IELTS Speaking Test – November 19, 2023 (5.5-6.5)

IELTS Speaking Test – November 19, 2023 (5.5-6.5)

IELTS Speaking: November 19, 2023

Good day! This is the IELTS Speaking exam from November 19, 2023. I came across a question asked during an IELTS interview from a reliable source. The score of the answer is around 6.5, and I’m making an effort to explain why it falls into this range. I’m focusing on the lexical resources and the grammatical range and accuracy in my response. Since this is in a written format, I won’t touch upon fluency and pronunciation. Keep in mind that the capability of the student or test-taker may vary.

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Weather

1. What’s the weather like where you live?

During this time of the month, it’s fairly cool, which is nice as it adds to the Christmas season vibes. We’re expecting very little rain or typhoons for the next couple of months. However, come March, it’ll get hot, and we can expect some afternoon rain. Living in a tropical place, this is usually the pattern.

2. Do you prefer cold or hot weather?

I always prefer colder weather, not for personal reasons, but because I have a lot of equipment at home. During the summer, most of them end up fried, so I try to keep the place well-ventilated. In hot weather, electricity bills tend to skyrocket, and I’d rather not crank up the AC if I don’t have to.

3. Do you prefer dry or wet weather?

Since I work from home now, I don’t mind whether it’s wet or dry. In the past, wet weather was a bit of an issue as I had to constantly wash my face to avoid feeling sticky. But now, since I’m at home most of the time, it’s not a problem. However, I don’t want to be in a dry place due to my sensitive skin; my lips crack, and my feet start flaking in dry weather.

4. Are you in the habit of checking the weather forecast? When/How often?

To be fair, it’s not really common for me to check the weather regularly. As someone who works from home, the weather is not usually relevant, except in the case of a strong typhoon. That’s the only time I would be concerned. But since I have a power generator now, it’s not a big deal.

5. What do you think are the effects of climate change in recent years?

When I was younger, extreme weather events like Category 3 or 4 were newsworthy. Now, it’s going up to five, and that’s terrifying.

6. Would you like to visit other cities that have different climates from where you live?

Yes, actually, I have a business trip coming up this Thursday to a different place. My wife is joining me, and she loves it there. She enjoys mountainous areas, and while I’m okay with that, I prefer a more normal climate. However, the mountain climate is colder, and she likes that. I enjoy strolling, so going to mountainous areas for trekking is a nice change from time to time.

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Sentence Structure

– Simple Sentence: 21
– Compound Sentence: 10
– Complex Sentence: 8
– Compound-Complex Sentence: 0

IELTS Speaking Vocabulary

CEFR B2: IELTS 5.5 ~ 6.5
1. Fairly
2. Typhoons
3. Crucial

CEFR C1: IELTS 7.0
4. Ventilated
5. Skyrocket
6. Crank up
7. Relevant
8. Concerned
9. Generator
10. Business trip
11. Mountainous
12. Trekking

Discourse Markers and Connectives

1. Sequential Markers:
– During this time of the month (1)
– For the next couple of months (1)
– However (1)
– Come March (1)

2. Causal Markers:
– Living in a tropical place (1)
– In hot weather (1)

3. Contrastive Markers:
– Not for personal reasons (1)
– But because (1)

4. Temporal Markers:
– Now (2)
– In the past (1)
– But now (1)
– However (1)
– When I was younger (1)
– Now (1)

5. Comparative Markers:
– Prefer a more normal climate (1)
– However, the mountain climate is colder (1)

6. Additive Markers:
– Yes, actually (1)
– And (1)

IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a movie you watched recently that you felt disappointed about
You should say:
When it was
Why you didn’t like it
Why you decide to watch it
And explain why you felt disappointed about it

I would say the most disappointing movie experience for me was back in 2009 or 2010. At that time, I was really into Japanese TV shows and movies, particularly those featuring a unique animation style. There was this particular series I was following, and in Japan, they often release a grand movie in the middle of the series to answer all the lingering questions.

The trailer for this movie was fantastic, building up a lot of excitement and anticipation. Unfortunately, due to a delay in its release in my country, we had to wait an additional two years. Despite the wait, many fans were still eager and supportive, expecting the movie to resolve the series’ mysteries.

When the movie finally came out, we were in for a major disappointment. The trailer, which had initially showcased the answers to all our questions, turned out to be different from the actual movie. Curious about the disparity, we checked online forums but refrained from reading too much to avoid spoilers.

To our dismay, it became apparent that the movie had a completely changed storyline. The trailer had teased answers that the movie did not deliver. This sudden shift became a major plot twist not only in my local community but also in Japan. Many discussions and YouTube videos emerged, expressing collective disappointment.

Upon watching it, we realized the movie was more like a 40-minute-long episode of the show, offering no significant changes or answers. This unexpected turn left everyone puzzled, especially considering the dissatisfaction with the series’ ending. It felt like a cheap trick, and to this day, I’m still unsure why they decided to handle it that way.

Sentence Structure

– Simple Sentence: 24
– Compound Sentence: 10
– Complex Sentence: 10
– Compound-Complex Sentence: 1

Vocabulary

CEFR B2: IELTS 5.5 ~ 6.5
1. Disappointing
2. Lingering
3. Grand
4. Anticipation
5. Eager
6. Resolve
7. Mysteries
8. Refrained
9. Spoilers
10. Puzzled
11. Cheap trick
12. Handle

CEFR C1: IELTS 7.0
13. Disparity
14. Dismay
15. Plot twist
16. Collective
17. Emerged
18. Dissatisfaction

Discourse Markers and Connectives

1. Sequential Markers:
– Back in (2)
– When (1)
– Finally (1)
– Upon (1)

2. Causal Markers:
– Due to (1)
– Especially considering (1)

3. Contrastive Markers:
– But (2)
– Unfortunately (1)
– Despite (1)
– However (1)

4. Temporal Markers:
– At that time (2)
– Often (1)
– In the middle of (1)
– When (1)
– Back in (2)
– Finally (1)
– Back in (1)
– To this day (1)

5. Comparative Markers:
– More like (1)

6. Additive Markers:
– Particularly (1)
– And (8)
– Also (1)
– Upon (1)
– Especially (1)

IELTS Speaking Part 3

1. Do you believe movie reviews?

There are two types of movie reviews: objective ones from a writer’s perspective, focusing on how the movie is delivered, the portrayal of characters, and any subtle details or Easter eggs. I trust these reviews. However, there are other reviews purely based on emotions, where fans praise their favorite idols regardless of the movie’s actual quality. These reviews, driven by fandom, may not provide a fair evaluation of the movie.

2. What are the different types of films in your country?

In our country, there’s a preference for foreign movies over local ones, especially action films. Over the last five years, the popularity of comic book-based movies has decreased, and there’s a growing interest in dramas. Of course, there’s also a variety of comedy films.

3. Are historical films popular in your country? Why?

To some extent, historical films are appreciated in our country. However, the interest is more in historical films from other countries rather than our own. While we had a popular indie historical film, there seems to be a lack of interest in producing similar films locally. People are more likely to invest their time and attention in historical films from other nations.

4. Do you think films with famous actors or actresses are more likely to become successful films?

Yes, because the influence of fans often outweighs the quality of the writing. In my country, people may watch a film for the sake of entertainment, especially if it features their favorite idols or a beloved love team. Even if the story is cliché or nonsensical, the film has the potential to become a blockbuster due to the star power of the actors.

5. Why are Japanese animated films so popular?

Japanese animated films succeed due to their ability to cater to diverse tastes within the anime genre. Unlike other genres, anime branches out extensively, providing something for everyone. Fans can find specific niches within the larger anime community, contributing to the overall popularity of Japanese animated films.

6. Should the director pay a lot of money to famous actors?

Directors should not bear the responsibility of paying actors substantial amounts; that falls under the domain of movie producers. While directors may have some influence or ability to convince producers, their primary role is to guide and direct the movie, ensuring the actors deliver their best performances. Handling financial matters should not be the director’s main concern.

Summary:
– Simple Sentence: 39
– Compound Sentence: 15
– Complex Sentence: 13
– Compound-Complex Sentence: 2

CEFR B2 / IELTS 5.5 to 6.5
1. Trust
2. Preference
3. Variety
4. Potential
5. Ability
6. Influence
7. Provide
8. Guide
9. Deliver
10. Invest
11. Responsibility
12. Extensively

CEFR C1:
13. Objective
14. Perspective
15. Portrayal
16. Subtle
17. Evaluation
18. Appreciated
19. Convince

1. Sequential Markers:
– Over the last five years (1)
– Of course (1)

2. Causal Markers:
– Because (2)

3. Contrastive Markers:
– However (4)
– While (1)
– Unlike (1)

4. Comparative Markers:
– More likely (1)
– Unlike (1)

5. Additive Markers:
– Also (1)
– Even if (1)
– Due to (1)
– Unlike (1)
– While (1)
– Contributing to (1)
– Overall (1)

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Check IELTS Speaking Part 1, 2 and 3
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