The conversation in the Individual Oral: In the Individual Oral (the IA) you first present your photo for about two minutes. Then comes the conversation: the examiner asks you follow-up questions, first about the photo and then more generally about its theme.
This part is the interactive half of the oral. The examiner wants to see that you can understand the question, answer it clearly, develop your answer, and keep the conversation going — not just recite a prepared speech.
- the conversation
- the question-and-answer part of the oral that follows your photo presentation
- to develop an answer
- to extend a reply with a reason, an example or your own experience, instead of stopping at one short phrase
- a discourse marker
- a small word or phrase like 'well', 'actually' or 'to be honest' that gives flow and buys a moment to think
- to justify
- to give the reason why you think something ('I think… because…')
- to ask for clarification
- to politely ask the examiner to repeat or explain ('Sorry, could you repeat that, please?')
- to keep the conversation going
- to answer in a way that invites more talk, rather than closing the topic with one word
- register
- how formal or informal your language is; the oral is fairly informal but polite
- to elaborate
- to say more about a point, adding detail
What the examiner is listening for: The conversation builds mainly Criterion C (Interactive skills) — can you understand and respond, develop answers, and sustain the exchange? Developed, justified answers also lift Criterion B (Message) and give you room to show off Criterion A (Language).
Never stop at one word: A one-word answer like "Yes" gives the examiner almost nothing to assess and stalls the conversation. The fix is a simple, repeatable recipe: answer + reason + example + your experience.
Learn it as a habit so that under pressure you automatically keep talking.
The develop-a-reply recipe
1
Answer
Give a clear, direct answer first. "Yes, I really enjoy it."
2
Reason (because…)
Say why. "…because it helps me relax after school."
3
Example (for example…)
Make it concrete. "For example, I play football twice a week."
4
Your experience (in my case…)
Personalise it. "In my case, it's also how I made most of my friends."
Answer → Because → For example → In my case
Phrases to develop and justify
- I think / I believe / In my opinion… — to state your view
- …because… / the reason is… — to give a reason
- For example… / For instance… — to add an example
- In my case… / Personally… / From my experience… — to bring in your own life
- On the one hand… on the other hand… — to weigh up two sides
Discourse markers buy you time: If a question surprises you, open with a marker — "Well…", "That's a good question…", "To be honest…". It sounds natural and gives you a second to plan, which is far better than a long, awkward silence.
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Read a strong conversation: Here is a transcript of part of a conversation with an examiner. Read how the student handles each question — notice the discourse markers, the reasons and examples, and the polite request for clarification. We'll then work through one comprehension question together.
Transcript — a conversation about your town: Examiner: You've just talked about your photo. Now let's chat more generally. Do you enjoy living in your town?
Student: Well… yes, I do, mostly. The thing I like most is that everything is close together, so I can walk almost everywhere and I don't depend on a car. For example, my school, the library and the park are all within ten minutes of my house.
Examiner: And is there anything you would change?
Student: Sorry, could you repeat the question, please? … Ah, what would I change. Honestly, I'd improve the bus service, because in the evenings the buses hardly run and a lot of young people feel a bit stuck. In my case, I have to ask my parents for lifts, which I don't really like.
Examiner: Do you think you'll stay there in the future?
Student: That's a good question. I'm not completely sure. I'd love to study in a bigger city for a few years, but I think I'd come back eventually, because my family and my closest friends are here.
- "Well… yes, I do, mostly."
- opens with a marker, then answers clearly
- "…because in the evenings the buses hardly run"
- gives a reason
- "In my case, I have to ask my parents for lifts"
- brings in personal experience
- "Sorry, could you repeat the question, please?"
- asks for clarification politely, instead of going silent
- "That's a good question. I'm not completely sure."
- buys thinking time, then gives an honest, developed answer
IB-style task — one comprehension question
One question, step by step
- The question — "According to the transcript, what would the student change about the town, and why?"
- Find it in the text. Look for the part after "anything you would change": "I'd improve the bus service, because in the evenings the buses hardly run and a lot of young people feel a bit stuck."
- The answer — They would improve the bus service, because in the evenings the buses hardly run (so young people feel stuck). The reason is right there in the text.
Notice the technique: Every answer in the transcript follows answer + reason + example/experience, and the student asks for a repeat instead of freezing. Copy these moves into your own conversation.
The task: The examiner moves from your photo to the theme behind it and asks: "Do you think technology brings people closer together?"
Your job is to answer, develop and sustain the conversation. Plan a reply that opens naturally, gives a reason and an example, and keeps the door open for more.
Conversation reply — 5 steps
1
Listen, don't panic
Take in the question fully. If unsure, ask for a repeat.
2
Open + answer
Use a marker, then answer clearly. "Well… I think it does, in some ways."
3
Reason
Say why. "…because it keeps me in touch with distant friends."
4
Example + experience
Make it real. "For example, I video-call my cousins. In my case, I still switch off at meals."
5
Stay open
Invite more talk. "It really depends how you use it."
Listen → Open + answer → Reason → Example + experience → Stay open
Model: the 5 steps in action
The reply, step by step
- Listen and don't panic. Examiner: "Do you think technology brings people closer together?" Take a breath; you can buy a moment with a marker.
- Open with a discourse marker, then answer clearly. "Well… that's an interesting question. I think technology brings us closer in some ways but pushes us apart in others."
- Give a reason. "…because it lets me stay in touch with friends who live far away, even if I can't see them in person."
- Add an example and your own experience. "For example, I video-call my cousins abroad every week. In my case, though, I try to put my phone away at meals so I actually talk to my family."
- Hand the turn back / stay open. "So I'd say it depends on how you use it. What do you think?" — this keeps the conversation alive instead of ending it dead.
Why it scores: This reply hits all three oral criteria — here's what earns each one:
A — Language /12
- Range: present tense + conditional 'I'd say'
- Connectors: 'because', 'but', 'so'
- Topic vocabulary used accurately
B — Message /12
- A clear, developed view with a reason and an example
- Both sides acknowledged ('closer… but apart')
C — Interaction /6
- Understands and answers the question
- Discourse markers; asks for repeats when needed
- Hands the turn back to keep the talk going
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Sound like a real conversation: Criterion C rewards genuine interaction: reacting to what the examiner says, taking your turn smoothly, and handling trouble without breaking down. A few simple habits make a big difference.
Habits that lose marks
- One-word answers ('Yes', 'No', 'I don't know').
- Long, awkward silences when surprised.
- Reciting a memorised speech that ignores the question.
- Switching to your first language when stuck.
Habits that win marks
- Answer + reason + example + your experience.
- Open with a marker ('Well…') to buy a moment.
- Listen and respond to the actual question asked.
- Ask politely for a repeat: 'Could you repeat that, please?'
| Situation | What to say |
|---|---|
| You need a second to think | "Well… that's a good question." / "Let me think for a moment." |
| You didn't understand | "Sorry, could you repeat the question, please?" |
| You want to add a reason | "…because…" / "The main reason is…" |
| You want to give your own view | "In my opinion…" / "Personally, I'd say…" |
| You want to keep it going | "It really depends…" / "What do you think?" |
Don't memorise whole answers: The conversation is unscripted by design. Memorised paragraphs sound robotic and often miss the actual question, which hurts Criterion C. Prepare moves and phrases, not fixed speeches.