IELTS Speaking Test # 107
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IELTS Speaking Test # 107
Part 1 Topic: "Age".
Part 2 Topic: "Describe a time when you started using a new technological device".
Part 3 Topic: "Technology and education" & "Technology and society".
Part 1 - Introduction & Interview
[This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself and checking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview. In the interview, the examiner asks the candidate about his/her home, work or studies and other familiar topics.]
Topic: "Age".
Q. Are you happy to be the age you are now? [Why/Why not?]
Answer: Yes, I sure am happy to be the age I am now primarily because it has allowed me to understand about the world around me in a new light. In fact, as I actually come to think about it, I am so happy just to be alive because life is a gift, no matter what age I really am.
Q. When you were a child, did you think a lot about your future? [Why/Why not?]
Answer: No, for better or worse, I never really thought a lot about my future because I have always felt that I shouldn’t think about something which I don’t know or which I don’t see. Besides, I have always been one of those persons who have liked to live in the ‘present’ without worrying about my adulthood.
Q. Do you think you have changed as you have got older? [Why/Why not?]
Answer: Yes, I would like to think that I have changed significantly, as I have grown older, and the priorities in life have changed and so has the way I act and behave. Besides, I have also become more confident, both physically and mentally, about my life and future as I have grown older.
Q. What will be different about your life in the future? [Why?]
Answer: There possibly will be a couple of significant changes in my life in the near future. First, I will be moving to a bigger city for better employment opportunities in the future once I finish my studies. Besides, I am also planning to be more careful about my diet and physical health since I am a bit thin for my age now. Moreover, after I have a job, I will probably get married after a couple of years later and have kids of my own. This will change so many things and aspects of my lifestyle.
Part 2 - Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card
[The topic for your talk will be written on a card which the examiner will hand over to you. Read it carefully and then make some brief notes.]
Describe a time when you started using a new technological device (e.g. a new computer or phone).
You should say:
- what device you started using
- why you started using this device
- how easy or difficult it was to use
and explain how helpful this device was to you.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
[Examiner: All right? Remember you have one to two minutes for this, so don't worry if I stop you. I'll tell you when the time is up. Can you start speaking now, please?]
Model Answer:
Up until recently, I have avoided buying and using any smartphones primarily because they cost a bit too much money (for an ‘economic’ person like me), and it would not feel convenient because of their large size to carry them in my pocket. But, that all changed when I found out that I was missing some of the “greatest” moments of my family life because of not having a smartphone.
Anyway, it was actually a few months ago, that I felt the need for buying a smartphone, when my sister wanted me, while riding on a bus in the road, to see the live video of her 10 months old little angel (my niece) walking for the first time except, of course, she totally forgot that I didn’t have a smartphone to see and capture the ‘special moments’. I felt really bad at that time, to say the least, and immediately decided to buy a smartphone. Luckily, I found a great phone at a discounted price because the phone store had some kind of “sale” going at that time. However, in the beginning, it was not really that easy to use my smartphone, because of its “touch screen”, which wasn’t always easy to manoeuvre unlike the “buttons” of a regular mobile phone. Besides, it would make calls ‘automatically’, while still in my pocket, because of its very ‘sensitive’ touch screen if I was not handling it in a careful manner.
But, now, after the initial difficulties in handling the phone, I find my new beautiful gadget to be really handy and useful. First, it allows me to communicate with my friends and families very easily by using the internet feature on the machine. Besides, I can also see my family members live on the video while also talking to them at the same time when I am away from them. Then, it also allows me to download and listen to some new music, when I am on the road, in order to keep the “travel fatigue” at bay. Finally, it also allows me to take pictures of ‘special moments’ when I am with my family and friends.
Part 3 - Detailed discussion:
Discussion topic: "Technology and education"
Q. What is the best age for children to start computer lessons?
Answer: Some experts suggest it is best for children to start computer lessons when they are around 4/5 years old. However, at this age, children should only be introduced to doing basic things such as how to turn on and off a computer, or how to open up one of their favourite pieces of “children’s software” or “games”. Besides, whatever they do or “learn” on a computer at this age, they should do so only in the ‘spirit’ of having fun, not some “serious learning”, in order to ensure proper cognitive development.
Q. Do you think that schools should use more technology to help children learn?
Answer: No, I don’t really think that schools should use any more (even though the idea of “more” can be a subjective issue) technology to help children learn because that will make them “overly” dependent on “technology”. And once they are “overly” dependent on technology, they will not learn from “the environment” around them. Besides, using too much technology to help children learn may disconnect them from social interactions which are absolutely vital for proper cognitive development. Finally, using too much technology can actually distract children from learning necessary and important “real lessons”.
Q. Do you agree or disagree that computers will replace teachers one day?
Answer: I disagree with the suggestion that computers will, or should, replace teachers one day because no matter how smart a computer is, because of things like “Artificial Intelligence” it will never be able to understand the “human factor” of the children. And, if it doesn’t understand the “human factor”, it will never be able to become an “effective teacher”. Of course, computers can always remain on the “side” as a trusted tool or helping hand, but it’s the teachers who mentor the students and make them laugh and encourage academic passion among them by being a ‘relational being’, unlike a computer or machine. After all, for better or worse, there is something in this world which can’t be replaced by some “machines”, and “human teachers” just happen to be one of those things.
Discussion topic: "Technology and society"
Q. How much has technology improved how we communicate with each other?
Answer: Technology has “revolutionized” the way we communicate with each other. With things like mobiles, smartphones and computers, communication has become very easy, quick and convenient. Besides, with internet technologies, today we can send a huge amount of data and information by using the email and other “instant messenger” services. Finally, we can also see each other live on the video while talking to each other also at the same time, even if we live in one corner of the world, courtesy to the advanced modern technology.
Q. Do you agree that there are still many more major technological innovations to be made?
Answer: Yes, I do agree with the suggestion that many more major technological innovations to be made primarily because the world and its people are constantly facing challenges, such as environmental pollution, lack of fuel energy and drinking water crisis, which need immediate attention. Besides, even if we believe for a second that the world is facing no challenges, people would still come up with the new ideas and discoveries because it is just in our human nature to improve on the existing condition in which we live.
Q. Could you suggest some reasons why some people are deciding to reduce their use of technology?
Answer: Technology certainly has improved our lives, but unfortunately, it is not without some of the negative effects, for which, some people are deciding to reduce their use of technology. One such negative effect is that technology is making us “lethargic” because we are not doing even the simplest of the things on our own. Besides, some people are also becoming alarmed (rightly or wrongly) about the radiation effects on human bodies which are forcing them to reduce the use of technology. Finally, some people believe that the use of technology has detrimental effects on our environment and they want to decrease the use of technology to minimise the negative effects.
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