Shadowing Practice: IELTS Speaking Introduction questions | Tips, sample questions and answers | TakeIELTS Preparation - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
C1
How can you make a great first impression on your examiner in your IELTS speaking test?
158 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
How can you make a great first impression on your examiner in your IELTS speaking test?
2
Well in this video I'll guide you through what to expect at the very start of your IELTS speaking test
3
and share some key vocabulary with you that will help you introduce yourself more confidently.
4
Hello and welcome my name is Emma and in this British Council IELTS preparation video
5
I'm going to explain what you can expect at the start of your IELTS Speaking Test,
6
what the purpose of the Speaking Test is,
7
and some of the most commonly asked questions in the IELTS introduction and interview,
8
with some example answers and vocabulary for you to use.
9
I'll also share some useful tips to help you get the best score in your IELTS Speaking Test.
10
Make sure you watch until the end of this video,
11
as I have some real IELTS Speaking Test questions for you to practice everything you've learned in this lesson.
12
Let's start with what to expect in your IELTS speaking test.
13
There are three parts to the test.
14
The introduction and interview, which we're going to focus on in this video,
15
takes place at the very beginning in part one.
16
Part one is also designed to help you feel more at ease and get you talking more naturally about yourself.
17
The speaking test lasts between 11 and 14 minutes in total.
18
And finally, in the test room it's normally just you and your examiner.
19
The purpose of the IELTS speaking test is to assess your fluency
20
and coherence so that's how clearly you can express yourself and connect your ideas together.
21
The examiner will mark you on your lexical resource which assesses your knowledge and use of vocabulary.
22
You will also be marked on your grammatical range and accuracy as well as your pronunciation.
23
When it comes to pronunciation you will not be marked on your accent nor do IELTS examiners prefer any particular accent.
24
What truly matters is that you communicate your ideas so your examiner can understand you without too much effort.
25
Intelligibility is what matters the most.
26
Now let's look at the most common questions you may be asked in your IELTS speaking introduction and interview.
27
When you first start your speaking test,
28
the examiner will ask you,
29
can you tell me your full name please?
30
Or what can I call you?
31
You can respond with, my name's,
32
I'm, you can call me, or just call me.
33
Next, your examiner will ask you to show your identification.
34
Remember, this must be the same ID you use to register with.
35
Most people will use their passport or national identity card.
36
When your examiner asks for your ID,
37
you can respond with, Sure, here you go.
38
Or, sure, here you are.
39
After you've given your name and ID,
40
your examiner may ask you, Where are you from?
41
You can respond with, I'm from or I'm originally from but I currently live in.
42
You don't need to go into a lot of detail at this stage.
43
Next, your examiner may ask you,
44
can you describe your hometown or can you describe the place where you live?
45
To help you think about what to say,
46
you can talk about the location,
47
the size, what your your hometown is known for or any other personal opinions and experiences.
48
Here's an example answer for you.
49
My hometown is located in the south of Spain and has a population of about 50,000 people.
50
In the past it used to be a booming fishing town with lots of bustling markets happening every weekend.
51
However, nowadays it's pretty quiet and there isn't much to do,
52
but it still managed to keep its really friendly and tight-knit community.
53
You might also be asked what's the most interesting part of your city or country?
54
Here's an example answer.
55
In my opinion, one of the most fascinating aspects of my country is the traditional festivals.
56
My favourite is the Lantern Festival,
57
which is an annual event that's held in various parts of the country.
58
People light paper lanterns and let them go so they start flying through the sky.
59
It's a stunning sight and a beautiful tradition which symbolises the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations.
60
Another topic that may come up in part one is work and studies.
61
When discussing what you do,
62
your examiner may ask you,
63
do you work or are you a student?
64
You can say, I work as a an or I'm currently a student at university, I'm studying.
65
If you say that you work,
66
your examiner may ask you what do you do for a living?
67
You can simply reply with I work as a my job involves I've been working as a for
68
or I'm currently employed as a um my main duties are
69
here's an example answer for you I've been working as a
70
maths teacher for the past 10 years at a secondary school in Cairo my job involves planning
71
and teaching lessons as well as helping to organize the after-school maths club.
72
If you mention that you're a student you may be asked what do you study?
73
You can respond by saying I study and then the topic
74
or I'm studying for my master's degree in.. you can also
75
give a little bit more information too as to why you're studying that.
76
For example, I study medicine at university as my plan is to become a doctor and work in the UK.
77
If you don't to explain why you choose to study the subject,
78
then your examiner may ask you,
79
why did you choose that subject?
80
You can answer this by saying that you aspire to have a certain career,
81
or you have an interest in that topic.
82
Let me give you an example.
83
Honestly, I always knew that I wanted to be a doctor.
84
So deciding to study medicine was a no brainer for me.
85
I come from a long line of doctors and surgeons
86
and I've always had so much admiration for healthcare professionals
87
so I wanted to follow in my parents footsteps and pursue a career in medicine too.
88
Next your examiner may ask you what you do in your free time by saying do you have any hobbies or interests.
89
You can respond with I'm a big fan of,
90
I love or in my spare time I enjoy.
91
For instance, yes my main hobby is photography,
92
especially capturing landscapes because for me it's a way to appreciate the beauty of nature.
93
I've also been told I've got a green thumb which comes in handy as I love gardening.
94
I really enjoy watching my plants grow and thrive.
95
Your examiner may also ask you how do you usually spend your weekends?
96
Here's an example answer for you.
97
Most weekends I like to unwind by spending some time outdoors
98
so I either go hiking in the local forest or I go for a stroll in the nearby park.
99
If it's raining I prefer to curl up on the sofa with a good book and a nice cup of tea.
100
Your examiner may ask you what your daily routine is and say something like what do you do every day?
101
Here's an example answer for you.
102
My day usually begins with an early morning jog around the
103
neighbourhood as I find it's quite a refreshing way to start my day.
104
After that I take a quick shower and then have breakfast,
105
then I head off to work.
106
I work as a nurse so I'm usually kept quite busy throughout the day.
107
I find that my workday changes from day to day but I mainly attend to patients on the ward.
108
In the evening I have a meal with my husband,
109
watch tv then head to bed.
110
Keep in mind that your examiner may also ask you more specific questions about your interests,
111
hobbies and free time.
112
For example they may ask you what's your favourite film or what was the last book you read?
113
Do you like to travel or what is your favourite kind of food?
114
A quick tip to make sure you're more prepared for these
115
specific questions is to create a mental list of things like books,
116
films, places, people, articles, festivals and food that you can talk about.
117
Now let's dive into some tips to help you prepare for the introduction and interview of your IELTS speaking test.
118
The first tip is to not use one word answers.
119
To impress your examiner and show off your vocabulary and grammar be sure to expand on your answers.
120
That said also make sure your answers are clear and concise.
121
Don't repeat yourself and don't stray from the topic.
122
Tip number two, on the day of your test listen to some English language podcasts
123
and watch videos on your way to the test centre.
124
This may help you get in the mood for your test.
125
You can also practice your speaking by doing some shadowing exercises.
126
This involves listening and repeating what you hear in a recording or video.
127
Finally, tip number three.
128
You will feel more prepared for your test if you know what to expect.
129
So, to help you with this,
130
practice answering some real IELTS speaking test questions.
131
You can find free speaking test questions when you join IELTS Ready.
132
It's completely free to join and you'll get full access to mock tests
133
and activities to help you improve the skills you need for your IELTS test.
134
Now, before we finish today,
135
you're going to do a practice IELTS speaking test with me to help you prepare for your introduction and interview.
136
If you need the subtitles for the questions,
137
you can turn them on in the video settings below.
138
So, are you ready?
139
Let's start.
140
Hello, my name's Emma and I'll be your examiner today.
141
Can we start with your full name, please?
142
May I see your identification?
143
Thank you.
144
Let's talk about where you live.
145
Where are you from?
146
Can you describe your hometown?
147
What's the most interesting part of your city?
148
Let's talk about your hobbies and interests.
149
How do you usually spend your weekends?
150
What was the last film you watched?
151
Thank you.
152
That's the end of your IELTS Speaking Practice Test.
153
And that's the end of today's video.
154
Your next step is to click the link in the description
155
and sign up for IELTS Speaking ready and improve your speaking skills with our free IELTS practice tests.
156
And don't forget to subscribe.
157
Before you leave tell me in the comments what's your favourite film?
158
Thanks for watching and I'll see you in the next video.
Download App
AI scoring for every sentence you speak
TRENDING
Popular
About This Lesson
In this lesson, you will gain essential insights into the IELTS Speaking Test, specifically focusing on the introduction and interview segment of the exam. You'll practice how to introduce yourself effectively, provide basic personal information, and describe your hometown or current residence. By understanding the structure and common questions asked, you will develop confidence and clarity in your responses, all while enhancing your English speaking practice through familiar scenarios presented in the test.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Full name: Used when responding to the examiner's request about your identity.
- ID (Identification): Your passport or national identity card that you present to the examiner.
- Hometown: A term for the town or city where you grew up.
- Currently live: A phrase that indicates your present place of residence.
- Population: The number of people living in a specific area, useful for describing your hometown.
- Location: A term used to specify where your hometown is situated geographically.
Practice Tips
To enhance your English speaking abilities in preparation for the IELTS Speaking Test, consider using a shadowing app to practice your responses. Listen to the video's tone and speed, as this will guide your pronunciation and intonation. Start by repeating the questions and answers in real time, mimicking the speaker’s rhythm. This shadow speech technique helps improve your fluency and coherence—key assessment criteria for the test.
As you listen, pause after each segment to reflect on what was said, and practice responding aloud. Doing this will help you internalize key vocabulary and phrases that you can utilize during your test. Incorporating shadowspeaks exercises into your routine can maximize your grasp of English. Make sure to practice describing your hometown or current living situation with relevant details, so you can convey your message clearly and effectively.
Regular english speaking practice is essential. The more you rehearse, the more comfortable you will feel at the time of your test. Engaging with both the content and delivery style will ensure you present your best self on examination day.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
☕ Buy us a coffee
ShadowingEnglish remains 100% free thanks to your support. Server and AI costs are high — your coffee keeps us going! 🙏