IELTS Computer Delivered Tests + Band Score

Speaking Off Topic in IELTS Speaking Part 2

by api

Today is my ielts speaking test.

In part 2 I made a mistake. I have been given a topic on the place where you go to read.

The answer would be library, but I talked about my aunts home where I used to go for reading. I think its cannot fulfil the question requirements.

How will it affect my band?

Comments for Speaking Off Topic in IELTS Speaking Part 2

Click here to add your own comments

Nov 01, 2015
 Place you like to read
by: IELTS buddy

Hi,

You were asked to talk about the place where YOU go to read.

You go to read at your aunt's house.

There is nothing wrong with that - your answer is fine.

Part 2 is about you choosing what you want to talk about in connection to the topic - there is not a right or wrong answer.

Thanks
Jan 29, 2016
 I just have my ielts test but I when off topic for part 2
by: Anonymous

So the interviewer asked me to describe a song that reminds me of a particular event from my life. But what ended up happening was me answering something completely different.

I forgot about the whole 'my life' part and I answered something about someone else's life. But I consider my speaking ok, fluent.

So I was wondering, did anyone encounter the same scenario. If so I would like to know what band score you ended up having.
Jan 29, 2016
 Off topic - describing a song
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Anonymous,

It won't be relevant what score anybody else got in the test.

If they got a low score it could be any number of other reasons, not necessarily connected to anything they did in part 2.

Remember you are marked on your ability throughout your test, not just on the part 2.
May 31, 2016
 Describe an animal you found interesting?
by: Anonymous

They asked me about animal I found interesting but I said about the emu bird. Will I get score for this?
Jun 02, 2016
 Describe an animal you found interesting?
by: IELTS buddy

I don't think the examiner will worry too much about that.
Jun 07, 2016
 Out of topic in Ielts part 2
by: Anonymous

Hi there,

I was asked what was the important thing your family has had a long time. I couldn't catch if it is antique thing so I answered it about our old house. I said we used it 7 years and sold it last year etc. I wonder if it will be evaluated out of topic or is it a right answer?
Jun 07, 2016
 Ielts speaking test
by: Aakash

I was asked describe a happy event in your childhood?
But i told about adventurous sport event that was conducted in mountains?
Jun 09, 2016
 Out of topic
by: IELTS buddy

If your house is old and important, that is fine.

If the adventurous sport activity was in your childhood, that is fine.
Jun 12, 2016
 Strange topic
by: Anonymous

If I encounter a strange topic talking about an event that I've never experienced so far, how can I deal with this? On the other hand, if there are some general topics (a tradition, a law/rule,...), how can I develop my answer with not much idea of them?
Jun 13, 2016
 Strange topic
by: IELTS buddy

It should always be a topic that you at least have some kind of experience of. You should always try and ensure your answer is directly related to the topic, but if it's not 100% related for some reason make sure you explain why at the start of your talk.

For your ideas you really just have to brainstorm something coherent to say about them. It's unlikely you won't have any ideas as they are very general topics.
Jun 17, 2016
 navikaur282.nk@gmail.com
by: Navdeep

Hello Sir
i want to share my experience. yeasterday i had speaking and during 2nd part. i went off to the topic . my topic was talk about newspaper or magazine article and i talked about magazine. examiner even told me after exam that u was off the topic nxt time read the cue card carefully. is he reduced my bands?? thank you
Jul 05, 2016
 Off topic
by: Anonymous

I was asked about weather that changed my plan but I told her about earthquake. Will she reduce my score?
Jul 13, 2016
 I think it's off point
by: Anonymous

I was asked about the best event of ur childhood and I am still 16 so I mentioned my grandparents 50th anniversary which I attended 2 years back.. Was it ok or not?
Jul 14, 2016
 Totally wrong answer:(
by: Anonymous

Hi, today in ielts speaking part 2 I misunderstood the question and described something totally different than I've been asked which was the "describe a public place".

I told about the Borough Market without breathing but unfortunately i realised that it s totally a private place :( will this cost me too much?
Jul 18, 2016
 Off topic
by: Anonymous

Hi,

In IELTS speaking test Part 2, I was asked to talk about a incident when I shared something with someone and it's impact.

I considered "sharing" as sharing a feeling and I ended up answering in the same way.

But after coming out of test center I realized that it could be sharing a thing etc, I should have got a clarification from examiner.

So somehow I feel I dint take up relevant example!

Please help me to understand the impact of this on my Band score
Jul 19, 2016
 Childhood event
by: IELTS

Your grandparents anniversary when you were 14 is fine. That is your childhood.
Jul 19, 2016
 Market
by: IELTS buddy

You were asked to describe a public place - a market is public (anyone can go there) so that is fine.
Jul 19, 2016
 Sharing Something
by: IELTS buddy

I would need to see the actual full prompt to be sure, but if you were just asked to describe 'sharing something' then your feelings will be fine. You can share your feelings.
Aug 11, 2016
 speaking
by: padma

hi in part 2 of speaking IELTS exam i was asked about first time i used a foreign language i misinterpreted it i spoke about english how will it affect my score
Aug 12, 2016
 IELTS Speaking Foreign Language Topic
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Padma,

Are you English? If not, English is a foreign language for you.
Aug 18, 2016
 Speaking test error
by: Anonymous

Hello!

I have just completed my speaking test. I was asked to talk about using a foreign language but spoke about an indigenous language. Would that affect my scores?
Aug 18, 2016
 Speaking test error - indigenous language
by: IELTS buddy

Whose indigenous language? You mean your own language?

Any language that is not your own native language is foreign. So if you are Japanese and you talked about using English or German, they would both be ok.

If you talked about Japanese that is wrong.
Aug 19, 2016
 ielts speaking
by: Anonymous

I got emotional while answering in part 2 of ielts speaking test.examiner asked me about my future goal.I said I missed my future goal to b a doctor .so I wanted my daughter to b a doctor.Will it deduct my marks
Aug 19, 2016
 After school what you do
by:

Question was about after school what you do but ialt endind time of that question i told that bunk the class for .......
Which score will they provide
Sep 01, 2016
 Cross qustioning
by: Jass

First part was going good.
Then my cue card was mistake u made in your life?
It was also going good but in the 3rd part i got confused and i didn't give relevant answer of the qustion.
Will it affect my band score???
Sep 02, 2016
 speaking
by: deep

Tomorrow will be my speaking in india m very nervous bcz when I do practice there are number of pauses in my cue card plz prey for me
Sep 04, 2016
 Cross questioning
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Jass,

It's really too difficult to know without hearing your test.
Sep 08, 2016
 Part 2 - After school activities topic
by: Anonymous

Hi,

Today I had my IELTS speaking exam and the examiner gave me the cue card about what activity you do after end of your school day?

But firstly I spoke about the activity which I do in my school hours for about 10 seconds but suddenly I read that they asked me differently so later on I talked about the topic.

So it will affect on my bands?
Sep 08, 2016
 After school activities topic
by: IELTS buddy

As I have said on here several times, you are marked on your skills throughout the whole test, and there are a lot of criteria.

So the scoring does not work in a way that it is possible to answer your question properly. One single thing happening briefly in one part of the test does not suddenly bring a band score down.

It is more a continuation of something such as poor fluency throughout the test or weak grammar.

So that event that you mention in itself is not likely to bring your score down, but if you were continually making mistakes and having to correct yourself then it is likely to affect it. But we have no idea how you did over the whole test. That is what is important.
Sep 13, 2016
 about off topic
by: Arsh

Hi,

My topic was a piece of equipment that you have in your home but I spoke about the table clothes.

Will it put more impact on my bands?
Sep 13, 2016
 about off topic
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Arsh,

You are judged on your performance over the whole test so it's really not possible to say how one section may affect your score.

Obviously a table cloth is not 'equipment' but it is something in your home so it may not be viewed as that off topic. But anyway, you are marked on other things, not just the topic - grammar, vocab, coherence, so it's really too difficult to make any predictions about your score.
Sep 22, 2016
 Forget to answer 3 question in Part 2
by: Anonymous

I forget to answer the given question but completed my quota of 2 min and mostly stick with my topic. How much will it impact my score?
Sep 23, 2016
 off topic on task 3
by: Anonymous

i gave my speaking test today. I was very nervous, that is why I went off topic on my task 3. However, I couldn't understand questions that i was asked. Will that affect on my band score..??
Oct 03, 2016
 off the topic
by: Anonymous

Today was my speaking test..every thing was fine except cue card..MY topic was " Any interesting place that you like, is open to public"..and i explained about educational organization e.g. university...What could be the result?
Oct 06, 2016
 A DOUBT
by: Anonymous

Hi,

I had my speaking test yesterday.

I was asked to talk about the most important thing
which I have and describe why my parents have had it for a long time for me.

I spoke about a purse which my parents bought for me 6 years back and how I used it and its importance to me.

And the follow up questions were related to antiques.

Can u please tell me if i was off the topic or was I correct
Oct 06, 2016
 A DOUBT
by: IELTS buddy

I'm not sure why you think that would be off topic? It seems to directly answer the topic to me.
Oct 09, 2016
 Off topic at part 2 speaking test
by: Iulia

Hi,

At part 2 I was asked what skill I learned as a child and I talked a bit about swimming and more about honesty, even though honesty is not a skill.
How many points do you think I will lose because of this?

Thank you!
Oct 10, 2016
 Off topic at part 2 speaking test
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Lulia,

The scoring does not work like that. It's not based on points that you lose, it's based on bands and meeting the criteria within those bands. I'd take a look at the IELTS public hand descriptors which you can find if you search online.
Oct 23, 2016
 a frequent journey that you dislike
by: Anonymous

Hi,

I took the IELTS Speaking test today. My cue card was describing a journey you have to do often but you don't like it. Instead, I talked about a journey I once took that I didn't like.

Not until in the end the examiner reminded me of that did I realize I was off topic.

Will it affect my score?
Oct 23, 2016
 a frequent journey that you dislike
by: IELTS buddy

It's really impossible to know without hearing your test. I'd say no because it's still pretty close to the topic.

But anyway, as I have said on here, your score is based on your performance over the whole speaking test, so it's impossible to pick out single errors like that and make a prediction about impacts on the score.
Nov 01, 2016
 Regarding the part 2 marking
by: Anonymous

I gave my IELTS speaking on 18 october, 2016.

The topic was Describe a piece of equipment in your home. and the associated question were related to electronic things.

So, I spoke on remote control of TV set but when it started my Introduction to topic went a bit long and after speaking few sentences she stopped me (In my view she stopped me before 2 mins).

My english was fluent throughout with few mistakes. There were three time when she stopped me in b/w the answer. And two times she read the entire question and just i started speaking she said we will move to next question/section.

What do you think? what must be her view regarding my speaking test?

========

I don't really understand what you are saying the examiner did with regards to interrupting you because that does not seem to fit the format of the test (you do the 1-2 minute talk uninterrupted).

But anyway, you mention various things that happened, which are a bit confusing. It's really impossible to predict if what you are talking about will have affected your score without hearing what happened.

IELTS buddy
Nov 01, 2016
 Ielts speaking
by: Swapnil

Hello...I was actually given the topic my favourite meal (e.g. dinner or lunch) ... But I ended up saying Chinese meal is my special meal. I covered all their points. But is the answer relevant?
Nov 03, 2016
 favourite meal
by: IELTS buddy

I'd really need to see the topic card. According to you it asked about your favourite meal. To me, that would be exactly as you answered.

Without seeing the exact wording on the card it's difficult to know if you were on topic or not.
Nov 12, 2016
 Off topic
by: Sidhartha

I had my speaking test on 8 nov. My part 2 cue card topic was to describe wild animal but I described about dog which is domestic animal.... does it effect my band score?
Dec 01, 2016
 Help
by: Anonymous

In part 2 of the test I was asked to describe any sports centre where I went for sports activity.

And my answer was totally different. I answered that where I did my sports activity is a normal play ground and it is just a left over space and we used to play cricket over there and all.

Will I get band score?????
Dec 02, 2016
 Help
by: IELTS buddy

Yes you'll get a band score but it's impossible to predict what it might be.
Dec 16, 2016
 Off topic - cue card
by: john

Cue card asked me to talk about activities I would like to do at the end of my studies or my work.

I have answered that I really love traveling and after finishing my work and my studies I would like travel in other countries etc.

As you can understand I thought that I must talk about activities I am going to do when I will finish my university or retired.
Dec 20, 2016
 Deviation from cue card
by: Anonymous

I was asked to talk about confrontation with a wild animal but I spoke very little about the situation and a bit more about the animal. Will I get less bands? My examiner has also pointed out this problem. I'm a little sceptical.

======

The examiner would not normally give you comments on how well you did. It's difficult to know how good your answer was without hearing your test.

IELTS buddy
Dec 21, 2016
 off the topic
by: megha

Hello sir,

Yesterday was my IELTS speaking test and they asked me to speak about a long/short trip you want to make by bicycle/motorbike.

And I was very nervous and I spoke about Goa where I want to go for a trip. But I didn't mention about motorbike/bicycle. Generally I said to travel this long distance you can use train and airways.

Please suggest me is it effect my score.
Dec 24, 2016
 off the topic
by: IELTS buddy

As I've said here before, it's really difficult to judge without hearing what you actually said.
Jan 04, 2017
 part 2
by: rosy

I had speaking test yesterday and I was asked to describe the interesting house or accommodation you visited and I answered the historic building where the King used to live but it now has turned into museum.. was that off the topic? I am really afraid that would affect my score
Jan 05, 2017
 interesting house or accommodation
by: IELTS buddy

Sound fine to me. Even if it has been turned into a museum it is still a type of accommodation.
Jan 11, 2017
 Speaking part 2 messed up
by: Anonymous

Hi I just finished my ielts speaking. In part 2 I was asked to talk about an experience that made me laugh but I couldn't think much and made a silly experience in which I couldn't talk much about but I have done quite well in other 2.
Now I am worried.
Jan 16, 2017
 Off Topic
by: Anu

I had my IELTS speaking test today.
I was asked to talk about an important event in history.
I ended up talking about My Marriage. I understood it as important event in my past.
I am sure I would loose my score.
What would I score?
Jan 17, 2017
 important event in history
by: IELTS buddy

The topic is probably ok but it's impossible to predict speaking scores without listening to the test.
Jan 20, 2017
 irrelevent cue card
by: Aditya

Hi
My cue card was describe a well paid job but dnt knw y i got confused about title and i started speaking about my job that taught me alot and about d pay which i got frm there in return of my services
Apart frm it , i answered correctly 4/5 questions
How much bands i can score ?
Jan 31, 2017
 Speaking doubt
by: Anonymous

I had my exam on 20 January.

My cue card was talk about your favourite meal, but I answered it as pizzas and spoke all about it....is it right or wrong?

Examiner also wrote on pad 5.5 7.0 and 8.0. How much bands I can get? Plz reply

Tnx
Feb 02, 2017
 Speaking doubt
by: IELTS buddy

Why do you think it is wrong? Pizzas can be your favourite meal, though it may have meant a time you went for dinner rather than a favourite food. I'd need to see the cue card to know that.

But anyway it's impossible to predict scores.

The examiner doesn't write scores down that you can see. It may have been timings.
Feb 09, 2017
 Problem in part 1 and part 2
by: Keval

I wanted to end an answer with "tech geek" but at that time I was so nervous that I could not remember that and instead I stopped at "tech". And took a pause then again said "tech" and showed expression like answer is over. Then the examiner went on to another question.

After that in part 2 I was told to speak on "a country where you would like to go in the future"

So answered that with world tour in different countries with family and so on.

My stock of thinking was over and I took halt of 4 to 5 seconds and again spoke up. Then she asked me a follow up question.

Other question and answers were like boom back to back good fluency, grammar and all.

Due to this mistake could I get less than 6 bands?
Feb 09, 2017
 Problem in part 1 and part 2
by: IELTS buddy

You can't really pick out small details like you have done and work out how it may have affected your score.

You are marked on your performance of several criteria over the whole of the speaking test.

Yes you could till get a 6 but it's impossible to know whether you have or not.
Feb 10, 2017
 I went off topic in part 2
by: Karthik Anonymous

Hi,
My name is karthik. I have done my speaking today. In part 2 the cue card given to me is about 'The interesting thing you found in your neighbourhood' and I said about my brother that he is very interesting for me in my neighbourhood...Does it give me a lower score?

======

It's an odd choice, but you were asked to speak about an interesting thing and you said your brother is interesting. So I can't see an issue as you more or less did what the topic asked in your own way.

IELTS buddy
Feb 11, 2017
 Off topic
by: SatiNder

He gave me a cue card:

"Describe an important event in history".

But I spoke about my sister's marriage that was held last year and I missed it. So that is ok or I will score less because of that?

======

It's probably not exactly what the card was implying you should talk about but you clarified that the wedding was an important event for you and it's in the past (history) so it sounds fine.

IELTS buddy
Feb 15, 2017
 Waaaay off topic
by: Anonymous

I was asked about a time where I got good service. I got so disoriented and for some reason, talked about the best advice I've received throughout my life.

I don't know why I did that to be honest. But I believe I did well with regards to speaking fluently. It's just the wrong answer that's been bothering me. Would this affect my score a lot? Being completely off topic?
Feb 16, 2017
 Waaaay off topic
by: IELTS buddy

As I've said on here it's really difficult to judge the contents or relevance of someone's speaking without hearing the actual test you did, which of course we can't do.

So you really just have to wait for your result.
Feb 23, 2017
 wrong answer
by: kandel

Hi,

I did well in 1st and 3rd part of ielts speaking test but in 2nd part, I think I made a mistake.

The question was about the time I spend with young children but I spoke about the time spent with children of my age (18 year old) people.

Will it effect the ielts speaking score or not? And how many bands does this mistake decrease?
Feb 26, 2017
 wrong answer
by: IELTS buddy

The speaking test isn't graded in that way i.e. a fixed error with a fixed band score decrease.

You are marked on many criteria throughout the whole test.

As for whether your answer was relevant or not it's really too difficult to say without hearing the test which we can't do.
Feb 27, 2017
 Off-topic
by: Anonymous

In my IELTS exam I went off-topic. I was asked to talk about a nice neighbour but instead, I talked about a nice neighbourhood.

Could you please clarify which one of the 4 marking criteria is affected by this lapse?

All I can find online is in relation to the 4 marking criteria: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Lexical Resource and Pronunciation.

So, I'm not entirely sure if I have any chance of getting the score I need after making this silly mistake.

Many thanks,
Mar 22, 2017
 Spoked off topic in part 2
by: Anonymous

I was asked aby a moment in history in life and why is it important for you ...where u learned abt it
I answered it saying the memorable day in my life history about being aired on radio and other ...
Will the examiner deduct my marks??gradually affecting my band score
Mar 24, 2017
 History
by: IELTS buddy

It's probably not exactly what the card was implying you should talk about but you spoke about something in the past (historical) so it sounds fine.
Mar 27, 2017
 Gone off to the topic
by: Naseer

Today I was asked to talk about the tallest building which you like most but I talked about a tower instead of building, so how much my bands scores will be effected in section 2 even though I spoke well in both sections 1 and section 3?
Mar 27, 2017
 Gone off to the topic
by: IELTS buddy

I'm not really sure what you mean by a tower. That could cover many things and in many cases a tower could be a building, so you may have well been on topic anyway.
Apr 10, 2017
 Strange Topics- could not answer any question properly
by: Anonymous

All questions in my speaking test were somehow strange. I could not answer any of them.

In part two the examiner asked me to describe a cafe. In the preparation course they told us to present our language skills, but i ended up using the same words as in the question before. In this question i was asked to describe a mirror.
how does that affect the score?

And in part 3 i was asked to explain why old people move to rural areas and people are not made for living in big cities.

I tried to explain that I have never been or lived in a big city and so i could only imagine very view problems. (My family lives on a farm)

In in the next question about old people I confused old people with adults and said that they don`t want their kids to live in a city. After the interview I realized that maybe old people meant very old people. I´m so worried about the score.
Apr 12, 2017
 Strange topics
by: IELTS buddy

Unfortunately you really just need to wait for your result.

Without hearing your test it's impossible to know if what you did affected your score.

Remember though you are marked for your performance over the whole test, not penalised for errors answering a few questions.
Apr 29, 2017
 Describe an important event from history
by: Anonymous

Today i had my ielts test. I was asked to describe an important event in history and i went off the track and described about a personal event... how many marks would be deducted?
May 02, 2017
 Describe an important event from history
by: IELTS buddy

You'll probably be ok. 'Historical event' is quite subjective.

If it was an event in your life and it was in the past then it still really fits the topic.

Difficult to say through without hearing your full talk though.
Jun 15, 2017
 Spoke about Wrong Cue Card
by: Kartik

Hi,

My cue card was on the topic "Describe an event of history that is important". And I thought 'event' word is related to 'inventions' and I just talked about Newton inventions in history.

Is that relevant? And even at that time my mind was off from the path. What would be the bands criterion?
Jun 16, 2017
 Speaking off Topic - Spoke about Wrong Cue Card
by: IELTS buddy

It's really too difficult to know without hearing what you actually said.

If you spoke about what Newton did and you were referring to the past it may have fitted the topic anyway, but as I say it's difficult to know without hearing it.

But either way it's not possible to predict a band score. Remember you are marked on various things, such as your fluency, grammar, pronunciation and lexical resource, and we don't know how you did with any of those.
Jun 20, 2017
 off topic
by: Anonymous

i went off topic today...I didnt notice the cue card question.

The question was describe something you acquired without paying on a regular basis. I missed the part "regular basis" and said that I got a phone as a birthday gift.

I'm really worried how it could affect my score. I answered pretty well for warm up and discussion part.

======

That seems an odd question. We don't use the words paying for something on a 'regular' basis, so I think it must have said something different or been worded differently.

So it's difficult therefore to answer your question.

IELTS buddy
Jun 20, 2017
 mistake in part 2
by: Anonymous

In part 2 i made a mistake. I was given a topic on a product you got for free, I had to speak on a any free gift but I spoke about a book which I borrowed from my friend. How much it will affect?
Jun 28, 2017
 mistake in part 2
by: IELTS buddy

It's always impossible to say if or by how much a score was affected as you are marked on many criteria and we don't know how you did on any of them without hearing your test.

And even with your answer it's difficult to know if it was off topic or to what extent without hearing it.

You didn't pay for the book so in a way you got it for free even if it was borrowed, so it may well have seemed on topic anyway.
Jul 04, 2017
 Cue card topic
by: Anonymous

I got the topic: Talk about a famous person you know. the questions given were:

1. When you first heard about that person?
2. What do you know about his/her life before he/she become famous?

And third ques i didn't remember. I spoke about mother. Not my mother but mother (in general) and i justified my answer according to the question. And as i was speaking properly, he stopped me on 2nd ques and asked me two or three follow-up question.

Will this affect my band score, just because i went out of the topic and didn't speak about any of the famous personalities?

======

It's not really what was expected of the topic but if you linked the fact that you were treating 'mothers' generally has famous then it may have still been on topic or acceptable.

It's really difficult to judge without hearing it.

If you got stopped and asked follow up questions that just means you reached your 2 minutes.

IELTS buddy
Jul 05, 2017
 Worried
by: Anonymous

My cue card was about:

Describe about a drama tv series and there act.
I answered that show "nach baliye" having drama as well as dance and then go on.

My English was good with fluency but I'm worried that is "nach baliye" right answer?? Will i get marks? My part 1 and 3 were good.

======

There is no 'right answer'. You choose what example you will use. I don't know what "nach baliye" is but if it is a TV drama then that is fine.

IELTS buddy.
Jul 05, 2017
 ielts part 2
by: Anonymous

Hey I was ask to talk about the recent country side I have been to but I started talking about the country I have recently visited what will the examiner mark me on.
Jul 06, 2017
 ielts part 2
by: IELTS buddy

It's impossible to predict scores. You are marked on many things in the speaking test, not just the appropriateness of your response to the question.
Jul 13, 2017
 You spend a day in countryside
by: Anonymous

I took my exam today. I didn't understand the topic but I spoke something else and part 3 was also relevant with the same topic as I am unfamiliar with the topic.

What happens now? I am very disappointed with the it.
Jul 14, 2017
 You spend a day in countryside
by: IELTS buddy

You are judged on many criteria in the speaking test and the part two is also quite subjective so it's not possible to judge without hearing what you said.
Aug 10, 2017
 describe English lesson you enjoyed
by: zainab

Hi

I just finished my speaking exam.

I was asked in the 2nd part to "describe an English lesson I attended that I enjoyed" and I said that English lesson is about historical places, but in related questions about English teachers I answered correct.

Is a lesson about historical places related to the topic "English lesson"?
Aug 11, 2017
 describe English lesson you enjoyed
by: IELTS buddy

It is if you explained how it helped you learn English.
Aug 31, 2017
 off topic
by: Anonymous

My examiner asked me about which sport you like to watch but i spoke on a cricket match briefly.
Sep 05, 2017
 Answer was not related to question
by: Anonymous

I was asked about young age but I completely explained about my childhood. Will it effect my score band?
Sep 08, 2017
 Answer was not related to question
by: IELTS buddy

Childhood is young age so it sounds on topic to me.
Oct 12, 2017
 Cue card off the topic
by: siva

In my cue card, they have asked to talk about a park that I have visited when I was a child but I talked about a park that I visited recently. Does it affect my score?
Oct 14, 2017
 Cue card off the topic
by: IELTS buddy

It's not possible to relate it to your score because you are marked for many criteria across the whole test.
Oct 16, 2017
 A mistake in task 2
by: Anonymous

Hi, I was asked about someone you know or heard about in foreign country. I talked about a celebrity from Hollywood.

But I actually gave the name of the celebrity wrong but info about him was correct.

I remembered the correct name after the test was over.

So will it affect my band score for speaking?
Oct 19, 2017
 A mistake in task 2
by: IELTS buddy

Something like that won't really matter. It doesn't come into the marking.
Nov 01, 2017
 Off topic
by: Anonymous

Respective factly, in 2nd section my topic is on recreational activity and i speak on theatres and in this talk i conclude movie. All can this decrease my bands?
Nov 07, 2017
 i don't know wheter i went off topic or not and will it reduce my mark.
by: Anonymous

I needed to speak about "Describe a leisure activity (cinema, theatre, sports center) that you would like to have in your hometown" and my answer was football.

In short my speech was in this form:

I've chosen to talk about sport.... there are several reasons for that. Firstly, i am interested in it. Secondly, here in my country there are many youngsters who are talented in this field. Also sport is the easiest way to make our country popular. Finally, our weather perfectly suits this sport.

Fluency was good enough and vocab also but I don't know about being off topic.

=====

No it's not related to the topic properly as you didn't talk about a sports centre, you talked about sport generally.

It's really not possible to comment on scores without actually hearing what you said as your score is based on many factors throughout the whole test.

IELTS buddy
Nov 10, 2017
 please answer me
by: Anonymous

In my speaking I was asked to speak on traditional thing made in your country. and i spoke on cars made in my country. so will it affect my score and how much?

=====

It does not sound completely on topic as car making is not really a traditional occupation.

But it's related as it is something made.

It's really not possible to comment on scores without actually hearing what you said as your score is based on many factors throughout the whole test.

IELTS buddy
Nov 10, 2017
 Topic
by: Noman

Dear All,

Topic given to me was "Your last English Course"

I have a confusion, does this means a course related to English language or any course I have attended in English? Like managements or marketing course that is taught in English.

Thanks
Nov 10, 2017
 Your last English Course
by: IELTS buddy

It sounds like it refers to an actual English language course, but it's not likely to matter too much as long as you made it clear that you were going to talk about a course you took that was in English.
Dec 01, 2017
 off topic
by: Anonymous

I had ielts recently and I was not able to understand 2-3 questions in part 1 and part 3 and I gave answers as per my understanding. Will it affect my band score?
Dec 06, 2017
 off topic
by: IELTS buddy

It's not possible to answer that without hearing your test. You are marked on many different criteria throughout the whole test.
Jan 20, 2018
 Off topic
by: Anonymous

For task 2, the question was who took a photo for you. But I talked a lot about photos. Will I get a lower mark?
Jan 24, 2018
 Confusion in speaking part 3
by: Anonymous

What if I speak, it is a very silly question in response to some questions which I speak naturally, is there band deduct?
Jan 27, 2018
 Confusion in speaking part 3
by: IELTS buddy

Actually your question is a bit confusing and I don't understand it.
Mar 06, 2018
 Out of topic in speaking part 2
by: Anonymous

Hi,
I was asked to say about something happened in History. But I said about an incident happened with me in past. Today 3rd March was my exam. Will it affect my score? Pls pls tell me. Am very Scared.
Mar 08, 2018
 Out of topic in speaking part 2
by: IELTS buddy

It's really impossible to speculate on your speaking test without hearing it and it's impossible to guess how another examiner may have viewed what you said anyway.

But the task 2 is quite subjective - you spoke about the past, even if it was about yourself, which in a way is 'history', so in theory you should be ok.

But as I say it's impossible to start guessing and in any case you are marked over whole test, not just on that part. You really just have to wait for your result.
May 20, 2018
 Out of topic
by: Anonymous

The examiner asked me about a famous comic actor but i talked about a comic author? How much can I get for this mistake?
May 27, 2018
 Out of topic
by: IELTS buddy

Please take a look at some of my answers below. It's really impossible to judge it without hearing your test.
Jun 10, 2018
 Off topic
by: Anonymous

My cue card was to describe you own want to replace a thing and i told about reservation does it affect my overall band?
Jun 19, 2018
 Off topic
by: IELTS buddy

I really don't understand what you are saying the cue card said.
Jun 29, 2018
 Can u tell me I’m in off topic ??
by: Anonymous

Topic:- describe a interesting happy moment with friends? But I talked about he help me and than we are happy so this are interesting!!!! So is it true??
Aug 03, 2018
 Speaking test off topic Part Two
by: Jithin

Hi

I was asked to describe a period in history which has always interested you.

And I ended up taking about about an event that happened in a period of my past life time.

Is that a major issue or how bad is it?
Aug 04, 2018
 Speaking test off topic Part Two
by: IELTS buddy

You did misunderstand the question, but really it's impossible to say whether it affected your score or not.

Remember most your marks are coming from things like pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary, fluency etc so they are not specifically related to the actual topic.
Sep 14, 2018
 Speaking off topic cue card
by: Anonymous

Yesterday in my ielts speaking, in cue card i was asked to say about any part of my country i like and i started talking about a specific city. Later i realized that they were asking about which part i.e. south, north, east and west etc. Does this effect my band score?
Sep 16, 2018
 Speaking off topic cue card
by: IELTS buddy

The topics on the card are quite subjective so it would be difficult to argue that your choice was off topic. The city you spoke of will still be in a part of your country.
Oct 11, 2018
 speaking part 2 off topic
by: Anonymous

hi
i gave my speaking test today.... i believe i was quiet fluent.....the only problm that i had was in part 2... the cue card was an interesting activity your friend did.....i spoke about the roller coaster ride that my friend took......i think i went off topic
what do u suggest
Oct 14, 2018
 speaking part 2 off topic
by: IELTS buddy

That is an activity so I'm not sure why you think it's off topic.
Jan 16, 2019
 Off topic
by: Mary

Hello

Today I took speaking test. I totally was off toppuc in part 2 and also I asked examiner twice to repeat questions for me. And at the end I made a long hesitation while answering last question!
Im totally disappointed and no motive is left for me to try for the other 3 part.
May you please tell me approximately how much would I score for speaking?
Mar 01, 2019
 Part 2, speaking off topic!
by: Anonymous

Hi, yesterday was my speaking test, in part 2, I was supposed to speak about a part of your country you have visited, but I speak about my home town, Is it being off topic?
Mar 30, 2019
 Off topic speaking
by: Sohail

Iperiodn part 2 topic was. Describe a period in history which has always interested you.
Unfortunately i spoke about period of history during my schooling... Because part 1 was about schooling and related to history... I did not read question carefully i have made a mistake?? Do you think it will affect on band score.?? However examiner facial feedback was Positive during exam…..
May 28, 2019
 Misleading and silence
by: Ahsan

Today my speaking exam was held, part one was fluent and good, but in part 2 at the end i was just silence prior to time, then examinor asked any thing else ? So i agian rephrased some sentences and concluded the speach,
And in part 3 two question were wrongly answered how ever examonor again asked me so in second attempt i correctly rellied. I used high level vocab with fluency
How these mistakes would affect my band?

May 28, 2019
 Misleading and silence
by: Ahsan

Today my speaking exam was held, part one was fluent and good, but in part 2 at the end i was just silent prior to time, then examiner asked any thing else? So i again rephrased some sentences and concluded the speech,

And in part 3 two question were wrongly answered how ever examiner again asked me so in second attempt i correctly replied. I used high level vocab with fluency.

How these mistakes would affect my band?
May 28, 2019
 Misleading and silence
by: IELTS buddy

If you stopped speaking and the examiner asked for more and you then spoke further there is no reason it should affect your score.

It's difficult to comment on what you say about part 3. It's not usual for an examiner to think that a candidate answered a question wrongly and then to ask them to answer it again. So I'm not really sure what was happening there.
Aug 09, 2019
 Off the topic
by: Anonymous

I was asked to talk about a game show or tv program but i told him about a reality talent show and i also added that i went to audition this show. But i spoke very fluently. Will it effect my bandscore.
Aug 12, 2019
 Off the topic
by: IELTS buddy

A reality talent show is a TV show (assuming it was on TV) so it doesn't see off topic to me. It's fine to say you went to audition - it's still about the TV show.
Oct 04, 2019
 Off topic in cue card
by: Shubam

Hlo i gave my speaking test yesterday but i was gone off topic in cue card my examiner told me which water sport you would like to do in future but i spoke on water spot
I spoke all topic on water place like swimming pool so now it effect on my speaking band ?
Feb 06, 2020
 Describe a historical building
by: Anonymous

Hi my topic was describe a historical building nd i spoke about a recent building on library so can my bands will be deducted I'm worried.
Feb 06, 2020
 Describe a historical building
by: IELTS buddy

Too difficult to say. You would have spoken about various things in the talk so much of it may still have been related.
Oct 13, 2020
 Tell about scientific field you interested in like medical and biology
by: Anonymous

Hlo examiner ask me about tell about a scientific field you interested like medical and biological in second part but I told her about I m interested in doctor life I m confused with medical word in question can I get 6 band ? First and last part was good
Nov 27, 2020
 Spoke about Home when asked about Public Place
by: Anonymous

Hi, today my cue card asked me to describe a childs bad behaviour in a public place but i ended up talking about behaviour on a playdate inside thee home ? Do you think it will affect my band scores. I am really worried !! Please Help !!

May 26, 2021
 Please answer me, off topic part 2
by: Anonymous

Hello, I had speaking test today and I did it well, everything was ok I mean the fluency, grammar and other aspects but one think that I am veryyyy worried about is I kinda gave a wrong answer to the second part.

The question was like: describe something that your family keeps in your home. And I said they keep a habit of celebrating and gathering my friend from when I was 4 years old....how stupid I was !!!

That was something spiritual and not physical and I don't know why I gave that answer....the examiner asked some question about keeping objects that remind us of the past in the third part of speaking and I answered them in the best way possible I just think that the second part will affect my score...do you think they would just ignore it or maybe take it easy on me ??!!

Please answer me
May 27, 2021
 Please answer me, off topic part 2
by: IELTS buddy

There's a lot of flexibility with part 2 as people can interpret things in various ways so you should be ok.
Jul 13, 2021
 Environmental law
by: Anonymous

I was asked a question regarding an environmental law I would like to implement in my country.

And I answered that I would like to implement a law on the equal status of all be it waiters or anyone as I think they don't get the respect they deserve.

Was the answer appropriate enough?
Jul 15, 2021
 Environmental law
by: IELTS buddy

That's not connected to the environment. The environment is about the natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area, especially as affected by human activity.

But anyway that doesn't mean you will get marked down for what you said.
Jul 29, 2021
 Off topic
by: Anonymous

I was asked about what is your natural talent and how can u improve it but i answered that my elder brother taught me playing basketball. Will it affect my bands?
Oct 06, 2021
 Off the topic
by: Anonymous

Hi
Yesterday it was my speaking part
My cue card was tall building in your city you like and dislike

In that i answered a tall building of USA
Oct 07, 2021
 Off the topic
by: IELTS buddy

As long as you spoke about tall buildings it should be ok.
Nov 04, 2021
 I spoke about the wrong activity I suppose
by: Anonymous

My topic was about an activity I do everyday is a waste of time .
I answered writing . while I was deciding on a career I made two choices writer and a designer. Currently being a designer , I wake up early in the morning and write out my thoughts and reactions to my previous days events . After the pandemic, my design career has been bit over the edge monetarily. Due to this , while I write in the morning , I tend to self negate and it makes me think if I made the right choice being a designer . And I believe such negative thought could set a bad precedent for the day .
I feel like I goofed up and gave the wrong answer
Dec 29, 2021
 Cue card
by: Anonymous

I was asked to describe a natural talent I have and how to improve..in stress I explained about self learning is my natural talent and how I achieved it and utilised in my work..will this impact my score?
Jan 28, 2022
 Off topic in part 2
by: Anonymous

The question was to speak about a place in countryside that i visit and i talked about Goa...didnt understand countryside clearly
..will ot affect my score
Jan 28, 2022
 Little off road in Part 2 speaking
by: Anonymous

In part 2 I was asked to describe a thing which you can't live without. Not mobile/ not computer.
I answered that there is no such thing or object which I can not live without but there are people who mean the world to me and I can not imagine my life without them. And then described that I wont be able to live without my parents.

So I want to know that going off topic and changing the question will affect my score?
Thank you.
Feb 04, 2022
 wrong answer
by: jass

hi
Today was my speaking exam and i got a cue card on describe a tour you visited an country side.
But i talked about a beach side . Will it affect my score.
Mar 27, 2022
 I went off topic in IELTS task 2
by: Anonymous

I was asked to describe an experience where I received a free product/service. I started off by telling that I received a free pedicure service from Urban Company. However, I went on to say that I received a coupon by referring by mother and got a discount on the service. I think that will affect my score.
Apr 28, 2022
 Good service received from shop or company
by: Dip

But i talk about good service recived from cafe.so it will effect my bands score
Apr 28, 2022
 Good service received from shop or company
by: Dip

But i talk about good service recived from cafe.so it will effect my bands score....?
Jul 14, 2022
 Countryside
by: Anonymous

My question was a visit to countryside place
I misunderstood the word and spoke about a mall because I thought there are malls in the countryside.
Will this affect my band score?
Jul 18, 2022
 countryside
by: IELTS buddy

It's difficult to tell you without hearing your answer. Remember a lot of the score if for grammar, coherency and fluency with are not connected to your issue. It really depends how you connected what you said to it being about the countryside.
Aug 02, 2022
 Off topic
by: Anonymous

What happened if I asked about" describe a competition you have taken part in" and I answer " describe a competition you would like to take part in"??
Aug 30, 2022
 Off topic
by: Anonymous

I have to talk about the gift I would like to give to my friend
But I spoke about the gift I have already given.
Will it affect my band score?
Sep 02, 2022
 Off topic
by: IELTS buddy

Unlikely as you were still discussing the correct topic.
Sep 14, 2022
 I was given the topic of recent outdoor activity and I mentioned about visit to the shopping mall..and family dinner..
by: Anonymous

Hi. I was given the topic of recent outdoor activity and I mentioned a visit to the mall and family dinner.. then I realized after coming out that mall is also indoor. What would be the effect now?
Feb 10, 2023
 An old person you met
by: Anonymous

I just finished with my test. I was speaking smoothly in the 1st part until i got confused with the cue card. I talked about my best friend instead of an older person because i thought it was someone I've known for a long time.
Will this affect me?
Feb 15, 2023
 Off topic
by: Anonymous

I am worring about the score in ielts that
in cue card section I was asked to describe
the actor I admire but ended up with descibing
about the film he played, did it reduce my score?
Feb 16, 2023
 Off Topic
by: IELTS buddy

If you talked about the film, I'm sure you still discussed the actor so it should be fine.
Mar 17, 2023
 Off topic, pause and repetition in part 2
by: Anonymous

I was asked about outdoor activities but i talked about water activities like swimming and i pause in middle and then repitited same as before
Mar 18, 2023
 Part 2 - discribe a daily routine that you enjoyed
by: Anonymous

I recently finished my speaking exam and it was online. Cue card was discribe a daily routine that you enjoyed.
I spoke about my whole daily routine and I did not say about any specific routine that I enjoyed.
So what will be consequences of this?
Would I get 6 band in speaking exam?
Mar 21, 2023
 Part 2 - discribe a daily routine that you enjoyed
by: IELTS buddy

It's impossible to comment on your score but what you spoke about would be ok for the question.
May 10, 2023
 Cue card - Spoke about Past instead of Future
by: Sourav

I give all the information in past while my cue card was about future how it will effect my band score either I will get 5.5 or not eligible
May 11, 2023
 Cue card - Spoke about Past instead of Future
by: IELTS buddy

It's impossible to predict anyone's score. Remember you are graded across the whole speaking test, not just Part 2. But yes, you can still get over 5.5. There is not a limit set for using a wrong tense. Besides, if you spoke about the correct topic, then that is probably not an issue.
Jul 26, 2023
 Going off
by: Anonymous

I was given a topic "describe something you would like to study in the future" I talked about cooking. Did I go off? Will I lose mark for it?
Jul 27, 2023
 Going off
by: IELTS buddy

That's ok. You can learn about cooking.
Feb 15, 2024
 Hamza
by: Anonymous

Hi, in discussion round of IELTS my examiner asked me questions which were unrelated to my cue card why is it so?

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.



Will my score be affected if I went off topic in IELTS speaking part 2?

by Pratik
(India)

I did not speak for 2 minutes. I did a mistake in round 2 topic given to me is about article that i read in a magazine. But I told her about article I read on Internet. Will it effect my score.
I was fluent during entire exam. But she rephrased her question in part 3.

Comments for Will my score be affected if I went off topic in IELTS speaking part 2?

Click here to add your own comments

Nov 07, 2015
 The long-turn
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Pratik,

As I have said many times on here, it is really not possible to predict how someone's score is affected without actually listening to the test.

You are marked holistically over the whole test - there is not one mistake that will suddenly bring your score down.

So you will really have to wait for your result.
Nov 17, 2015
 Score
by: Anonymous

How much you got in your speaking? as i am also in the same state
Jan 21, 2016
 Same case
by: Anonymous

I did the same mistake. Plus i was not fluent. I stopped.
Jun 16, 2016
 speaking
by: Navdeep

Hello sir,

Today i had my speaking and i went off to the track in cue card.

My topic was talk about a magazine or newspaper article you read, and i explained about a magazine. Even the examiner again gave me finger action on book. Unfortunately i got nervous and spoke about magazines.

After the completion of my test he talked me and said u were off track and he gave me many suggestions.

Now may u plz tell me he give me less band??? I am really in tension
Jun 16, 2016
 magazine or newspaper
by: IELTS buddy

You said the topic was to talk about either a newspaper or magazine and you talked about a magazine, so that sounds on-topic to me.

But anyway, it's too difficult to predict if your score will be affected in any way if you were off topic.

You'll just have to wait for your result. The ability of your speaking is the main thing.
Jun 17, 2016
 magazine or newspaper
by: navdeep

hello sir..
Actualy examiner told me after compltition of test that ur topic was on magazine or newspaper article. Article was main but i described magazine with many articles.
Jul 26, 2016
 Ielts
by: Anonymous

Hi yesterday ı sat for the ielts speaking part and during the part 2 ı guess that described another issue. she asked me to describe a tv show or something like that however i described a person who acts in this documentary. Please write a comment.
Jul 27, 2016
 TV
by: IELTS buddy

It's still connected to TV so you may well be ok.
Sep 09, 2016
 IELTS speaking part 2
by: Anonymous

Hi ...today was my test...I was asked to describe a tall building...I described about India Gate...I later on realised its a monument..though grammatically it was correct...will my band score be affected?
Sep 09, 2016
 India Gate
by: IELTS buddy

No it's not a building but the most important thing for your score is the specific criteria you are marked on e.g. fluency and coherence, grammar, pronunciation and lexis.

Your performance in those areas are the key things but we have no idea how you did with regards to those.
Sep 27, 2016
 Was not able to complete the topic given in 2 minutes
by: Anonymous

Hi thank you so much for this helpful thread.

I was given a topic today to talk about a time when I laughed. I kept talking but was about to get to the end of the joke, which would have made them understand why was it funny, but examiner asked me to stop as it was over 2 minutes.

How will it affect my scores, as the story was incomplete and not funny, without it being completed.
Sep 27, 2016
 Was not able to complete the topic given in 2 minutes
by: IELTS buddy

You are not scored on how interesting the examiner found your story or whether it made him/her laugh, so it won't affect your score.

You are scored on the normal speaking criteria i.e. coherency, fluency, grammar etc.
Sep 08, 2018
 Off topic??
by: Anonymous

The examiner asked about something help you concentrate in your work or study?? I talk about continual assessment course and covention that really helping me .. is this out of topic totally??
Sep 08, 2018
 Off topic??
by: IELTS buddy

I'm not quite sure what you mean, but if what you said helped you then it's not off topic. It's up to you what you choose.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

Did I go off topic and how will this affect my IELTS Speaking score?

by Paolo
(Italy)

Hi, i had my speaking exam this morning.

In task 2 probably i went out of topic. The question was talking about an event that was making me noise. I did not realise at the moment and i spoke about a friend of mine that left the soccer field and then we cannot play football because we were in odd number and we were angry with him.

I thought 'noise' like 'nuisance', is it correct or did I go out of topic?

If i went out of topic, how can this mistake influence my band?

I think part 1 and 3 were okay, with a good pronunciation and fluency.

Which is probably my final assessment in speaking?

Also:

1) task 1, task 2 and task 3 have the same value? There will be a medium of the three different band?

2) if my band is: listening 5.5, reading 6, writing 6, speaking 5,5. What will be my final score? 5,5 or 6?

Thank you!

Comments for Did I go off topic and how will this affect my IELTS Speaking score?

Click here to add your own comments

Oct 10, 2015
 Off topic in the IELTS Speaking
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Paolo,

As I've said repeatedly in this forum when I get this question, it is impossible to give you an indication of what score you may get - you are graded over the whole speaking test and a mix of criteria. The only way to know how you did would be by listening to your test.

And each section does not have a specific or the same 'value'. The test is marked as a whole at the end. Of course if you did badly in one part it will bring your overall score down.

For example, someone with weak speaking skills is likely to do worse in part 3 as this is the most difficult. This would of course bring that person's score down.

With regards to your part 2 question, "an event that was making me noise" does not really make sense. You must have remembered it incorrectly.

The word "Noise" itself has nothing to do with nuisance (though of course noise can be a nuisance).

So I really don't know if you were on topic or not.

For band scores, they are rounded up for the final scores, so you would get band 6 overall for the example you gave.

Good luck
Jan 31, 2016
 Calculate ielts band score
by: Anonymous

Hi ielts buddy,

If I get L:6, R:5, W:6, S:5.5. What band do I get 5.5 or 6?

Anyway, I want to know how ielts calculated the band score?
Jan 31, 2016
 Calculate ielts band score
by: IELTS buddy

Hi,

That would be 5.5

It is rounded to the nearest half or whole band. So your score divided by 4 is 5.625.

If it was 5.75 it would go up to a 6. But in your case as it is below that it goes to a 5.5
Aug 29, 2016
 Off topic
by: Madhu

My cue card is:

Describe your skills that you have learned as a child

But, I talk about Participation in a quiz and improved my skills so on......

Will my score be effected in part 2?
Aug 29, 2016
 Quiz
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Madhu,

As I've said on here it's always virtually impossible to feedback on someone's speaking without hearing the test, but from what you said it sounds on topic.

You talked about skills you learned as a child. Quiz skills are fine if you feel that it taught you something.
Dec 02, 2016
 Part 2 a leader that you admire in sports, business or politics
by: Anonymous

Hi,

My cue card topic was describe a leader who you admire in sports business or politics.

I said about my PT teacher when i was in school and how they helped me to play cricket and talk related to it.

so, how many bands I expect or am I losing band because of this mistake? And my examiner told me after I completed 2minute talk that you spoke about a teacher, not a leader.

So will this affect my overall speaking band??
Dec 02, 2016
 a leader that you admire
by: IELTS buddy

It's not possible to predict scores, but I wouldn't say you were necessarily off topic.

The meaning of 'leader' is quite subjective, so it could easily be argued that a teacher you had was a leader.
Sep 18, 2018
 Irrelevant
by: Ranjot

I was said to speak on topic of when you complained about thing and you got a positive result but i spoke off topic and stated a situation when i complained about my sister to my father about high usage of smartphone which was effecting her score.

Examiner stopped in just 1 min.
I don't know what will happen now.
Sep 27, 2018
 Irrelevant
by: IELTS buddy

You talked about when you complained and if at the end of that complaint it was a positive result then it is still on topic.

How do you know you were stopped after 1 minute? That is very unlikely as the examiner must let you speak until the 2 minutes is up.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

I didn't stay on topic

by arslan ali
(pakistan)

I want to know I have done my speaking test yesterday and my topic was:

"What's the indoor games you played as a child"

Yes I have covered all the question but I just forgot she asked me about childhood.

I said all the scenario I play that yet and in end I just talked about as a child as well but examiner stopped me I think I one mint can it be affect my band???

Plz answer

Comments for I didn't stay on topic

Click here to add your own comments

Nov 02, 2015
 Speaking test - I didn't stay on topic
by: IELTS buddy

HI,

I didn't understand all of your question. These do not make sense:

"I play that yet"
"I think I one mint"

But I think you are saying that you only spoke about childhood at the end? And the examiner stopped you after a minute?

Firstly, the examiner won't stop you after one minute. Maybe it just seemed that way.

As for what you said, it is really difficult to judge what someone did in the speaking without hearing it unfortunately.

You say you did speak about childhood so it may be ok.

You will just have to wait for your score, but even if you don't get the score you want, it is unlikely it will be because of the issue you mention in part 2.

You are marked over the whole test - you are not suddenly dropped down a score for one error in one part of the test. The marking is more complex than that.

Good luck

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

Off topic...Speaking part 2

by sar
(india)

Speaking part 2! Off Topic

I was asked to describe about a place where there is lot of water:

- Where is it?
- Why do you like it?
- What other people usually do there?

Unfortunately, I think I spoke off topic about some things.

I mentioned about a hilly region where there is lot of rivers and fresh water source, and people here do cultivation and such, with help of these water sources.

But now i think, beaches and other sports activities are the answers to this cue card.

Would like to know if this is fine or that I have misunderstood the question?

How likely am I to get band 6, considering part 1 and part 3 were fine.

Comments for Off topic...Speaking part 2

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 28, 2016
 Off topic in Part 2
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Sar,

There isn't a 'right' or 'wrong' answer as such for the part 2. You are given a fairly broad topic and asked to speak about it.

Whoever wrote the question did most probably have some kind of place where people do sports in mind. But you were asked to talk about a place where there is a lot of water, so it is entirely up to you what place with water you decide to talk about.

From what you said, it did not specify it has to be somewhere to do with sport.

So I would not worry about your choice and it should not affect your band score.

Of course it is impossible to predict what your score will be.
Feb 22, 2016
 Topic about where there is a lot of water
by: HPSSandhu

it is very essential to make it clear that IELTS is basically a test of your proficiency in the English language and not about what is right and what is wrong.

So long as you are making correct structures and in your comfort zone when you are speaking nothing is wrong or right, however it is required to be with the topic, answering questions indirectly pointing towards the topic.

In this particular topic the examiner wished to know about a place where people gather near water, like lakes, swimming pools, river banks, seashores etc. however this is a much wider concept.
May 27, 2016
 off topic
by: Anonymous

Hi IELTS buddy....
i was asked to talk about something i bought and was pleased about it ...and i spoke about something i bought for my mother and was really happy .....is it correct or i went off topic ????
i spoke fluently....did well in part 1 and part 3.
May 27, 2016
 Off topic
by: IELTS buddy

You talked about something you bought that you were happy with so it sounds fine.
Nov 16, 2016
 Off topic
by: Anonymous

Today was my ielts speaking test and I went off topic. My topic was talk about any equipment that you use at your home and I spoke about a jewelry box. It's definitely not equipment. So will this thing effect my score?
Nov 16, 2016
 talk about any equipment
by: IELTS buddy

It's really too difficult to predict how specific errors may affect a candidates speaking score, if at all.

You are marked for your performance over the whole speaking test so you can't really pick out one thing and assess whether it affected the score or not.
May 21, 2018
 Hi!
by: Anonymous

In part 2 I was asked about describing someone who is very popular and I answered with the person who is famous. now I'm thinking that I was asked about person who popular with something (kind of behaviour)

I wonder if it affects to band score?

note: I missed 2 quest.. in part 3

How many band score may be reduced for going off topic?
May 27, 2018
 Hi!
by: IELTS buddy

There is not specific reduction for speaking off topic, you are marked over the whole test on several criteria.

But it looks to me like you were on-topic anyway. I assume the famous person you spoke about is popular so you have answered the question properly.

I'm not sure what you mean about behaviour. If you can't recall the question properly it's impossible to judge if you answered it or not.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

Can we ask the examiner to change the speaking topic in the 1-2 minute talk?

by Vikz

Is it possible to ask the examiner to change the topic on which candidate has to speak for 1-2 minutes.

Comments for Can we ask the examiner to change the speaking topic in the 1-2 minute talk?

Click here to add your own comments

Mar 22, 2014
 Changing the IELTS speaking topic
by: IELTS buddy

Hi,

No, you can't do that. You have to speak about the topic that you are given.

An important tip for this is to remember the key thing is that the examiner needs to hear you speaking, so whatever you do don't clam up and speak very little because you don't think you know enough about the topic.

You should keep on topic, but you can speak about things related to it as well - you don't just have to stick to the points given on the card.

In your preparation time think of some other points related to the topic that are not on the card to ensure you can speak for the full 2 minutes.

Thanks
Feb 23, 2016
 Change of topic
by: HPSSandhu ( MA, P.hd)

Hello all, you can't change the topic. You have to speak on the given topic. Yes, you can always correct yourself which has no adverse effect.

Please do your home work as you are given one minute to think and use this valuable time, never start your card just in a second or two, it can be marked as crammed a one.

Just relax, keep your face smiling, be confident, and don't use flambyount words. Simple structures can make more impression, kiss the success.
Aug 27, 2022
 Ielts speaking part 2
by: Anonymous

Is it ok when the examiner asked me about a traditional product but i kept talking about a film camera which was manufactured in 1973?
Thank you

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

Did I answer my IELTS speaking part 2 correctly?

by RSF
(Colombo)

Hello IELTS Buddy,

I have just finished my speaking test.

For the section 2 I got a subject "you are planing to organize a very first out door activity"

The questions were:

What, where and what equipments etc."

I was explaining a birthday party that I'm planing to organize for my friends.

I explained that it will be my first out-door activity for my office friends and will be hosted in beach area.

Somehow I think I managed to cover all the question until the examiner stopped me.

So when I checked internet for the Outdoor activities there are lot relate to win surfing, mountain climbing etc.

Further, in 3rd section there were questions about physical fitness.

I think I have got the second question's topic wrongly :(

But do you think, that they will considered B'day parties organized in outdoor as an outdoor activity. If they do not what portion of marks I will be loosing for the damage? :(

Look forward to hearing your advise on this regard.

Thanks,
Ranga

Comments for Did I answer my IELTS speaking part 2 correctly?

Click here to add your own comments

Nov 01, 2013
 Error with the IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic
by: IELTS buddy

Hi,

Obviously I can't predict what the examiner may do, but I don't think you need to worry.

Someone could call a birthday party outside an 'outside activity' so I don't think you would be penalized for it.

The important thing will have been your speaking skills when you answered the question.

Thanks
Jul 08, 2016
 I was asked about an artist what encourged you
by: Anonymous

I said my mother as she manages work with home . And later I thought that I was completely off topic . Will they deduct my band score? Kindly help me out

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

Should I have spoken about different things in the IELTS long-turn?

by Hoppy
(Lagos)

I did my speaking test yesterday, I did very well in section 1 and 3 but my task response for 2 is what I'm not comfortable with.

I spoke for a minute and was asked what I do when I want to relax and I mentioned going to the cinema, gym and doing shopping. But I think that's not a good response because there were better options like swimming and listening to music.

I was nervous that's why I couldn't give the right options am terribly worried because I'm aiming for a band 7. Pls advice me.

Comments for Should I have spoken about different things in the IELTS long-turn?

Click here to add your own comments

Jun 05, 2015
 IELTS Long-turn
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Hoppy,

It won't matter that you talked about going to the cinema, gym and doing shopping instead of swimming and listening to music.

If you said that is what you like then that is up to you. You can't be given a lower score because the examiner may have thought there were better things to do in your spare time. And how could the examiner know anyway that there were other things you do?

You spoke about the topic so that is correct.

Thanks

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

Misunderstanding the part 2

by Irfan malik
(India)

I had test today... In 2nd part the question was about giving a gift to someone recently... But my mistake I said about a gift I had given in my school days..

I covered all the 3 questions about the gift,. But examiner asked me to stop before 2 Minutes...

Please let me know will out effect my band...

Comments for Misunderstanding the part 2

Click here to add your own comments

Oct 07, 2015
 Speaking part 2
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Irfan,

You still spoke about giving a gift. Your mistake was quite small so I would not worry about it.

As for asking you to stop before two minutes, it is usual to let someone carry on so I can't really explain that.

You'll have to wait for your result.
Oct 08, 2015
 Thanks
by: Anonymous

Thnak you for your Reply .
Looking forward for remaining test now.
Jul 19, 2017
 History event
by: Gunnu

Hi,

Today it was my speaking test and I was asked about an event happened in history...I answered about an event happened in my life's history...but I was fluent...will it effect my bands?
Jul 20, 2017
 History event
by: IELTS buddy

It's not quite what the question meant but you still talked about an event that is historical so it's probably ok. But as I've said on here before, it's really difficult to comment on test performance without seeing / hearing your test.
Apr 18, 2018
 Using different tenses
by: Anonymous

I was asked to talk about skill that i have learnt.

First of all, i spoke to the related topic. In addition, i spoke the skill that i am currently learning. I also talked about the skill that i want to learn in coming days.

Is it ok if to talk about present and future though question was about past activity?

Thanks in advance?
Apr 27, 2018
 Using different tenses
by: IELTS buddy

Yes that's ok if you are still on the general topic. It's sometimes difficult to talk for 2 minutes on only the prompts so if you get through those then you should then make some other points about the topic. That's better than just stopping and saying nothing.
Nov 18, 2023
 Exciting activity
by: Anonymous

Hi, thanks in advance to reply the previous comments. I hope you will reply mine too.

I had a speaking IELTS test today. I was given a topic in exciting activity that I experienced. But, I answered my graduation day when I was excited to spend with my friends of mine and had dinner party, enjoying the music, and dancing and so forth. Did my answer off topic?

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

I spoke off topic - can I still get band 5?

by joe
(chennai)

I finished my speaking test today 4th October. Think part 1 and 3 did well.

Part 2 they asked me about paid worker but I spoke about servant maid it was totally out of topic. Will I get at least band 5. Really worried.

Comments for I spoke off topic - can I still get band 5?

Click here to add your own comments

Oct 07, 2015
 Band 5
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Joe,

It is too difficult to know without hearing your test how off topic you were. Talking about a maid or a paid worker could be similar so you may not have been that off topic.

Also, a band 5 is not that high, so even if your part 2 was not that great you could still get a 5.

You will really have to wait for your result.

Thanks

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

Content wrong in part 2

by Mama

My ielts speaking test completed yesterday, in task-2 i misunderstood the topic and i spoke fluently but content of my speech was different,can i still hope to get 6 band in speaking?,my task 1 and task 3 were gone really good. I am only worried about task 2 due to this reason which mention above.

Comments for Content wrong in part 2

Click here to add your own comments

Aug 20, 2015
 Part 2
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Mama,

As I've said in the speaking forum many times about that question, it's really impossibly to start predicting what scores someone could be getting without hearing it.

But yes, if you think you did very well in 1 and 3 but just went a bit off topic in 2 you could still get a 6.

You are assessed over the whole test.
Sep 10, 2015
 Same Problem
by: Bikash

What's the score dude. I too had the same problem. Plz comment your speaking score. Plzz.
Mar 09, 2016
 Speaking part 2
by: Anonymous

Hi, I took the exam recently. I am extremely worried because I need a band 7. The problem is part 2.

I was asked about my dream house (what, where, why and something else). I said it would be big and then the location (I can't remember what else I said), but I didn't mention topic vocabulary such as kitchen, rooms, garage, garden... I covered "where" and "why", but the examiner pointed at the card meaning that I should focus on the topic. So I got nervous after that. I think I was really fluent and did not make mistakes.

Part 1 was excellent and part 3 just fine.

How can this affect the overall? Thanks.
Mar 09, 2016
 Speaking part 2
by: IELTS buddy

Hi,

If you look at my previous comments you'll see I said it's impossible to predict anyone's score or how it may have been affected.

The fact that the examiner was pointing at the card suggests you may have misunderstood the prompt and been talking about the wrong thing, but this is just a guess.

You really just need to wait for your result.
Mar 26, 2016
 went off topic in part 2
by: vinny

Today was my speaking my topic was to describe an article you read in a magazine?

I first explained which magazine was it and then I told her when I read it but after I think discussed about 2 articles and after the 2nd article I just spoke about the 3rd article for like 2 secs but then she stopped me.

my 1 and 3 parts were okay

What do you think? will that mistake affect my score but yeah it definitely will but will this be considered as a huge mistake?
Mar 31, 2016
 went off topic in part 2
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Vinny,

I can only refer you back to my previous comments on something like this that you'll find on this page.
Apr 10, 2016
 Speaking task 2
by: Anonymous

My cue card was longest walk u enjoyed ever!

But in my answer I used present tense for instance:

"I go for long walk with my friend and sometimes with my mother mainly when I finish my dinner".

...will it be wrong answer?
Apr 10, 2016
 Speaking task 2
by: IELTS buddy

You used the wrong tense if you were meaning to talk about a walk in the past.

And if you talked about current walking it's not quite what you were asked on the card.

But as I have said before, without hearing your part 2 and the rest of the test it's really impossible to say if anything you did may have had any impact on your score.
Apr 22, 2016
 Speaking part 2
by: Anonymous

Hi.....yesterday was my speaking test...my topic was....an article that u read from magazine or newspaper and that u remember....I speak fluently but the mistake was that I speak in present tense...I speak I read it everyday ....my part 1 and part 2 went well....can I get 6 band?
May 10, 2016
 Spoke off topic in ielts section 2
by: Qaiser sunny

Actually I spoke completely off topic in my IELTS exam. I was asked about an occasion when I want to do some thing and the weather stopped me.

I didn't understand the statement because I was a bit nervous at that moment. I spoke about my family, they stopped me to attend dancing classes.

Well apart from speaking off topic everything was fine, I was quite fluent throughout the test especially in part 1 and 3. I didn't get stuck at all and spoke with grammatical accuracy.

Now I am really worried about me bands because my requirement is at least 6.5.
May 10, 2016
 Spoke off topic in ielts section 2
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Qaiser,

Are you saying that your family stopped you attending a dancing class because of the weather?

If so that is not off-topic.
May 10, 2016
 Spoke off topic in ielts section 2
by: Qaiser sunny

No, actually I didn't mention the weather at all. I couldn't manage to understand the statement properly. I think the question was about someone stopped me to do a thing which I want to do.

I just talk about that I was interested in dance classes but my parents don't want me to attend because they think dancing is very odd thing and not part of our culture. I attended the classes without their permission then after, I realize that I did it wrong.
May 11, 2016
 Spoke off topic in ielts section 2
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Qaiser,

Ok I see. As I have said before though, it's really difficult to give any predictions on speaking scores without hearing your test as you are graded over the whole test not just one part, so unfortunately you will just have to wait for the result.

Good luck
Jun 04, 2016
 Speaking part 2
by: pim

I was asked to talk about a happy moment in my childhood, instead i talked about unhappy memory. How will this affect my speaking score?
Jul 09, 2016
 Ielts speaking test
by: Sushant

My ielts speaking test was completed just now but i made an mistake in task 2 the topic was "short journey you don't like" but i end up with joirney i like!! Will i get no score??
Jul 10, 2016
 A journey
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Sushant,

Doing one thing wrong doesn't suddenly give you a zero. The test doesn't work like that. You are scored around various factors over the whole speaking test.

So really it's not possible to predict if or how it may have impacted on your score.
Jul 12, 2016
 confusion regarding my cue card topic
by: Anonymous

I was asked to talk about something that I have shared with other or someone and my content was related to my feelings and problems which I shared with my mother.

Now I am in a dilemma about whether the topic was about any object which I shared or my feelings or emotions.
Jul 12, 2016
 confusion regarding my cue card topic
by: IELTS buddy

If the card said "something you shared" then it is perfectly ok for your feelings and emotions to be discussed.

So based on what you said it is probably ok but I'd need to see the exact wording on the cue card to be sure.
Jul 13, 2016
 confusion regarding my cue card topic
by: Anonymous

Describe something that you shared with others or another person:

- what you shared
- when you shared
- who you shared it with

and explain why you shared it and how you felt when you shared it

this was my cue card so i talked about my feelings which i shared with my mother because i was very upset. is it correct? according to my cue card
Jul 19, 2016
 Confusion about cue card topic
by: Anonymous

In part 2 the question was about outdoor buildings but I completely went off topic on historical buildings ..how much score will I get.
Jul 19, 2016
 Confusion about cue card topic - buildings
by: IELTS buddy

It's impossible to predict your score. You are marked on many factors not just the relevance of your response.
Jul 19, 2016
 Confusion about cue card topic
by: Anonymous

Examiner will give the score or based on that recording they will give score
Jun 25, 2018
 Cue card on any river, lake or water area in ur country
by: Anonymous harman

Hello, my cue card topic was any river, lake or water area in ur country. I think i gave wrong answer to this topic. i speak on water area near my city actually it was a water park. I think the answer would be any famous river or lake but i gave wrong answer. will it deduct my bands😧😧😧😧
Jul 03, 2018
 Cue card on any river, lake or water area in ur country
by: IELTS buddy

If it didn't say 'famous' then it wouldn't have to be a famous one. I doubt it did say famous as most people probably don't have a famous river or lake near them.
Jan 27, 2021
 Wrong content
by: Anonymous

In my speaking test I was asked to talk about a music concert I didn’t enjoy and I misheard it as a music concert I did enjoy and spoke on enjoying the concert instead, how badly will it affect my score?
Jan 28, 2021
 Wrong content
by: IELTS buddy

it's really not possible to make predictions on how things could have affected people's scores as you are marked on many different criteria throughout the test. You have just picked on thing. You were still speaking on the correct topic so it may not really have an impact overall.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

Are shoes clothes?

by Love gill

Hello.. Yesterday was my speaking test.

I was given the topic 'talk about a clothing item someone gifted you'.

I spoke about shoes that I got as a birthday gift. I spoke very fluently and my discussion was also strong but i think i have gone off topic. Please tell me if shoes are a clothing item.

Will my band score be cut... Thank u

Comments for Are shoes clothes?

Click here to add your own comments

Jul 25, 2016
 Are shoes clothes?
by: IELTS buddy

Strictly speaking, clothes aren't shoes. But I really don't think it will matter as they are a kind of clothing accessory.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

National instead of local news

by Adam chu

Hi,

I made a off topic answer for speaking part 2. The examiner asked me about interesting local news, but I answered a national level news.

Today was very important test and I am very sad that I missed. I need at least 5.5.

Do you think this can strongly affect mu score?? Do you think I can achieve my score if I answered part 1 and 2 well?

Comments for National instead of local news

Click here to add your own comments

Jul 10, 2016
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Adam,

It's not possible to predict if it affected your score or not, but yes it would still be possible to get 5.5.
Jul 10, 2016
 Possible to achieve band score 5.5
by: Arvind

Hello,

In speaking section of the IELTS, you are expected to be fluent and ensure that whatever you speak should be audible and understandable to the examiner. Unless you are good at sentence formation, you won't be able to score enough.

To be specific, if you have spoken confidently without making any grammatical errors, you can easily expect a 5.5 band score, but if you committed more frequent grammatically mistakes, it will be difficult to achieve that score.

However, sometimes the examiner looks for the content, especially if you have been asked to answer the direct question. Despite going off the track, it is possible to score more that 6 bands if you have not committed grammar mistakes and used the cohesive devices as well as the good meaningful words.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

A Short Journey

by milan
(surat)

In speaking part 2 it was a question about short journey u disliked and i spoke a short journey i'm disliking to go often. I was good at speaking but this mistake was happened. What will be the effects on band?

Comments for A Short Journey

Click here to add your own comments

Aug 12, 2016
 A Short Journey
by: IELTS buddy

Hi milan,

Your question is not really that clear. It sounds to me like you answered the question.

You were asked about a short journey you dislike and that is what you spoke about, you just added that is was one you go on often.

Anyway, it is really too difficult to say how someone's score may be affected without hearing the test, and also it is not really possible to predict a score because you are not just graded on part 2, but many other factors.
Aug 12, 2016
 detail
by: milan

Question was describe a journey u disliked. And I spoke about a journey from my home to my workplace which is 43 km away. And factors why I dislike this journey. So this was out of topic.
Aug 12, 2016
 detail
by: IELTS buddy

Why was it out of topic? You were asked to talk about a journey you disliked and you spoke about your journey to work and you said why you don't like it.

To me that is on topic.

The topics you are asked to talk about are open to a fair bit of subjective interpretation, and if you interpreted it that way I don't see a problem with it.
Aug 12, 2016
 detail
by: milan

But sir the question was in past tense and I described it in present so that I have doubt. Is that still okay?
Aug 12, 2016
 detail
by: IELTS buddy

As I have said before when people ask about the speaking test, it is really impossible to judge any performance or what was right or wrong without hearing your test, which we can't do.

If you were asked to describe a journey you made in the past and you described one you do everyday it may not quite fit the card, but it depends how your worded what you said. And it is pretty close to the topic anyway.

I wouldn't really worry about it. You are graded on many things throughout test and so I find it unlikely it would affect your overall score.
Aug 15, 2016
 speaking queries
by: pavan kumar

Hi there I finished my ielts speaking test on 14 Aug. In ielts you need to avoid the short answers but I gave the short answer for the very first question and immediately I corrected myself so maximum how much they will cut the marks?

On the third part of the test the examiner asks me about how you like to convey the good message to your family members and my answer is I would like to meet them and convey my message.

And the second question the examiner asked me in past the people are unable to convey the good news immediately and I told the answer quite opposite from the first one. Is it really important that you need to stick with the one opinion?
Aug 15, 2016
 speaking queries
by: IELTS buddy

Hi pavan,

Firstly the grading of the test does not work like you are thinking.

You don't have fixed marks taken away for one 'error'. Check out the IELTS public band descriptors to see how it is graded (you can find them online with a search).

But anyway the those things you mentioned in your test are really minor. It's very unlikely that they would have had any impacts on your final score so don't worry about it.
Oct 06, 2016
 confusion about my cue card
by: Anonymous

Yesterday was my speaking..I was asked about unusual activity I do..but I talked about my writing on my blog..now I fear because it looks like usual activity..
Oct 06, 2016
 confusion about my cue card
by: IELTS buddy

That will be fine. Remember the topics are often quite subjective.

The examiner can't make choices as to what is unusual or not then knock your score down - everybody may have a different opinion on that so it would not be fair.

I'm sure most people don't write a blog, so it could still be argued it is unusual.
Oct 26, 2018
 off topic
by: Anonymous

Hi!

I just had my ielts speaking test today and I was asked who is the popular comic actor in your country?, I misunderstood it as comic character actor, so I answered Robert Downey Jr. and talked about him and his character. The conversation went well, however on my way home I just realized I should have answered a comedian.
Oct 26, 2018
 off topic??
by: IELTS buddy

Don't worry about it. The part 2 is very subjective so the examiner can't really disagree with you. Robert Downey Junior has done some comic style roles so you could argue you view him as a comedian.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

An Interesting or Unusual Thing

by Sumit
(India)

In my speaking exam, my cue card was interesting/unusual thing you did recently.

I spoke on donating blood. Is it ok or is it going to cost me?

Comments for An Interesting or Unusual Thing

Click here to add your own comments

Oct 15, 2016
 An Interesting or Unusual Thing
by: IELTS buddy

That will be fine. What is interesting or unusual is very subjective so it's up to you what you decide.
Oct 27, 2016
 irrelevant
by: Anonymous

Hi today is my ielts exam. I was asked about something you shared with the other people as my cue card. I thought that it would be an idea but the follow up questions are about the thing. What will happen?
Oct 28, 2016
 irrelevant
by: IELTS buddy

If it said 'something' that is quite unspecific.

That could be a 'thing' or an 'idea' so I don't think you need to worry.

But really without seeing the actual question or knowing what you actually said it really is impossible to predict how you did.

You just need to wait for your result.
Nov 06, 2016
 Wrong answer
by: Anonymous

Hello.

My cue card was about an appointment I missed. I have never missed an appointment, so no ideas came into my mind.

So I talked about how I missed my friend's birthday party a few days ago. And I am not sure if it is an appointment or not.

Will my score be low? I think my speaking was fluent and my grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation were all good.

======

Talking about a birthday you missed will probably be fine.

IELTS buddy
Nov 18, 2016
 Speaking part 2 cue card
by: JK

Sir.. In my part 2 speaking ..cue card..they asked about jobs you will do in another country for short time.. I talked about how I will go and stay a while and seek help from a native to start a unit of business enterprise.

But I should have talked about some part time jobs such as UBER driver pizza delivery and all.

How will this deviation affect my overall band? I require 7 in speaking.

======

You talked about working in another country so I'm not sure why you think your answer was off topic.

IELTS buddy

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

Sharing Something with Someone

by hamshan
(india)

Today is my ielts speaking test.

In part 2 I made a mistake. I have been given a topic on sharing something with someone.

I talked about my decision to share with my sister which field of study I have to choose in future. I think it cannot fulfil the question requirements.

How will it affect my band?

Comments for Sharing Something with Someone

Click here to add your own comments

Dec 02, 2016
 IELTS Speaking Sharing Something
by: IELTS buddy

Why do you think it has not fulfilled the requirements?

You were asked to talk about something you shared with someone and you shared your thoughts on your future study.

I'd need to see the precise cue card to be sure, but from what you have said your answer seems ok.
Dec 05, 2016
 Sharing something
by: Anonymous

I was thinking after my test that the topic was like that (discuss the sharing of something with someone and then further points with whom you shared and when you shared etc).

I am not sure what they were actually asked, but I think they were asking sharing about any of your personal thing like sharing of accommodation, sharing of books, laptop etc...but in some aspect when I think in a bold way I suppose myself correct...

Totally confused.
Dec 06, 2016
 Sharing something
by: IELTS buddy

As I said I would need to see the actual full question to be sure whether talking about sharing thoughts answered the card.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

An interesting neighbour

by Manasa
(Chennai, tamilnadu, India)

I was asked about an interesting neighbour in speaking part 2. But I just explained about one of my neighbour and didn't talk anything about how she is interesting. I am so worried. Do thus effect my band score. Please reply me soon.

Thank you

Comments for An interesting neighbour

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 05, 2017
 IELTS Speaking - An interesting neighbour
by: IELTS buddy

I think it would be difficult to say you were off topic.

You said you spoke about this neighbour. Who is to argue that whatever you did say about them is not the interesting thing?

What is classed as 'interesting' is quite subjective.
Mar 17, 2017
 speaking part
by: Anonymous

Hi

I just finished my speaking test and I'm worrying about one part 1 question which is asking about outside living.

I answered it wrong and then the examiner asked me the question again but I didn't understand it again and I gave similar answer.

Is it goning to affect my band score? What's your opinion? I just made one mistake :/
Mar 17, 2017
 one mistake
by: IELTS buddy

The scoring doesn't work that way i.e. you make one error with one question and then your band is affected.

You are graded over the whole speaking test with a number of different criteria being considered.

So no, one specific error like that is not going to suddenly affect your band but it may be taken into account along with everything else you did.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

A country song

by Happy

During my speaking test task 2 topic round I was asked to talk about a country song of my favourite and why do I like it?

I answered by saying that I like 'rock a bye baby' and the reason I like it is because of its soothing music and also the meaning of the entire song which takes me back to my baby days.

My kids I enjoy that song so much that we play it all nights to listen to it's wonderful background music. It might not be a 100% country song but we could call it a country cousin for sure.

Do you think this would make me loose my points?

Just asking. Thanks

Comments for A country song

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 11, 2017
 Off topic
by: IELTS buddy

I'm not sure quite sure what you are saying is going to affect your score. You mean because it is not a country song?

I wouldn't worry about that. The examiner may not even know the song so they can't really judge if it is country or not. And as you say, it is kind of country anyway.
Feb 13, 2017
 Off topic
by: Anonymous

Today in my Speaking test I was asked to describe about family members that are similar to each other but unfortunately i described about my wife and brother and for the question how they are similar to each other I answered about their behaviour that are similar rather than looks. Will that effect my score...
Feb 14, 2017
 Off topic
by: IELTS buddy

It depends what the topic card said exactly but you say it said "describe about family members that are similar to each other".

That does not mention 'looks' so talking about personality such as behaviour is fine.
Feb 20, 2017
 Cue card question
by: Lakhwinder singh

I was asked about what you are waiting to happen, but by mistake I spoke about that what has already happened.

Will there be any effect on my band scores?
Feb 22, 2017
 Cue card question
by: IELTS buddy

With your question it's really not possible to say without hearing what you actually said so you just need to wait for the result.
Feb 23, 2017
 off topic
by: kandel

hi
i did well in 1st and 3rd part of ielts speaking test but in 2nd part,i think i did mistake. question was about the time i spend with young children but i answered about time spend with children of my age(18 year old) people .whether it effect the ielts speaking score or not ?
and how many bands do this mistake decrease?
Mar 04, 2017
 Wrong meaning of the word in Part 2
by: Naeem

I was told to describe "the most polite person I know". Now I later found out this word means well mannered. But I erroneously talked about his introversion, his inability to talk in groups, his lack of confidence, etc....

Will it affect my score? I remember the examiner giving wicked smiles when I was speaking....Ahhh
Mar 05, 2017
 Wrong meaning of the word in Part 2
by: IELTS buddy

If you talk about how someone was shy / introverted that might be quite similar to how someone acts if they are polite. So it may have seemed to be on topic anyway.

As I've said, it's not really possible to know how your speaking as overall without hearing your test so you really just need to wait for your result.
Mar 09, 2017
 Unusual VS Usual
by: Anonymous

I did speaking test at 6th March 2017 and has been completely disturbed with my answer on speaking part 2 since then.

I was asked about UN-USUAL activity on my free time, yet i misinterpreted it with USUAL, and i ended up speaking about my hobby.

I cried out loud after that, how could i be so stupid aaaaaagggg. Please tell me that this is not really a problem as long as you were fluent and have a good pronouncing (my tenses were not so good either). Thanks.
Mar 10, 2017
 Unusual VS Usual
by: IELTS buddy

As I've said before, it's really too difficult to comment on someone's part 2 and it's relevancy without hearing what you actually said.

You really just need to what for your result.
Mar 17, 2017
 misunderstood the question
by: Ridhima

My question was..."Talk about the one equipment in your home".

But I didn't notice the 'equipment' word and started speaking about my wooden almira.

Because I thought the question was talk about one thing in your home which is important for you.

So this will effect my band?
Apr 06, 2017
 off the topic in part 2
by: rajat

sir i was given a topic about a situation u saw a wild animal.

but in answer whole about wild animal. Is my bands cut down, but during my speaking my examiner stops me.

also in dicsusion section 1 answer was not accurate.
Apr 09, 2017
 Wild animal
by: IELTS buddy

I don't understand your question.

"but in answer whole about wild animal".

That makes no sense.
Apr 10, 2017
 off the topic in ielts
by: rajat

topic was wild animal situation.

i start with just giving ideas about i saw tiger in zoo and it was loking at me it was scary. just like that and after that explain about tiger and in just 1-2 mins examiner stops me. is my bands cut down for this response?
Apr 12, 2017
 Tiger
by: IELTS buddy

It's really impossible to say without hearing it.

The examiner will stop you at 2 minutes because your time is up.
Apr 24, 2017
 off topic
by: Anonymous

EXAMINER GIVE ME A TOPIC I.E. DESCRIBE THE AREA OF THE SCIENCE WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN INTERESTED (PHYSICS, MEDICINE, PHISIOLOGY)

IN THE WHOLE TASK I TALKED ABOUT THE MEDICINE THAT I HAVE A INTEREST BECAUSE MY UNCLE HAS A MEDICAL STORE SO I ALWAYS WENT TO HER SHOP AND TAKE INFORMATION ALL ABOUT FROM THEM. CAN I GO OFF TOPIC?
Apr 24, 2017
 off topic
by: IELTS buddy

Doesn't sound off topic. You were asked to talk about an area of science such as medicine that you are interested in and you talked about medicine.
Sep 01, 2017
 Off topic
by: Tanav

I was given a topic to describe an occasion in which you had a special cake and I started telling about the situation in which I described a special cake for my brothers wedding???? How much it will effect my band
Sep 03, 2017
 A special cake
by: IELTS buddy

You spoke about a special cake so it seems to me you were on topic.
Sep 08, 2017
 Speaking test - Perfect House
by: Anonymous

Today I had speaking test, they gave me topic perfect house for Family. While speaking I told them, for me perfect house is not infrastructure or how house looks like, I have explained them how perfect family should be e.g family bounding,spare sometime with each other.

Is that fine or is this off topic?
Sep 08, 2017
 Speaking test - Perfect House
by: IELTS buddy

Of course it's ok. There are no fixed answers in the speaking test, it's whatever your opinion is.

If you think the family makes a perfect house then that is fine.
Sep 10, 2017
 Off topic i think
by: Anonymous

The question on my card was "Describe someone who knows about something".

I misread that something to something about me, I started talking on that topic!

Is that a flaw? I spoke for more than 2 mins, but will that conversation actually pull my score down?
Sep 17, 2017
 Off topic i think
by: IELTS buddy

I think you may have remembered the topic incorrectly as describing someone who knows about something sounds too vague to be a topic.

But anyway, it's impossible to predict your score without hearing your test.
Oct 09, 2017
 part 2
by: Jimin

What should i do if I'll be asked a question that I couldn't relate, or something I never experienced before. I was said to lie, but would it be okay to answer the question in a different angle.. like be honest with it, and just defend yourself throughout?

======

Yes, try and take a different angle on it. Don't say you know nothing about it and talk about something completely different but connect it to something you can talk about. It should be related in some way.

IELTS buddy
Oct 13, 2017
 Speaking off topic in Part 2
by: Anonymous

I was asked to describe about your personal achievement.

And i answered by stating that it was not my personal milestone but something I achieved and said about a real story how I helped a guy from Italy who was lost here to return back to Italy.

I feel it to be totally irrelevant to the question and I'm afraid to get low band score.
Oct 14, 2017
 Speaking off topic in Part 2
by: IELTS buddy

If you feel that situation was a personal achievement for you then that is fine.
Oct 26, 2017
 going off topic
by: Sherzod

I have had my speaking exam today. In part 2 I was given a cue card "Describe a TV drama series that you enjoy watching".

Not knowing what a TV drama series exactly is, I described a comedy series on TV that I used to watch a lot. After part 2 he told me that "I had told you to describe a TV drama series but you described some kind of comedy show" so can you tell me what a TV drama series really is.

And if the situation happened with me will affect my score or not.

Thank you for your reply before hand
Oct 27, 2017
 going off topic
by: IELTS buddy

Well, firstly the examiner should not have done that.

Even if you speak off topic they shouldn't make a comment about it.

But anyway, just because the examiner said that it does not necessarily mean your score is affected.

As I have said it's really not possible to predict score or penalties here without hearing you test, and we can't do that. And you are marked over the whole test on a variety of criteria.
Nov 16, 2017
 Part 2 question
by: Anonymous

Today I had my IELTS speaking test, in Part 2 I got a topic "Describe a situation that you were pleased to have mobile phone with you".

But I misunderstood the topic and I kept talking on the embarrassing situation I had because of my phone ringing (I was at cinema and phone rang).

How will it affect my score?
Nov 17, 2017
 Mobile Phone
by: IELTS buddy

As I've said on here it's impossible to predict if or how something you did in the speaking test may affect your score. You are marked over many criteria throughout the whole test.

It's also impossible to predict how an examiner may have judged it as it's quite subjective as to what extent what you said was on topic or not.
Dec 30, 2017
 I have my speaking test today.
by: Abayomi

Good day and compliment of the season.

I went for my speaking test today, I made a mistake about weather. The examiner was asking about how whether affect people working in the office and I was talking about raining and dry season instead. other parts went well. I don't how this may affect my bands.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

Role or Rule?

by Naw

hello,

I had my speaking test today. I wasn't sure if part two was to talk about a 'role' or a 'rule' u had at school.

I ended up talking of being responsible of the class for a month and how each student did that. Is that considered off topic? And do I get low score for doing that?

I look forward to hearing from you,
Regards.

Comments for Role or Rule?

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 09, 2018
 Role or Rule
by: IELTS buddy

It's not possible to know whether it was off topic or not as you are not sure if it was 'role' or 'rule'.

It sounds like you spoke about a 'role', so if the question was about 'roles' you were on-topic but if it was about 'rules' you were off-topic.

But either way, the part 2 is quite subjective so it's really not possible to give any indication as to what kind of score someone may get. You'll just have to wait for your result.
Oct 26, 2018
 Speaking part 2 mistake
by: Anonymous

Hello!

Today was my Ielts speaking test and in speaking part 2 i made a blunder. My question was "a competition you would like to take part in"

I panicked and misunderstood the question and i gave answer and explained "a competition i took part in, in the past" i was fluent though.

How much it will effect my result. Will i get a poor score?
Oct 30, 2018
 Speaking part 2 mistake
by: IELTS buddy

Don't worry it's not likely to affect it.
Nov 30, 2018
 lend X borrow in part 2
by: Anonymous

In my part 2, I was supposed to talk about something I borrow but I ended up talking about something I LEND.
I was so nervous that I totally misunderstood, but I know the difference.
How this mistake will affect my scores? Will I fail?
Dec 01, 2018
 lend X borrow in part 2
by: IELTS buddy

You can't fail the speaking test as you are just given a band score.

It's really impossible to know without hearing your test how you did.
May 12, 2019
 I went off-point in Task 2
by: Jennie

I was told to talk about:
How I felt and what I did when I heard someone I've never spoken to on phone, talking in a public space.
Say what the person talked about and what I was doing when the person was speaking...

Rather, I spoke about someone that I had never talked to, calling me on phone. How I felt and what we spoke about.. It was actually the M.D. of my previous bank.

Would this greatly affect my score?
Sep 03, 2019
 Off topic or irrelevant
by: Sukh

Examiner asked me about the indoor sport
In cue card
I answered that i used to play cricket inside my house as outside there was so much heat and hot template in my summer holidays
So will it reduce my bands or it would be totally wrong ?
Jan 18, 2021
 Speaking test off topic
by: Anonymous

Hi. Today was my speaking test. The question was to talk about something your family has had for a long time. I talked about my dog which we’ve had for 10 years. Honestly the examiner gave me a very weird look after that. Will my marks get deducted for that?

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

Talking About Family in IELTS Speaking Part 2

by Shahrooz
(IRAN)

Hello

Regarding Speaking Part 1, talking about your family, what one should talk about? His/her first family sisters, brothers, parents, or if the person is married, about his / her married life and family wife/husband/ children. Or Both?

Comments for Talking About Family in IELTS Speaking Part 2

Click here to add your own comments

Feb 02, 2020
 Family
by: IELTS buddy

They are all family so it's up to you. You can talk about either or both. The examiner sees exactly the same question as you do - they don't have something saying "candidate must only talk about......".

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

Spoke about Hotel

by Fatima
(Abu Dhabi)

Hi,

I had my speaking test today and I was asked about public buildings in part 2 of the speaking test. I thought public buildings were just any normal building that have made me astonished by its set up and all.

So I answered with "A hotel". And then after I finished the lady said you talked about a hotel, but public buildings are libraries, museums and all. This was just when I finished my 2 minutes talk.

May I know will this effect my score significantly?

Comments for Spoke about Hotel

Click here to add your own comments

Aug 03, 2020
 Spoke about Hotel
by: IELTS buddy

Actually the examiner is not allowed to give you feedback in the speaking test so she should not have said that to you. The test should have been recorded so if you are not happy with what happened you can report it and they can check.

But I do not know what they will do - it's possible though you could take the test again if you complain that it worried you. If you were concerned by what she said it may have affected your part 3.

I can't say though whether the examiner may have felt that your part 2 impacted on your score overall for the test.
Feb 20, 2021
 is this irrelevant tell me please. do I lose my band score
by: Anonymous

I got the topic of describe a difficult situation you found in a zoo.And I spoke about the terrible situation in the national park regarding with lion attack
Jun 11, 2021
 Speaking Part 2
by: Anonymous

I was asked to talk about a live sports event I attended however, I spoke about a live screening without giving initial context. Will I lose marks? I was clear in my part 1 and part 3, do you think I'll be able to score a band 4 at least?
Jun 12, 2021
 Speaking part two
by: IELTS buddy

4 is a fairly low score so you can still get that. Anyway if you spoke about a sports event, even on TV, it should be ok.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

Was my Part 2 Talk Off-topic?

by Chi
(Vietnam)

Hello everyone! I need some help. Yesterday, I came across this question:

"Describe a time when you had a problem with using your computer".

However, my answer was about a time I accidentally damaged my laptop. Basically, I broke my laptop by unintentionally kicking it while I was asleep on my bed, then I proceeded to get it fixed.

Is this a major off-topic situation? How much would it affect my Speaking band score?

Comments for Was my Part 2 Talk Off-topic?

Click here to add your own comments

Jul 15, 2021
 Off Topic
by: IELTS buddy

No that would be fine. Your topic is still about a problem with your computer.
Nov 21, 2021
 Answering differently
by: Anonymous

Hello,
yesterday i had my ielts exam and today i noticed i made a mistake in the speaking part 2.
My cue card was asking "describe a time you shared something with others" and i totally misunderstood.
what i mentioned is a vacation memory with my friend :(
when i saw the cue card, i stucked in "time" word and i talked 2 minutes about a good moment i shared with my friend.
Could you please tell me how it will affect my score ?
Nov 27, 2021
 I spoke irrelevant things in part 2 of speaking.
by: Anonymous

I was asked, what is a thing you shared with someone or other people?

I answered about sharing my feelings rather than sharing a materialistic thing. I later realised the question was regarding materialistic things because the follow up questions indicated so.
For will this effect my band score?
Jan 16, 2023
 Going out of topic
by: Anonymous

I had my ielts speaking exam today.
the question was describe a time you share something to others
instead of talking about object i shared about my personal feelings
what will happen now please tell me I am so much worried about this

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Off Topic

by vaibhav
(Surat, Gujarat, India)

Hello,

today, I completed my IELTS speaking test.

In test part 2 they asked me to describe a thing I did that helped to learn language but I described them how I taught language to someone.

So I think it was totally off topic so it would affect my speaking score.
And I read IELTS blogs where they say if go off topic no worry because examiner just check your fluency, punctuation, grammar, lexical resource and cohesive devices...so based on this they did not check task response...

based on this it will affect my speaking score or not?

Comments for IELTS Speaking Part 2 Off Topic

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 28, 2022
 IELTS Speaking Part 2 Off Topic
by: IELTS buddy

It shouldn't affect your score - it seems you still spoke about a topic related to the card.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to IELTS Speaking Forum.


Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Band 7+ eBooks

"I think these eBooks are FANTASTIC!!! I know that's not academic language, but it's the truth!"

Linda, from Italy, Scored Band 7.5

ielts buddy ebooks