English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

About Speaking for IELTS

Collins English for Exams series has been designed to be easy to use, whether by learners studying
at home on their own or in a classroom with a teacher:
• Instructions are easy to follow
• Exercises are carefully arranged from simpler to more difficult
• All units follow the same basic structure to breed familiarity and confidence
• Answer key is clear and comprehensive
Because these fundamentals are in place, classroom teachers can focus on maintaining motivation,
providing individual feedback, and facilitating pair and group work so that more interactive practice
can take place. This resource will explain how the material works and how it can be adapted to
make the most of the classroom learning context.
Each chapter in Speaking for IELTS provides opportunities to practise parts 1, 2 and 3 of the
Speaking test. Audio CDs provide numerous sample responses, which can be used not only to
check answers but also inductively to get learners thinking about what constitutes effective exam
performance.
Each chapter has a similar structure, which can form the basis of regular classroom routines. It will
provide 3–4 hours of content, 2 of which we recommend doing in class and 1–2 of which will make
ideal homework tasks.

Vocabulary
We recommend that the majority of vocabulary exercises be done at home before the lesson.
• This preparation will get learners thinking about the topic and will introduce them to relevant
vocabulary (activate schemata) without eating up classroom time.
• As repeated exposure to new vocabulary is required for mastery, the first 5–15 minutes of the
lesson can be spent doing a ‘spot check’ of a selection of the vocabulary covered at home.
Make these activities game-like, as suggested in the lesson plans, so that they can serve as
ice-breakers.
• The remaining exercises throughout the chapter give ample opportunity to apply vocabulary
learning to practice exam tasks.

Grammar
Most chapters contain a section covering the features of spoken grammar most useful for the test.
• Most exercises can be done individually and checked in pairs or small groups. Pair and group
work trains learners to reflect on and explain how they have approached the task. This will help
get them used to giving reasons for their choices – an important skill for the IELTS speaking exam.

Pronunciation
Each chapter provides pronunciation input and exercises that tackle the areas most likely to
‘impose strain’ on the listener.
• Use pair and group work to maximise student talking time.

Exam technique
Each chapter provides information and practice exercises covering key exam strategies.
• Throughout the units, a test-teach-test approach is taken: learners try exam practice exercises,
receive additional input and opportunity for self-reflection, and then repeat the exercises
incorporating what they have learned.
• We strongly recommend using pair work to increase fluency and confidence.
• Wherever possible, use audio recorders to facilitate learners’ self-reflection.
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

Sample lesson plan for Speaking for IELTS Unit 1

Student preparation for this class: Have students Direct learners’ attention to the Exam information box
complete Vocabulary Exercises 1–10 before the class. at the top of page 11. Have learners work in small
Ask them to write their responses to Exercise 3 on groups to brainstorm questions on the topic of family
a separate piece of paper and explain that they will that they might ask someone they were getting to know.
be sharing their answers with other class members Highlight good examples on the board. Play the recording
during the lesson. (approximately 2 hours) and note whether any of the questions were anticipated.
Teacher preparation: none Learners then role play the interview in pairs.

Exercise 13
Draw learners’ attention to the Exam information
Part 1: Language development box directly above the exercise. Spend a few minutes
Vocabulary (40 mins) discussing how learners feel about the task: What
difficulties do they anticipate? How might they deal
Exercises 1–3 introduce common adjectives with them? Ask learners to read the Part 2 question
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used to describe character and train learners and, if necessary give them examples of the type of
to recognise positive and negative connotation; notes they might make. Give them a minute to
Exercises 4–7 introduce expressions for make their own notes then pair them up to role
describing relationships and give examples of play the exercise.
how they are used in context; Exercises 8–10
show how adjectives can be modified and allow
for further practice in describing people.
Typical mistakes: Learners may use preparation
time to write a scripted answer rather than notes.
Spot check 1 (10 mins):
Remind them that they must speak spontaneously.
To check learners’ recall of adjectives for describing The response requires the speaker to manipulate a
character: variety of tenses (present, past and present perfect).
Note any difficulties they may have and address
1. Divide the class into groups of five or six and them in the next section.
designate one member of each group to act as
facilitator.
2. Facilitators gather in their group’s responses to
Exercise 3, shuffle them, and without giving away Grammar (20 mins)
the names, read them aloud.
3. The other group members listen and guess who
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Exercises 14–16 train learners to use

wrote which description.
appropriate tenses.
4. Group members clarify for each other the meanings
of any words that are unclear.
Exercise 14
Learners to do the exercise following the instructions
Spot check 2 (10 mins): in the book and compare their answers in pairs.
Pair learners up and ask them to speak for
3–4 minutes each about their relatives using the Typical mistakes: The present perfect is likely to
material they prepared at home (Exercises 9 & 10). cause the most difficulty as it may have no direct
Ask listeners to provide feedback on the speaker’s equivalent in learners’ L1, or it may be confused
use of vocabulary to modifying adjectives, expand on with the simple past. Explain that in question 1,
each characteristic, and describe negative traits. the present perfect refers to a time that began in
the past and continues until the present.
Exercises
11 & 12 Exercise 15
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Learners to do the exercise following the instructions

in the book and compare their answers in pairs.
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

Part 2: Exam skills (40 mins)

Typical mistakes: Some learners may not recognise
Exercises 1 & 2 train learners to recognise

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different aspects of vocabulary knowledge,
and in particular register. Exercises 3 & 4
Exercise 16 provides practice for Speaking exam Part 3:
Two-way discussion.
Learners to do the exercise in pairs. Listeners should
give feedback on their partner’s use of tenses.
Exercise 1
Ask learners to do the exercise individually and check
Pronunciation (20 mins) their answers in pairs.
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Exercises 17–20 train learners to pronounce Typical mistakes: Learners who have greater
strong and weak forms of prepositions. exposure to American English may be unfamiliar
with items 1 & 3. They may recognise US
equivalents, e.g. mate = buddy, bloke = guy.

Exercise 17
Do the exercise following the instructions in the book.

Exercise 18 Exercise 2
As you go through the exercise, have the whole Have learners do the exercise in groups of 5 with
class repeat each item in chorus, then spot check by each member researching one of the items of
nominating a few learners to repeat the sentences vocabulary from the unit and reporting their findings
individually. to the rest of the group. Alternatively, assign the
exercise for homework.
Typical mistakes: Some learners mistakenly believe Exercise 3
Direct learners’ attention to the Exam information box at
the bottom of page 14. Spend a few minutes discussing
page 12. how learners feel about the task: What difficulties do
they anticipate? How might they deal with them?
Instruct learners to do the exercise in pairs. Listeners
Exercise 19
should give feedback on the range and appropriacy of
Follow the instructions for Exercise 18 above.
their partner’s vocabulary.
Exercise 20
Have learners do the exercise individually then work in Exercise 4
pairs to check their answers and practise repetitions. Play the sample answer, discussing it with your
Before directing their attention to the Exam tip box at learners. Then ask learners to answer the Part 3
the bottom of page 13, elicit other examples of weak questions again. If you are short of time, learners can
forms by reading aloud sentences and asking learners listen to the sample answer at home and record
to underline words that are pronounced weakly. e.g. themselves answering the questions a second time.
Has she been waiting for long?
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

Sample lesson plan for Speaking for IELTS Unit 2

Student preparation for this class: Have students Pronunciation (25 mins)
complete Vocabulary Exercises 1–14 before the class
(approximately 90 mins).

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Exercises 16-20 focus on expressing
Teacher preparation: none
enthusiasm.

Part 1: Language development Vocabulary

(30 mins) Exercise 16
Take 2–3 minutes discussing learners’ experience
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of Exercise 15: How enthusiastic did your

partner seem when talking about the competition they
witnessed? How did she/he express their enthusiasm
(or lack of enthusiasm)? Then do Exercise 16 following
the instructions in the book.

Exercise 17
Spot check 1 (10 mins): Have learners read the information in the box,
then discuss it briefly as a class: Is enthusiasm
in your language/culture expressed in similar
To check learners’ sport and fitness related
ways? In what ways it is similar and/or different?
vocabulary:
Then pair students up and do the exercise
1. Divide the class into groups of five or six. following the instructions in the book.
2. Ask each group member to take turns reading aloud
the terminology for one of the sports they have
chosen for Exercise 8 without giving the name of Typical mistakes: Learners who feel self-conscious
the sport. or find this way of expressing enthusiasm alien may
3. The other group members listen and guess the respond by laughing or declining to take part. Draw
sport. learners’ attention to the first Exam tip box. Keep the
exercise fun and light-hearted.
4. Group members clarify for each other the meanings
of any words that are unclear.
Exercise 18
Spot check 2 (10 mins): As you go through the exercise, have the whole class
repeat each item in chorus, then spot check by nominating
Pair learners up to role play and record (if possible) a few learners to repeat the sentences individually.
Speaking exam Part 1 using the questions in Track
11 audio script Exercise 19
Learners do the exercise following the instructions in
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Exercise 15 provides practice for Speaking exam the book and check their answers in pairs.
Part 2: Individual long turn.
Exercise 20
Pairs repeat the Part 2 role play in Exercise 15
Direct learners’ attention to the 2nd Exam Tip box on incorporating the language and intonation patterns
page 19. Spend 2–3 minutes brainstorming types of they have learned so far in the unit. This time
competitions (not sport related). Give them a minute to they can record themselves and listen back.
make their own notes then pair them up to role play the
exercise .
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

Vocabulary: Expressing opinions (30 mins) Vocabulary: Collocations (20 mins)

Exercises 21-24 introduce a variety of

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Exercises 26-28 introduce common collocations
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expressions that can be used to express

related to health and fitness.
opinions. Exercise 25 provides practice for
Speaking exam Part 3.
Exercise 26
Ask learners to do the exercise individually and check
Exercise 21 their answers in pairs.
Elicit phrases equivalent to I think and write them on
Exercise 27
the board. Compare these with the examples in the
Ask learners to complete the table with collocations
book. Have learners work in small groups to complete
from Exercise 26. Learners can search for additional
sentences 1–6.
collocations at home. If time allows, give a few
additional examples orally and ask learners to indicate
Exercise 22 the form, e.g. sedentary lifestyle (adjective + noun)
Learners express their views following the
fat consumption (noun + noun).
instructions in the book.’

Exercise 23 Exercise 28
Model the pronunciation of expressions 1-8. As Have pairs repeat Exercise 25 role play incorporating
you go through the exercise, have the whole class any useful vocabulary they have learnt
repeat each item in chorus, then spot check by
nominating a few learners to repeat the sentences Part 2: Exam skills (15 mins)
individually.
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Exercise 24
Have learners share their opinions in pairs or small
groups.

Typical mistakes: Make sure learners use noun

phrases or gerunds after prepositions in phrases 3
I’m (strongly) against and 4 I’m (strongly) in favour of…

Exercise 1
Draw learners’ attention to the Exam tip at the
Exercise 25
bottom of page 22 and the Exam information box
Pair learners up to role play Speaking exam
that introduces the exercise. Ask learners to read
Part 3 using the questions in Track 19 audio script.
the task card and notes, then answer questions 1-
Have them listen to the sample response, note
5 individually and check their answers in pairs.
useful vocabulary and role play again.
Exercise 2
Give learners one minute to prepare their own
notes. Then pair them up to role play the exercise,
recording it if possible. At the end of the lesson,
learners could listen to their recording and compare it
to the recording they made of Exercise 20 at the
beginning. What improvements have they made?

Homework (30 mins)

Remind students to complete Exercise 27 and bring
their collocations to the next lesson.
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

Sample lesson plan for Speaking for IELTS Unit 3

Student preparation for this class: Have students
complete Vocabulary Exercises 1–8 before the class Typical mistakes: If learners use will when they
including vocabulary research for the Exam tip on should use would, point out that will expresses near
page 26. (approximately 2 hours) certainty and that would is more typically used for
speculating. Learners may also incorrectly use
Teacher preparation:
mustn’t rather than can’t to indicate that something
Photocopy Vocabulary spot check 1 hand out
probably isn’t the case.
(sufficient for 1 per student).
For Grammar exercise 11, prepare cards or
slips of paper, each with one of the jobs 1–8 Exercise 11
listed in the exercise. Prepare enough sets of Place face down in front of each group of 3–4 a set of
cards for one set per group of 3–4 students. (20 cards with jobs 1–8. Group members take turns picking
mins) the top card and speaking for 1 minute.

Part 1: Language development Vocabulary Exercise 12

(up to 15 mins in class) Do the exercise together as a class. Give additional
examples orally so learners can identify the type
(e.g. If I move abroad, I’ll have to find another job.
If I’d had a different boss, I’d have been promoted
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by now. If I were unemployed, I’d be quite depressed.)

Ask questions to check usage (e.g. If you have free time
tonight, what will you do? If you hadn’t chosen to study X,
what subject would you have chosen instead?)

Exercise 13
Spot check 1 (3 mins): Have learners do the exercise individually then work in
pairs to check their answers.
Distribute Vocabulary spot check 1 hand out.
Challenge learners to make as many matches as
Typical mistakes: Learners may need help
they can in two minutes then quickly go over the
understanding how to use unless, i.e. that it requires
answers as a class.
an affirmative verb. Word order for sentence 4
is also likely to pose a problem. Explain that the
Spot check 2 (10–12 mins): adverb or adjective must immediately follow no
matter how.
Pair learners up to role play and record (if possible)
Speaking exam Part 1, using the questions in Track
22 audio script, and Part 2, using the notes they Exercise 14
prepared for Exercise 8. Ask students to pair up with the partner they worked
with for Vocabulary spot check 2 and listen to the
recording they made of their practice (if available).
They should listen for their use of language for
Grammar (45 mins)
speculation and note where they might have used
Exercises 9-13 introduce learners to common expressions or structures covered in the grammar
expressions and grammar structures used section. Have them repeat the exercise incorporating
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for speculating, including modal verbs and the language features learned.
conditionals. In Exercises 14 & 15, learners use
these structures to practise Speaking exam Exercise 15
Part2: Individual long turn and Part 3: Two-way Pairs role play and record (if possible) Speaking exam
discussion. Part 3 using the questions in Track 25 audio script.
If time allows, have them listen to the sample
response in the book and note useful vocabulary.
Exercises 9 & 10
Instruct learners to do the exercises following the
instructions in the book and compare their answers in
pairs. Go over the expressions listed in the table in
Exercise 10.
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

Pronunciation (35 mins)

Typical mistakes: Depending on their L1, learners
may have difficulty with a variety of words.
Exercises 16–20 train learners to recognise and
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use the correct word stress. In Exercise 21,

learners apply this learning to practise Speaking
exam Part 3: Two-way discussion.

Exercise 16 Part 2: Exam skills (25 mins)

Do the exercise following the instructions in the book
and draw learners’ attention to the Exam tip box.

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Exercises 1 & 2 train learners to give answers
Exercise 17 that are the right length.
Have learners work in groups with each member
investigating one of the rules and sharing their Exercise 1
responses. Gather examples of additional words and Ask learners to do the exercise individually and check
share them with the class. their answers in pairs. Give them a few minutes
Exercise 18 to discuss their own tendencies by answering the
Learners continue working in groups of three following questions: Do your own answers tend to be too brief or
the instructions in the book. Spot check their accuracy too long? Why?
by circulating among the groups and inviting individual
learners to repeat selected sentences. Typical mistakes: Learners who answer too briefly
often interpret questions literally and/or are
Exercises 19 & 20 anxious about making mistakes. Point out that the
Learners continue working in groups of three on the examiner’s questions are intended to elicit speech
first part of the exercise then play the recording to and that examiners focus on what candidates can do
the whole class. As you go through the items, have with language rather than simply on their mistakes.
the whole class repeat each word in chorus, then spot Learners who give excessively long responses may
check with selected individuals. also be anxious or come from cultures where it is
more common for speakers to hold forth at length.
Point out that the examiner is interested in the
quality of the interaction as well as in the language
produced. Clarify turn-taking norms in English
Point out that spelling is not always a reliable guide speaking cultures.
to the pronunciation of syllables.

Exercise 21 Exercise 2
Ask students to pair up with the partner they worked Have students pair up with the partner they worked
with for Exercise 15 and listen to the recording they with for vocabulary spot check 2 and listen again to
made of their practice (if available). They should listen the recording they made of their practice (if available).
for their pronunciation of multi-syllable words and note Ask them to evaluate the length of their responses and
words they need to check and practise. If time allows, if time allows, repeat the exam practice exercise.
have them repeat the exam practice exercise, focussing
on pronunciation.
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

PHOTOCOPIABLES

Vocabulary spot check 1

Match the words 1–10 with words a–j to form common collocations and compound nouns.

1. arts a. fees

2. bread b. subjects

3. career c. job

4. job d. boss

5. lay e. satisfaction

6. office f. off

7. over g. winner

8. own h. minded

9. self i. time

10. tuition j. employed

English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

Vocabulary spot check 1 answer key

1. b. arts subjects

2. g. breadwinner

3. h. career-minded

4. e. job satisfaction

5. f. lay off

6. c. office job

7. i. overtime

8. d. own boss

9. j. self-employed

10. a. tuition fees

Collins
Collins
n h Speaking for IELTS

Sample lesson plan for Speaking for IELTS Unit 4

Exercise 11
Instruct learners to do the exercise following the
(approximately 90 mins) instructions in the book and compare their answers in
pairs.

Exercise 12
Instruct learners to do the exercise following the
Part 1: Language development instructions in the book and have them compare their
Vocabulary (20–30 mins) answers in pairs. Direct attention to the Exam tip box at
the bottom of the page. For further practice, have them
work in pairs to ask more questions, e.g. What do you
Exercises 1-3 introduce words and phrases do when it’s hot? Where do you spend the summer? and
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related to the environment. Exercises 4–8 respond using cleft sentences.

and climate. Exercise 9 provides practice for Exercises 13 & 14

Ask learners to read the Part 2 question in
Exercise 13 and the examples of complex
sentences with conjunctions in Exercise 14. Elicit
some examples of sentences with although and
Spot check 1:
since and write them on the board, emphasising the
To check learners’ recall of vocabulary related to the position of the conjunctions. Then have students
environment. complete the exercise joining the sentences
individually then work in pairs to check their
1. Divide the class into groups of four or five.
answers.
2. Have each group make a list of ideas (from memory)
of ways to help the environment.
3. Stop the activity after five minutes and have each Exercise 15
group read out their ideas to the class. Have learners read the information about subordinate
clauses before completing the exercise individually.
4. The winning group is the one that has the most
Follow up by eliciting a few example sentences and
ideas.
modelling the correct pronunciation, drawing attention
to the rising intonation of the subordinate clause. Have
Spot check 2: learners practise the correct intonation by reading
their sentences aloud to a partner.
Pair learners up to role play and record (if possible)
Speaking exam Part 1 using the questions in the
Track 30 audio script.
and may be unsure whether to use a clause or a
Grammar (40 mins)
work… BUT Rather than driving to work …
These exercises focus on using a range of more
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complex sentence structures. Exercises 10-

12 introduce learners to different types of Exercise 16
cleft sentences. Exercises 13 & 14 provide Prepare learners for discussing the Part 2 question by
practice in using conjunctions to make complex eliciting briefly what sort of things they can talk about.
sentences. Exercises 15–17 provide practice Give them a minute to make their own notes, then pair
in forming sentences with subordinate them up to role play the exercise, recording it if possible.
clauses and complex sentences.
Exercise 17
Exercise 10 Play the recording and follow up with a discussion of
Have learners read the information in the box and whether the answers given by this student were similar
go over the example cleft sentences. Instruct learners or different to their own in Exercise 16. If time allows,
to do the exercise following the instructions in the have learners look through the audio script and underline
book and, after checking answers, elicit a few more examples of complex sentences, e.g. cleft sentences,
examples of sentences using the patterns: It’s … that I sentences with conjunctions or subordinate clauses.
can’t stand and What I want to do is …
Collins
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

Pronunciation (45 mins) but different spelling, e.g. there, their, they’re. Clarify
that these are examples of words that are not phonetic.
Exercises 18–22 train learners to differentiate Pair students up to do the exercise following the
between long and short vowel sounds and instructions in the book. Point out that it is useful to
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pronounce them correctly. remember these common spelling patterns and direct
attention to the Exam tip box.

Exercise 18
Have learners do the exercise following the the vowel sounds in words like foot (short vowel
instructions in the book. sound) and food (long vowel sound) because the
pronunciation is not clear from the spelling. Suggest
Exercise 19
Have learners do the exercise as for Exercise 18. Ask
of non-phonetic words using phonemic script.
learners if there are any sounds that they find difficult
to distinguish from each other and go over these as
necessary.

between short and long vowel sounds. Reassure

them that this natural and that they will practise
differentiating them in the next exercise. It also
Part 3: Exam skills (40 mins)

Exercises 1& 2 train learners to use

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different shape of your mouth for each sound. information

the depth of their answers.
Exercise 3 provides practice for Speaking
Exercise 20 exam Part 3: Two-way discussion.
Have learners do the exercise following the instructions
in the book, listening several times if necessary. Follow Exercise 1
up by having learners work in pairs to practise saying Direct learners’ attention to the Exam tip at the top of
each word and listening to how clearly their partner page 39. Spend a few minutes discussing how
differentiates the long and short vowel sounds. learners feel about the article and explain any
problematic vocabulary.
Exercises 21& 22 Exercise 2
Have learners listen and underline individually, Have learners report back
then check their answers in pairs. If it is not possible on their research / discuss the topic in pairs or small
for learners to work with an English- speaking friend, groups.
have them do this exercise in pairs following the
instructions in the book. Afterwards, discuss which words
they found most difficult to differentiate.
Exercise 3
Exercise 23 Instruct learners to do the exercise in pairs, taking
Demonstrate how the pronunciation of English words turns to play the part of the candidate. Listeners
does not always match their spelling by writing a few should give feedback on the fluency and depth of their
words on the board that have the same pronunciation partner’s answers. If you are short of time, learners
can listen to the sample answers at home and record
themselves answering the questions a second time.
Collins
Collins
n h Speaking for IELTS

Sample lesson plan for Speaking for IELTS Unit 5

Exercise 8
Read through the different forms in the box with
learnersbefore they complete the sentences
(approximately 60 mins)
with the correct adjective form individually,
then compare in pairs.
make sufficient copies of the hand out so there is one Exercise 9
Learners write sentences individually, and
students. Cut up and bundle sets together. (15 mins) compare answers in pairs, with each student
giving feedback on their partner’s use of
comparatives and superlatives.

Part 1: Language development

Typical mistakes: Some learners may make
Vocabulary (30 mins)
superlative forms, e.g. Sending emails is easiest
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introduce phrases with the word touch that link refer them back to the forms highlighted in the
table. It can also be useful to write a few incorrect

globalisation. Exercise7provides practice for identify and correct the errors.

Exercise 10
Spot check 1:
Instruct learners to read the information in the box,
To check learners’ recall of vocabulary connected to then have them do the exercise following the
language and communication. instructions in the book and compare their modified
sentences in pairs.
1. Distribute the cut-up Vocabulary spot check 1
handout to each group. Exercise 11
2. Challenge each group to match as many words and Have learners read the explanation and go over the
phrases with their definitions as they can in two examples with them. Instruct learners to do the
minutes. exercise following the instructions in the book and,
3. Follow up by asking learners to shuffle the word/ after checking answers, elicit a few more examples
phrase cards and put them face down on the desk. of sentences using the pattern: The more/fewer/less/
Players take it in turns to pick up a card (without better … the more/fewer/less/better.
showing it to the other group members) and give a
Exercises 12 & 13
definition of the word or phrase in their own words.
Instruct learners to complete the explanations
4. The other players guess the word/phrase on the card. and examples in 1-3 with the correct constructions.
Learners work alone or in pairs to write six sentences.
Monitor and choose examples of sentences to write
Spot check 2:
and highlight on the board.
Pair learners up to role play and record (if
Exercises 14 & 15
possible) Speaking exam Part 1 using the
Have learners read through the clarification of attitude
questions in the Track 40 audio script.
markers in the box and look carefully at the examples.
Model the pronunciation of the seven other markers
(a–g) with attention to the stress on each one.
Grammar (50–60 mins)
Instruct learners to do exercises 14 & 15 individually
These exercises help focus on different ways to and check their answers in pairs.
make comparisons and give opinions. Exercises
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8-13 train learners to use a range of comparison

structures. Exercises 14 & 15 give practice in
using attitude markers. Exercises 16 & 17
provide practice for Speaking exam Part 2:
Individual long turn.
Collins
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

to practise saying each word and listening to how well

their partner manages the consonant clusters.
markers in a sentence is generally flexible, it is
sometimes awkward or incorrect to put longer
with ‘th’ sounds in English and may struggle to say
For example: Even more importantly, you must
sixth and three. Encourage them to practise the

their front teeth, but also point out that it is not

English. and: You must practise speaking English
necessary to perfect this sound for a high score in
the Speaking exam.
attitude markers is at the start of the sentence.
Exercise 21
Instruct learners to do the exercise in pairs, taking
Exercise 16 turns to play the part of the candidate. Listeners
Prepare learners for discussing the Part 2 question. should give feedback on the pronunciation of
Ask them to read the question carefully. Remind them consonants in their partner’s answers. If you are short
to try to use comparative structures and attitude of time, learners can listen to the sample answers at
markers. Give them a minute to make their own notes home and record themselves answering the questions
and then pair them up to role play the exercise, taking a second time.
turns to speak for up to two minutes and recording
their answers if possible.
Part 2: Exam skills (40 mins)
Exercise 17
Have learners do the exercise following the
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instructions in the book: they should listen to the

for giving yourself time to think. Exercises 3 & 4
model answer and then look at the audio script to
focus on the language.
and confirming information.

Pronunciation (40 mins) Exercise 1

Introduce the topic by discussing how learners give
themselves time to think when they are speaking
Exercises 18-20 help learners to work on the
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in their first language. Instruct learners to do the

exercise following the instructions in the book and then
clusters. In Exercise 21, learners apply this
compare answers in pairs. Then direct their attention
learning to practise Speaking exam Part 3:
to the Exam tip box.
Two-way discussion.
Exercise 2
Ask learners to listen to Track 47 and then work in
Exercises 18 & 19 pairs to practise asking and answering the question:
Before playing the recording, spend some time looking Which language do you think is generally considered
at the consonant table and see if learners can identify the most beautiful?
the relationship between the pairs of consonants.
As they read through stages 1–3 in Exercise 19, Exercise 3
be prepared to give additional clarification about Say or write an incorrect statement on the board
how/where in the and see if learners can correct it using appropriate
mouth different sounds are formed and the difference contradiction language. Instruct learners to do the
between voiced and unvoiced consonants. It may be exercise following the instructions in the book and to
preferable for your learners to work individually on look at the audio script as they listen to the recording.
stage 4 – especially if you have a multi-lingual class. Play Track 48 again so that learners can focus on the
However, if you have a monolingual group, it might intonation and then practise using the phrases.
be useful to elicit common problems with specific Exercise 4
consonants and have learners work on these sounds Instruct learners to do the underlining individually.
before doing stage 5 in pairs. Then elicit the expressions and model the
Exercise 20 pronunciation. If there is time, have learners work in
Have learners do the exercise following the pairs to practise the conversation.
instructions in the book, listening several times if
necessary. Follow up by having learners work in pairs
Collins
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

PHOTOCOPIABLES

Vocabulary spot check 1

1. the language that you learn from your

mother tongue
parents when you are a baby

2. able to speak more than two languages very

multilingual
well

3. able to speak a language easily and correctly

4. not as good at something as you used to be

because you have not done it for a long time

5. learn something without effort over a period

pick up
of time

6. a language that is spoken by only a small

a minority language
proportion of people in a country

7. speak a language well enough to

get by
communicate about basic things

a global language 8. a language that is spoken internationally

9. a language that you speak well but that is not

a second language
your native language

a widely spoken language 10. a language that is used by many people

Collins
Collins
n h Speaking for IELTS

Sample lesson plan for Speaking for IELTS Unit 6

Exercises 11 & 12
plete Vocabulary exercises 1–8 before the class. Ask Prepare learners for discussing the Part 2 question.
them to write their responses to the ranking activity Ask them to read the question carefully.
Remind them to use phrasal verbs where possible in
that they will be sharing their answers with other class their answer. Give them a minute to make their own
members during the lesson. (60–90 mins) notes and then pair them up to role play the exercise,
taking turns to speak for up to two minutes and
recording their answers if possible. Students should
give each other feedback afterwards.

Part 1: Language development

Vocabulary (30 mins) Pronunciation (45 mins)
FOCUS

Exercises 1–3 introduce words and phrasal

verbs related to technology. Exercises 4-7 Exercises 13-19 focus on sentence stress and

FOCUS
provide practice in discussing Internet habits train learners to recognise stressed words and
and potential online dangers. Exercise 8 provides weak forms in sentences. in Exercise 20, learners
practice for Speaking exam Part 1: Introduction practise using appropriate rhythm and stress in
and interview. Speaking exam Part 3: Two-way discussion.

Spot check 1: Exercise 13

To review vocabulary from Exercises 1–7, pair This exercise is designed to help learners understand
learners up and ask them to speak for 3–4 minutes the rhythm of a stress-timed languages like English.
each about how they use technology and the Draw learners’ attention to the Exam tip box at the top
Internet. Then have them discuss their answers of the page and then have them read the instructions
for Exercise 6 and compare the order in which they for the exercise. Play the recording to demonstrate the
ranked online dangers. rhythm or model it yourself before trying it with the
class.

Exercises 14 & 15
Spot check 2:
Instruct learners to do the exercises following the
Pair learners up to role play and record (if instructions in the book. After they have listened and
possible) Speaking exam Part 1 using the repeated the weak forms, encourage them to practise
questions in Track 49 audio script. the chant several times in groups or as a class. Draw
their attention to the 2ndExam tip.
Vocabulary: Phrasal verb
particles (20 mins)

Exercises 9 & 10 raise awareness of common

FOCUS

meanings of phrasal verb particles and practise individually and check their answers in pairs.
using phrasal verbs in the context of technology.
Exercises 11 & 12 provide practice for Speaking
exam Part 2: Individual long turn.

THREE and then a FOUR, etc.

Exercises 9 & 10
Introduce the topic by eliciting some phrasal verbs with
turn, i.e. turn on, turn off, turn up, turn down, turn away.
See if learners can make sentences with them. Ask
a few questions to the class about the particles, e.g.
Which particle has the meaning of start/stop/ increase?
What’s the opposite of turn up the volume?
Instruct learners to write the correct meanings into
the table and see if they can add more examples for
each one. Then direct them to do Exercise 10
Exercise 16
Have learners look at and add to the table
showing content and function words. If you
have time, read out or play a section of Track
3 audio to
show how content words and new information
carry the main stresses:
Although I live abroad now, my mum’s family
is from Paris and my dad’s family is from
Toulouse. So I’m from a very French family. I
would say I come from quite a small family,
really.
Collins
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

Exercise 17 Exercise 3
Instruct learners to do the exercise according to Tell learners to do the exercise following the instructions
the instructions. Before playing the recording, draw in the book, recording themselves if possible.
attention to the note about the possibility of stressing
function words. Briefly discuss answers and compare
them with the answer key. Emphasise that the words
that take the main stress will depend to some extent on
time to plan their answer – as they have to do in Part 3
the context and on whether the word/topic has already
of the exam. At first, your learners may find it hard to
been mentioned.

they have never tried it. If so, urge them to begin by

explaining their (lack of) experience of the topic to

possible advantages/disadvantages.
it is stressed or not. If this is the case, reassure

individual words. It is more useful to listen to the

full sentence and just pick out the word(s) that Exercise 4
carry the main or tonic stress. Have learners read and discuss the answer. If they are
unfamiliar with the phrase that links the ideas (But then
again ...) model reading out the sentence and have them
Exercise 18 practise reading it out with the same stress and
Have learners do the exercise following the intonation.
instructions in the book. If time is short, ask learners
to do part 3 as homework. Exercise 5
Follow the same procedure as in Exercise 3. Then
Exercise 19 elicit or introduce the phrases: On the one hand … on
Have learners do the exercise according to the the other hand … modelling them with appropriate
instructions. They should work at their own speed to stress and practising as necessary.
listen and repeat each sentence so that they get used to
the stress patterns and get a feel for the rhythm of the Exercises 6 & 7
language. Exercises 6 & 7 train learners to use pronouns to
avoid sounding repetitive. Direct attention to the
Exercise 20 two Exam tip boxes and then have learners
Instruct learners to do the exercise in pairs, taking complete the exercises following the instructions
turns to play the part of the candidate. Listeners should in the book and check answers in pair
give feedback on the rhythm and use of correct stress
patterns in their partner’s answers. If you are short
of time, learners can listen to the sample answers at
home and record themselves answering the questions a
second time.

for the listener. Encourage your learners to

Part 2: Exam skills (50 mins)
monitor their use of these pronouns and try to self-
correct if necessary.
These exercises focus on helping learners give
FOCUS

coherent answers. Exercises 1–5 train learners

to organise the different parts of their answer
compare answers in pairs. Then have them do Exercise 2 and
in a logical way. Exercises 6 & 7 focus on the
follow up by eliciting other signposting words.
way
that pronouns can help to make responses more
cohesive.

Exercises 1& 2
Explain that Exercises 1–5 will help learners organise
their answers in Parts 2 and 3 of the Speaking exam and
then draw learners’ attention to the Exam tip box at the
top of the page. Check that learners have a clear idea of
the meaning of keyhole surgery by eliciting what it might
be used for. Have learners reorder the sentences and
Collins
Collins
n h Speaking for IELTS

Sample lesson plan for Speaking for IELTS Unit 7

next to the phrase.

before the class. (approximately 60 mins) 3. When learners have managed to elicit all the
phrases, they sit down in groups and exchange

learners.

Exercises 1–3 review phrases for talking about Grammar (50–60 mins)
FOCUS

hobbies. Exercises 4-6 focus on different ways These exercises train learners to use the present

FOCUS
of expressing frequency. Exercise 7 provides
Exercises 9 & 10 review and practise the
present perfect simple. Exercises 11-14 clarify
Speaking exam Part 2: Individual long turn. when to use the present perfect continuous.
Exercise

Two-way discussion.
Exercise 9
hobbies. Ask learners to do the exercise following the
instructions in the book and compare their answers in
Refer learners to the Exam tip box at the top of page pairs. If necessary, go over any rules for the present
perfect that the learners have trouble understanding
that they enjoy doing. Ask them to write down as and add more example sentences.
Note: don’t spend too long explaining rules
activity as they can in one minute. unnecessarily. It may be more helpful for learners if
you monitor how well the learners do the exercises in
take it in turns to read out their list of phrases – this section to find out where they need help. This will
enable you to target remedial work more specifically to
talking about. their needs.
After everyone has read out their list, group Exercise 10
members guess which hobby each person was Tell learners to do the exercise following the
instructions in the book, recording themselves if
and collocations they can think of to each list. possible. If they have problems with correct use of
tenses, repeat the exercise; this time, they should
ask and answer the questions in pairs and listen out
for whether their partner uses the present perfect
To provide practice in using frequency phrases. correctly.

next to Exercise 6. Ask learners

(individually) to write

simple tense, e.g. when reporting news. Remind

as those in
them that we use the past simple with specific
Exercises 4-6, but should use similar

hours ago, etc.

time
period.
Exercise 11
Have learners complete the forms of the present
student to try to elicit as many of the time phrases perfect simple and continuous in the table and
on their from other learners by asking the right then complete the rules, going over any of the rules
or examples that they do not fully understand.
they might ask questions such as: ‘How often do
Collins
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

Exercises 12 & 13
These exercises check understanding of the rules
given in Exercise 11. Have learners complete the
sentences individually
and listen to check in pairs. Use Exercise 13 to e.g. gar-den-ing. If this happens, ask them to listen
focus on natural pronunciation.
they hear.

for every item. There IS a clear answer for item Exercise 19

this is Tell learners to read and follow the instructions
a state verb. However, other items are more in the book carefully. When they have identified 10
ambiguous. key content words, they should check the stressed
syllables and use of the schwa with a good dictionary.
Have them practise saying the words and phrases, and
help by modelling words if necessary. If you are short
of time, learners can re-record themselves at home.

Exercise 14 Part 2: Exam skills (40 mins)

Instruct learners to do the exercise following the
instructions in the book. Elicit a few sample answers
Exercises 1-3 focus on ways of asking politely
FOCUS

and go over any common mistakes.

for repetition. Exercises 4 & 5 introduce and
Exercise 15 practise ways to indicate lack of understanding.
Ask learners to do the exercise following the
instructions in the book, recording their answers if
possible. If you are short of time, learners can listen to Exercise 1
the sample answers at home. Introduce the topic by discussing/eliciting what
learners say when they don’t hear or understand
something in English. Then direct their attention
focusing on the present perfect, some learners to the Exam tip box. Play the recording and have
may over-use this tense in their answers to the learners discuss their ideas in pairs before reading the
Part 3 questions, particularly where they are comments in the answer key.

Exercises 2 & 3
Have learners read the information about polite
intonation before they listen to the recording and
simple for present habits and used to or the past
discuss which version sounds polite. They should
simple to talk about the past.
then work in pairs to practise saying the sentences as
instructed in Exercise 3. It may be worth pointing out
that
Pronunciation (40 mins) native speakers often use a rising intonation at the end
of a polite request – as falling intonation can sound like
an order.
Exercises 16-18 focus on helping learners to
FOCUS

pronounce words using strong and weak forms, Exercise 4

including the schwa. Exercise 19 trains learners Have learners listen and repeat the question as
to check and work on their pronunciation of instructed. If necessary, write the question on the
individual words. board using arrows to show the intonation.

Exercise 16 Exercise 5
Draw attention to the Pronunciation box at the Instruct learners to listen and write down the question
bottom of page they hear. Have them check answers and practise
61. Then play the recording and have learners practise asking the question in pairs.
repeating the schwa sound.

Exercises 17 & 18
Have learners do the exercises following the
instructions. For Exercise 18,
instruct them to work in pairs to listen to and correct
each other’s pronunciation.
Collins
Collins
n h Speaking for IELTS

Sample lesson plan for Speaking for IELTS Unit 8

Follow up by asking each pair to team up with

(approximately 60 mins) statements. They should discuss the statements

necessary.

dle sets together. (15 mins)

final order for the statements.

agrees on the order of statements. Point out that

Exercises 1 & 2 introduce words and phrases for there are no correct answers.
FOCUS

Pronunciation (50–60 mins)

Part 1: Introduction and interview. Exercise 7
provides practice for Speaking exam Part 2:
FOCUS

Individual long turn.

learners to pronounce diphthongs.

Spot check 1:
Exercise 8
Have learners do the matching exercise then play
remembering, do the following activity. the recording to check. Direct learners to look at the
spelling rules. Have them put their fingers on their
throats before saying the three words to discover the
way that the voiced consonant sounds vibrate.
column 1 is for nouns, 2 is for verbs and 3 is for Exercise 9
adjectives. Have learners complete the table following the
instructions. If they find it difficult to decide where to
put the verbs, encourage them to discuss their ideas
with a partner. Play the recording for them to check
answers.
remembering.
Learners compare their table with a partner. Each
pair should choose three of the words and make

consonant clusters so that they are less likely to

at childhood through rose-tinted glasses? add an extra syllable /ed/ for the -ed endings.
Pairs discuss their questions with another pair.

Exercise 10
Listen again and practise repetition chorally and
individually. Afterwards, have feedback: elicit and
Spot check 2: go over common mispronunciations, e.g. with
happened and moved.

Exercise 11
Spend some time looking at the table and see if
Have learners work with a partner. Distribute the
learners can identify the correct sound of each
diphthong. It may be useful to model the diphthongs
and have them read the statements.
and tell learners to look at the correct mouth shapes
and movements for each one. Play the recording
and practise the sounds, going over any sounds that
think they are (1 = least controversial and 4 = most learners have trouble repeating.
controversial).
Collins
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

Exercise 12 answers and then work in pairs to find and discuss

the mistakes in the 3 sentences. Draw attention to
Have learners check both spelling and the Exam tip box at the top of page 69.
pronunciation of the words they add. Point out that
these are common spelling patterns – not rules. There Exercises 18 & 19
are exceptions to the patterns that are shown here, e.g. Have learners do Exercise 18 following the
words with the spelling -ow. Remind them of words instructions in the book, reading the rules for the past
such as row /rau/ (argument) and row /rə�/ (line) that continuous and finding the example. Use Exercise 19
are pronounced differently, but have the same spelling. to check that learners can apply the rules correctly.
Have them discuss and justify their answers in pairs
before checking with the answer key.
Grammar (90 mins)
Exercise 20
These exercises train learners to use a range Instruct learners to complete the four rules
FOCUS

of past tenses more confidently and accurately. following the instructions in the book and
Exercises 13 & 14 introduce structures for compare their answers in pairs.
talking about the past. Exercises 14 & 15 review
and practise used to and would for talking about
past habits and states. Exercises 16-19 clarify Exercises 21 & 22
when to use the past simple and past Read the Pronunciation box and model and drill
continuous. Exercises 20-23 provide practice pronunciation. Have learners complete the exercises
in using narrative tenses. Exercise 24 provides and then discuss answers in pairs.
practice for Speaking exam Part 3:
Two-way discussion.
Exercises 13 & 14
Review the topic of childhood memories by asking
whether learners spent time with their grandparents
as children. Have learners do the exercises following
the instructions in the book and discuss answers in ), and
pairs. Elicit some of the tenses/structures which they it not always easy to hear the auxiliary or past
identified; explain that they will have the opportunity participle. Tell learners to listen carefully
to listen to the story several more times as they look
more closely at each different structure.

Exercise 15
Direct learners to study the meaning of used to
and would using the box in Exercise 14 and Exercise 23
answer the questions in 15. Emphasise that native Draw attention to the Exam tip box. If learners
speakers drop the /d/ of used and use linking and were able to record their
answers to Vocabulary exercise 7, have them
e
weak forms so that it sounds like

/ju:st /; they also often use the contracted form of I listen to the recording. Otherwise, have them repeat

would – I’d. the task in pairs and listen to their partner’s answer,
giving feedback on the range and accuracy of tenses
used.
Typical mistakes: If learners have studied the
structure be used to + -ing, they may confuse this
make is to overuse the past perfect after it has
as: ‘I am used to live in the city’. If so, highlight the been taught. Remind learners that the past
perfect only used when more than one past
event described, and to emphasise that one

followed by a gerund or noun and is only used for

present habits/familiarity.

Exercises 16 & 17
Before learners do the task, clarify that the past
simple can be used to talk about past habits and
states as an alternative to used to. Remind them that Exercise 24
they should aim to use a range of tenses and Ask learners to do the exercise following the
structures in their answers to exam questions. Have instructions in the book, recording their answers if
learners check
Collins
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

Direct attention to the Exam tip boxes . Then ask

possible. If you are short of time, learners can listen to
learners to discuss situations where they have
the sample answers at home.
problems with fluency, e.g. when they are in a tense or
formal situation; when they are talking about
Part 2: Exam skills (40 mins) unfamiliar topics etc. Have them read through the tips
and decide which ones are most helpful.
This section provides tips for developing fluency
FOCUS

in the Speaking exam.

Collins
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

PHOTOCOPIABLES

Vocabulary spot check 2

1. Parents should have child benefit taken away if they do not send their children to
pre-school.

2. Mothers should be able to ask for more child-friendly working hours.

3. Parents should never allow children under 12 years old to be latchkey children.

4. Child labour should not be banned in very poor countries.

Collins
Collins
n h Speaking for IELTS

Sample lesson plan for Speaking for IELTS Unit 9

5. If the student is able to speak fluently and accurately
about the topic, they win the square and draw either
(approximately 80 mins) a nought or a cross.
6. The student that is able to win three consecutive
squares (horizontally, vertically or diagonally) wins
pairs to copy. Alternatively, write them on a sheet of the game.

have one grid:

shops
To practise using different types of suffix, divide
jobs

Review the suffixes that learners can remember

night life
changes
(5–10 mins)
as follows:
-ness -ism -ment -y -ful -ate
Part 1: Language development
Vocabulary (30 mins)
FOCUS

Exercises 1–6 focus on words, phrases and arty, awful, activate.

collocations for describing places (houses,
villages and cities) and changes to places.
shouts ‘stop’.

suffixes to make nouns, adjectives and verbs. from other teams.

Part 2: Individual long turn. letters e, j, k, q, v, x, y and z).

Pronunciation (30 mins)

FOCUS

game using the topics in the grid on the board.

silent letters that are often mispronounced.
Exercise 16 focuses on English words that are not
7 on page 74.
Divide the class into pairs to play the game. One
silent letters. Exercise 18 provides practice for
other is ‘crosses’ (X). Speaking exam Part 3: Two-way discussion.

the board into their notebook. Exercise 16

shops Introduce the topic of English towns and cities by
asking whether learners can name any themselves.
jobs Have learners do the exercise following the instructions
in the book. Note that this is an awareness raising
exercise. although learners listen to the recording of
night life the place names twice, they do not need to worry about
changes pronouncing the names of these towns themselves.
4. Pairs take it in turns to select a topic and talk about
Exercise 17
it in relation to their home town. They must say at
Instruct learners to read through the ten words and
least three things about the topic.
identify the silent letters in pairs. Then have them
listen to check their answers.
Collins
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

Exercise 22
Have learners read the information box and
practise saying the example sentences. After they
re-write the sentences that can be used with get
result of the silent letter, e.g. restaurant /restrɒnt/. they should check answers in pairs.
Help learners focus on this by asking them to
listen to the recording and identify the number of Exercises 23-25
syllables they hear. To introduce the causative have, ask learners who they
pay to do things for them, e.g. cleaners, hair dressers,
manicurists, window cleaners, etc. Have learners do
Exercise 18 Exercise 23, and elicit a few more examples using:
Draw attention to the Exam tip box before learners I’m having my hair / house / car / ...
do the exam practice. Ask them to do the exercise Elicit a few sample answers after they have re-written
following the instructions in the book, recording their sentences 1-4. Have them work in pairs to do Exercise
answers if possible. If you are short of time, learners 25. If your learners are unable to think of any services
can listen to the sample answers at home, paying they have had done recently, tell them to imagine they
particular attention to the candidate’s pronunciation. are a famous person or celebrity and imagine what
services they are likely to require.
Grammar (40 mins)

aware of the different tenses needed in the

FOCUS

These exercises train learners to use the passive exercise. They may find it challenging to use
and causative forms. Exercises 19-22 focus on
different ways of using the passive. Exercises
23-25 provide practice in forming sentences
using the causative have.

forms on the board.

Exercises 19 & 20
Lead in by writing a passive sentence on the board, e.g.
A lot of new offices have been built in my town. Elicit what
the structure is and discuss when we normally use the
passive voice, e.g. when we talk about processes and
developments or when we want to distance ourselves
and make something impersonal. Point out that, I am argued that it is better to live in the city.
although the passive is used more in writing than
in speaking, it can be useful in the speaking exam
to show range. Have learners read the Exam tip Part 2: Exam skills (40 mins)
FOCUS

and examples,fil inthegapsand then re-write the

sentences that can be used in the passive. Point out Exercises 1–3 introduce and practise language
that there is more than one possible answer. Ask them for paraphrasing in order to repeat or clarify
to check and discuss their answers in pairs. Have them information. Exercise 4 introduces and practises
repeat the correct answers, paying attention to the different ways of introducing examples.
word stress.
Exercise 1
Exercise 21 Introduce the topic by discussing what learners do
Have learners read the examples and then when they want to reformulate something in their
complete the sentences. Remind them that first language. Point out that in the exam, they
although they use their own ideas, they need to won’t necessarily lose marks for saying something
write something that contrasts/disagrees with the incorrectly if they can then reformulate or correct
idea in the first half of the sentence. Follow up by themselves. Instruct learners to do the exercise
asking learners to work in pairs or small groups and following the instructions in the book. Have a brief
read their sentences aloud to each other and discuss class discussion about possible answers to question 2
their opinions. and compare ideas with the suggestion in the
answer key.

Exercise 2
Instruct learners to do the exercise following the
instructions in the book. Help them identify the word
with main stress in each phrase (mean and another)
Have a brief class discussion about the answer to
Collins
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS
question 2 and compare with the answer
key.

Exercise 3
Have learners listen to and repeat the
sentence on the recording. Have a brief
class discussion about the answer to
question 2 and compare with the answer
key.

Exercise 4
Instruct learners to do the exercise
individually and compare suggestions in
pairs before playing the recording. Point out
that there is often more than one possible
place to use the phrases.
Collins
Collins
n h Speaking for IELTS

Sample lesson plan for Speaking for IELTS Unit 10

Pronunciation (40–50 mins)

(approximately 60 mins)

FOCUS
Exercise 9 raises awareness of how linking
improves fluency. Exercise 10 focuses on how

practice in using linking and weak

Part 1: Language development forms.
Vocabulary (30 mins)
Part 2: Individual long turn.
FOCUS

Exercise 9
Exercises 3–7 introduce words and phrases Have learners do the exercise in pairs following the
instructions in the book and instruct them to
give each other feedback on which recording they
culture and heritage in the exam. Exercise 8 sound most like. Follow up with a brief class
provides practice for Speaking exam Part 1: discussion about which recording sounds most fluent
Introduction and interview. and why, before referring learners to the commentary
in the answer key.

To check learners’ recall of words and phrases Exercise 10

Instruct learners to look at the table and listen to
them create mind maps. the recording to complete the phrases and the
linking sounds. Then practise all the phrases. Follow
up by writing a few more phrases on the board,
e.g. go on; two eyes; law and order; we own it. Have
learners identify the intrusive sound /j/, /w/ or /r/
and practise saying the phrases with correct
linking.

words and phrases connected with the topic(s). Exercises 11-13

Ask learners to do the exercises in pairs,
following the instructions in the book. For Exercises
12 & 13, have them take it in turns and give each
other feedback.
food, etc.

and three minutes to complete their mind map.

added.
link together, but that the final consonant of the
first word can be softened to make it easier to say
the sound at the start of the second word.

systems. Exercise 14
Pair learners up and ask them to speak for 3–4
Ask learners to do the Part 2 exam practice following
the instructions in the book, recording their answers
if possible. If you are short of time, learners can listen
to the sample answer at home, paying particular
exercise 7).
attention to the candidate’s range of vocabulary and
use of linking.

historical sites.
Collins
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

Grammar (40 mins) Typical mistakes: The dark /l/sound in the

contracted form of will can be problematic for
These exercises review different ways of
FOCUS

talking about the future. Exercises 15-21 raise

awareness of the functions and pronunciation
of different future forms (present continuous, and inviting individual learners to repeat the
going to and will). Exercises 22 & 23 provide examples with contractions.
practice
in using the different forms. Exercises 24 & 25
clarify the use of the future perfect. Exercise 26 Exercises 22 & 23
provides practice for Speaking exam Part 3: These exercises check learners’ understanding of
Two-way discussion. the tenses covered in the previous exercises. Ask
them to do Exercise 22 individually and check answers
in pairs. Have them practise the dialogue, taking
Exercises 15 & 16
care to pronounce the contracted forms of the
Lead in by asking learners about any up-coming
auxiliary correctly. Then have them do Exercise 23
festivals or events in their own country and whether
following the instructions in the book. Point out that
they have made any plans. Ask them to do the
they can choose to talk about other future plans if
exercises following the instructions in the book. For
they prefer.
Exercise 16, it may be useful to highlight or
demonstrate the two different ways of underlining, Exercises 24 & 25
e.g. by writing two example sentences on the Ask learners to read the explanation and complete the
board: I’m sitting in class. I’m meeting my mum later. sentence before they listen to check their answer. If
they are unfamiliar with the future perfect, have them
practise saying the sentence on the recording before
looking forward to as referring to the future. they practise making their own sentences.
Ask them to compare their ideas with a partner, and
the event itself is in the future. then draw attention to the Exam tip box.

Exercise 26
Exercise 17 Ask learners to do the exercise following the
Have learners focus on the use of contractions, instructions in the book, recording their answers if
listening to and repeating the examples. Point out possible. If you are short of time, learners can listen
that the pronunciation of the contracted form of is to the sample answers at home, paying particular
depends on whether the sound that precedes it is attention to the candidate’s pronunciation.
voiced: /z/ or voiceless: /s/.
Part 2: Exam skills (40 mins)
Exercises 18 & 19
Have learners study the information box and do These exercises help learners predict and
the exercises following the instructions. Check prepare for possible questions for Part 3 of the
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understanding of the different uses of be going to and exam.

then listen to how they are said before practising them.
Point out that although it is important to understand Exercises 1 & 2
the reduced form of going to: /gənə/, it is not essential Draw attention to the information in the Exam tip at
for them to use this form. the bottom of page 86. Spend a few minutes
discussing Part 3. What topics do they anticipate? How
might they deal with them? Instruct learners to look at
the mind map and suggest additional ideas. Have them
do the brainstorming task in pairs or small groups.
If this is the case, have them look again at the
Exercise 3
sentences using going to and establish that
Instruct learners to do the exercise following the
arrangements. instructions in the book carefully. Have them look through
the audio recording transcripts and find/read the Part 3
questions. Elicit typical question forms and write some example
Exercises 20 & 21 prompts on the board, e.g. Do you think …?; How can we…?;
Have learners study the examples in the box and What, in your opinion, is the best way to …?; What do you think will
complete the sentences, discussing the function of will happen if …? Have learners practise answering their questions
in each one. Then listen to how they are said before in pairs and follow up by eliciting and discussing some
practising them. interesting examples of questions.
Collins
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n h Speaking for IELTS

Sample lesson plan for Speaking for IELTS Unit 11

Grammar (50–60 mins)

(40–50 mins) Exercises 8 & 9 focus on appropriate short

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10 provides practice for Speaking exam Part 1:
Introduction and interview. Exercises 11-13 train
Part 1: Language development
Vocabulary (30 mins)
turn.
Exercises 1-4 review and provide practice in
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tourism. Exercise 8
Elicit/remind learners that although it is not usually
appropriate to give one-word answers in the Speaking
exam, it may be appropriate to give short answers –
particularly when they then go on to give more details.
Ask a question, e.g. Are you feeling tired? and elicit
To check learners’ recall of words and phrases possible short answers: Yes, I am; No, I’m not; Yes, just
a little, etc. Have learners read throughthe six rules
thinking about Part 1 questions. and examples and then discuss shortanswers to
the questions and role play the conversations in
pairs.
Part 1 questions in the audio recording transcripts Exercise 9
for: Unit 8 (Track 78), Unit 9 (Track 88), and Unit This exercise provides practice in responding to
questions with short answers. Have learners listen and
answer according to the instructions in the book.

Establish that answers don’t need to be very long.

auxiliaries in their answers, e.g. Yes, I do. / Yes,

listen carefully to the verbs at the start of the

backpacking, etc.) questions and to think: is it necessary to use an
auxiliary verb in the answer, and if so, which one?
to write six or seven of their own Part 1 questions
using the words and phrases on the board.
Exercise 10
Ask learners to do the exercise following the
and listen to their answers.
instructions in the book. Have them work in pairs and
give each other feedback. After they listen to the
learners find easier/harder to answer. sample answers, you could give them additional
practice by having them role play the interview in pairs,
trying to use a wider range of short answers in their
responses.

Exercises 11 & 12
Have a brief discussion about what you can do in the
tourism.
exam if you need to explain a concept, but don’t know
Pair learners up and ask them to speak for 3–4 the word for it in English. Elicit that you can explain or
minutes each about the impact of tourism in their describe the concept using other language, and that
you will still get good marks for this. Ask learners
to read the Exam tip box and then do the
matching task and check answers in pairs,
discussing what they think is being defined in each
negative impact of tourism. sentence. Then have them do the describing and
guessingactivity.
Collins
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

Exercises 18-20
Have learners read the explanation and study the
examples. Check understanding of the different
functions of do when it is stressed by eliciting a few
more examples. Ask learners to complete the
verb form. exercises according to the instructions in the book
and listen to check their answers. Have them repeat
Exercise 13 the sentences on the recording, copying the stress and
Ask learners to choose another four or five vocabulary intonation and then use the information box to clarify
items from the unit to add to the words in the exercise, that it is important not to over-use this device.
e.g. backpacking, round-the-world trip. Have learners do
this exercise in groups of four. They should take turns to
Language: Cause and effect (30 mins)
describe a word while the others try to guess it. You could
set a time limit to make the activity more competitive.
Exercises 21 & 22 provide practice in using

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Exercise 14 different linking words to introduce cause and
Ask learners to do the exercise following the effect.
instructions in the book. Have them record themselves Exercise 23 provides practice for Speaking exam
or have them work in pairs and give each other Part 3: Two-way discussion.
feedback. If you are short of time, learners can listen to
the sample answer at home. Exercises 21 & 22
Introduce the language by writing a sentence starter
on the board: There’s heavy traffic on the coast road in
Pronunciation (30 mins) summer … Then have learners discuss how this could
be completed with a cause, e.g. because everyone goes
These exercises help learners give extra stress to the beach; or an effect, e.g. so it takes a long time to
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to words that are not normally stressed when get to the beach.
correcting or contrasting information, or when Have learners do the exercises following the
expressing strong feelings. instructions in the book. It might be worth pointing out
that some of the less familiar linking phrases tend to
be used in more formal English, e.g. … were brought
Exercises 15 & 16 about by … and … stems from … .
Before doing the exercise, recap briefly on what type
of words are normally stressed in a sentence, e.g.
content words/words that introduce new information. Typical mistakes: Learners may sometimes
Point out that sometimes we stress function words and
have learners read the introduction above Exercise 15. a passive form, such as in: The severe delays were
Have learners discuss the sentences in pairs and try
to decide which word is stressed in each one. Then do Exercise 21, it might be useful to write up the
play the recording for them to check their answers and sentences on the board in two
practise saying the sentences. Follow up by eliciting
why function words are stressed in these examples, i.e.
they are either contrasting and comparing something, 2
or the speaker is correcting a misunderstanding. and 6).

Exercise 17
This exercise involves learners using extra stress to Exercise 23
correct information on the recording. Have them complete Draw learners’ attention to the Exam tip box. Then ask
the exercise following the instructions in the book. them to do the exercise following the instructions in
the book, recording their answers if possible. If you are
short of time, learners can listen to the sample answer
at home, paying particular attention to how language
from Unit 11 is used, particularly cause and effect
where words are stressed at regular intervals. If linking words.
your learners don’t put sufficient stress on the
key words, you may need to drill the sentences,

sound, e.g. da da DA da for I’m from BELgium.

Collins
English for Exams Speaking for IELTS

their own strengths and weaknesses in speaking, so

Part 2: Exam skills (30 mins)
they should try to give honest answers. Have learners
do the quiz individually and then compare answers in
These exercises help learners reflect on their pairs or small groups.
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own speaking skills needs, and give useful advice

on what they can do to work on specific areas Exercise 2
and sub-skills when they revise for the speaking Have learners read the advice for each of the five
exam. answers they gave. Have whole class feedback,
discussing which answers were the most common for
Exercise 1 each question, and evaluating the advice given.
Introduce the quiz, clarifying that there are no correct
answers and that the idea is for learners to reflect on
Collins
Collins
n h Speaking for IELTS

Sample lesson plan for Speaking for IELTS Unit 12: Practice Test

EXTENSION ACTIVITY (20 MINS)

Ask learners to write an action plan that states
read page 7 of their books, which tells them how the which areas they should work on, and which
test is marked. Ask them to use their books to revise sections of the book they are going to use to

language functions. (30 mins)

Your learners will benefit most if this test is done

under exam conditions. Ideally a teacher should
interview them, but if this is not possible, learners
can also work in pairs. Interviews should be
recorded. Learners should answer all three parts
consecutively and keep to the time limits that are
set out in the instructions. They have 11–14 minutes
each in total.

Review page 7 of the book, which explains how

the banding is calculated. Ask learners to work in
pairs to listen to their recordings and give marks.
Ask them to encourage each other rather than
criticise their partner’s answers, and to think about
which IELTS band they may each have achieved
for the following four areas (which have equal
weighting): (1) fluency and coherence, (2) range of
vocabulary, (3) range of grammar, (4) accuracy and
pronunciation. If a lot of students had problems
with particular questions, discuss any issues that
arose and encourage them to listen to the sample
answers.