Recent IELTS Speaking Exam in Saudi Arabia with Sample Answers – Feb 2019

Recent IELTS Speaking Exam in Saudi Arabia

Speaking Part 1

1 What is your full name?

My name is Arunima J Angajan.

2 Can I see your ID?

Yes, here is my ID.

3 Where are you from?

I am from Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. It is the fourth largest state of India. Its rich with cultural heritage.

4 Where do you live now?

I am currently living in Bangalore for my higher studies/job. I live near Indiranagar. Bangalore is a well developed city. Besides, Bangalore is home to some of the best and most authentic silks. It is also dubbed as the fashion capital of India.

5 Do you work or are you a student?

I am a working as a Web developer for a private sector, HDFC Bank . Its one of the well known sector.

6 How long have you been doing your job?

I am working there for a year now. I joined in the year 2020.I am paid handful and I am quite satisfied with my job.

7 How was your first day at work?

It’s been a long time working there, but I remember the day like it was yesterday. I had bagged a lot of new experiences. Everyone welcomed me with open arms.

8 Are street markets popular in your country?

Absolutely! Street food and markets are a huge part of my culture.  Many, no matter rich or poor, go to the streets in the morning to pick up the freshest produce from the street vendors. The thing is that the street produce is the best quality and price! You simply cannot find fish or crabs straight out of (directly)the water onto your plate in a supermarket.

9 What is usually sold there?

Principally food, but also miscellaneous items. For example, there’s a street that sells different electrical parts, secondhand clothing, decorations, and shoes. But still, the main event is the fresh produce, fish, and meats. That’s what defines our street market.

10 Do you think people like street markets?

Definitely. No matter what your economic status (how much money you have) is, there is always something for you. Moreover, our street markets are famed for freshness and quality at the lowest prices, so why would dislike that? On the other hand, some people fear being ripped off (being charged a higher price), so they avoid the street markets.

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11 Have you shared anything with others recently?

Yes! Actually, I got a box of 6 bottles of red wine as a gift recently. Since I cannot consume all of that, I’ve shared 3 bottles with my friends, as red wine is a luxury here in Asia. I enjoy sharing alcohol with people, as it’s something that puts you in a good mood!

12 What do you like to share?

That’s an interesting question. I’m a pretty generous person, so I’m happy to share most of my things. However, I particularly enjoy sharing my food with others. I feel that food is one basic thing that undoubtedly makes everyone happy. It’s a win-win (always a benefit) situation.

13 What kinds of things are not suitable for sharing?

Well, for me, I’m extremely petite (small), so it’s difficult for me to share clothes with my friends. It’s quite a task for me to find clothes my size, so I don’t like to risk others stretching them out (to make bigger). Furthermore, I think it’s unsanitary to share certain items, like a toothbrush or a toothpick.

14 Did your parents teach you to share when you were a child?

Of course! Actually, since I’m one of 7 children, sharing was unavoidable. After one child grew bigger, we always shared their hand-me-downs (secondhand clothing). Furthermore, during a meal, we each started with a small portion to make sure everyone got enough, then would go back for seconds (second portion of food)

Speaking Part 2

Sample Answer

Since I don’t exactly understand what my grandfathers did as a job, I will tell you about my grandmother’s career. As it was uncommon for a woman to have a university degree and their own career other than being a stay at home mom (mother who doesn’t work; stays at home to care for the house),  I really looked up to her (admired) for this my entire life. She always motivated me to be a strong, independent woman. Now, let me give you more details.

She was a Registered Nurse, mostly focused on caring for the mentally ill. I really admired her for her career choice, as her brother committed suicide when she was young. Because of this, she wanted to provide help to those suffering from mental illnesses.  She studied at a famed university in Washington, DC and directly after got a job at a hospital nearby. As she was at the top of her class, she was an extremely attractive candidate for any position, so she got the one she most sought after (desired). I know that she greatly cared for her patients there, as my father used to tell me stories about how she would even invite her patients over to have dinner with their family sometimes! Apart from working as a full-time nurse, she also tended to (took care of) her home and four children. She had this job from her post university years all the way to her retirement at age 65. All in all, I admire her for having a lot on her plate (having a lot to do) but still taking the time to take good care of her husband and children, while still taking the extra mile (doing more than expected of her) to make her patients feel part of her family, as well.

Although I do believe that nursing is a fulfilling career, I wouldn’t want it for myself. For one, I cringe (movement in disgust) at the sight of blood. Moreover, mathematics and the sciences aren’t my strong point, so I don’t believe I would be a good candidate for this vocation. At the same time, I certainly respect others in this field. To sum it up, my grandmother was a woman ahead of her time (a modern, forward woman)!

Vocabulary for Cue card

• stay at home mom: mother who doesn’t work; stays at home to care for the house
  Eg: She could easily pursue her career in nursing instead of being a stay at home mom.
• looked up to her: admired
  Eg: I often look up to my sister as to how well she has settled in her life.
• sought after: desired
  Eg: The policeman sought after nothing but the truth.
• tended to: took care of
  Eg: The teachers tended to the results.
• having a lot on her plate: having a lot to do
  Eg: “Don’t burden her with anything else, she is already having a lot on her plate.”
• taking the extra mile: doing more than expected of her
  Eg: She is taking the extra miles to compensate for the holiday she took.
• Cringe: movement in disgust
  Eg: She cringed at the thought of having raw fish everyday.
• a woman ahead of her time: a modern, forward woman
  Eg: Kalpana Chawla was a woman ahead of her time.

Speaking Part 3

1 What changes in employment have there been in recent years in your country?

As far as I know, more and more people, especially the young generations are involved in setting up their own businesses. Thus, the “start-up” community is now more alive than ever, especially tech startups.

2 Which jobs are most respected in your country?

Well, I have never thought about this, but I reckon that professional careers such as the fields of law, education, and medicine may be the most highly-acclaimed ones. It is mainly because of the fact that people working in these fields can easily earn lucrative income compared to others.

3 What are some of the important things a candidate should find out before accepting a job?

Well, this is an interesting question. If I were offered a job, I would definitely go through the company’s compensation package such as salary, allowances, maternity or paternity leave, insurance, pension plans, vacations, etc. Also, I’d need to know about my area of responsibilities so that I can make sure that I will not be overwhelmed with heavy workloads down the road.

Vocabulary for Speaking Part 3

• highly-acclaimed: mostly desired/wanted.
  Eg: Medical is one the most highly acclaimed career choices.
• earn lucrative income: to earn handful amount of income
  Eg: She earned a lucrative income from her last job.
• go through: to undergo; examine
  Eg: She went through the documents before signing it.
• compensation package: the total payment and benefits that an employee receives for doing their job
  Eg: he received a compensation package of 20,000 rupees.
• maternity or paternity leave: The leave taken to take care of their new born baby.
  Eg: She is on her maternity leave.
• pension plans: retirement plans
  Eg: One should always have their pension plans made.
• Overwhelmed with heavy workloads: too much work pressure
  Eg: Mr. Sen is overwhelmed with heavy workload in his office.
• down the road: in the future
  Eg: He will be successful, down the road.