IELTS Band 5 Plan Week 4: Longer Speaking Answers

This week's sessions

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Day 1 · 🗣️ Speaking · about 20 minHow the Speaking test worksRead this week's lesson and the IELTS Speaking guide. Write down what happens in Parts 1, 2 and 3.
Day 2 · 🗣️ Speaking · about 20 minListen and copy: talking about hobbiesListen to the conversation and notice how the speakers give reasons and examples. Then pause after some sentences and say them out loud with the speaker.
Day 3 · 🗣️ Speaking · about 25 minLonger answers practiceDo the practice set below. Speak out loud for every question, then compare with the sample answer.
Day 4 · 🗣️ Speaking · about 25 minA Part 2 talk about a placePrepare for one minute with key words only, then speak for as long as you can, up to two minutes. Read the sample answer and try again.
Day 5 · 🗣️ Speaking · about 25 minPart 1 questionsAnswer the Part 1 questions out loud with answer + reason + example. Record yourself if you can, and listen back.

This week's lesson: answer, add a reason, keep going

The IELTS Speaking test is a conversation with an examiner. It takes about 11 to 14 minutes and has three parts. For band 5, you need to keep talking, answer the question, and be easy to understand. You will make mistakes, and that's OK. Long silences and very short answers are the bigger problem.

The three parts

Part 1: easy questions about you: your home, work, studies, family and free time.
Part 2: you get a card with a topic. You have one minute to prepare, then you speak for up to two minutes.
Part 3: more general questions about the same topic as Part 2.

Part 1: answer + reason + example

A one-word answer is the most common mistake at this level.

Examiner: Do you like your job? Too short: Yes. Better: Yes, I do, because my co-workers are friendly. For example, we often have lunch together.

Two or three sentences is enough. Use because for a reason and for example for an example.

Use the right tense

Listen to the question. It tells you which tense to use.

What do you usually do at the weekend? → present simple: I go shopping. What did you do last weekend? → past simple: I went to the beach.

Part 2: use your minute

In your minute, write key words, not sentences. Key words are short notes that help you remember your ideas.

Card: Describe a shop you often go to. Notes: fruit shop – near station – 2–3 times a week – cheap, fresh – friendly owner

Then talk about each point in order. If you finish early, tell a short story: "I remember one day..." Stories help you keep going.

Part 3: say what you think, and why

Part 3 questions are harder, but simple answers are fine. Give your opinion and a reason:

"I think... because..." "In my country, most people... For example..."

When you don't understand or forget a word

You can ask: "Sorry, could you say that again, please?"
If you forget a word, explain it: "It's a thing you use to... " or "It's like a..."

Both of these are good speaking skills, and they're better than stopping.

Speak clearly

Your accent is fine. What matters is that the examiner can understand you. Speak at a steady speed. Fast and unclear is worse than slow and clear.

Try it

Answer these out loud. Use answer + reason + example each time:

Where do you live? Do you like cooking? What did you do yesterday evening?

Record yourself on your phone if you can. Did you stop after one sentence? Try again and add because...

Practise every day

Speak English for five minutes every day, even to yourself. Describe what you're doing while you cook or walk. It feels strange at first, but it builds the habit of speaking without stopping.

Practice for this week

Longer answers practice

Loading questions…

Weekly check: Speaking mock test

All three parts with an examiner voice. Use the self-check afterwards.

Start the weekly check

When you finish, come back to your plan home: your dashboard updates with the new score.

Answers, explanations and transcripts

Finish the test first, then open each section to check your answers. Every answer has an explanation.

Longer answers practice

Model answer: Part 1

What do you usually do at the weekend?

I usually relax at the weekend, because I work hard during the week. On Saturday morning I go shopping with my wife, and on Sunday we often visit my cousin. Sometimes we have a barbecue together.

Model answer: Part 1

Did you enjoy school when you were a child? Why?

Yes, I did, mostly. I enjoyed school because I had a lot of friends there. My favourite subject was maths, and I had a very kind teacher. I didn't like the homework, though.

Model answer: Part 2: long turn

Describe a shop you often go to. You should say: where it is, what it sells, how often you go there, and explain why you like this shop. (1 minute to prepare, up to 2 minutes to speak.)

I'd like to talk about a small fruit and vegetable shop near my house. It's on the main street, next to the train station, so it's very easy to get to.

The shop sells fresh fruit and vegetables, and also some bread, eggs and spices. They have a lot of things from different countries, so I can buy food from my home country there too.

I go there about two or three times a week, usually after work. It only takes five minutes to walk there from my house.

I like this shop for a few reasons. First, the fruit is always fresh, and it's cheaper than the big supermarket. Second, the owner is very friendly. He knows my name, and he always asks about my family. Sometimes he gives my children a free banana. I remember one day I forgot my wallet, and he said, 'No problem, pay me tomorrow.' That was very kind. So for me, it's not just a shop. It feels like part of my neighbourhood.

Answer key (3 answers)

#	Question	Answer	Why
1	Examiner: 'Do you like your job?' Which answer is best?	Yes, I do, because my co-workers are friendly. For example, we often have lunch together.	C answers the question, gives a reason (because...) and an example. A and B are too short, and D doesn't talk about you.
2	You don't understand the examiner's question. What can you say?	'Sorry, could you say that again, please?'	In Part 1 you can ask the examiner to repeat the question. It's polite and it doesn't lose marks.
3	In Part 2 you have one minute to prepare. What should you write?	A few key words for each point on the card	Write short notes, like 'park – near my house – weekends – quiet'. Full sentences take too long, and you'll want to read them out.

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