雅思口语“关于过去”题型总结

雅思口语考试需要大家掌握大量的日常会话的题材，建议大家尽可能多地积累一些，下面就为大家带来雅思口语“关于过去”题型总结，供大家参考学习。

Earlier on,we discussed two types of questions that IELTS examiners will always ask and its theory behind why these types of questions are so popular.Let’s recall what these two kinds of questions consist of:

1. Relating to the past/past and now

a). Have things changed?

b). Have things always been the same?

c). Have things been the same since you can remember?

2. Changes in the future

a). Will things change?

b). How do you think things will change?

c). What do you think will change?

Although both sets of questionsare fundamentally important in terms of testing a candidate’s speaking ability, it is clear that question type No.1 poses the biggest challenge for Chinese candidates. The reason behind this that talking about the past or past and present together, requires candidates to use a wide range of different techniques and skills in order to accurate portrait their ideas and opinions. This discussion aims to look beyond the theories highlighted in the previous paper and extends the insight (using different scenarios and real IELTS speaking questions) into the how these theories can help Chinese students improve their IELTS speaking.

How to answer questions relating to the past

In order to tackle these types of questions, we proposed three fundamental skills that students should adopt when answering: Structural tenses, comparatives, and signposting phrases. Depending on the question asked, students may utilise one or more techniques to maximise their chances of getting a higher score. However, this leaves us with a paramount question which has not been discussed in the previous paper: why can these techniques can help Chinese students tackle these types of questions? Let’s examine each individual technique closely to find out the reason.

Structural tenses

It is apparent that over the last few years, one of the biggest draw-backs noticed within Chinese candidate answers are grammar related issues. Although Chinese students are taught using the grammar-focused method, many fail to utilise the full scope of the grammar range in their speaking answers to truly reflect the time period of their topic (or part of). Many candidates rely on the use of simple tenses (e.g. past simple) to answer most, if not all past tense questions. This may appear correct at first (they are using the correct tense after all), but when we examine these questions closely, candidates can achieve a much higher band score by adopting a complex yet accurate grammar structure.

For example:

Question:

Did you ever make anything by hand when you were a child? (2015 Jan-April)

Typical Chinese candidate reply (using simple tense):

Answer:

Yes, I made little clay models of food when I was young because I was a foodie and I found making clay models very interesting. (Predicted score: 5.5-6)

Examiner analysis:

l  Candidate produced error free sentenced using the correct grammar in relation to the question (past tense).

l  The candidate used complex structures but lacked a logical progression of ideas.

Typical high level candidate reply (using the simple tense):

Answer:

Yes I did, I made little clay models of different foods such as hamburgers and French fries because my parents didn’t allow me to prepare these types of foods using real ingredients. During the weekends, I’d hideaway in my bedroom with my clay set, prepare a big meal, and pretend I’m hosting a feast for my fury little friends. (Predicted score 6.5-7)

Examiner analysis:

l  The candidate used a wide range of lexis (simple: clay models, big meal)(less common: hideaway, hosting a feast) to explore the topic.

l  The candidate used colloquial language (fury little friends) which is a necessary component to achieve a high band score.

When we look at the answers, it is clear that both responses satisfy the grammar requirements posed in the question (past tense). However, if we examine the grammar structure closely, both answers only use the past simple tense. What this means is that we only know the candidate made clay models in the past but we do not know whether he/she is still making it now or what stopped the candidate from making these clay models now.

In order to make the answers more precise thus achieving a higher band score, the candidates can use more complex grammar structures in their answers. Let’s take a look at what they can do:

l The candidate was making clay models for a certain period of time before his/her parents stop him/her from doing it à Grammar: Past continuous

Answer:

Yep I did, I was making lots of clay models of different types of foods when I was around five until my mum decided I was too involved and stopped me from doing so. She thought I was wasting my time and wanted me to concentrate on my homework. However, I did turn my attention to making paper planes after this incident and it brought me a lot of joy.

Examiner Analysis:

By using the past continuous tense, the candidate talked about a longer action in the past (making clay models) that was interrupted (stopped by his/her mum). The candidate was able to explain why he/she stopped making these clay models and developed his answers further by talking about what he/she did after this particular incident.

l  The candidate made clay models before he/she went to primary school à Grammar: Past perfect

Answer:

Yeah, I’d made lots of clay models of different foods before I started primary school. I’d make things like burgers, French fries and stuff like that as I was a foodie but my parents didn’t really allow me to eat those sorts of junk food. The sad thing was, I was forced to stop because of the heavy work load at school and all my friends decided to start playing card games instead.

Examiner Analysis:

By using the past perfect tense, the candidate talked about finished actions (making models) that happened before a certain time in the past (primary school). The candidate provided an exact time point on when he/she stopped making these clay models in the past and the reasons behind why he/she had to stop.

l  The candidate made clay models when he/she was young but stopped making these clay models nowà Present perfect.

Answer:

Yep I did, I’ve made lots clay models of different food stuffs in past like burgers and French fries. I don’t really remember when I stopped. I don’t really make that kind of stuff anymore which is a big shame because I really enjoyed making them when I was young. Thinking about it, maybe I should pick it up again and start making more clay models after I finish my IELTS test.

Examiner analysis:

By using the present perfect tense, the candidate talked about an action that had just finished (making clay models) that had just finished and has an impact on the present situation (a big shame). The candidate talked about how he/she made clay models in the past but stopped doing it now. He/she now regrets doing so and hopes to start making models again. There is a clear display of a logical progression of ideas

l  The candidate started making clay models since he/she was five year old and continues to do so today à present perfect continuous.

Answer:

Yeah I did, I’ve been making clay models of different foods such as burgers and French fries since I was a little kid. I’ll make at least ten to fifteen different foods everyday and put them in my little cabinet display in the living room which I feel very proud of every time when I return home from school as a kid and from work when I became an adult.

Examiner analysis:

By using the present perfect continuous tense, the candidate talked an action that started in the past (made clay models since he/she was a kid) and continues in the present. The present perfect continuous tense is one of the most common grammar tenses to use when candidates want to talk about something they have started or thought about in the past and is still doing/wants to do so in the present context.

Comparative structures + Signposting

When talking about questions relating to the past in an IELTS speaking test, most students and candidates would think about questions that only discuss the past. However, if we look at the questions in all three parts closely, individuals will soon realise that there are a number of questions that require the candidate to compare situations/actions in the past with situations/actions in the present context. For example:

l  Do you think people today have more time to relax than in the past?

l  Do you think there is more noise in people’s lives today than in the past?

l  How has travelling in your country changed in the last 50 years?

l  What’s the difference between broadcasting news in the past and in the present?

l  Are Chinese people happier than they were 30 years ago?

These questions may appear straight forward at first but Chinese candidates must realise that when answering comparative questions, they must use some form of “comparatives” in their answer in order to get a high band score. Besides this, Chinese candidates would lack essential “signposting” phrases to signify which time period they are talking about, which might leave the listener perplexed about the logic behind the answer. Let’s take a look at these “signposting phrases”and“comparatives” and discuss how we can apply them to improve a candidate’s answer.

Signposting phrases

l  Talking about the past: In the past, X years ago, When I was……(young, ten years old, in primary school, etc.), When my parents were young

l  Talking about the present: Nowadays, These days, Currently, Presently

Comparatives

l  More…., less….., not as…., wasn’t as….

l  Used to be…….

l  _______er than…..

For example:

Question:

Do you think people today have more time to relax than in the past?

Answer:

That's a pretty hard question to answer coz I can go both ways with this question. In the past, maybe twenty/thirty years ago? People worked a lot less compared to today. This meant workers had more timeto enjoy leisure activities as well as spend time with family and friends. However, if I look at the flip side, my country wasn’t as developed twenty/thirty years ago. A lot of people had to work day in day out to make ends meet. What I mean here is when my parents were young, they lived in a pretty run-down area and they had to work at least 12 hours in order to keep their belly’s full. When we look at the society now, a lot of blue and white collars make pretty decent salaries so they don’t need to need worry about the basics and be able splash their cash on pampering themselves.

Examiner analysis:

The candidate was able to respond to the question correctly with the use of a wide range of signposting phrases to signify which time period he/she is focusing on. The candidate was also able to satisfy a comparative question by using a series of comparatives to compare between the past and present. Furthermore, this candidate was able to use a series of colloquial and idiomatic language which would push this answer to a band score of 7 and above.

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