1.1 Introduction to the IELTS speaking test
雅思口语考试简介
IELTS is the world’s most popular English language test for higher education and immigration, and was taken by more than 3 million people in 2018（https://www.ielts.org/news/2017/ielts-numbers-rise-to-three-million-a-year）.
The Speaking test is designed to assess the level of your spoken English and how suitable it is for daily conversation as well as in an academic context. For this reason, there are a variety of questions of different types on personal and general topics.
The test consists of a face-to-face conversation between the test candidate and an examiner.
雅思考试是世界上最流行的留学和移民英语标准化测试，在2018年有300多万人参加了雅思考试（http://www.ielts.org/news/2017/ielts-numbers-rise-to-three-million-a-year）。
雅思口语测试的目的是评估你的英语口语水平以及你在日常会话和学术语境中的运用能力。因此，在个人和一般的话题上有各种不同类型的问题。
考试的形式为考生和考官面对面一对一的交流。
The test format
考试形式
The test is divided into three parts. In Part 1，you are asked questions on personal topics such as your home, friends, family, and free time interests. In Part 2，you need to give a short presentation on a personal topic such as a journey you have been on, or a person you know. In Part 3, the topics are general, not personal, and you need to speak about other people, and things that affect them as well as yourself. For example, the examiner might ask about the differences between young and old people’s attitudes, or changes that have taken place in society.
考试分为三个部分。在第一部分中，你会被问到一些个人话题，比如你的家庭、朋友、家庭和业余爱好。在第二部分中，你需要就个人话题做简短陈述，比如经历过的一段旅程，或者认识的一个人。在第三部分中，主题是一般性的，而不是个人的，你需要跟考官讨论对别人或者自我有影响的人或事。例如，考官可能会问年轻人和老年人对某件事情的不同看法，或者社会上正在发生的变化。
Where, when, and how to join the test
考试的地点、时间以及怎样参加考试
The test can be taken in over 1200 locations around the world. In most locations there are four tests per month, and these take place on Saturday or Thursday. The Speaking test takes place on any day of the week, and you will be told by email when and where your test will be.
In China, tests can be booked online at https://www.chinaielts.org/
该测试在全世界有1200多个考点。在大多数地方，每个月有四次测试，分别在周六或周四进行。口语考试会安排在一周的任何一天，你将通过电子邮件得知考试时间和考点。
在中国，考生可以通过https://www.chinaielts.org/网站在线预订日期。
What happens on test day
考试当天流程
Test takers receive detailed instructions and maps explaining how to get to the speaking test. After they arrive at the test centre their identity is checked and they are taken to the test room by IELTS staff. After arriving, they sit down outside the room and wait for the examiner to invite them in. The examiner then begins to record the test. He will ask you your name, where you are from, and check your ID. Then the test will begin.
考生会收到详细的考试流程说明和地图。到达考点后，会有人核实考生身份，并由雅思工作人员带到考场。到了之后，首先在房间外面候场，等待考官邀请他们进来。然后考官开始为考试过程录音。考官会问你的名字，你从哪里来，检查身份证件，然后考试开始。
How are the topics chosen?
话题是怎么选定的?
The topics are chosen so that they can be answered by anyone who has studied English anywhere in the world regardless of differences in culture or personal knowledge. Because the test only assesses your English level, your knowledge of the topic is not relevant for your score, and the examiner will not change your score whether or not you have a lot of knowledge about the topics. In fact, the topics seldom change. What changes is the way in which the questions are asked.
选题的目的是为了让世界任何地方学过英语的人都能回答这些问题，而不受文化或个人知识差异的影响。因为考试只为评估你的英语水平，所以你对题目了解的程度与你的考试分数无关，你对话题的知识面不会影响考官给你的分数。事实上，话题很少改变，只是问题的提问方式会发生变化。