where did you work?

I used to help my uncle in his store after school and on the weekends.

He used to have a convenience store, so I would help unpack stock and put it on the shelves and also help organize the back shop.

What kind of work did you do?

Like I said, I started off just helping with simple tasks like stacking the shelves and labeling products.

When I was a little older I even began to serve customers when they bought things.

My uncle taught me how to use the cash register and give the correct change and everything.

What are some of the things that people think make a job a good one?

Well, there are some obvious things, like the job being an interesting one. Most people like to have job satisfaction because they like doing it or they know it is worthwhile because it helps other people.

Then there are things related to the workplace; a good environment, good colleagues or fellow workers, having a good boss, and so on.

And of course, most people would like to receive a reasonable wage or salary for the work they do, so all these things would probably make a job a good one that people would be interested in doing.

There might be other factors also, such as it being challenging, providing a long-term career path, a position which provides social status, power, and recognition.

People & perceptions:

Why do you think different people might have different perceptions of the same job?

Because different people have priorities which vary. For some people, the money is the most important, meanwhile, for others, it’s the people they work with or the actual work they do which is more important.

Some people are very ambitious while others prefer work which has a more social role in society rather than just to make more money.

So, depending on which perspective you have, you’ll look at a certain job through your own personal lens, and see the things you like and dislike about it – that would explain why different people see the same job in different ways.

Do people’s perceptions change as they get older? How do they change?

Yes, I think they do. It’s because your life experience and knowledge eventually shape your perception of all aspects of life.

Young people tend to have a very optimistic and idealistic perception of the life and the world, while older people tend to have lived a bit more and know that it’s difficult to change things and life is generally a struggle, so their perception will be tinged by their own experiences, good or bad, but based on greater life experience than a younger person’s perception of the same thing.

But perceptions aren’t just positive or negative, it’s not a case of right or wrong; there is a lot of things on which many people have the same perception regardless of their age or experience.

How have your own perceptions changed in recent years?

Well, I would say I’m a little more cynical or skeptical now than I used to be when I was younger.

That’s just because I’m not so naïve anymore, and I realize that many things are much more complex and nuanced than what I thought when I was younger.

My perceptions have changed somewhat since graduating and beginning to work and seeing the impact of decisions in the real world, and how everything affects everything else in ways I never really considered before.

IELTS SPEAKING EXAM PART 2

Describe a good experience you had with a company/in a store.

You should say:
the type of the company/store
what they did for you
why it was a good experience
and say if you would recommend this company to your friends.
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One day, last year, while driving my car, I took a look at the fuel gauge and noticed that the needle marked less than a quarter of a tank.

I tried to remember where the nearest service station was. I thought it should be more or less close to the place where I was going to at that time.

A few weeks before, a couple of friends had told me that it was not a regular gas station, but a high service one. They told me to go and see it for myself.

For that reason alone, I remembered it instantly. They had told me that it's not the spacious, newly remodeled one, which has about a dozen gas pumps. You need to continue a little further and then you come across a row of vehicles in the access.

Very soon I had in view the large service station, located on the corner on my right. At that time there were no more than five vehicles parked in front of the gas pumps.

I went a little further in the same direction and there, some thirty meters away, was the famous gas station my friends had told me about. I counted seven vehicles in front of mine and noticed that the row was moving to the right. I parked, turned off the engine and waited a bit.

When I eventually left the gas station, I decided that I had to go back one more time with my camera. In effect, that station had its own charm, a special touch or, even more important, a powerful and inspiring message.

The people of that business demonstrated a conviction, a high-quality outlook, a way of being and communicating for the benefit of their clients.

It was, without a doubt, a business that could not go unnoticed, a business with spirit, with a unique identity.

This is a fundamental characteristic of any successful business, related to some of the most essential questions that, as people, we often ask ourselves, like what distinguishes us? What makes us unique and different?

Many companies believe that the alpha and omega of service excellence consist of administration based on management instruments and measurement of results, that is, on doing, being on task, follow-up, analysis and the concatenation of processes, in the acquisition of the latest and most sophisticated CRM model.

Well, they are wrong. Excellence in service begins and ends in the exercise of values that are much closer to being than to doing, more intangible than tangible.

In simple words: you are helpful, or you are not. We could even hierarchize these two dimensions. First, you are, and then, that way of being must be translated into actions, actions that, in turn, if they are coherent and constant, will show that you really are.

The people working at the gas station that day gave me an unforgettable experience because of their manner, the way they treated me, and it’s something I’ll never forget.

They were just so helpful, and I would definitely recommend the place to my friends, well, they already know about it; in fact, they told me about the place.

IELTS SPEAKING EXAM PART 3

Customer service:

Do you think it’s true that shops or stores which sell luxury/expensive products actually offer a better shopping experience to their customers?

It’s probably a very subjective thing. If you like shopping in such stores then I’m sure the services they provide, and the experience, will be satisfactory; you’ll feel special, you’ll feel like your purchase is worth the money, and they will treat you well.

But, you could also go to a regular store and buy something and still receive good service and a good shopping experience. You know, you buy something, hand over the cash, and the people in the store treat you well. You go home with the product and you’re happy.

So, what I’m saying is it depends what you want from your shopping experience. If being pampered and made to feel special is important for you, then luxury stores do that very well.

If you just want to buy something at a reasonable price. Then there are many stores which can deliver a good shopping experience. It might be more basic and less luxurious, but it’s still a good experience because you got what you wanted at a good price.

How can companies benefit from giving their customers good customer service?

Probably the most common is through word of mouth (WOM) where a happy customer will tell their friends and family and others about their experience, the good service, the excellent prices or whatever it was that made their shopping experience a good one.

Such personal recommendations are very powerful and much more effective than potential customer just seeing a random advertisement or some other promotion.

A personal recommendation is much more likely to make them want to check out the store, brand, or product for themselves.

What changes do you think will occur in customer service in the future?

It’ll probably become more and more personalized. Shopping, in general, is heading in a more personalized direction, so it’s only natural that customer service will follow suit.

Companies and brands will try to build better and deeper relationships with their customers.

That makes sense because it costs less to keep an existing customer than find new ones. So, I expect that brands will find new and innovative ways to become a bigger part of our lives, in an effort to provide a more personal shopping experience for us, in the hope that we stay loyal to the brand.

Products & services:

What changes to products do companies typically need to make to the products they offer to make them more appealing to customers?

A lot depends on the type of product it is. For example, if it’s a tech gadget, smartphone, computer, etc. then there is a constant need to update the technology, features, and functionality in order to keep it competitive and also take advantage of the latest technological advances.

For example, we’ll be seeing 5G technology rolling out later next year, so expect to see a whole range of product versions being released to take advantage of the benefits that 5G will offer.

Then there are consumer trends which can drive change. For example, nowadays many millennials are really conscious about their impact on the environment, and more importantly, the impact of the products they buy and the companies they buy them from have on the environment.

So naturally many companies who target that demographic have launched ‘green’ initiatives to show how they have reduced the pollution associated with the production of their products, or they become involved in environmental causes through their social responsibility programs and suchlike,

Do you think that people are reluctant to buy again from stores where they have had a bad experience with a product or service?

In general, yes. I know I am. I’ve had one or two bad experiences with products and service, and I wouldn’t buy that product again or use the same service provider I used that time.

A bad experience leaves a nasty taste in the mouth, and it can take a long time to get over it if it cost you money, or the outcome was totally unsatisfactory.

And there are so many options to choose from that there is really no need to go back to somewhere you had a bad service experience or a bad experience with q product.

There are plenty of different brands, and service providers for you to choose from. It’s easier to just try a different one.

In such situations, what should companies do?

It’s really difficult to persuade a customer that their bad experience was not normal, or that the company can make everything right again.

Probably the best strategy is to learn from the mistake, or the incident, and improve their products, service, etc. And focus more on their customers and eliminating the risk of a similar incident occurring again.

It’s extremely difficult to win a customer back once they’ve had a negative experience with a brand.

IELTS SPEAKING EXAM PART 1

Work:

What kind of work do you do?

I’m doing research at the moment. I’m part of a research group at the university, investigating new applications for artificial intelligence.

Why did you choose this profession?

I’ve always been fascinated by technology, and so I chose to study engineering and computing at university.

When I graduated, I applied for several research positions and I was lucky enough to be accepted for the position I have now.

It was actually my first choice, so I was really pleased when I found out I had been successful with my application.

How did you feel about your first day at work?

It was strange in some ways, but familiar in others.

The people I was working with were new, but I already knew some of the supervisors and the head of the research project, so they were familiar faces.

If I remember well, the first couple of days just flew past because there was a lot to learn about the progress of the project and what each person was contributing and how my role would fit in with the overall plan.

It was exciting and exhausting at the same time, but all good.

Foreign food:

In your childhood, did you eat much foreign food?

No, not really, compared to the mount of foreign food I eat now. I can remember having pizza, and some other dishes my mother would make sometimes, Italian pasta and Thai salads were her favorite.

Do you eat foreign food nowadays?

Yes, nearly all the time. I love Thai food and Italian food, probably thanks to my mother’s cooking.

One of the things I like to do with friends is visit new restaurants in town and try different types of food and different dishes. I find it very interesting comparing all the different flavors and styles of cooking.

Do you feel that the next generation will eat more foreign food than local food?

It’s very likely. I mean, so many aspects of culture are becoming global nowadays, like music, clothes, and food, so yes, I can easily imagine that in the future people will be eating more of the same food, food from other countries and cultures, and less of their own local food on a regular basis.

IELTS SPEAKING EXAM PART 2

Describe a situation where you helped someone at work or with their studies.

You should say:
what the situation was
how you helped
what the outcome was
and say how the other person reacted to your help.
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Sample Answer

I remember one particular situation, when a colleague at work was feeling particularly stressed.

Even in good times, it is not always easy to stay calm. But at that time, the economic situation was not the best and rumors of dismissals were everywhere.

Many people were afraid of losing the security of their jobs. To make matters worse, stressed bosses and coworkers transferred their tension to other workers, like the person I mentioned.

Most people can handle the pressure. But the person at the desk next to mine could not.

I saw my colleague suffering, and it was understandable that I wanted to offer help. Apart from helping her relieve her stress by listening to her concerns about work, her future and other personal issues, and letting her know that she could count on me for help if she ever needed it, I told her some of the things I do to alleviate stress when I feel extremely worried about something.

I also pointed out that she couldn’t let it affect her productivity and that she needed to maintain her morale in the office.

Some people actually became violent because of the stress levels being endured. But most people who suffer from mental stress in the workplace do not become violent and the warning signs that something is wrong can be subtler.

In fact, when someone notices that a colleague has a problem, it is most likely that he or she has been suffering for some time. This is why experts suggest intervening early.

Working conditions can cause stress. Psychologists and specialists in occupational mental health say that if we put healthy, balanced people in the same trench with guns pointed at one another, the likelihood of experiencing depression and anxiety is very high.

Experts point out that the most important alerts are changes in behavior, among which are patterns at work and eating and drinking habits.

Someone can start working very hard. Or may start arriving late, look discouraged, withdrawn or angry. Behaving differently is not the problem, it's the change that is important as an indicator of a deeper problem.

When it comes to helping someone who is suffering from mental stress, it is important to approach with empathy.

You need to let the individual know you understand where the stress comes from, and that’s basically what I did.

Much later, she thanked me for taking the time to listen to her worries and offer my support to her.

I actually bumped into her a few months ago and she told me she was doing fine now; she has a different job which was much less stressful and was no longer bothered by stress.

IELTS SPEAKING EXAM PART 3

Helping others & teamwork:

Has there been any other situation in which you have helped a friend?

Yes, very recently. My best friend was going through a very difficult time, personal issues with her partner, and she was always asking me for advice about what to do.

We met up several times to talk about the situation, but we also chatted on WhatsApp all the time, exchanging ideas, and she used to ask me a lot of questions as things happened at home, and about what I thought was the best thing to do.

We’ve always been very close, but the last couple of months have been really intense.

Thankfully now I think she has managed to solve all the issues which were causing problems and her life is getting back to something like normal again.

I’m very happy that she isn’t as stressed now as she was recently. It was not healthy; she was worrying herself sick over what was happening between her and her partner.

How important is teamwork at work?

Nowadays, it’s essential. Whether it’s a team in the same office or a group collaboration over the internet, it’s one of the primary skills all workers need to learn; to work effectively in a group.

Of course, there are still some positions which don’t require you to work as part of a team, but they are few and far between. Ay most levels in most organizations, teamwork is essential for success, whether it’s a small office team, a large interdepartmental team or a cross functional team across different countries.

Which other factors affect teamwork?

Some essential factors would be leadership, collaboration, and willingness to listen to the ideas of others.

It’s important to let everyone in the team have a say, and then filter the ideas to come up with the best outcome.

Then, it’s necessary to be able to implement the plan chosen and monitor its progress and effectiveness.

Being able to analyze, discuss, and adapt are also important skills which can help a team consolidate itself and become super productive and efficient in what they are tasked to do.

Old people & relationships:

Do you feel that older people talk more to their family than friends?

In some cases that might be true, but in others not. For example, my grandparents have their own friends, and shared friends, other couples that they talk to.

They both individually spend time with their respective friends and also do things with other couples as a foursome.

They don’t just chat with the other family members. But I guess it can be very different if your grandparents are very old and stay at home all the time.

Maybe they only get to see their family and don’t get out much or don’t get to spend time with their old friends anymore.

In such cases, it’s only natural that they will spend more time talking to family than friends.

Nowadays, how important is the role of grandparents in the life of their grandchildren?

It’s still important. They have a lot of life experience and wisdom because of their age and what they have lived through. Children can learn a lot from elderly people if they want to.

They have some amazing stories from when they were young, and it’s so much more interesting to hear them tell you about things as they were in the past, in their time, when they were young because life was so different then.

It’s something you would never find in a book or even online, because it’s a personal perspective of a time long ago. I know my grandparents have endless fascinating stories they love to tell me whenever I visit them.

They’re also very astute. They know almost intuitively when something is good or bad, based on their experience, and, for example, my grandfather loves telling people what he thinks of new innovations and technology.

I think grandparents are a great learning resource for children.

Do you think the role of grandparents has changed from how it was in the past? How has it changed?

I’m not sure if it’s changed that much. If anything, I think it’s better now because my grandparents keeping touch by chat and calling me directly on my mobile phone.

I remember my mother telling me how she used to visit her grandmother every Sunday when she was a child. It was the only time they saw each other and spoke to each other.

Nowadays it’s easier for grandparents to have a more active role in the lives of their grandchildren.

Just yesterday my grandmother sent me a funny picture of something she saw while in the market, and I could see it on my phone and I responded to her instantly. It was a lovely shared moment.

That kind of interaction is something that would’ve been difficult before mobile technology became popular.

I feel that my grandparents are part of my everyday life and not just people I go and visit sometimes. So, I think their role is probably more important nowadays, as they have more influence through easier communication.

IELTS SPEAKING EXAM PART 1

Rain:

Do you like it when it rains?

When it rains at night time I find it quite relaxing, but I generally don’t like it when it rains during the day because it just makes the day more difficult if I have to go out and do things.

Here, heavy rain can even stop the traffic for a while, so it’s really inconvenient.

And if it’s unexpected you can get soaked in a just couple of minutes unless you find shelter quick.

Does it rain much where you live?

When it rains, yes, but there are basically two seasons, the wet season and the dry season.

So, in the wet season, for example, it’s normal for it to rain at least two or three times during the week. It’s expected, and maybe more sometimes.

And sometimes at night it rains for hours and hours on end, but that doesn’t usually happen during the day.

In the daytime the rain is normally heavy but short bursts, maybe 30-40 minutes maximum and then it stops.

Has it ever rained when you were outside without a raincoat or an umbrella?

Yes, I’ve been caught out a couple of times in recent years that I can remember.

Sometimes it seems like it won’t rain and then within a short space of time, the sky darkens and then the rain comes down really heavy.

It doesn’t happen often, but when it does it comes as a surprise to everyone and you either find shelter quick until the rain passes or you get soaked through if you stay out in it.

Do you think rain affects the way people behave?

Definitely, people tend to not go out as much when it’s raining.

Personally, I try to plan my days better during the rainy season and avoid going out in the afternoon when it usually rains the heaviest.

It’s not always possible, but the weather is certainly more on my mind at that time of year rather than in the dry season when you don’t have to worry about it raining so much.

Friends:

How well do you remember the friends you had in elementary school?

I can remember them pretty well. We haven’t kept in touch, but I still remember them. My family moved to another city after my sister and I had finished elementary school.

So, the friends we had later were not the same friends we had when we were younger.

When I was in elementary school I had two best friends. One of them was very funny and the other was very like me in terms of her character.

We used to spend all our free time together and go to each other’s houses to play and stuff.

Are your friends today mostly the people you work or study with?

Nowadays, the friends I see regularly are those that I work with.

We usually go out after work maybe once or twice a week to do something together.

I still see some other friends from my time at university, but not as often as the friends I have at work.

Do you enjoy chatting with your friends online?

Yes, it’s something we do every day. We like to keep up with what’s going on and what people are doing.

It’s constant, one of the great benefits of internet-enabled phones is that you can easily stay in touch with anyone if you want to.

It’s almost like being there with them, you can share photos and be involved in their life even if you are not physically near them.

Just the other day one of my friends sent me some messages and photos of some clothes she was thinking of buying and asked me what I thought about them. It was just like being there in the store with her.

We could exchange ideas and comments and I helped her make her final choice. It was great to be involved.

When you meet your friends, what do you like to do?

With my friends at work, we do all kinds of different things. Sometimes in the evenings, we go for something to eat or drink, or we might go to see a movie or something like that.

A couple of weeks ago we went dancing in a new club that recently opened. And last week we went to a comedy show in a local theater here in the city. It was hilarious!

So sometimes we just go out and chat, and other times we actually plan a night out or specific activity – it just depends how we feel and what’s happening in the city.

IELTS SPEAKING EXAM PART 2

Describe a car journey you remember well.

You should say:
why you made the journey
who was with you
how long the journey took
and explain why you remember this journey so well.
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