speaking_part_one_calibration

• Original Source: speaking_part_one_calibration.txt
• Category: speaking
• Original Format: .txt

IELTS SPEAKING PART ONE. CALIBRATION TRACK.

Companion to the automatization track. That file gives you the frames. This one gives you the length.

The frames are useless if you cannot feel where an answer ends. Two things go wrong for you, and they are opposite failures with opposite fixes.

Clipping. You answer in one short sentence and stop. The examiner has nothing to score. Short answers do not sound modest, they sound like a candidate who cannot extend.

Drifting. You answer, then keep going. You add background, then a second reason, then a qualification of the second reason. Somewhere in there the tense slips, because you are three sentences past the one the question set. Every long answer you give is an opportunity to make an error you did not need to make.

The fix for both is the same. Learn what the correct length feels like in your mouth. That is what this track is for.

THE TARGET SHAPE.

Answer. Reason. One concrete detail. Stop.

Thirty to forty five words. About two breaths. Never a third reason.

Here is what fifteen words sounds like. Too short.

Yes, I do. It is interesting work and I have been doing it for years.

Here is what thirty eight words sounds like. Correct.

Yes, very much so. It is demanding work, but no two days look the same, which suits me. I would probably get restless in something more predictable, so the unpredictability is the part I would not trade.

Here is what seventy words sounds like. Too long.

Yes, very much so. It is demanding work, but no two days look the same, which suits me. I would probably get restless in something more predictable. Also, I work with people at a difficult point in their lives, and that changes how you see almost everything else. When I started, I found that part harder than I expected, although now I would say it is the reason I stayed.

Everything after the word predictable was unnecessary. The answer was already complete. Notice what happened in the drift. The tense moved to the past, then to the present perfect, then to a conditional, all inside sentences nobody asked for.

That is your error pattern in its natural habitat. You do not lose tense control at the start of an answer. You lose it in the fourth sentence.

HOW TO USE THIS TRACK.

Each item gives you the question, a clipped answer, a drifting answer with the exact point where it went wrong, and then the target. The target is spoken twice. Say it with the voice the second time.

Do not memorize the content. The content is mine, not yours. Memorize the length.

THE DRIFT ALARM. THREE SIGNALS.

One. You are starting a third sentence and it begins with and, also, or another thing. Stop there.

Two. You have started explaining background the examiner did not ask for. When you were younger, how it started, what it used to be like. That is Part Two material. Stop there.

Three. You have qualified your own qualification. Although, having said that, then again, in the same answer. Stop there.

If you notice the alarm mid sentence, do not stop dead. Land it. Five landing lines. Repeat each.

So yes, on the whole I would say I do. So that is really the main reason. So it works well enough for me. So I would say yes, broadly. So that is where I stand on it.

A landing line converts a drift into a conclusion. Nobody hears the difference.

SECTION ONE. WORK AND STUDY.

Item one. Do you work, or are you a student?

Clipped. I am a doctor. I work in a hospital. That answers the question and closes the conversation. The first question of the test is your first impression. Give it the full shape.

Drifting. I am a doctor, a psychiatrist actually, and I work in a public institute, and I also see patients privately in the afternoons, and I teach as well, mainly residents, which takes up a fair amount of time, especially now. The answer ended after the word institute. Everything after it is a list, and lists have no stopping point.

Target. I am a doctor, a psychiatrist, and I work at a public institute here in the city. Most of my time goes to patients, though I also supervise residents, which I enjoy more than I expected to.

Again.

I am a doctor, a psychiatrist, and I work at a public institute here in the city. Most of my time goes to patients, though I also supervise residents, which I enjoy more than I expected to.

Item two. Do you enjoy your work?

Clipped. Yes, I do. It is very interesting. Generic. That sentence would fit any job on earth.

Drifting. Without a doubt. It is demanding, but I find it genuinely absorbing, mainly because the work is never routine. When I started I was not sure it suited me, and there was a period where I considered something else entirely, but that passed. The answer ended at routine. The past narrative that follows was not requested.

Target. Without a doubt. It is demanding, but I find it genuinely absorbing, mainly because no two cases look alike. I think I would struggle in a job where I could predict my week in advance.

Again.

Without a doubt. It is demanding, but I find it genuinely absorbing, mainly because no two cases look alike. I think I would struggle in a job where I could predict my week in advance.

Item three. Would you like to change your job in the future?

Clipped. No, not really. I like it. The word would has been thrown away. This question hands you a conditional and you must use it.

Target. Not the profession itself, no. I would like to change where I do it, though, and I have been looking at working abroad. Same work, different setting, which is a change I would welcome.

Again.

Not the profession itself, no. I would like to change where I do it, though, and I have been looking at working abroad. Same work, different setting, which is a change I would welcome.

SECTION TWO. PLACE AND ROUTINE.

Item four. Is your hometown a good place to live?

Clipped. Yes, it is very big and it has many things.

Drifting. It really depends on what you want from a city. It is enormous, so almost anything you could want is available somewhere, but the traffic is genuinely punishing and it takes an hour to cross town. Housing has become expensive too, and the air quality in winter is a real problem, especially for older people. Three separate complaints. The answer ended at punishing.

Target. It really depends on what you want from a city. It is enormous, so almost anything you might want exists somewhere in it, although the traffic is genuinely punishing. On balance I would still say yes.

Again.

It really depends on what you want from a city. It is enormous, so almost anything you might want exists somewhere in it, although the traffic is genuinely punishing. On balance I would still say yes.

Item five. Do you like the weather where you live?

Clipped. Yes, it is nice.

Target. Very much so, actually. It stays mild almost all year, which I have come to appreciate, mainly because I never have to plan around the cold. The rainy season is the only part I could do without.

Again.

Very much so, actually. It stays mild almost all year, which I have come to appreciate, mainly because I never have to plan around the cold. The rainy season is the only part I could do without.

Item six. How do you usually get to work?

Clipped. By car.

Target. I usually drive, though it depends on the day. Traffic here is heavy in the mornings, so if I am going somewhere central I will take the metro instead. It is rarely a choice about comfort, more about time.

Again.

I usually drive, though it depends on the day. Traffic here is heavy in the mornings, so if I am going somewhere central I will take the metro instead. It is rarely a choice about comfort, more about time.

Item seven. Do you prefer mornings or evenings?

Clipped. Mornings, definitely.

Target. Mornings, without a doubt. I concentrate far better before the day fills up with other people's demands, which is why I try to protect that first hour. By the evening I am useful for very little.

Again.

Mornings, without a doubt. I concentrate far better before the day fills up with other people's demands, which is why I try to protect that first hour. By the evening I am useful for very little.

SECTION THREE. THE PAST TENSE ITEMS.

The question sets the tense. Once you are in the past, stay there for the whole answer.

Item eight. Did you enjoy school when you were younger?

Clipped. Yes, I did. It was fine.

Drifting. I did, yes, at least the parts that interested me. I was not a difficult student, but I got bored easily, and I still get bored easily, so I suppose nothing much has changed there. Watch what happened. The answer left the past and never came back. The examiner asked about a child and you answered about an adult.

Target. I did, yes, at least the parts that interested me. I was never especially disciplined, but a couple of teachers pushed me hard, and I responded much better to that than to being left alone.

Again.

I did, yes, at least the parts that interested me. I was never especially disciplined, but a couple of teachers pushed me hard, and I responded much better to that than to being left alone.

Item nine. Did you have any hobbies as a child?

Clipped. Yes, I read a lot.

Target. I did, yes. I read constantly, far more than was probably good for me, and I spent a lot of time outdoors as well. Back then those two things filled almost every afternoon.

Again.

I did, yes. I read constantly, far more than was probably good for me, and I spent a lot of time outdoors as well. Back then those two things filled almost every afternoon.

Item ten. Have you ever learned a musical instrument?

Present perfect in the question. Answer with have, then move to the past for the detail.

Target. I have, yes, though not with much success. I took lessons for a couple of years as a teenager and gave them up far too early, which I regret more now than I did at the time.

Again.

I have, yes, though not with much success. I took lessons for a couple of years as a teenager and gave them up far too early, which I regret more now than I did at the time.

SECTION FOUR. LEISURE AND PREFERENCE.

Item eleven. What kind of music do you like?

Clipped. I like many kinds. It depends on my mood. Empty. This is the most common weak answer in the whole test.

Target. My taste is fairly scattered, honestly. I listen to a lot of older recordings, mainly because I like the way they were made, and I keep my whole collection on a server at home so it is always available.

Again.

My taste is fairly scattered, honestly. I listen to a lot of older recordings, mainly because I like the way they were made, and I keep my whole collection on a server at home so it is always available.

Item twelve. Do you read much?

Target. I do, yes, though less fiction than I used to. Most of what I read now is work related or philosophy, which sounds heavier than it is. It is the one thing I still do before sleeping.

Again.

I do, yes, though less fiction than I used to. Most of what I read now is work related or philosophy, which sounds heavier than it is. It is the one thing I still do before sleeping.

Item thirteen. Do you like cooking?

Target. I have mixed feelings about that. I enjoy it when there is no rush, but on a working day it feels like one more task, so more often than not I keep it simple. Weekends are a different matter.

Again.

I have mixed feelings about that. I enjoy it when there is no rush, but on a working day it feels like one more task, so more often than not I keep it simple. Weekends are a different matter.

Item fourteen. Do you have a pet?

Target. I do, yes, a dog. He is the reason I am awake before my alarm most mornings, which I have stopped resenting. Having something that needs walking turns out to be good for me as well.

Again.

I do, yes, a dog. He is the reason I am awake before my alarm most mornings, which I have stopped resenting. Having something that needs walking turns out to be good for me as well.

Item fifteen. Do you spend much time outdoors?

Target. Less than I would like, honestly. The work keeps me indoors most of the day, so what I get is mainly walking the dog, generally early. Then again, that adds up to more than I realize.

Again.

Less than I would like, honestly. The work keeps me indoors most of the day, so what I get is mainly walking the dog, generally early. Then again, that adds up to more than I realize.

SECTION FIVE. THE TOPICS YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT.

You will get at least one. The trap here is the opposite of drifting. You will clip, because there is nothing to say. Use the safety net frame and then add a small real observation. Small is enough.

Item sixteen. Do you have a favorite color?

Clipped. Not really, no. Correct instinct, but it is one sentence, and one sentence is not an answer.

Target. Not particularly, no. I have never really given it much thought, though I suppose I wear a lot of dark colors, which probably says something. It is not a decision I make consciously.

Again.

Not particularly, no. I have never really given it much thought, though I suppose I wear a lot of dark colors, which probably says something. It is not a decision I make consciously.

Item seventeen. Are birthdays important in your country?

Target. To be honest, it is not something I think about much personally, but yes, they matter here. Families gather properly, and there is usually food involved, so the day tends to expand well beyond the person it is for.

Again.

To be honest, it is not something I think about much personally, but yes, they matter here. Families gather properly, and there is usually food involved, so the day tends to expand well beyond the person it is for.

Item eighteen. Do you enjoy shopping for clothes?

Target. Not really, no. I find it fairly draining, mainly because I never know what I want until I see it, and by then I have lost interest. I tend to buy the same things repeatedly.

Again.

Not really, no. I find it fairly draining, mainly because I never know what I want until I see it, and by then I have lost interest. I tend to buy the same things repeatedly.

SECTION SIX. THE TENSE SWITCH ITEMS.

Three questions on one topic, moving through three tenses. This is where you lose control. Follow the switch and stop after each answer.

Item nineteen. Do you use social media much?

Target. Not much, no. I keep an account or two, largely because it is how certain colleagues share things, but I would not say I use it in any real sense.

Item twenty. Did you use it more in the past?

Notice the switch. Past.

Target. I did, yes, considerably more. A few years ago I checked it constantly, almost without deciding to, and at some point I noticed how little I actually got from it, so I stopped.

Item twenty one. Do you think you will use it more in the future?

Notice the switch. Future.

Target. I doubt it, honestly. If anything I imagine I will use it less, mainly because the things I genuinely want from it keep moving somewhere else, and I have stopped following them.

Say those three again in sequence. Present. Past. Future.

Not much, no. I keep an account or two, largely because it is how certain colleagues share things, but I would not say I use it in any real sense.

I did, yes, considerably more. A few years ago I checked it constantly, almost without deciding to, and at some point I noticed how little I actually got from it, so I stopped.

I doubt it, honestly. If anything I imagine I will use it less, mainly because the things I genuinely want from it keep moving somewhere else, and I have stopped following them.

Item twenty two. Do you sleep well?

Target. Reasonably well, most of the time. I keep fairly regular hours, largely out of habit rather than discipline, and that seems to matter more than anything else I have tried.

Item twenty three. Did you sleep better when you were younger?

Target. I did, yes, far better. As a student I could sleep through almost anything, in any position, and I took that completely for granted at the time.

Item twenty four. Would you like to change your sleeping habits?

Target. I would, yes. I would like to get to bed earlier than I do, mainly because the mornings are when I work best, so losing them to tiredness is expensive.

Again in sequence. Present. Past. Conditional.

Reasonably well, most of the time. I keep fairly regular hours, largely out of habit rather than discipline, and that seems to matter more than anything else I have tried.

I did, yes, far better. As a student I could sleep through almost anything, in any position, and I took that completely for granted at the time.

I would, yes. I would like to get to bed earlier than I do, mainly because the mornings are when I work best, so losing them to tiredness is expensive.

CLOSING CALIBRATION.

Listen to the rhythm one more time and then stop the file.

Answer. Reason. One detail. Stop.

If you have said one reason and one concrete thing, you are finished. A third reason adds nothing to your score and gives you a fourth sentence in which to make a mistake.

If you feel yourself running long, take a landing line. So yes, on the whole I would say I do.

If you feel yourself running short, add the detail you were about to leave out. The detail is what makes it your answer rather than anyone's.

Two sentences. Sometimes three. Thirty to forty five words.

End of track.