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Aim: The aim of this section is to answer frequently asked questions about the second phase of the speaking test.
What is it?
Phase Two of the speaking test is officially called the “long turn”. It is the part of the speaking test when the candidate has to do all the talking.
Can the examiner speak during Phase Two?
Apart from giving the instructions at the beginning, no.
How will I know what exactly what to do?
The examiner will give you a card with the topic you have to talk about written on it. There are also some bullet-points to help you think about what you’re going to say.
Do I have to talk immediately?
No. You get 1 minute to make some notes on what you want to say.
When will I know when to start speaking?
The examiner will tell you to start after you’ve had 1 minute to plan your answer.
How long do I have to talk for?
Between 1 and 2 minutes. If you stop talking in less than 1 minute, the examiner will encourage you to say more and if you’re still talking after 2 minutes, the examiner will indicate that it is time to stop.
When will I know when to stop speaking?
The examiner will ask you a question about what you’ve been talking about. Answer it briefly and then stop speaking. The examiner will then go on to Phase Three.
Do I have to talk about all of the points on the card?
No – they’re only a guide. You can talk about all of them, some of them, none of them or all of them and other information you want to include. Be careful, because if you only talk about the points on the card, you might not talk for long enough.
Do I have to give a presetation?
No - many people think it’s a kind of mini-presentation, but it isn’t really. Don’t talk in a presentation-style format (e.g.: “Today I’m going to talk to you about…and firstly I’m going to talk to you about….”). All you have to do is to say “I’m going to talk about…..”, and get on with it.
Can the examiner speak when I’m speaking – even if I ask him or her a question?
No.
Can I change the topic if I don’t like it?
No.
What are the topics about?
It is difficult to know what you will be asked about because the examiner has about 20 topics to choose from and there are about 3 different versions each test, which means that you could be asked 1 of up to 60 topics. Therefore, it impossible to guess, so don’t bother trying – it’s a waste of time. Most candidates get an good idea of the topics from each other, but it is not likely that you are going to be given the same topic.
Are the topics difficult?
Not really. All the topics are familiar ones. Here are a few examples of what you might be asked to talk about:
- Your favourite restaurant
- A sport
- A special day
- A holiday you’ve had
- Your school
- Your childhood
- A present you’ve been given
- A happy memory
What will the examiner ask me first?
Firstly, the examiner will ask you a few simple questions about yourself to confirm your identity on the recording. You will probably be asked your full name, where you come from, your nickname and to show your I.D. card. At this stage, only answer directly & very briefly because this part of the test isn’t marked, it is just to confirm your identity.
How will I know that the introduction phase is finished?
The examiner will say that you are now going to start Phase One.
Tips for the introduction phase:
1. Make sure you sit in the correct chair – not the examiners'!
2. Don’t start talking about yourself in any detail.
3. Don’t ask the examiner any questions about him/herself.
4. Don’t show off and be over-confident – it often leads to a lower score.
5. Try to relax.
If you have any other questions about speaking Phase Two, or anything else about the IELTS Test, please use the comments form below – someone will know the answer.
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