IELTS examiner conducting speaking test with candidate
If you’re preparing for the IELTS Speaking test, you may encounter questions about cooking and food experiences. This topic has appeared frequently in recent tests and allows candidates to demonstrate their vocabulary range and speaking abilities effectively. Let’s explore how to master this topic similar to describe a foreign dish you want to try.
Part 1: Introduction and Interview Questions
Common questions you might encounter:
- Do you enjoy cooking?
- How often do you try new recipes?
- Where do you usually find new recipes?
- Do you prefer cooking at home or eating out?
Sample Answer (Band 8-9):
“I absolutely love experimenting with cooking. I frequently browse cooking websites and food blogs to discover new recipes, particularly during weekends when I have more free time. I tend to cook at home more often than eating out because it gives me complete control over the ingredients and preparation methods.”
Part 2: Cue Card
Describe a new recipe you tried recently
You should say:
- What the recipe was
- Where you found it
- How you prepared it
- And explain whether you were satisfied with the result
Person preparing ingredients for new recipe in modern kitchen
Sample Answer (Band 6-7):
“I recently tried making homemade pasta for the first time. I found the recipe on a cooking website. I used flour, eggs, and salt to make the dough. I kneaded it for about 10 minutes and let it rest. Then I rolled it out and cut it into strips. The pasta turned out quite good, and I was happy with the result.”
Sample Answer (Band 8-9):
“I recently ventured into making authentic Italian pasta from scratch, a recipe I stumbled upon while watching a renowned chef’s tutorial online. The process was quite intricate and required meticulous attention to detail. I carefully measured the perfect ratio of ’00’ flour to fresh eggs, incorporating them gradually to achieve the ideal consistency. After thoroughly kneading the dough for precisely ten minutes, I allowed it to rest under wraps for thirty minutes, which helped develop the gluten structure. The most challenging aspect was rolling the dough to the perfect thickness, but the end result was absolutely worth the effort – the pasta had this wonderful al dente texture that you simply can’t achieve with store-bought varieties.”
As shared in describe a traditional dish in your culture that you want to learn to cook, mastering traditional recipes requires patience and practice.
Part 3: Discussion Questions
Q1: Why do people enjoy trying new recipes?
Sample Answer (Band 8-9):
“People are increasingly drawn to experimenting with new recipes for various reasons. Primarily, it offers an opportunity for cultural exploration and learning about different cuisines. Additionally, cooking new dishes can be thoroughly therapeutic and provides a sense of accomplishment. In today’s social media-driven world, many people also derive satisfaction from sharing their culinary achievements online.”
Q2: How has modern technology changed the way people cook?
Sample Answer (Band 8-9):
“Technology has revolutionized cooking in numerous ways. Smart kitchen appliances have made complex cooking techniques more accessible to amateur cooks. Social media and cooking apps have transformed recipe sharing, making it instantaneous and interactive. However, this technological influence has also led to a peculiar phenomenon where people sometimes focus more on photographing their food than perfecting the cooking process.”
Similar to describe a person who enjoys trying new things, embracing new cooking experiences can be both challenging and rewarding.
Key Vocabulary and Expressions
- Culinary adventure: exploration of new cooking experiences
- Meticulously prepare: to prepare something with great attention to detail
- Venture into: to begin to do something new or different
- From scratch: making something from basic ingredients
- Intricate process: complicated procedure
- Al dente: (of pasta) cooked so as to be still firm when bitten
Just as in describe a dish you tried recently and enjoyed, using specific culinary terms can enhance your response significantly.
