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IELTS Speaking Test: How long should my answers be?
I'm often asked by my students how long their answers to the interviewer's questions in the IELTS Speaking Test should be. In this article, I'll give some advice on how long your answers should be, and then give some simple advice on how to extend your answers.
Part One
In part one of the interview, which lasts four to five minutes, the interviewer will ask you some basic questions about topics that are familiar to you, such as your family, hobbies, or eating habits. Usually, the interview will ask you questions about three topics, and ask three to five questions per topic, for a total of nine to fifteen questions. Assuming that you spend the entire four to five minutes answering questions, you have about 20 to 30 seconds per question. Remember, though, that we must take into account the time it takes the interviewer to ask the questions.
Your answers in part one do not have to be all of the same length. For some questions, if you don't have much to say, it's fine to reply with just one to two sentences. For others, if you have a lot to say, you may want to answer with five or six sentences. The most important thing is to communicate a clear, full answer to the interviewer with some elaboration. As long as you do this, the interviewer will be satisfied with your answer, regardless of its length.
Part Two
In part two or the interview, the interviewer gives you a card and asks you to talk about the topic on the card for one to two minutes. You have one minute to prepare, and the interviewer will give you a sheet of paper and a pencil to take notes if you wish.
As long as you speak for somewhere between one and two minutes, the length of your answer is irrelevant, and your answer is judged on the level of language you present. If you speak for less than one minute, your score will be penalized; if you speak for more than two minutes, the interviewer will stop you, but your score should not be affected.
A misconception among many students is that you have to give very eloquent answers to get a high score on the IELTS Speaking Test. This is not the case. All that is necessary is that you give a clear answer using proper English. In part two of the interview, you are not expected to give a "professional" speech--after all, you only have only one minute to prepare! So relax, take a deep breath, and just talk about the topic that you are given in a clear, thoughtful manner.
(John Gordon 北京新航道学校副校长，雅思口语首席主讲)
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