ARTICLES
Speaking Skills for Speaking Part One
Question : Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Answer : Yes ( this is a grammatically correct answer, but you are practising only one word! )
Answer : Yes, I do or Yes, I have (short answers are correct, but do not give maximum practice)
Native speakers use short form answers a lot as they already know the full form answer and so they cut it to a short form answer to save time.
However, for second language learners, like you guys, it is much better to get more speaking practice by speaking the full form answer. This helps you speak more words, improves your fluency and gives you more confidence. It also helps you learn grammar structures by speaking them in a full form answer!
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Yes Yes, I do
*Both these answers are 'short form answers' and are correct answers. However, they do not give you maximum practice of English because you are not speaking a lot of words and so don't get the maximum speaking practice!*
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
IELTS Half Band Scores
Scores for each part of the test will still be reported on the scale from 1 to 9, but now the Writing and Speaking tests will be reported in whole or half bands in the same way as the Reading and Listening tests. Why is score reporting for the Writing and Speaking tests being changed? This is the latest in a series of enhancements to IELTS, based on continual consultation with test takers, teachers, Recognising Organisations and other stakeholders around the world. This range of scores - using whole and half bands - is already used for Listening and Reading. We have consulted a large number of organisations that use IELTS scores, and their feedback tells us that they find the half band scores very helpful as they allow them to specify required language levels more precisely. Many teachers and test takers have also told us that they would like more detailed information on performance in each skill. What will the benefits be? There will be three main benefits: * Recognising Organisations will be able to set their requirements for admission, recruitment, etc, more precisely, based on more detailed information about the test-taker's performance in each of the four skills....
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