1. Part One of the Speaking Test
1.7. Question Type 6: ―Yes/No‖ Questions
Whereas on the other hand … Though, at the same time … While, oppositely …
Select one of the following:
If (situation B) … then it’s more likely that I’ll … If (situation B) … then it’s almost certain that I will … If (situation B) … then I will almost always ….
If (situation B) … then I will most certainly …
Remember to develop situation B with a complex structure.
Now answer the following questions using the fully developed structure for two situations. (If you want to give a longer response you could even introduce a third situation.)
How often do you go to the cinema?
Where do you usually go shopping?
When do you usually read?
At what time of day do you usually listen to music?
Who do you spend your evenings with?
When do you go out in the evenings, what do you usually do?
How often do you play sports?
How often do you eat in restaurants?
Summary of ―Wh-/How often‖ Questions
If you follow the example structure, make sure that you choose two situations that are very different. It is easier to contrast two clearly different situations.
Make sure that you use ―if‖ and ―will‖ for both situations. This is a fairly complex grammar structure but it is easy to construct accurately. This type of answer directly influences the ―Grammar‖ score and the ―Fluency‖ score in your speaking test.
A common problem with these questions is that many candidates begin their answer a direct ―Yes‖ or ―No‖ and then give one or more details to explain their answer.
This is not wrong, but these answers are often too simple in grammar structure and lack the essential linking phrases.
A better answer is to answer BOTH ―Yes‖ and ―No‖. By doing this you will produce a response with better quality language structures.
Look at the following example:
―Is healthy eating important?‖
―Yes, healthy eating is important, because …‖
If you answer in this way, you are limiting your answer to a fairly basic structure.
Now look at the next example:
―Well in actual fact, If I think about it, I guess that in many ways it’s fairly important, especially when you consider that a healthy diet can help to prevent a variety of diseases and health problems such as diabetes and obesity. But you also have to understand that eating unhealthy food in moderation is not overly harmful. In fact unhealthy food is often tastier than healthy food so I guess it’s fine to eat a little junk food now and then. So all in all I guess my answer would have to be yes and no.‖
It is possible to use this type of structure for many, but not all, ―Yes/No‖ questions.
Look at the list of questions at the beginning of this section and decide which ones you would be able to answer with this structure.
The structure can be built in this way. First, use an opening phrase:
Well in actual fact, if I think about it, I guess that in many ways … OK, well in reality, I suppose that to some extent …
Alright, I guess that on the one hand … Well certainly in some ways …
Now make your first statement (eg, It’s fairly important …). Develop the first statement using a linking structure:
… especially when you consider that …
… particularly if you think about the point that …
…especially with regard to the point that…
...and this is definitely the case with…
Try using this structure to give a ―Yes‖ answer for the following questions:
Is crime a problem in your country?
Do people in your country often keep pets?
Is it always good to be ambitious?
Now you need to introduce your ―No‖ answer. First use a linking phrase:
But you also have to understand that … Even so, you could also say that … At the same time you could say that …
After describing your ―No‖ answer, you can ―round-off‖ the answer with one of the following phrases:
So all in all I guess my answer would have to be yes and no.
So on the whole I suppose the answer has to be yes and no.
So all things considered I guess the answer is both yes and no.
So in the main, I suppose the answer is probably yes and no.
Use the full structure to answer the following questions:
Do many people work on farms in your country?
Is food expensive in your country?
Is public transport expensive in your country?
Do you think that it is important to spend time alone?
Some "Yes / No" questions in Part One cannot use this "Yes and No" style of response. Look at the following questions:
Is watching TV a popular activity in your country?
Can you play a musical instrument?
Are friends important to you?
With questions like this it may be difficult to answer both yes and no. It is probably much easier to give a "Yes" answer. Use the structures given to introduce your "Yes" idea and then develop this single idea with one or two reasons or details.
Summary of "Yes / No" Questions
The most important thing is to avoid repeating the question structure with a "Yes"
or "No". Example:
"Is fast food popular in your country?"
"Yes, fast food is very popular in my country, especially ..."
As we have seen before, repeating the question structure does not have any significant influence on your score, so if you want a high score - DON'T DO IT!
With these questions you need to think quite quickly, especially if you want to give a "Yes and No" style answer. You don't need to have wonderful ideas for your "Yes and No" answer, just something that gives you the chance to use the structure. Remember-the examiner is not marking your ideas.