Module 3: Mastering Tenses in IELTS Speaking Part 2

IELTS Speaking Part 2 requires you to give a structured response to a cue card topic. The ability to use past, present, and future tenses appropriately can greatly enhance your score by showcasing your grammatical range and coherence.

Tense Use in IELTS Speaking Part 2

In Part 2, candidates often need to:

1. Describe past experiences or events (Past Simple, Past Continuous).
2. Provide details about ongoing situations or general facts (Present Simple, Present Continuous).
3. Talk about future plans, hopes, or predictions (Future ‘Will,’ ‘Going to’).

Most Commonly Used Tense

The Past Simple tense is most frequently used since many cue card topics ask about past events, experiences, or memories. However, incorporating the present and future tenses adds variety and demonstrates a well-rounded use of grammar.

Examples of Real IELTS Cue Cards and Tense Usage

1. Cue Card: Describe a holiday you enjoyed.

1. • Past Simple: “Last year, I visited Paris with my family. We stayed in a cozy hotel near the Eiffel Tower.”
   • Present Continuous: “Even now, I am planning my next trip to explore more places like this.”
   • Future (Going to): “In the future, I’m going to revisit France and explore the countryside.”

2. Cue Card: Describe a goal you want to achieve.

1. • Present Simple: “Currently, my goal is to become a certified fitness trainer.”
   • Past Simple: “Two years ago, I started researching fitness training programs.”
   • Future (Will): “Next month, I will enroll in a professional training course to achieve this.”

Strategy to Teach Tenses for IELTS Speaking Part 2

Step 1: Tense Awareness and Structuring

1. Understanding the Cue Card Requirements
   Teach students how to break down a cue card topic into its components (e.g., “What,” “Where,” “When,” “Why”). For each component, identify the most appropriate tense.

Example Cue Card: Describe a teacher who inspired you.

1. • “Who they were” → Past Simple (e.g., “He was my high school English teacher.”)
   • “How they inspired you” → Past Continuous (e.g., “He was always encouraging me to read more.”)
   • “Why they are memorable” → Present Simple (e.g., “I still remember his advice to this day.”)

Step 2: Activities for Mastery

1. Activity 1: Tense Sorting Practice

1. • Provide students with sample cue cards and sentences written in mixed tenses.
   • Students must identify and correct the tense errors.

Example Sentence: “Last year, I am traveling to Italy.”
Correction: “Last year, I traveled to Italy.”

2. Activity 2: Structured Response Framework

1. • Introduce a framework for structuring answers:
     1. Introduction (Present Simple): “Today, I’d like to talk about…”
     2. Body (Past Simple/Past Continuous): Describe the main event or experience.
     3. Future Plans (Future Tense): End by discussing what you plan to do next or how the event has influenced you.

3. Activity 3: Cue Card Role-Play

1. • Pair students and have one act as the examiner while the other practices answering a cue card. Feedback is provided on their use of tenses.

4. Activity 4: Time-Shifting Stories

1. • Provide a generic topic (e.g., “Describe your favorite meal”). Ask students to create a response that incorporates all three tenses:

1. • • Past: “I first tried it when I was ten years old.”
     • Present: “I still enjoy it whenever I visit that restaurant.”
     • Future: “Next time, I’d like to try making it myself.”

Step 3: Incorporate Realistic Examples

1. Example 1: A Book You Read Recently

1. • Past: “I read the book ‘Atomic Habits’ last month.”
   • Present: “Now, I am trying to apply its principles to my daily routine.”
   • Future: “In the future, I’m planning to recommend it to my friends.”

2. Example 2: A Family Celebration

1. • Past: “We celebrated my sister’s wedding last summer.”
   • Present: “We still talk about how wonderful the day was.”
   • Future: “Next year, we’re planning a family reunion.”

Step 4: Advanced Tense Integration

Encourage students to link tenses within one answer for better fluency and coherence.

• Cue Card: Describe a skill you learned.
  Response:
  • “I learned to cook during the lockdown (Past Simple). Every day, I practice cooking different dishes (Present Simple). I’m hoping to take a professional course soon (Future ‘Going to’).”

Common Mistakes to Address

1. Tense Agreement

1. • Incorrect: “Last year, I am visiting the museum.”
   • Correct: “Last year, I visited the museum.”

2. Overusing One Tense

1. • Many students stick to one tense for the entire response. Teach them to diversify.

3. Not Conjugating Correctly

1. • Incorrect: “Next week, I going to buy a new phone.”
   • Correct: “Next week, I am going to buy a new phone.”

Conclusion

Mastering tenses for Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test is essential for scoring well in grammatical range and accuracy. Focus on helping students identify the required tense from the cue card and practice using multiple tenses in one response. Real-life examples, structured activities, and personalized feedback will help them build fluency and confidence.

With consistent practice, students will be able to deliver natural, structured, and grammatically accurate responses that impress IELTS examiners.