IELTS Speaking Test # 106 (2024)

IELTS Speaking Test # 106

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Last Updated: Friday, 19 August 2022 14:13

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IELTS Speaking Test # 106

Part 1 Topic: "Television programmes".
Part 2 Topic: "Describe someone you know who has started a business."
Part 3 Topic: "Choosing work" & "Work-Life balance".

Part 1 - Introduction & Interview

[This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself and checking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview. In the interview, the examiner asks the candidate about his/her home, work or studies and other familiar topics.]

Q. Are there any programmes/shows you don’t like watching? [Why?/Why not?]
Answer: I hope that I am not really offending here, but I don’t exactly like the wrestling show because I find them a bit too much “physically violent” for my taste. Besides, I don’t really see any value in watching a show, like wrestling, that use vulgar and foul languages every now and then. Besides, I don't like some reality TV shows which seem quite banal and low-standard.

Q. Do you think you will watch more TV or fewer TV programmes/shows in the future? [Why?/Why not?]
Answer: I think that I will watch fewer TV shows in the future primarily because life is becoming very busy and hectic. Besides, most shows on the TV are becoming too much ‘commercially’ motivated without offering any real or educational values for them. I would like to read more books than watching TV programmes in the future.

Part 2 - Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card

[The topic for your talk will be written on a card which the examiner will hand over to you. Read it carefully and then make some brief notes.]

Describe someone you know who has started a business.

You should say:

• who this person is
• what work this person does
• why this person decided to start a business

and explain whether you would like to do the same kind of work as this person.

[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

Part 3 - Details Discussion/ Two-way Discussion:

Most of the fresh graduates have high hopes and better expectations from their career. So young people in my country often feel like avoiding jobs which are not adequately rewarding, prestigious and promising.

Q. Who is best at advising young people about choosing a job: teachers or parents?
Answer: I would say that neither of them is in the best position to advise young people on what kinds of jobs to choose primarily because neither the teachers nor the parents are able, despite their best intentions, to fully understand what kinds of jobs a young person would enjoy doing. Of course, the teachers and parents would somewhat be able to ascertain the potentials of the young people, but that is never enough to advise them on choosing a certain career path. So, at the end of the day, it all depends on the young people themselves because, after all, they will be the ones who would spend a very significant part of their life and time in their careers, not their teachers or parents.

Q. Is money always the most important thing when choosing a job?
Answer: From where I stand, I am pretty confident to say that money isn’t, and shouldn’t be’ “always” the most important thing when choosing a job because the money simply can’t buy everything in life. For example, if our job pays a lot of money but doesn’t offer the “job satisfaction” of doing something significant in order to make difference in the lives of people around us, then we wouldn’t probably enjoy doing the job for too long. Besides, if a job doesn’t offer the opportunity for growth, money matter would probably be irrelevant at certain points also.

Discussion topic: "Work-Life balance"

Q. Do you agree that many people nowadays are under pressure to work longer hours and take less holiday?
Answer: Yes, I do agree that many people nowadays are under tremendous pressure to work longer hours and take fewer holidays primarily because of the stiff competition from the competitor companies and organizations. This is so also because more and more "young but unemployed and qualified professionals" are posing “threats” for the job security, and many companies are just taking advantages of this ‘vulnerability’ among their employees. Finally, some people are under pressure to work longer hours also because they need to earn extra money in order to keep up with the rising cost of living.

Q. What is the impact on society of people having a poor work-life balance?
Answer: Unfortunately, having a poor work-life balance is never really good for society as it creates some kind of restlessness in our life. For example, if a person is working too much and not spending enough time with his or her family, then he/she is risking a weaker family bond which would only get worse in time. Besides, if a person works too long hours, then the chances are that he or she will become mentally depressed due to the lack of quality social interaction which will only result in lesser work productivity and efficiency.A prosperous society relies on its happy and productive members and poor work-life balance of its members disrupt the harmony of such a society.

Q. Could you recommend some effective strategies for governments and employers to ensure people have a good work-life balance?
Answer: Sure. The main strategy, which comes to my mind, is that government can always announce tax incentives (ie. tax cuts) for the companies which encourage their employees to work fewer hours. In the same way, it can also offer some extra financial help for those, who are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living, in the form of ‘rationing’. Finally, the government can also use different media outlets in order to raise awareness on the benefits of work-life balance among its citizens.

Besides, employers have much to do to ensure the work-life balance of their employees. They can make the office environment safe and healthy for their employees, encourage employees to leave office in time and take paid leaves, and look after their financial, physical and psychological well-being by providing counselling and financial aids.

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