APIEIELTS Speaking: Factories and Manufacturing
Factories, workshops and how things are made
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
Factories & How Things Are Made
Estimated time: 25 minutes • 2 Modules (Easy to Hard)
💡 How to use this lesson
👩🏫 For the Teacher:
• Guide students through Module 1 build-up exercises for 10 minutes before starting spoken practice.
• Have learners complete Module 2 recording tasks individually, then check the AI feedback scores together.
🎓 For the Learner:
• First, complete the vocabulary review, collocation matching, and fun facts in Module 1.
• Next, record your spoken responses in Module 2 and open the model answers to learn useful phrases.
Vocabulary & Sentence Build-up
Build your vocabulary and sentence patterns before you speak.
1 Unit Words Review
Complete the sentences using key unit words: machine, assemble, worker, pipe, wood, brick, clay, heat, press, shape.
1. Factory workers put soft ceramic materials into an oven to ____ it at high temperatures.
Why this works: "heat" action verb means raising temperature.
2. On the factory floor, operators ____ all the smaller parts to build a computer.
Why this works: "assemble" describes fitting components together.
3. A heavy automated ____ can cut thick metal plates in seconds.
Why this works: "machine" fits the equipment context.
4. Liquid flows safely from one tank to another through a long metal ____.
Why this works: "pipe" is the tube carrying liquids.
5. Craftsmen use special molds to ____ wet clay into round pots.
Why this works: "shape" is a verb meaning to give form to something.
2 Collocation Matching
Match each collocation on the left with its correct meaning on the right.
3 Useful Sentence Patterns
Study these 4 sentence patterns to explain processes clearly when speaking:
"They make it by..."
Example: "They make our school desks by cutting and joining pieces of wood."
Why this works: Use this pattern to show the method or action used to build something.
"You can do it with..."
Example: "You can do it with a simple hand tool."
Why this works: Use this pattern to state the instrument or tool required.
"It takes time to..."
Example: "It takes time to shape soft clay into a fine vase."
Why this works: Use this pattern to talk about effort and duration of crafting.
"This machine helps people to..."
Example: "This machine helps people to press metal sheets safely."
Why this works: Use this pattern to describe the function of industrial equipment.
4 Fun Facts: Guess the Number!
Guess the missing percentage for each industry fact before reading the answer.
About ___ percent of the world's steel comes from the blast furnace route (World Steel Association, 2026).
Making one tonne of steel today needs only ___ percent of the energy that it needed in 1960 (World Steel Association, 2026).
Spoken Practice & AI Feedback
Practice speaking Part 1 and Part 2 with AI instant feedback.
🗣️ Part 1: Short Answer Questions
Do you prefer things that people make by hand or things that come from a big factory?
Press record and answer in 2-3 sentences.
[Bài tập luyện nói]
💬 Model Answer & Key Phrases Click to expand"Well, to be honest, I prefer factory items. They are usually cheaper and easy to find in local shops. Hand-made stuff looks nice, but it costs a bit too much for my daily budget."
Useful Phrases & Plain Notes:
- • to be honest: speaking truthfully
- • easy to find: simple to buy anywhere
- • a bit too much: slightly too expensive
Have you ever visited a factory, a farm or a workshop?
Press record and answer in 2-3 sentences.
[Bài tập luyện nói]
💬 Model Answer & Key Phrases Click to expand"Yes, I have! Last year, I visited a small tea workshop in my town. I saw how workers dry the leaves and package them. It was really cool to see the whole process in real life."
Useful Phrases & Plain Notes:
- • dry the leaves: remove moisture from plant parts
- • the whole process: every step from start to finish
- • in real life: actually experiencing it in person
Is there anything that you have made yourself, for example food or a model?
Press record and answer in 2-3 sentences.
[Bài tập luyện nói]
💬 Model Answer & Key Phrases Click to expand"Actually, I like cooking at home. Last weekend, I made some pasta from scratch for my family. It took some time to get it right, but everyone loved the meal in the end."
Useful Phrases & Plain Notes:
- • from scratch: using basic raw ingredients, not a ready-made mix
- • get it right: make it correctly
- • in the end: finally, after effort
Do you think that most people know enough about how workers make everyday things?
Press record and answer in 2-3 sentences.
[Bài tập luyện nói]
💬 Model Answer & Key Phrases Click to expand"No, I don't think so. Most people just buy stuff in stores without thinking about the process. We usually take things for granted and don't realise how much effort workers put in behind the scenes."
Useful Phrases & Plain Notes:
- • don't think so: disagree politely
- • take things for granted: fail to appreciate value
- • behind the scenes: in the hidden production area
📋 Part 2: Individual Long Turn (Topic Card)
Describe something useful that you own and that somebody made by hand or in a factory.
You should say:
- what it is
- where you got it
- how you think somebody made it
- and explain why it is useful to you.
[Bài tập luyện nói]
💬 Model Answer & Key Phrases Click to expand"Well, I'd like to talk about a wooden desk that I use every day in my bedroom. My uncle made it by hand two years ago as a gift for my birthday.
I think he made it using simple workshop tools. First, he cut big boards of dark wood into smooth shapes. After that, he joined the legs together with strong metal screws and polished the top surface to make it shiny. It took him a few days to complete the whole desk.
This desk is extremely useful to me because I study on it every evening. It has a large surface, so I can keep things organized, like my laptop, notebooks, and pens. To be honest, I really treasure this item because it is sturdy and holds a lot of special memories for me."
Useful Phrases & Plain Notes:
- • extremely useful: very helpful in daily life
- • keep things organized: store items neatly
- • treasure this item: value something deeply
- • special memories: pleasant thoughts of past events
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