B2IELTS-style · Band 5.5–6.5Speaking30 min

IELTS Speaking: Work and Careers

Work and careers

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Target: 6.0-6.5

Work & Careers (Lesson 6 of 6)

Speaking Practice: Parts 2 & 3

How to Use This Lesson

For Teachers:

1. Review the speaking prompts and sample answers before setting up pair work or speaking drills.

2. Listen for clear ideas and natural phrasing, and offer feedback using the four speaking points below.

For Learners:

1. Review your vocabulary and sentence patterns first before you start recording your speech.

2. Speak clearly without rushing, explain your reasons simply, and check your ideas against the samples.

Module 1: Warm Up Your Words & Ideas

Get your mouth moving and review key work words before you start speaking at length.

Exercise 1: Check Key Words

Choose the word that fits each sentence best.

1. The company posted an online notice because they have an urgent ___ for a team manager.

____ a. workload ____ b. promotion ____ c. vacancy

2. After working long shifts for three straight years, she finally received a well-deserved ___.

____ a. promotion ____ b. applicant ____ c. overtime

3. Many office workers feel stressed out when their daily ___ becomes too large to handle.

____ a. career ____ b. workload ____ c. qualification

4. Modern tech companies often let staff choose ___ working hours so they can balance family life.

____ a. heavy ____ b. flexible ____ c. minimum

5. If you are deeply unhappy with your working conditions, you can formally ___ from your job.

____ a. resign ____ b. recruit ____ c. apply

Exercise 2: Match Natural Work Phrases

Pair each practical work expression with its plain meaning.

Work Phrase
Lots of Work
Open Role
Quit Job
Basic Skills
Get Promoted
Extra Hours
hand in one's resignation
____Lots of Work ____Open Role ____Quit Job ____Basic Skills ____Get Promoted ____Extra Hours
climb the career ladder
____Lots of Work ____Open Role ____Quit Job ____Basic Skills ____Get Promoted ____Extra Hours
work overtime
____Lots of Work ____Open Role ____Quit Job ____Basic Skills ____Get Promoted ____Extra Hours
apply for a vacancy
____Lots of Work ____Open Role ____Quit Job ____Basic Skills ____Get Promoted ____Extra Hours
meet minimum qualifications
____Lots of Work ____Open Role ____Quit Job ____Basic Skills ____Get Promoted ____Extra Hours
heavy workload
____Lots of Work ____Open Role ____Quit Job ____Basic Skills ____Get Promoted ____Extra Hours

Exercise 3: Practical Sentence Patterns

Practice 4 simple sentence frames you can use while answering questions.

Pattern 1: Sharing What Someone Said

"She said she was tired after working a double shift yesterday."

Complete the sentence:

My former colleague told me that he ___ thinking about resigning soon.

____ were ____ was ____ will
Pattern 2: Making a Smart Guess

"He must have worked there for years to get that senior role."

Complete the sentence:

Looking at her huge portfolio, she ___ spent months preparing for this interview.

____ must have ____ should have ____ can have
Pattern 3: Stating Your Choice

"I would definitely go for a creative job rather than repetitive admin work."

Complete the sentence:

Given two options, I would definitely ___ flexible remote hours.

____ go for ____ make for ____ take at
Pattern 4: Weighing Both Sides

"To be honest, it really depends on what you value most right now."

Complete the sentence:

Whether people stay at one company ___ depends on the work culture.

____ really ____ politely ____ narrowly

Exercise 4: Quick Fun Facts (Guess the Number)

Guess the real data, submit your choice, and read the short explanation.

Fact 1

On average, how many jobs did an American born between 1957 and 1964 hold between ages 18 and 58?

____ 2.9 jobs ____ 12.9 jobs ____ 29 jobs
Fact 2

In November 2021, the number of quits in the US reached a record. How many quits were there?

____ 45,000 workers ____ 450,000 workers ____ 4.5 million workers

Module 2: Two-Minute Solo Talk

Take one full minute to gather your thoughts, then talk smoothly about your ideal work for up to two minutes.

Solo Talk Card 1 min prep • 90–120s speak

Describe a job that you would like to do in the future.

You should say:

  • what the job is
  • what skills or qualifications you need for it
  • why you would like to do it

and explain how you would feel doing this job.

Record your answer:

[Bài tập luyện nói]

Speaking Assessment Areas:
Fluency and Coherence Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pronunciation
Click to view a sample response & phrase notes 164 words

Well, to be honest, if I could pick any career path right now, I'd love to work as a freelance web designer. It's basically about building clean, friendly websites for small local businesses. To do this, you don't necessarily need a fancy university degree, but you definitely have to meet the minimum qualifications, like knowing coding basics, visual styling, and user testing. You also need solid time management because you're juggling your own deadlines.

The main reason I'm drawn to this is the freedom. I've always wanted a flexible schedule where I can choose my own clients instead of being stuck in a noisy cubicle all day. On top of that, helping neighborhood shops set up their online stores feels genuinely useful. If I managed to land steady work in this role, I'd feel really proud and relieved. It'd be tough at first without a fixed boss, but seeing something I created live on screen would give me a massive buzz.

Natural Phrase Notes:

  • • meet the minimum qualifications: satisfy the basic required skills or certificates.
  • • flexible schedule: working hours that you arrange yourself to fit your personal routine.
  • • massive buzz: an everyday expression meaning a strong, sudden feeling of excitement or joy.

Module 3: In-Depth Discussion

Explore bigger work trends, workplace choices, and personal priorities across four real-world discussion topics.

1

Why do some people change jobs often?

Speak for about 30 to 45 seconds explaining common reasons.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

Fluency and Coherence Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pronunciation
Show sample answer & phrases 89 words

I think people switch jobs mainly to climb the career ladder much faster. If you stay in one company for too long, pay raises can be pretty slow, whereas moving elsewhere often brings a healthier paycheck. Another big factor is escaping a toxic team or an unreasonable heavy workload. Younger workers especially aren't willing to put up with endless overtime anymore. They'd rather move on until they find a workplace that respects their personal time and offers a clear sense of progress.

Key Phrases: • climb the career ladder: progress toward higher positions.
• heavy workload: a large volume of work that feels stressful.
2

How has technology changed the way people work?

Share your observations on remote tools, speed, or communication.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

Fluency and Coherence Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pronunciation
Show sample answer & phrases 92 words

Well, the biggest shift is that work isn't tied to a physical building anymore. With online video calls and messaging tools, millions of people can collaborate smoothly from home. That creates a much more flexible working style, which saves hours of exhausting commuting. On the flip side, technology makes it harder to truly switch off. Because emails pop up on our phones late at night, many employees end up doing unpaid overtime without even realizing it. So it's definitely a double-edged sword.

Key Phrases: • flexible working style: an adaptable way of working without strict office hours.
• unpaid overtime: extra hours worked without additional payment.
• double-edged sword: something with both good and bad consequences.
3

Is a high salary more important than enjoying your job?

Balance financial stability with day-to-day satisfaction.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

Fluency and Coherence Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pronunciation
Show sample answer & phrases 87 words

To be honest, it really depends on your stage in life. When you're just starting out or have bills to pay, money matters a lot because you need financial security. But in the long run, doing something you hate every single day will quickly lead to severe burnout. Even with a generous paycheck, waking up unhappy isn't sustainable. Ideally, you want a comfortable wage that covers your living expenses, paired with everyday tasks that keep you genuinely engaged.

Key Phrases: • severe burnout: deep mental and physical exhaustion caused by constant stress.
• genuinely engaged: honestly interested and absorbed in what you are doing.
4

Should people retire later than they used to?

Discuss longer life expectancy versus health and younger workers.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

Fluency and Coherence Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pronunciation
Show sample answer & phrases 88 words

I can see why governments push for people to work longer, especially since healthcare is better and people live longer. If experienced professionals stay active, that helps the economy. However, it shouldn't be compulsory for everyone. People working physical jobs like construction need to rest when their bodies wear down. A fair compromise would be offering part-time consulting roles so older staff can share valuable guidance while still enjoying a well-earned retirement after decades in the workforce.

Key Phrases: • part-time consulting: advising an organization on limited, flexible hours.
• well-earned retirement: a deserved rest after years of dedicated work.

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