In this video,
I’m going to show you
an IELTS Speaking band score 7.5 candidate,
Viktoriia from Russia - here she is,
and share with you the kind of vocabulary she used
to get a band 7.5 when she took an IELTS Speaking test
and how she needed to use this vocabulary
to get a band score 8.0.
Both of these reasons can help you improve
your speaking for IELTS,
and to give you even more help,
later in the video
I’m going to show you an online tool
to help you use vocabulary
that can get you a higher score.
My name’s Pete Jones,
and if you’ve seen any of my IELTS Speaking band score videos before,
you’ll know that the candidates in the videos
really have taken an IELTS test
and really did get the score shown in their results form.
You’ll also know that I have around 10 years’ experience
as an IELTS examiner
and write IELTS resources for Cambridge University Press
so you can trust the feedback and advice that I share.
If you need some support listening to this video,
you can turn on the subtitles
by pressing the caption button below.
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don’t forget to subscribe.
So, I’ve kept you waiting long enough.
Here’s Viktoriia
answering some IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions
on the topic of films.
What I suggest is that you pause the video after each question
and think about how you would answer it,
and then listen to Viktoriia’s answer
to check if she answers it in a similar way.
And don’t forget that I’ll be back later in the video
to show you how Viktoriia and you
can get a higher IELTS Speaking band score.
Let's talk about films and movies.
When was the last time you went to the cinema?
I think it was two weeks ago.
I went with my partner to watch a movie.
I don't remember the name.
It was like a surname or name.
But I didn't like it at all because
it was all about actions and shooting and ...
The whole movie was just like about running,
and someone is following the other guy,
and I didn't get the idea at all.
How popular are cinemas where you live?
I think they are very, very popular at the moment
because we have about three cinemas
and tickets are not very expensive
so people usually go there
as a part of entertainment.
What sorts of films or movies do you enjoy most?
I like thrillers and also I like comedy.
At the moment, I miss my home country
so I go to YouTube and watch stand-up videos.
So, these are Russian comedian people
talk about their problems in a very funny way
so I like it.
And where do you prefer to watch films:
at the cinema or at home?
I prefer both.
It just depends on my mood.
Sometimes when I feel like I don't wanna
do makeup or hair
and just want to have a quiet evening
so I prefer to stay home
and watch with my partner and his family,
or sometimes when I feel like
to watch on a big screen
and having popcorn next to,
so in this case I would go to the cinema.
So, as promised,
this is the part where I show you
the kind of vocabulary Viktoriia used
to get a band score 7.5
and how she needed to use it to get a higher band score.
Well, Viktoriia certainly showed in her answers
that she can use some different vocabulary
to answer IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions about movies.
You probably heard her say 'the cinema'
and that she liked ‘thrillers’
but did you also hear her say 'the big screen'
when she described watching a movie at the cinema
compared to watching a film on television?
Sometimes when I feel like
to watch on a big screen
and having popcorn next to,
so in this case I would go to the cinema.
Now you may be wondering why this particular vocabulary is important?
And the answer is
that it shows Viktoriia can use less common vocabulary than ‘cinema’
and use it appropriately.
And how do you know that ‘the big screen’ is less common
and that this can help you get a higher band score.
Well let me show you.
You simply go to the online Macmillan dictionary
and type ‘the big screen’
and see that it’s written in black.
When you type in cinema, you’ll see it’s written in red,
which means it’s more frequent.
The most frequently used words have three stars.
If you look at the official IELTS Speaking band score descriptors,
you’ll see that in order to get a band score 7 for your vocabulary,
you need to use some less common vocabulary.
I’ve put links to these two resources in the video description below.
‘The big screen’ wasn’t the only example of
less common vocabulary that Viktoriia used.
She also used the words ‘stand-up’ and ‘comedians’
to describe people who stand up on stage and tell jokes.
But did she use them skillfully,
like a very good or expert speaker would?
I miss my home country
so I go to YouTube and watch stand-up videos.
So, these are Russian comedian people
talk about their problems in a very funny way.
No, she didn’t
and this is the likely reason
she didn’t get a band 8 for her vocabulary
and probably for her speaking overall.
To use these words skillfully,
you’d have to put them together
and say ‘stand-up comedians’,
not ‘stand-up videos’
or ‘comedian people’ like Viktoriia did.
Here’s what it says in the IELTS band score descriptors
for band score 8.
Now, the band score descriptors are complicated
and written for examiners
not people taking the test like you.
So the best way to understand them
and see how you can get the score you need
is to watch more of my IELTS Speaking band score videos.
In each video, I show you an example of a candidate’s speaking
and then explain why they got the score they did
and how they, and you, can improve.
There are more videos coming
so make sure you hit that subscribe button and notification bell,
and leave a comment
if you have any specific questions
about how to improve your speaking.
Remember, I teach everything I know
so you’re in the right place to learn!