Question Type 1: Basic Description Questions

Strategy Summary

The reason why this strategy is called the "fluency-based strategy" can be illustrated below.

Your overall answer will look something like this:

1. 
   Linking phrase + prompt + linking phrase + details + connective...
   
2. 
   Linking phrase + prompt + linking phrase + details + connective...
   
3. 
   Linking phrase + prompt + linking phrase + details + connective...
   
4. 
   Linking phrase + prompt + linking phrase + details + connective...
   

In the marking system, linking phrases and connectives feature heavily in the fluency scoring and so obviously an answer of this type has an enormous affect on your "Fluency" score.

It is interesting to note that most people only produce 3 or 4 linking phrases in their whole interview. However, if you use this system you will produce 8 of these in your Part Two talk alone!

It is also important to realize that the overall structure produces a large amount of complex grammar structures.

Advice

As the author of this book, an IELTS examiner for 5 years and an IELTS trainer for 6 years, I strongly recommend all candidates to use this strategy in Part Two. It instantly transforms what is usually the worst part of the speaking test into the highest scoring Part.