IELTS SPEAKING PART 1: FILMS [ANSWERS]

PART 1

FILMS

ANSWERS

Do you like watching films?  

Yes, I do, in fact, I’m actually a movie buff. I find pleasure in watching different types of movies and to be honest I have numerous personal favorites of each type of film. I can’t imagine my life without watching films, it has been my favorite pastime.  

LEXICAL RESOURCE

Movie buff [noun] – a person who loves to watch movies and knows every detail of them

Find pleasure [phrase] – enjoy

Numerous [adj.] – many

Tip: The speaker answers straight to the point. His introductory answer is a short direct answer (yes I do), you don’t always need to paraphrase the question when answering. A short direct answer will surely do as long as you need to develop a good explanation.    

What’s your favorite movie?  

(Answer 1)  

Well, I can’t choose one, I’m torn between Million Dollar Baby and The Pursuit of Happyness. Both are inspirational films that left a good impression on me. The former is starred by Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood, and Hilary Swank which depicts determination to achieve one’s dream, betrayal, and hopelessness, while the latter talks about courage and success that’s perfectly portrayed by Will Smith.  

(Answer 2)

Honestly, I don’t have any favorite movies as I’m not into watching films. I know it sounds strange but I can’t bear sitting and watching a movie for hours because it makes me really sleepy. I’d rather read novels than spend time watching movies.  

LEXICAL RESOURCE

Torn between [phrase] – unable to decide which of two people or things you want the most

Leave an impression [idiom] – to create a strong impact on someone, whether it’s good or bad

(The) former [adj.] – first-mentioned

(The) latter [adj.] – second-mentioned

Depict [verb] – portray; represent

Bear [verb] – endure; stand; take  

Do you want to be a movie star?  

(Answer 1)  

Never in my wildest dream to be one. I’m not gifted with looks or good acting skills at all. Besides, the job of movie stars is incredibly demanding – so much pressure that usually leads to depression and other mental health issues. I’d never trade the peaceful and private life that I currently have for the fame, wealth, and life that’s open book.  

(Answer 2)  

Well, in the past, especially during my teenage years, I really dreamt of becoming a star because I just wanted to be famous. However, as I get older and become more mature, that dream of mine has faded away and I learned that that kind of job is really unstable.  

LEXICAL RESOURCE

Incredibly [adv.] – extremely

Open book [noun] – something that’s widely known or fully known

Fade away [phrasal verb] – to slowly disappear    

What kinds of movies do you think young people like?  

(Answer 1)  

I suppose Marvel movies are what most young people enjoy because these oftentimes create a buzz online every time there’s a new movie release. Just like last time, young people went crazy when Black Panther, The Avengers, and Captain Marvel, had their premieres and most cinemas were packed that made those movies blockbusters.  

(Answer 2)  

I can’t generalize every young person as everyone has their own preference. I think it varies a lot, I mean some enjoy watching romantic comedies, others love action films and some groups of young people fall in love with thrillers. As for me, those types of movies are not my cup of tea, I’m more into documentaries. So, in other words, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to that question.

LEXICAL RESOURCE

 Create a buzz [idiom] – to create an interest

Premiere [noun] – first public show or performance

Blockbuster [noun] – a film that is very successful

Cup of tea [idiom] – to like something very much

One-size-fits-all [adj.] – suitable or used in all circumstances    

Which do you prefer foreign films or local films?  

(Answer 1)   

Well, that’s the hardest question by far as it’s impossible to choose one. I love watching both international and local films, whether they’re major or low-budget films. Watching movies from abroad helps me widen my perspective on life since I’ll be able to see and understand other cultures. On the other hand, domestic films are a must to see in order for the local movie industry to prosper which will surely help boost the local economy.  

(Answer 2)  

As I said earlier, I’m not into watching movies, however, if I had to choose one, I’d go for local films because I’d love to give my support to the local artists. Most of the time the artistry or the talents of local filmmakers are overlooked by the general public. I think we have to give importance to their films as those represent our own community, cultures, traditions, arts, and lifestyles.   

LEXICAL RESOURCE

By far [phrase] – so far; use this expression when you are comparing something to others in order to emphasize how great the difference between them

Low-budget film [noun] – films that are not financed or produced by giant movie industries

Boost [verb] – improve

Go for [phrasal verb] – choose

Artistry [noun] – creative skill or ability  

Tip 1: You don’t need to always choose one from the other, you can be honest with your answer and see what you really feel like the speaker did. Instead of choosing one, he mentioned that he liked both, and he gave his reasons equally for both foreign and local films.  

Tip 2: As you can see, there’s a lot of paraphrasing here: film – movie; foreign – international/movies from abroad; local – domestic. It’s really good as it shows the vocabulary knowledge of the speaker. Well done!

How often do you go to the cinema to watch a movie?  

(Answer 1)   

Well, because of the existence of the internet, I rarely spend time watching movies in theaters. I love to watch movies in the comfort of my home. Aside from the fact that it’s convenient, I almost don’t need to spend money. Going to the cinema is really costly, not only do you spend money on tickets but you also have to spend on your snacks, fare, or fuel for your car if you decide to go by car. 

Tip 1: When asked about ‘how often’, you have to answer with the keywords ‘sometimes’, ‘rarely’, ‘always’, etc. These ‘frequency’ words are needed to be able to answer the question.  

Tip 2: The way the speaker answers the question is creative, instead of saying instantly “I rarely go to the cinema…”, he develops his answer by giving the effect of internet use in terms of movies. Great one!    

(Answer 2)

I rarely go to the cinema to watch a movie because it’s costly and inconvenient. Because of streaming sites like Netflix and Disney, I’ve been watching movies in the comfort of my home. I like it because it’s not expensive and I can watch as many movies as I want.

Do you like to watch movies alone or with your friends?

(Answer 1)

Of course, with my friends! I enjoy watching movies with my friends simply because we can share our opinions after watching the film and talk about the scenes that we fall in love with. I think watching movies with friends or even with family members is undeniably fun, in my opinion. 

(Answer 2)

I can do both, I mean, I like watching movies on my own whenever I want to relax or when I want to date myself. You know there are times that we want to be alone and for me, that’s a great chance to watch a movie by myself. However, when my friends invite me for a movie night, I rarely decline their invite.

What types of movies do you like best?    

I do enjoy marathon-viewing all kinds of films, however, at the top of my list is comedy. Well, it’s obvious, I want to laugh! There’s no one in this world who doesn’t want to laugh. Every one of us wants to laugh our heads off as it is the best medicine in life. I always make sure that I can spend time watching comedy films.  

LEXICAL RESOURCE

Marathon- viewing [expression] – to engage in watching TV programs or films for so many hours

The top of my list [idiom] – the first or the most important thing among others

Laugh your heads off [phrase] – to emphasize that someone is laughing a lot  

Tip: The speaker simply focused on comedy, although the question is asking ‘what types’. Take note, before he answers comedy, he already confirms at the beginning of his answer that he enjoys ‘all kinds of films’. So he is still answering the question well!      

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Meaning of Words and Phrases Sources: Collins, Macmillan, Cambridge, Oxford

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