Speaking Test Model Answers
20. Work
Below you will find example model answers for IELTS test style speaking parts 1, 2 and 3 questions on this topic. You'll notice that some key advanced vocabulary for this topic is in bold in the model answers - you will find definitions and examples sentences at the bottom of the page for these.
SPEAKING
PART 1
1. What is your job?
I’m a freelance website designer. At the moment I’m working on a big project for an online retailer.
2. Why did you decide to do that job?
I got into website design because I've always been interested in technology and computer science, but I decided to be self-employed because I like to be my own boss and choose my own projects.
3. What do you do during a normal workday?
During the working week, I spend most of my time writing code, debugging software issues, and attending meetings with my clients.
4. Is your job difficult?
Sure, sometimes the workload can be heavy. There are always challenging technical problems to solve, and the customers can be quite demanding. There’s a lot of pressure to meet deadlines and I usually have to juggle several tasks, which can be stressful.
5. Do you like your colleagues at work?
One of the benefits of doing freelance work is that your colleagues change from one project to the next. Clients can be quite demanding though, so at times I have to bite my tongue and try to be more patient. It’s not always easy!
6. Would you like to be promoted?
One of the downsides of being self-employed is that you don’t have prospects in the same way as someone working at a company. But, as I gain experience and reputation in the industry, I’ll be able to take on bigger and better paid projects.
7. If you had the opportunity, would you change your job?
I sometimes think about applying for a job opening at a big tech company, as you certainly have some perks when working for such a company. You have more job security as well. But, I don’t like the hierarchy in big companies, and I love the freedom to take lots of time off after a big project, so I probably won’t change.
8. At what age would you like to retire?
It's difficult to say, as it depends on a variety of factors such as my financial situation, health, and personal preferences. However, I still find my work fulfilling and engaging so I hope to continue for many years to come.
Listen:
PART 2
Describe a job you have had.
You should say:
where you worked
what you did
and why you liked or disliked the job
Model Answer:
I’ve had several jobs, as I started working when I was still at school but I’ll tell you about a job I only did for about 2 weeks, straight after leaving school, which was working in a call centre. I was made a job offer and hired after a very short interview. I'm guessing that employee retention was low at the centre as they seemed desperate for staff. Even though I wasn’t keen on this kind of work, I took the job as it offered a competitive salary, job security and good prospects.
To be honest, I don’t remember very clearly what I was supposed to be selling but I think it was some kind of insurance. I had to cold call people from a list I was given, introduce myself and then try to convince them to buy this product. Usually people were a little annoyed to be called by a stranger out of the blue, and it was very unusual to find somebody who was really interested in the product
I didn’t like the job at all as I felt uncomfortable cold calling strangers and trying to sell them something. Honestly, I wasn't very good at it either. The work was monotonous, and what’s more, it involved shift work, so I had to work strange hours which were always changing. I have to say, being a call centre employee was not rewarding work at all. In any case, I quit the job after 2 weeks and started job hunting again.
Listen:
PART 3
1. What jobs are most valuable to society?
That’s an interesting question. There are lots of valuable jobs and an easy answer would be professions like doctors and nurses, but I also think engineers and scientists are really important as it’s these people that come up with the inventions that really improve our quality of life. Without scientists we wouldn’t have smartphones, the internet, modern medicine or any of the other things that make life so much easier. Scientists may not have the most lucrative jobs, in fact, they’re often underpaid in my opinion, but they are very useful for humanity.
2. What are the most difficult jobs?
The most difficult jobs are jobs which involve a very heavy workload, or a lot of stress, either physical or mental. I’d say that jobs where you have a lot of responsibility are very stressful, so if you’re a doctor working in an emergency room, making life and death decisions every day, it must be very stressful. On the other hand, if you have to do manual work outside in a hot or very cold climate, or shift work with changing day and night shifts, it can be really challenging too.
3. What are the most useful skills to have in order to get a job these days?
If I were a parent I would recommend my kids to study something connected to IT. It seems like these days there are always job vacancies for IT professionals. So much of what we do today is on computers that there are a lot of opportunities for skilled programmers. Having said that, to be good at programming, you need to be good at maths, so for people who don’t have a mathematical mind, I think interpersonal skills are still very important for finding a job. If you can develop good emotional intelligence, management skills and communication skills you will probably be able to find a good job, especially if you are multilingual too.
4. Do you think job satisfaction is more important than a high salary?
That’s a very important thing to think about when you are deciding on what career you would like. You have to consider if you will find the work rewarding, and how happy the money you earn will make you. There’s also your work-life balance to consider as often well paid jobs involve a heavy workload and working long hours. Personally, I think having enough free time to enjoy your hobbies and other interests is more important than a high salary.
5. How has technology changed the way people do their jobs?
As I mentioned earlier, computers have become fundamental to many jobs. Nowadays, almost everyone has to be able to use at least a smartphone as part of their job, while a lot of people also need to work on PC’s or laptops. All this technology has made us more productive, and allows people to take on more tasks and do more than was possible in the past. Technology has also really improved communication so now we can connect a lot more quickly, cheaply and easily than in the past, and this makes organising and working in teams much easier too.
6. At what age should people be able to retire?
I think it depends on the person and the job they do. If you are in manual work that is physically exhausting, then you need to retire at a younger age. On the other hand, if you’re a white collar worker, sitting behind a desk, it’s often possible to work until you’re much older. Health is also really important. If someone is still healthy, then why not continue working? In my opinion, you should be able to retire whenever you want, of course, money allowing.
Listen:
VOCABULARY
Topic Vocabulary:
apprenticeship (noun [c]):
Definition: A system of training new workers in a trade or profession with on-the-job training.
Example: She decided to apply for an apprenticeship to become an electrician.
demanding (adjective):
Definition: Describes a task, job, or situation that requires a lot of effort, skill, or time.
Example: Working in the healthcare industry can be demanding because of the high pressure.
engaging (adjective):
Definition: A task, job, or situation that is interesting and keeps one's attention.
Example: He was glad to be involved in the project as it was engaging work that he enjoyed.
freelance (adjective):
Definition: Working for different employers on a project basis rather than being employed by only one company.
Example: She chose freelance work as she wanted to be her own boss.
hierarchy (noun [u]):
Definition: A system or structure where people or things are ranked according to their importance or authority.
Example: He became CEO after 30 years of moving up the company hierarchy.
job security (noun phrase):
Definition: How likely you will keep your job in a company in the future.
Example: Job security is important, especially when the economy is not so good.
layoffs (noun [pl]):
Definition: The act of firing employees, often as a result of financial problems or restructuring.
Example: The company announced layoffs due to a decline in sales.
lucrative (adjective):
Definition: Describes a job or business that can earn a lot of money.
Example: Being a successful YouTuber can be very lucrative if you have a lot of viewers and advertisers.
manual work (noun phrase):
Definition: A type of work that involves physical labour rather than intellectual or office work.
Example: The construction industry involves manual work such as carpentry, plumbing, and bricklaying.
monotonous (adjective):
Definition: Repetitive and boring.
Example: Folding clothes at the store can be monotonous because you do the same task over and over again.
prospects (noun [pl]):
Definition: Chances or opportunities for success or promotion in the future.
Example: The company offered good prospects as it had many branches and offices around the world.
rewarding (adjective):
Definition: Providing a feeling of satisfaction because you are doing something worthwhile.
Example: The volunteer work was challenging but very rewarding.
self-employed (adjective):
Definition: Providing services independently, rather than working for someone else.
Example: My neighbour is self-employed; he runs his own small business making custom furniture.
shift work (noun phrase):
Definition: Working in specific time periods or "shifts," which can include evenings, nights, or weekends.
Example: Nurses often do shift work, working during the day one week and at night the next.
take on (phrasal verb):
Definition: To accept and begin doing additional duties or tasks.
Example: She recently took on the role of CEO.
take time off (verb phrase):
Definition: Requesting and receiving permission to be away from work for a certain period.
Example: After a busy month, I decided to take some time off and relax at the beach.
vocational (adjective):
Definition: Referring to education or training that prepares students for a specific career or trade.
Example: The vocational school offered programs in welding, plumbing, and electrical work.
white collar worker (noun phrase):
Definition: Someone who works in a professional or administrative job, typically in an office.
Example: Lawyers, and accountants are examples of white-collar workers.
work-life balance (noun phrase):
Definition: Achieving a healthy balance between your job or career and your personal life.
Example: She tries to maintain a good work-life balance by leaving the office on time every day.
workload (noun [c]):
Definition: The amount of work that a person has to do.
Example: During their final exams, students often have a heavy workload with lots of studying and assignments.
