In this episode we’re going to listen to Sadia who tried one of the free Part 2 practice tests we’ve published.
Task
Describe an item of technology that is very important to you. You should say:
- what the technology is
- when you got it
- how often you use it
and say how different your daily life would be without it.
Comprehension
The first time you listen decide if Sadia answers all parts of the question.
Nowadays we are living in a modern era of technology and … which make our lives very easy … we get benefit … the most valuable technology item which I am using is … probably my cell phone and I am having a Galaxy Samsung phone because of it I am not only just making phone calls and … in touch with my friends through SMS service or texting but it has almost all the functions which … a latest updated laptop is having so through … this service I am easily … I can download any program … it has … lots of space for downloading the electronic books as I am a professional I am a doctor so it is very helpful for me I am keeping … all the updated books in my mobile on my … which helps me a lot during my … work if I want to have a latest update for some … some information I can easily … Google it and I can … see on my cell phone no need to carry very big laptops … you know everywhere apart from that it has all the other … functions I can make movies I can watch any program I want to in rest time whenever I am travelling out in the beautiful scenes and I’m with my family and friends I take pictures so … so it’s really … really helpful and I’m using it every time in fact I am dependent on my cell phone because … I can schedule my activities in the calendar with the wake up alarms and the alarms for the … for the upcoming or forthcoming events … so it’s a … it’s a … actually now it became a necessity of life … and I love it … and my … husband gave it as a gift.
Assessment
Sadia gave a clear and interesting description of the item of technology and explained why it is important. The question asks ‘say how different your daily life would be without it’ but Sadia didn’t do this. Of course, we can guess what her life would be like without her mobile phone. However, if she had told us it would have allowed her to use ‘speculative language’ such as ‘I would imagine I’d find it difficult to get the latest information for my job’ or ‘I suppose I wouldn’t be able to keep in contact with people so easily’. Remember: if the question asks you to imagine a situation it’s your chance to use advanced language, so don’t forget to answer the question fully. Now listen a second time. How well do you think Sadia did using the IELTS assessment criteria? Focus on ONE of the following criteria as you listen.
- Grammatical range and accuracy
- Lexical resource (vocabulary)
- Fluency and coherence
- Pronunciation
Feedback
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Sadia’s use of English was very good. Her statements are well formed using linking words (‘not only … but’) and relative clauses:
I am not only just making phone calls and … in touch with my friends through SMS service or texting but it has almost all the functions which … a latest updated laptop is having …
One issue Sadia needs to revise is her use of present tenses. She uses the present continuous tense when the simple should be used. For example:
I am having a Galaxy Samsung phone (correct = ‘I have’)
it has almost all the functions which … a latest updated laptop is having (correct = ‘has’)
Lexical Resource
Sadia showed she had a good range of topic vocabulary to talk about technology such as:
to make a phone call
wake up alarm
functions
to download programs
She also used a variety of good set expressions towards the end of her talk such as:
‘upcoming or forthcoming events’
‘I am dependent on my cell phone’
‘I can my schedule my activities’
There were very few mistakes but the following is worth commenting on. Sadia said:
we get benefit (should be ‘we benefit from something’)
in rest time (should be ‘leisure time’)
whenever I’m travelling out (should be ‘whenever I’m travelling’)
Fluency and Coherence
There were a few minor pauses at certain stages of Sadia’s talk but nothing too serious. In general her fluency skills were good.
Pronunciation
Sadia’s pronunciation was very clear and listeners should have little trouble understanding her.