Lesson 4: giving relevant answers in IELTS Speaking

In this lesson you will learn how to give relevant answers in IELTS Speaking test. As you know, during the Speaking test the examiner will assess your ability to communicate fluently, effectively and coherently. To achieve a high score (band 6 and more), you should make sure that your answers are relevant to the question.

The questions in IELTS Speaking test (parts 1 and 3) may ask you to do one or more of the following:


Let's look at the examples below to get an idea what relevant answer means.

Question 1

This question asks you to describe your home town.

Example of relevant answer:

My hometown is a little village located in the Western part of India... It is a very pleasant place with a lot of trees and nice climate. I really like it.

This answer is relevant because you describe your hometown in it - exactly what the question asked you to do.


Example of irrelevant answer:

Hmm... I like my hometown primarily because it is a very pleasant place with a lot of trees and nice climate.

This answer is irrelevant because it explains why you like your hometown, rather than describes your hometown.


Another example of irrelevant answer:

Currently I live in a big city, which is very different from my hometown... Unlike the place where I live now, my hometown is a little village.

This answer is irrelevant because it compares and contrasts your current place of living with your hometown, rather than describes your hometown.


Question 2

This question asks you to compare and contrast what your hometown is like now to what it was like in the past.

Example of relevant answer:

Well... Nowadays my hometown is a little bit different from what it was in the past. During the last decade a lot of facilities - like supermarkets and gyms - were built... Moreover, I think it became more populated.


Example of irrelevant answer:

I prefer what my hometown was like in the past than what it is like now. I don't like crowds and a lot of people, and nowadays my hometown is really over-populated.

This answer is irrelevant because it expresses a preference rather than compares and contrasts.


Question 3

This question asks you to suggest things that a tourist would like to do in your hometown.

Example of relevant answer:

Hmm... Firstly, there are some historical places - like ancient temples - that tourists would like to see in my hometown. They have been built in 10th century and are surrounded by a large garden, so I believe it's an amazing place to visit. Also, I think that tourists would find the local zoo very interesting too.


Example of irrelevant answer:

There are ancient temples, which are located in the Northern part of my hometown; they have been built in 10th century! They are very old and reveal many historical mysteries. They are surrounded by a large garden and are easily accessible by subway.

This answer is irrelevant because it describes a tourist attraction rather than suggests visiting it.


Question 4

This question asks you to give an opinion.

Example of relevant answer:

I believe my hometown to be the most beautiful city in my country. Probably, I like it so much because I was born there and spent first 19 years of my life in that city.


Example of irrelevant answer:

I like my hometown because I was born there and it is very near and dear to my heart.

This answer is irrelevant because it explains why you like a certain city rather than gives an opinion.