IELTS Topic: Movies
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.
Vocabulary/ Expressions
Moviegoer: (noun)
a person who goes to the cinema
The moviegoers went to watch the latest film.
Unwind: (verb)
To begin to relax after you’ve been working hard or feeling stressed or anxious.
I need to sit down and unwind for half an hour.
Showcase: (verb)
To showcase something is to show the best qualities or parts of something.
The main aim of the exhibition is to showcase British design.
Protagonist: (noun)
The main character in a play, movie, book, or story.
The protagonist wasn’t a very nice person.
Cinematography: (noun)
The art or technique of filming a movie with cameras, including both the shooting and the processing of the video.
The cinematography is what makes this film as wonderful as it really is.
a box office hit: (noun)
a financially successful film
The Avengers movie was a big box office hit.
to catch the latest movie (verb)
to see a film that has just come out
My friends and I will be catching the latest movie next weekend at the cinema.
the central character: (noun)
the main person in a film or book
The central character in that movie became the hero who saved the day.
the setting: (noun)
where the action takes place
The setting of this film took place in the early 1800s.
showings: (noun)
performances of a film.
We will be going to a showing of the new film that has been released for the first time to the public.
soundtrack: (noun)
music that accompanies a film
The Titanic's my heart will go on is a song by Celine Dion.
special effects: (noun)
the visuals or sounds that are added to a film which are difficult to produce naturally
The special effects in the movie really made it look realistic.
a blockbuster: (noun)
a film that is a big commercial success
The movie Parasite was a real blockbuster film as it won many awards, and also made a lot of money for the producers.
a sequel: (noun)
a book, movie, etc., that continues a story begun in another book, movie, etc.
I would like to see the sequel to the movie Home alone 2
a trilogy: (adjective)
a series of three novels, movies, etc., that are closely related and involve the same characters or themes
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is now available on DVD.
PART 1 QUESTIONS
Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes)
Here are possible questions that might come up during the test. Go over them with your tutor.
In the first part, the examiner will ask you a number of general questions
Topic
Do you like watching films/ movies?
What kinds of movies do you like best?
Do you prefer local or foreign films?
How often do you watch films?
How often do you go to a cinema to watch a movie?
Do people in your country like to go to a cinema to watch a film?
What was the first film that you watched?
Do you like to watch movies alone or with your friends?
Would you like to be in a movie?
Do you have a favorite movie star?
Do you think being an actor is hard work?
If you could meet any celebrity, who would it be, and what would you ask them.
PART 2 QUESTIONS
Individual long turn (3-4 minutes)
Here are possible questions that might come up during the test. Go over them with your tutor.
You will have 1 minute to prepare to speak, and then you will talk for 2 minutes, during which the examiner will not speak.
Part 2 – sample task card
Sample A
Describe your favorite movie
You should say:
When and where you saw it
What type of film it was
What the film was about
And explain why it is your favorite film
Sample B
Describe the funniest or the scariest film/movie that you have watched.
You should say:
When you watched it
Where you watched it and if you watched with someone or alone
Whether you liked it or not
And explain why you would recommend it to a friend or not and why.
Sample C
Describe the worst film/movie that you have ever watched.
You should say:
What kind of film/movie it was
What the content of the film/movie was and what it was about
Where you saw it and who watched it with you
and explain why you think it was the most terrible film/movie that you have ever watched.
PART 3 QUESTIONS
Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes)
Here are possible questions that might come up during the test. Go over them with your tutor.
In the last part, you will talk with the examiner about issues related to the topic on the card
What kind of films are popular?
What kinds of films do young people like to watch?
Do you think the cinema has increased or decreased in popularity in recent years?
In your opinion, will this trend continue in the future?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of making films of real-life events?
How important do you think it is for a filmmaker to remain true to the original story?
Should films and television be censored or should we be free to choose what we see?
How do you think censorship laws will change in the next 20 years?
Why do you think people like watching films?
Do you think films have changed since you were a child? How?
As the technology for home viewing improves, do you think people will stop going to the cinema in the future?
