How would you respond to the questions in this speaking practice IELTS test?
Speaking Practice IELTS Part 1
Do you work or do you study?
I’m a student at the moment, here in [name of city]. I’m doing a diploma course in International Entrepreneurship.
Why did you choose that particular subject?
Well, I graduated a few years ago with my MBA and I’ve been working in a large multinational since then, but I kind of feel that it’s not what I want to do in the long run. I think I’m more interested in starting my own business and helping others do the same, so I decided to do this diploma course to gain an insight into global trends in entrepreneurship in the hope that it will be useful for me in the future.
Which of your high school subjects did you enjoy the best? Why?
I liked social sciences a lot when I was at high school. It was probably my favorite subject because it dealt a lot with things in the real world, you know, because math and some other subjects are a bit abstract sometimes, but a lot of topics in social sciences you can relate to more easily because they’re related to our daily lives.
What do like best about the subject you are studying now?
Well. I’ve learned a lot more about the origins and variations of entrepreneurship globally and how cultural differences and even geo-political differences can influence or hinder the formation of many small businesses. I also find the lectures really interesting because they’re all based on recent case studies and current trends rather than historical data, so it feel really up to date.
In your hometown, what are some interesting things people can do?
So, my hometown isn’t that big really, but there’s a large park which is really nice in the summer, and a lot of people go there, especially on weekends. There’s also a movie theater, several restaurants and cafes, a bowling alley, and various sports you can do.
Then there are some other activities you can do if you travel just a little outside the town, there’s a gliding school, an interesting place where people do motocross, and also a lake where you can swim, sail, water-ski, and stuff like that.
Is the public transportation system in your hometown good?
I guess so, I’ve never really thought about it. There are the regular buses and taxis, but no train. I only ever used to use the bus occasionally, and it was okay.
What are the common forms of public transport in your country?
The usual; buses, trains, and taxis. Buses are probably the most common as a lot of people use them, then, taxis in the cities because they’re more convenient than having your own car sometimes, and trains are good for intercity travel because they’re cheaper than flying and much quicker than driving.
Are there any benefits of using public transport? What are they?
For one, if more people use public transportation it’s better for the environment because the pollution emitted is less to move to same number of people from one place to another.
It also helps reduce traffic congestion in the rush hour because there are fewer private vehicles on the roads at peak times, so traffic flow is much better, which stops everybody getting frustrated or angry, especially in the larger cities, where traffic congestion downtown can be a serious problem.
Speaking Practice IELTS Part 2
Talk about a well-paid job that you think you would be good at
You should say:- what the job is
- the qualifications needed for the job?
- why you would be good at it
Speaking Practice IELTS: Sample Answer
I can’t think of a regular job that I would like to do that is well-paid, but, for example, in the future, I’d like to be able to be an investor in start-up enterprises.
If you’ve ever seen the TV program Shark Tank, something like that, I guess. But I’m not interested in being on TV, just the idea of investing in new companies and supporting creative individuals in their pursuit of bringing their ideas and products to market.
Not all entrepreneurs are great business people - some of them are great at coming up with ideas but lack the experience or knowledge to execute the business side of things to become successful. That is something I’d be interested in doing.
It’s a high-stakes job with potentially big rewards but it also carries the risk of failing. But I don’t mind risk; it’s part of the challenge. And if an idea or product is innovative, the financial return can be millions of dollars.
I believe it would be a job with a high level of personal and professional satisfaction, not to mention a lot of variety. Many such entrepreneurs enjoy an impressive level of financial independence, which isn’t available with many regular jobs.
I also think I’d be well-suited for something like that because I’m creative and analytical and have studied business. I know how to execute a good idea when I see one; I’ve already created a few products and marketed them successfully, so I think I would be a good fit for me.
I’m also a self-starter, you know, good at self-motivation and getting things done, which are essential qualities if you’re going to work for yourself, and I also think I would enjoy the diversity and non-routine nature of such work – for me that’s one of the main benefits – it’s an incredibly dynamic environment.
Speaking Practice IELTS Part 3
What are some other well-paid jobs in your country?
The usual ones; doctors, lawyers, bankers, and business people with their own companies, even some accountants, dentists and architects get paid well if they have their own successful practices. There are also highly-paid positions such as CEOs or senior management in multinational companies.
What is your opinion regarding different jobs and the different payment received for doing them?
It’s something that’s normal I think; jobs which can be done by anyone don’t usually pay much, simply because so many people can do them, employers don’t need to pay more than the absolute minimum.
Then there are jobs which only a few people can do, either because of the skills or knowledge required to do the job, and employers have to pay more for these types of jobs because the higher payment reflects the scarcity of individuals who are able to do them.
It’s basically the law of supply and demand, just as it would apply to any other product. The labor market is subject to the same law, the more common the job skills are, the less the job pays, and the rarer the job skills are the more the job pays.
Is it possible to eliminate this kind of discrimination?
Unless all jobs are made the same – the answer is no, different pay rates will always apply to different jobs depending on the level of expertise needed. Clearly an easy job which requires little or no training or education will never pay as much as a difficult or dangerous job which needs the individual to be highly trained or educated to do it.
Nothing in life works like that.
What are some of the motivational factors for workers to perform well in their work?
I suppose the most common ones are money, satisfaction, recognition and personal self-esteem. Different people are motivated by different factors and while we all like to be paid for the work we do, it’s not always the most important factor. There are many people who put social factors such as being part of a team, contributing, and helping others as greater priorities than simply earning money.
Then there are people who perform well in the hope that their efforts will be recognized by management or their boss, or they simply take pride in doing their job well, or they seek promotion or greater responsibility within the company.
In your opinion, where does such inner motivation come from?
Sometimes it comes from a need, such as wanting to prove to others that you can do something well or better than other people. Some people are naturally competitive and it is this which drives them to perform better than other people at work.
Many people who come from humble backgrounds are motivated to perform well at work so they can build a better life for themselves and their family in the future.
In other cases, it may simply be just a desire to earn more money so they can be financially better off in the future.
So inner motivation can originate from family circumstances, physical needs, emotional needs, such as improving self-esteem, or be based on another psychological need such as proving your ability to your parents or other people, for example.
How do you think companies could improve the job satisfaction levels of underpaid workers?
I’m not sure that’s possible. I mean, if they are underpaid, they obviously get paid less than they think they should, but employers are not going to pay more than is absolutely necessary for any employee – most low paid jobs can be done by almost anyone, so investing additional resources to try and make employees happier makes the cost of the employees higher.
Sadly, it is easier for employers to simply employ a new person to do the job and then let them leave when they become unhappy or dissatisfied after a certain time.
Personally, I think it’s up to the individual to find their own motivation for doing a job. If you think you are worth more money, then prove it. Work harder, faster or better than all the other employees and prove you are worth more pay or able to do something better within the company.
Alternatively, do your job as required, and put your extra effort into learning a new skill which will enable you to find a better-paying job in the future.
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