IELTS Speaking Actual Test in Australia – April 2017 & Sample Answers

Janice Thompson

6 min read

Updated On Aug 14, 2024

Speaking Part 1
Speaking Part 2
Speaking Part 3

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Speaking Part 1

1 What is your full name?

Well, I am Aniket Ghosh.

2 Can I see your ID?

Of course. Here it is.

3 Where are you from?

I am from Bangalore. It is the capital city of Karnataka. It is widely famous for its tech industry and advancements in that field. It is also famous for its natural parks, botanical Garden and sanctuaries.

4 Do you work or study?

At present, I am a GATE aspirant. I am in my final year and simultaneously preparing for it. I mainly study the subjects like aptitude, coding, computer organisation and several other subjects. I got a few job offers but I want to pursue M.Tech.I have good grades so far and i am expecting to continue it.

5 Do you like flowers ? (Why?)

Yes, I do like flowers. As an introvert, sometimes, I find myself feeling peaceful and relaxed while enjoying nice flowers in my garden. I have a habit of taking pictures of flowers after the rain. I feel most at peace spending chunks of good-time on my own, in relative silence, contemplating the beauty of flowers with raindrops through my camera lens.

6 What is your favorite flower?

White roses are truly my favorite flower. They are traditionally associated with marriages and new beginnings. However, their beauty has also made them a gesture of remembrance. Therefore, a bouquet of white roses is a perfect way to say “I’m thinking of you”.

7 Do you think flowers are important?

For an introvert like me, enjoying the harmonization of various types of flowers with different gorgeous colors in the garden or in florist shops could brighten up my days and lift my spirits.

8 Do you write every day?

I love writing I must say. Writing helps me stay focused and organize things way more effectively. In the classes I always have my pen and notebook ready to take some notes and when going out I type my notes on the phone.

9 What do you usually write?

Mostly I like to write notes in class since it helps me concentrate on the lectures. Written notes are also good reference for exams. Besides, I often write to-do list so that I make use of my time. I also make lists of stuffs I need to buy before I go shopping or things I need to pack before any trips.

10 Do you usually write by hand or write using a computer?

With the advent of technology, the most common means of daily communication nowadays is typing. Personally, I prefer typing email due to high standardization. However, if it’s a letter, a card or postcards to relatives or friends, I’d love to send them a handwritten form to show my respect and love.

Speaking Part 2

Describe a holiday postcard or email you received and that you liked

You should say:

who the postcard/email was from
where it was sent from
when you received it
what the content of the postcard or email were
and explain why you liked it.

Sample Answer

To tell you the truth, my friends and relatives are actually not used to sending postcards, yet all of a sudden a friend of mine who’s living thousands miles from me made me almost burst into tears by sending me a beautiful handwritten postcards on my last birthday.

Similarly to other normal postcards, it has a photo in the front and some writing lines at the back. However, my friend knew me so well that the photo she picked was a night sky full of stars. She said I once told her I had never had a chance to to watch the real one, which made me completely taken aback for a while because even I didn’t remember that I said so. What a breathtaking photo I’ve ever seen. At the back is her handwriting with special birthday wishes for me and a promise to see each other again real soon.

It was such a huge surprise for me, to be honest. Since we were living in different countries, different time zones prevent us from chatting as often as before. I thought she would just give me a call or text me a message on my birthday, but a postcard was sent instead. Later that day I called to thank her and we had a long conversation after months. I brought the postcard with me when I returned home on holiday to keep it safe in my memory box under my bed. I’m so thankful for having such a good friend.

Vocabulary For Cue Card

To be used to V-ing : to do something frequently
Eg: I am used to sanitizing my hands.
To burst into tears : to cry suddenly
Eg: Rose burst into tears when she saw her cat die.
Miles from anywhere/nowhere : a long way from a town or other place where people live
Eg: The village is located miles away from the city.
Similar to : things that are similar share some qualities but are not exactly the same
Eg: My father and I have similar views in politics.
Take aback : surprise someone
Eg: I was taken aback to see the society members fighting amongst each other.
To be breathtaking: to be extremely beautiful and eye-catching
Eg: The view of the sunset from my balcony was breathtaking.
Prevent somebody from doing something : to stop someone from doing something
Eg: The teacher prevented the students from copying during the exam.
Give somebody a call/ring: call somebody
Eg: “Give me a ring, whenever you need me”, I said to my best friend.
To be on holiday : to be away from work
Eg: She has decided to go on a holiday to France.

Speaking Part 3

1 What are the differences between emails and handwritten letters?

The basic difference between an email and a handwritten letter is the medium. A letter is written on an actual paper and sent through the mail (post) while an electronic mail is typed on a device (can be a computer or a smartphone) and sent to the recipient. Nowadays, emails have become the most popular means of communication for business organizations and individuals because of its speed. However, there’s still some place for traditional handwritten letters in the tech-oriented world.

2 Will hand-written letters become obsolete in the future? Why?

I don’t think so. The written word will never become obsolete as it has many advantages. It is easy to write in a paper. And no matter how much we have moved towards digital technology, a good handwritten note will save a day.

3 Why should we write letters to friends and relatives?

We should write letters to our friends and families because a thoughtful letter can be treasured forever. It also confirms the importance of a relationship. Taking the time to send a thoughtful note to your loved ones shows how much you cherish a relationship.

4 What are the important qualities of a good letter?

A hand-written letter is written with love which has certain objectives. The effectiveness of a letter depends upon certain factors like clarity, correctness, completeness, attractiveness, courtesy, conciseness, creativeness, and coherence.

Vocabulary For Speaking part 3

Effective: successful or achieving the results that you want
Eg: Paracetamol is an effective medicine for a headache.
Obsolete: something which is no longer in use or no longer useful
Eg: Most factories in the village are obsolete.
Treasure: keep carefully (a valuable or valued item).
Eg: I treasured the ring given by my mother.
Clarity: the quality of being clear and easy to understand, see, or hear
Eg: The essays written by Rose were edited for clarity.
Conciseness: the condition of being short
Eg: When writing business letters, clearness and conciseness should be given the utmost attention.