Introductions and Part 1

Hello and welcome to the IELTS Speaking section of your test. My name is David and I am your examiner.

Hello, nice to meet you.

Can you tell me your full name please?

My full name is Phillipe Thomas, but you can call me Phillipe.

Could you show me your identification card please?

Yes, certainly. Here you are.

Okay, Phillipe, it’s a pleasure to meet you, too. I’m going to ask you questions to begin our IELTS Speaking test. Where do you come from?

I’m from a small village in the south of France, it’s near the coast so it’s a great place to be if you enjoy being near the sea.

What’s the most interesting part of your village?

That’s a very good question. It’s quite small and peaceful so there aren’t too many notable places around. However, there is a lovely café near the village hall that has great food. That’s my favorite part anyway!

Are you currently studying or working?

Actually, I’m doing both! I’m studying for my masters in Biology but to support this I work part-time. As you can imagine, I have a very busy schedule but I like to have lots to do.

Why did you decide to study Biology?

Uh, I suppose I haven’t really thought about that. I guess I was good at sciences when I was in school, and from there I got more interested in the subject. Biology was always my favorite subject at school as I think living things are fascinating.

What type of accommodation are you currently living in?

Right now, I’m living in a shared two bedroom flat with my best friend. It’s around 30 minutes drive to the university campus and sharing the flat keeps the price affordable.

What do you think makes a good friend?

Off the top of my head, I think that a good friend is someone who can make you laugh, no matter what mood or problems you are currently facing. Humour is an important characteristic because you can feel more positive and relaxed every day.

Can you describe your best friend?

Yes, of course. We’ve been friends for over years now. I think of him more as a brother than just a friend. We have very similar interests such as sports like climbing and football although I’m probably better at them than he is!

Do you spend much time with your family?

These days, I don’t get to see my family as much as I could like because they live very far from me. I am definitely going to make a trip back to see them next month. Hopefully I can get the time off work!

Is family important where you’re from?

Yes, I would certainly say so. French people are usually very close and tight-knit with their family. We often have big parties together throughout the year, although as I said because of studying, it’s more difficult to see them now.

Who are you closest with in your family?

Hmmm, let me think about that. Actually, I almost feel bad choosing one! But, I suppose I’m closest with my father. That’s mainly because we both are big football fans and we support the same team. I still try and go and watch football games with him when I can. I should also say I’m very close to my mother, too.

Part 2

I would love to tell you about my most favorite holiday that I’ve ever had. I suppose I’m quite lucky, as there were at least three that I could choose from, but this trip was easily the best. I’ve always loved spending time outside, especially when I was young and more adventurous. My whole family went on a camping and hiking trip in Germany. It was part of a 3 week long Europe tour that we went on, which was tiring but great fun. The part of the vacation I remember most was definitely camping out in the forests of southern Germany. It was such a remarkably beautiful place to be, and so peaceful, too. We stayed in a large 4 room tent, which had 3 bedrooms and a shared space in the middle where we ate food and played games together. I was quite young at the time and thought it was such a great way to spend time. In fact, even today I still love going camping with friends. It’s difficult to say, but I believe I was about 10 years old at that time. All my family worked or studied in schools, so we had our holidays at the same time. Me and my brother went swimming every morning in the rivers next to our tent. It was cold but really refreshing. I remember my parents became friendly with some neighbors, and we spent a few evenings together eating food and having fun. It really was a great trip!

Part 3

Now I’m going to ask you some more questions related to the topic you discussed in last section of the test.

Do you generally prefer city breaks or visiting the countryside?

More often than not, I much prefer visiting places of natural beauty. I have spent a lot of time in towns and bustling cities and although they have many conveniences I like to live quietly outside of the chaos. It’s the same for my holidays really. I usually go to places for climbing and nature.

Do you prefer to go on holiday alone or with other people?

These days, it’s difficult to organize when friends or family have free time all together. After I turned 25 years old, I travelled more on my own. If I’m lucky, a friend may have a similar holiday time, which means they can join too. I actually don’t mind travelling alone so much as it gives me more time to relax and unwind.

What would you dream holiday be now?

That’s a tough question to answer. If I could only choose one destination, it would probably be Japan. I have always been interested in Japanese history and culture. So, if I have the opportunity I would love to visit there. Also, I really want to climb Mt. Fuji. Hopefully in the next few years!

Why are you so interested in hiking and climbing?

As I mentioned before, I enjoy being outside. You can call me a nature lover really. Climbing is also about challenging yourself and pushing past your normal limits of comfort. It may sound strange, but in my opinion, it’s good to scare yourself a bit sometimes.

What kind of sports do you not enjoy?

I really do like almost all sports, but never really liked playing tennis. I love watching it on TV and I think it’s an amazing sport if you can play it. I think it’s just a bit too difficult to play without having to stop all the time. Maybe I just need to get a good tennis coach!

If you could be a famous sports person, who would you be?

That’s an easy question for me. Without doubt I would want to be Lionel Messi. Even though I’m French, he’s quite easily the best football player in the last few decades. He’s more skillful than Ronaldo and is also a very quiet, humble person, too. Like me he very much loves his family. Plus, he has a lot of money, which would be nice.