Directions
In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over a type-6 question from TOEIC speaking test. Your tutor will read the question to you, and you have 60 seconds to answer on your own.
Test Question
Directions: In this part of the test, you will give your opinion about a specific topic. Be sure to say as much as you can in the time allowed. You will have 15 seconds to prepare. Then you will have 60 seconds to speak.
Question 11
Do you check the movie reviews before you decide what movie to watch?
If yes, why? If not why not?
Brainstorm
How did you do? Use the following pointers as a guideline to refine your answer.
- Brainstorm before you choose your position
- Check review:
- You can get more insightful information about the movie
- I can appreciate the movie more when I understand the overall story
- Not check review:
- People have different opinions, and I may like movies with low ratings
- Check review:
- Choose your position: Check review
- Come up with three reasons to back up your argument
- Movie reviews give insightful information about the movie
- Reading movie reviews does not mean I have to agree with movie critics’ opinion
- I can appreciate the movie more when I understand the overall storyline
- Give concrete example to one of the reasons
- For instance, I watched Interstellar after having read the reviews, and it was much easier for me to follow the plot. Also I watched the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey because it came up many times in the movie reviews. So when I actually watched Interstellar in theater, I could appreciate the movie much more than my friends who didn’t know about 2001.
- Conclude with your argument
- I check movie reviews not to watch the most popular movie but to get more insightful information about the movie that I am about to watch in the theater.
Sample Answer
Reading great sample answers is one way to improve. Go over the sample answer with your tutor. Ask questions if you have any.
Sample Answer
I like to check movie reviews before going out to see a movie. There are three main reasons why I prefer to read movie reviews before. First of all, movie reviews give insightful information about the movie, and I like to read what the critics have to say about the movie more than just the ratings. Besides, reading movie reviews does not mean I have to agree with movie critics’ opinion. I think I can appreciate the movie more when I understand the overall storyline, background, etc. For instance, I watched Interstellar after having read the reviews, and it was much easier for me to follow the plot. Also, I watched the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey because it came up many times in the movie reviews. So when I actually watched Interstellar in the theater, I could appreciate the movie much more than my friends who didn’t know about 2001. In conclusion, I check movie reviews not to watch the most popular movie but to get more insightful information about the movie that I am about to watch in the theater.
Further Study
Got more time? Here is a list of common vocab words related to the text you studied today. Go over each one with your tutor.
Additional Expressions
| movie critic | (n) professional writer of opinions on movies e.g. He is an influential movie critic. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| synopsis | (n) a short description of the most important information about something e.g. She gave us a brief synopsis of the story. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| plot | (n) a series of events that form the story in a novel, movie, etc. e.g. The movie has a strong plot. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| rating | (n) a measurement of how good, difficult, efficient, etc., something or someone is e.g. The school has an above-average academic rating. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| appreciate | (v) to understand the worth or importance of (something or someone) e.g. The company strives to appreciate its employees. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| blockbuster | (n) big budget film production e.g. The actor starred in a blockbuster last year. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| trailer | (n) a selected group of scenes that are shown to advertise a movie e.g. He watched a theatrical trailer. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| follow | (v) to understand the sense or logic of (something or someone) e.g. I found it hard to follow the twists and turns of the movie’s complicated plot. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| box office | (n) used to describe how many tickets have been sold for a movie, play, etc e.g. The movie did very well at the box office. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| sequel | (n) a follow-up series e.g. The new film is a sequel to the very successful comedy that came out five years ago. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cambly Content 