We have already looked at What Part 2 is and Part 2 Topic Example Cards.
In this lesson we will study how to use that 1 minute to prepare a great talk.
Exercise 1
To omit (verb) | (omitted) (verb 2) – this is an academic verb meaning to ‘leave out’ or ‘not include’.
The question words have been omitted.
A good way to approach the planning for speaking part 2 is to divide your note paper in to 4 sections. Have a look at the example plan by a candidate below.
What notes should I make?
You only have 1 minute to make your notes so they must be simple. Note down any important vocabulary, such as interesting and high level adjectives or nouns, because these will increase your band score for lexical resource.
(Notice the vocabulary item ‘isolated‘ in the student example. This is a high level adjective that means ‘far away from other people’)
Never write any complete sentences – you simply don’t have enough time.
This technique can be difficult to learn so you need to practice it a lot. Always time yourself. Start with 5 minutes of preparation time. When you feel comfortable with that, try 4 minutes and then 3 and then 2 and finally 1. Try with many different questions and you are guaranteed to see an improvement.
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
To remind (verb) – helps you to remember
The photo reminds me of a great group of friends.
Tranquil (adjective) – calm and quiet
In the busy city, the gardens are a tranquil place to get away from the crowds.
A mansion (countable noun) – a large and usually old house.
The family live in a huge mansion in the countryside.
The end of an era (noun phrase) – the end of an important time.
I finished my degree last week. It feels like the end of an era. Now I need to start looking for a job and deciding what to do next.
In the next lesson we study How to begin our 2 minute talk and how to add details.