IELTS Speaking Vocabulary: Achievements/Goals
Talking about an achievement is a topic that has appeared several times in recent years. There are also topics which match very closely – for example talking about a goal.
Read the following speaking-style questions, paying close attention to words you don’t know and the words in bold. There are definitions for the words in bold at the end of the page.
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Part 1-style questions
Examiner: What is your biggest goal in life?
Candidate: My most immediate goal is to earn enough money to pay for my daily expenses. My long-term goal is to buy a large house on the coast.
Examiner: How do you plan to achieve that goal?
Candidate: I plan to get a promotion and knuckle down to some hard work. I think my goal is attainable – but I need to get serious about putting money aside.
Examiner: Do you think your goals will change as you get older?
Candidate: I don’t think anything has to be set in stone. If I look at my parents as role models, I may find that I want to live within my means and have a simpler lifestyle.
Part 2
Talk about an achievement you are proud of.
You should say:
– what the achievement was
– why you are proud of it
– how other people reacted
and explain why it was so important to you.
Candidate:
Last year, I got a job in the building industry, which is traditionally male-dominated. It was tough to find acceptance at first. But I am lucky because my boss is very egalitarian and believes everyone should be given an equal chance.
At the beginning, many of my work colleagues were doubtful I could succeed. I just set myself realistic goals that I could work towards. My crowning moment came when I caught a mistake one of my more experienced colleagues had made. It saved the company a lot of money.
Since then, everyone has been very welcoming, and I have taken everything in my stride. It’s important to me to feel I am making a positive contribution to the world around me.
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: Do you think it’s important for people to have dreams or goals? [Evaluate]
Candidate: Yes – it’s really important to have explicit goals. They shouldn’t be too modest, but they must be achievable; otherwise, people might give up.
Examiner: Do you think men and women generally have the same goals? [Compare]
Candidate: I think their goals are ultimately very similar – but everyone wants different things. I think a woman’s goals are sometimes more elusive, and they have to strive harder.
Examiner: In your country, what goals do young people generally have? [identify]
Candidate: I think young people are more idealistic and they dream of having a high-paying job and a perfect home. Their primary goal is to earn a good income.
Definitions for IELTS Achievement Vocabulary
Part 1
immediate goal — a goal that you need to achieve very soon
long-term — continuing to be relevant a long time in the future
knuckle down — to start working hard, especially when you have been delaying
attainable — possible to achieve
putting money aside — saving money for the future
set in stone — something that cannot be changed
live within my means — to spend less than you are earning
Part 2
male-dominated — controlled mainly by men, or primarily consisting of men
egalitarian — believing that all people are equal
realistic — something which is achievable
crowning moment — the last and most significant in a series of achievements
taken everything in (your) stride — to calmly deal with something and not let it affect you
Part 3
explicit — very clear and well defined
achievable — something that is possible
elusive — difficult to find or achieve
strive — make great efforts to achieve or attain something
idealistic — believing very firmly in something good but probably impossible to achieve
the primary goal — the end goal that you really want
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