When was the last time you had fast food? Go on, be honest — no judgment here. Whether it was a sneaky burger on the way home, a quick brekkie on the way to work or school, or a Friday treat you absolutely do not regret, most of us have a relationship with fast food. It's cheap, it's fast, it's everywhere — and resisting it takes a level of willpower most of us are saving for more important things.

But here's the good news: all that time you've spent in the drive-through- it's research! Fast food is one of those topics that pops up regularly in the IELTS exam — as a Part 1 warm-up, a Part 2 long turn, a Part 3 discussion, or even a Task 2 essay question. It touches on health, lifestyle, the environment, globalisation — the kind of themes IELTS loves. So if you're going to eat it, you might as well get a higher band score for your efforts!

In this episode, we work through a set of Part 1 speaking questions on the topic of fast food— the kind of short, conversational questions you'd get right at the start of the speaking exam. We'll cover questions like whether you like fast food, what kinds you've tried, and when you'd go to a fast food restaurant. There's also a slightly unexpected one in the mix: whether you use a microwave — because quick cooking at home is very much part of the fast food conversation. Along the way you'll pick up ideas, example answers, and vocabulary you can use straight away. Part 3 discussion questions — the big debates around health, obesity, and whether fast food should be regulated — are a whole other episode, and whether we get there depends on you: leave a comment or send some feedback and let us know if you want to go deeper!

Here's that link to Yonghe Dawang restaurant I mentioned in the podcast: : https://www.instagram.com/reels/DW7rvlbDNuO/

I hope this episode is instructive and informative.

cheers

Locky

Web:

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IELTS official website:

www.ielts.org

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Welcome back to the IELTS-Help.com podcast Episode 9 Part 1 Speaking topic- ‘Travel'

In this episode, I chose 6 common questions and offered example responses at a Band 6.0 level or slightly higher as this is the level most candidates are aiming at. You can create your own answers and ‘up’ the vocabulary and grammar for your self.

Here are the questions covered in this episode:

1.     Do you like traveling? [Why/Why not?]

2.     Where did you last travel to?

3.     Who do you like traveling with? [Why?]

4.     Besides your home country, where would you like to travel to? [Why?]

5.     Why do people like traveling?

6.     What are some common problems people face when traveling?’

Keep in mind these general points when answering:

1. Remember there are 4 areas you are marked on- fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation
2.  Try to use full sentences.
3. Answer the questions first then develop your answer with details and/ or examples.
4. Use connective language to structure your answers’.
5. Avoid repeating words or phrases like ‘I think’ or ‘and’
6. Pay attention to the way you speak including pronunciation, intonation, and stress.
7. Mix up your sentence types to include complex, compound, and simple sentences.

Links

IELTS: www.ielts.org

IELTS Help: ielts-help.com / ieltshelp.podia.com

Email: [email protected]

Thankyou for tuning in and I hope that the episode was informative and instructive.

If you have any questions or feedback, I would love to hear from you.

Take care and zai jian!

Locky

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In this episode I focus on another IELTS Speaking Part 1 topic- 'flowers'. It might not be a topic that you know much about or have any interest in BUT you still need to be able to answer questions related to the topic.

General Advice for the IELTS Speaking Exam:

• Answer the question first, then add details or explanations. Don’t go off on a tangent.

• Keep it natural – Try to speak in a relaxed way, speak conversationally, not like you're reading from a script or sounding like the robot from Lost in Space.

• Develop your answers - Don't just say "yes" or "no"; use full sentences and explain your ideas. The worst thing that could happen is the examiner asking you to stop.

• Use linking phrases - Throw in words like "because", "so", "for example," “firstly,” “secondly,” etc.

• Show range - Mix present tense, past tense, and opinions. Use different sentence types. Vary your vocabulary and try not to repeat words or phrases like ‘and, and, and…’ or ‘I think, I think, I think…’ 

• Avoid cliches and memorized phrases- Examiners know when you are using memorized phrases or cliches. For example ‘With the rapid development of science and technology…’ or ‘This is a hotly debated topic amongst people…’

• Remember it’s not just about the vocabulary and grammar, it’s also about how you speak- pronunciation, fluency, stress, intonation and how well you develop your answers -the details.

Here are the questions from Cambridge IELTS book 8 test 3:

1.     Do you like to have flowers in your home? [Why/ why not?]

2.     Where would you go to buy flowers? [Why?]

3.     On what occasions would you give someone flowers?

4.     Are flowers important in your culture? [Why/ why not?]

Here is a list of the 10 most common flowers bought, sold or grown. I asked Claude and this is what it said:

Based on global trade data and cultivation statistics, here are the most commercially significant flowers:

1.   Roses - The undisputed leader in the cut flower market, dominating Valentine's Day and special occasions worldwide. Grown extensively in Ecuador, Kenya, Colombia, and the Netherlands.

2.   Carnations - One of the most produced flowers globally. They're affordable, long-lasting, and widely used in arrangements and decorative purposes across all regions.

3.   Tulips - Iconic spring flowers, particularly dominant in the Netherlands (which exports millions annually). Popular for both cut flowers and bulb sales.

4.   Chrysanthemums - Extremely popular in Asia, especially Japan and China. Also widely grown in Europe and North America for both cut flowers and potted plants.

5.   Sunflowers - Major commercial crop used for cut flowers, seeds, and oil production. Extensively cultivated in Ukraine, Argentina, and China.

6.   Lilies - High-value cut flowers including Asiatic lilies, Orientals, and LA hybrids. Popular for weddings, funerals, and high-end arrangements.

7.    Gerberas - Colorful and long-lasting, making them popular for bouquets and arrangements globally. Major production in Ecuador, Kenya, and the Netherlands.

8.    Orchids - The most diverse flowering plant family with significant commercial cultivation, especially in Southeast Asia. Popular as potted plants and cut flowers.

9.    Gladiolus - Tall, dramatic flowers widely grown for cut flower arrangements. Common in Africa, South America, and Asia.

10.  Peonies - Highly valued for their fragrance and appearance, particularly for spring and early summer markets. Major production in China and Europe.

Look around your house and find out the names of the plants or flowers you have. Do you have a favourite flower? Research the names of common flowers in your region or country, and learn the English name. It would also be a good idea to learn the colours associated with the flowers so that you can describe them to the examiner if asked.

I hope this podcast was informative and instructive.If you have any comments or questions, please get in contact.

Links

IELTS website: www.ielts.org

IELTS Help website: IELTS-Help.com

Keep studying, practising, keep improving!

cheers!

Locky

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In this episode, I unpack this common IELTS part 1 speaking topic- neighbours. The idea of neighbours can be defined as the people who live close to us including the people who live next door, the same apartment building or nearby in the same street. There is a little flexibility here.

The questions I discuss are taken from the Cambridge IELTS Examination Papers Book 8 (Test 1) and Book 17 General Training (Test 1). I will break down each question and give an example response aiming at around the band 6.0 level in terms of vocabulary and grammar.

Here are the questions I discuss:

1.   How well do you know the people who live next door to you?

2.   How often do you see them? [Why/ Why not?]

3.   What kinds of problem do people sometimes have with their neighbours?

4.   What sort of things can neighbours do to help each other?

5.   How well do people generally know their neighbours in your country?

6.   How important do you think it is to have good neighbours?

There are many other questions you could get asked about neighbours in part 1 or you could even get a Part 2 question about neighbours. The key thing is to think about the topic in beforehand, generate some ideas, and prepare some vocabulary specific to the topic.

Things to keep in mind when answering:

• Try to use full sentences. Avoid single word answers.
• Use a range of vocabulary and try not to repeat words
• Structure your answers using connective or linking language
• Try to manage the way you speak. Focus on your pronunciation, stress, intontation and fluency.
• Speak with enthusiasm and energy.

Thankyou for listening to the episode and I hope you found it informative and instructive.

Leave a comment or suggestions for future episodes.

Links

IELTS website: www.ielts.org

IELTS Help website: IELTS-Help.com

Keep studying, practising, keep improving!

cheers!

Locky

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In this episode of the IELTS-Help.com podcast, I discuss 6 frequently-asked questions on the topic of work and give sample answers for each question at a Band 6.0 or slightly higher. I also offer some suggestions about how to answer the questions.

Here are some typical questions you may get asked about work:

1.Do you work or study? (or both?)

oThis is usually the opening question to establish your current situation

2.What do you do? (or What's your job?)

3.How long have you been working there?

4.What do you like most about your job?

5.What are the main challenges in your work?

6.Do you think you'll stay in this job for a long time?

7.What skills are most important for your job?

Things to keep in mind when answering:

• try to use full sentences. Avoid single word answers.
• use a range of vocabulary and try not to repeat words
• structure your answers using connective or linking language
• try to manage the way you speak. Focus on your pronunciation, stress, intontation and fluency.
• speak with enthusiasm and energy.

Thankyou for listening to the episode and I hope you found it informative and instructive.

Leave a comment or suggestions for future episodes.

Keep studying, practising, keep improving!

Links

IELTS website: www.ielts.org

IELTS Help website: IELTS-Help.com

cheers!

Locky

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In this episode, I go through some typical questions related to the topic of study. I also present some example responses aiming at a Band 6 level. It is a good idea to prepare this topic because it is often in the first set of questions in the exam.

The questions I look at are:

1. What do you study? 
2. How long have you studied___? 
3. Where do you study? 
4. What do you like most about study? 
5. What don’t you like about study? 
6. Do you like studying along or with others?
7. What do you plan to do after you finish study?

Links

IELTS website: www.IELTS.org

IELTS Help website: www.IELTS-help.com

If you have any questions or comments about this episode, please leave a comment.

Keep studying, keep practising!

Locky

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In this episode, I am going to look at a common part 1 speaking topic -hometown. It's usually in the first set of questions in the speaking exam, so preparing this topic is smart and definitely advisable.  

Show Notes

Let’s start with a quick review of what is required to get a band 6 score in speaking: 

1. Generally clear communication but with some errors maybe in pronunciation, intonation, or stress.  
2. Able to talk about a range of topics at length 
3. A range of grammatical structures are used with some errors, but meaning is clear 
4. Vocabulary is sufficient to discuss topics at length. There are maybe some word choice errors but meaning is clear 

Key points to remember when answering this topic: 

1. Provide detailed descriptions 

• Answer the questions directly and clearly then build your answer. You only get a short time to answer before the examiner moves on to the next question. 
• Don’t give yes no answers. Use full sentences. 
• Include specific details about your hometown’s location, size or special features. 
• Use descriptive language to paint a picture of your hometown. Make your descriptions ‘vivid’.  

2. Show some Fluency and Coherence 

• Connect your sentences smoothly. Make your answers flow with conjunctions like ‘and’, ‘also’, ‘as well as’, ‘besides 
• Use linking words like ‘however,’ ‘moreover,’ or ‘additionally’ 
• Demonstrate the ability to expand on your initial point. Use phrases like ‘for example’, ‘for instance’ 

3. Demonstrate Vocabulary Range 

• Use varied vocabulary related to places and communities. Use geographic and spatial language like compass directions, distances, and land formations.  
• Incorporate some less common words or slightly more advanced or precise descriptive terms 
• Show you can discuss your hometown from different angles for instance geography, culture, people, and history. 

4. Practice spontaneous Natural Responses 

• Sound natural and not over-rehearsed. Don’t use memorized answers but be prepared. 
• Be prepared to give concrete examples.  
• Show some personal connection or emotion when discussing your hometown. Use intonation and stress in your speech. 

Questions discussed in this episode:

1. Where is your hometown? 
2. What can visitors see or do in your hometown? 
3. What do you like about your hometown? 
4. What don’t you like about your hometown? 
5. What public transport is there in your hometown? 

Links

IELTS website: www.IELTS.org

IELTS Help website: www.IELTS-help.com

If you have any questions or comments about this episode, please leave a comment.

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In this episode, I delve into the IELTS speaking band descriptors, and try to explain what you need to demonstrate in the exam to get a Band 6 result. Remove the uncertainty about IELTS and replace it with knowledge and insights.

Link to the IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors: https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/ielts_speaking_band_descriptors.pdf

Link to the IELTS-Help.com website: https://www.ielts-help.com

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In this episode I introduce the IELTS band descriptors and why they are important. We overview both the speaking and writing descriptors and why understanding them can help you focus your preparation for IELTS.

Here are the links to the band descriptors mentioned in this episode:

Understanding IELTS scoring: https://ielts.org/organisations/ielts-for-organisations/understanding-ielts-scoring

Writing: https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/ielts-web-static/production/Guides/ielts-writing-band-descriptors.pdf

Speaking: https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/ielts-web-static/production/Guides/ielts-speaking-band-descriptors.pdf

IELTS-Help.com band descriptors (with Chinese translation): https://www.ielts-help.com/resources.html

If you have any comments or suggestions, please get in contact.

Locky

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In this episode, I introduce myself, explain what our goals and plans are for the IELTS-Help.com podcast.

If you want to get in touch, email me [email protected]

cheers,

Locky

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