Copyright 1996

There are 2 recorded speaking tests. 
Before you start 
Listen to each phase in each test and carry out the tasks on the 
following pages. 
Check the table of Speaking Test Band Scores on page 157. 
If you can, practice Phase 3 interviews with a partner using the task 
cards on page 158.
The IELTS speaking test has 5 Phases. 
In Phase 1 the interviewer and the candidate greet each other and make sure 
they both feel comfortable. The interview will probably be recorded. 
In Phase 2 the interviewer will ask you, the candidate, to talk about your 
family or your country or something which is familiar to you. 
In Phase 3, you must ask the questions. The interviewer will ask you to 
pretend you are in a particular situation where you need to find some 
information. To get the information you need, you will have to ask the 
interviewer certain questions, using a card to guide you. 
Phase 4 is where you will be expected to talk freely and in a more extended 
way about your future plans. You will have the opportunity to give opinions 
or to evaluate specific situations related to your field of study or to your 
personal interests. 
Finally, in Phase 5, the interviewer will bring the interview. to a close.

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Recorded Speaking Test 1 
The first interview is with Maria who is a student from Malaysia. She's 18 and 
is about to enter an Australian university to study Medicine. Here are a few 
details about Maria. 
PERSONAL DETAILS  
Family name- MAHAMOOD
Other name: MARYA
Nationality- Malaysia First language: MALAY
LANGUAGE:
Occupation: STUDENT
Work experience 
How did you learn. English?
What are you personal interests?
What are your future plans?
Why are you taking this test? '

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MARIA 
Phase 1 
A 
i) Before listening to Phase 1 of the interview look at questions 1-7 below. Guess 
Maria's responses to these 7 questions and write your guesses on a separate 
sheet. 
Questions 1-7 
1 . Hello Maria. Could I have a look at your personal details? 
My guess ________________ Maria's response ________________  
2. 
Right now, and you come from Malaysia? 
My guess ________________Maria's response _________________  
3. 
What part do you come from? 
My guess_________________Maria's response _________________ 
4. 
Is it very sunny? 
My guess ________________Maria's response _________________  
5. 
Do you um do you have any brothers or sisters? 
My guess ________________ Maria's response _________________  
6. 
Right and are you the eldest? 
My guess _________________ Maria's response ________________  
7. 
And are some of them studying in Australia as well? 
My guess _ _ _ _ 
Maria's response ________________ 
ii) Listen to Phase 1 and note down Maria's responses. Stop the tape at the end of 
Phase 1. Are your responses similar to hers? 
In your opinion, were Maria's responses: 
a looking? 
b about right? c too short? 
Circle either a, b or c. 
It you circled a, which responses could Maria have shortened? 
II you orded c, what other things could she have said? 
Discuss your opinions with a partner if you can. 

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u 
If you can, work with a partner. Ask and respond to similar questions about your 
own country and family. If you are working alone, write down your questions and 
record your responses on a cassette recorder. 
Phase 2 
A 
i) In Phase 2 Maria is discussing her studies. Read questions 8-22 quickly. Which 
of these topics is mentioned? Tick (/) the box if the topic is mentioned. 
a, 
a) medicine as a field of study
b) hospitals
c) illness
d) department stores
e) emergency
f) medicine as a career
ii) Read the questions again. Circle the questions to which it is not possible to 
answer 
just 'yes' or 'no'. 
Questions 8-22
8. 
And er it says here you're hoping to get into Medicine at university? 
9. 
Um tell me a little bit about what happens when you're ill in Malaysia? What 
happens when somebody's sick at home? 
10. Do you have er general practitioners, doctors who come to visit homes? 
1 1 .
And er what sort of um illnesses are common in Malaysia—what do 
people 
often complain about—being sick, being off work? 
12. And are the colds that you get in Malaysia similar to the colds you get in 
Australia? 
13. Tell me a little bit about the nearest hospital to Terangannu. 
14. Is it a big hospital? 
15- What sort of departments does it have? 

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16. And or what do you do in Malaysia when you want an ambulance? Do you 
have a special number you can ring? 
17. When, when did you first start to get interested in er Medicine as a field of 
study? 
18. Was there someone in your family who encouraged you, or was it just your 
own idea? 
19. Right er is she er involved in Medicine in some way? 
20. So what er what appealed to you about Medicine as a career? 
21. Glamour? 
22. But it's certainly an er an occupation that's well respected in Malaysia? 
i) Listen to Phase 2 of the interview. As you listen, try to note down 
Maria's 
ii) Rewind the tape and listen to Phase 2 again. Choose one or two 
questions 
which, in your opinion, Maria responds to well, and one or two questions to 
which she responds not so well. 
Write the question numbers down and give reasons for your choices in the box 
below. 
Question 
number
Responded well (W) 
Reasons
or not so well (NW)
Compare numbers and reasons with a partner if you can. 
Using questions 8-12 as a guide, write down 5 questions about your area of study. 
Find a partner to ask you these questions. If you are working alone, write down 
each question and record your responses onto a cassette recorder. 

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Phase 3. 
In the next phase of the speaking test, Maria is going to ask the questions. The 
interviewer will tell her about a certain situation. Maria needs to find out some 
information about it. She will need to ask as many questions as she can in order 
to get as much information as possible. The interviewer will give her a card 
which explains the situation and which has a few suggestions for questions on 
it. She may take a few moments to look at the card before she starts asking the 
questions. 
A 
Before you listen to the tape, first look at Maria's card and decide what questions 
you would ask in this situation. Write a few questions down. Try not to use the 
exact words written on the card. 
Maria's card looks like this. 
Task
WEEKEND CAMP FOR NEW STUDENTS
There is a weekend camp being organised for new students. 
Find out:
• the purpose of the camp 
• where it is being held 
• arrangements for getting there and b.ick 
^
• the cost
My questions: 
• __________________________________ ____
• 
• __________________ ^ ____________________
•____________

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B 
Redd the interviewer's responses to Maria's questions, numbered 23-31. Which of 
your own questions would fit the interviewer's responses?