You may be well-prepared for reading, writing and listening testing sections of IELTS, but your blood may run cold when it comes to taking the IELTS Speaking Test.
Be it paper or computer-delivered IELTS, the face-to-face speaking test consists of three parts. Let’s have a look for more details of these parts and some IELTS speaking test tips, that will help you score your desired score in the IELTS exam.
Round 1: this evaluates the candidate’s speaking ability (fluency, pronunciation) and skills (grammar). It is filled with general questions including your work, hobbies, family, etc., which describes you with a time span of 4-5 mins.
Round 2: This is an extempore monologue round. You will be given a minute to take notes on a topic that’s given to you and a pencil and paper to prepare your answer, and you will present your speech on the subject for the next two minutes.
Round 3: Conversation with the examiner on a topic, this could be the same topic in round 2, or from a cue card that aims for a detailed conversation and goes on for about 4-5 minutes.
Knowing the exact rounds, now read on to find the 10 IELTS Speaking Test tips of our experts that will help you build your self-confidence and get the band score you need.
Should I memorize my answers?
Tip 1: Our experts advise not to memorize answers, especially for the first round. Remember your examiner is an experienced person and has tested many people like you. The examiner can easily identify when you present your memorized answer in the commonly used structure, and this could affect your final score.
Should I play with my vocabulary when answering?
Tip 2: Our experts advise you to think consciously before using complex, unusual or unfamiliar words. While playing with such words to impress your examiner, there is a high chance of making mistakes in either pronunciation or its use in the right context. This reflects in your band score. A better way could be to learn a range of words that are used for common topics.
Should I work on grammar structures?
Tip 3: Certainly Yes. Using correct complex and simple sentences with the right verbal tense to express what you want to say marks your speaking ability and helps you cross the barrier of language. The correct parts of the speech make you speak error-free in English. Obviously, practicing it every day will help you to improve.
Should I be worried about my accent?
Here’s the Tip 4: You may have a different accent, but you don’t have to worry, as the IELTS examiner understands what you say unless you speak incorrectly. But be aware of sounds with which you have difficulties, and make sure you use stress and intonation, as English is a stress-timed language.
Should I take time to think, and answer?
Tip 5: Well, a though-out answer flows easily and is 99 per cent more clearly understood. We all need time to process a question and trigger a response to it. Mind and the beauty of English skill helps you to handle this situation tactfully. Using phrases like – That’s an interesting question; Well, some people say that is the case, however I think….etc, could help you fetch your time.
What impact do fillers have?
Tip 6: Speak confidently and avoid using filler words like Umm.., Well.., Ehhh, You know..,etc. We generally use fillers when we are not sure what to say, but this clearly indicates the examiner that you aren’t able to access the appropriate words, language or ideas and impacts the scores. Therefore, our experts advise you to avoid the use of fillers.
Is it a good idea to extend the answer?
Tip 7 : A half cooked food doesn’t fill your stomach. This saying goes hand in hand with your answering skills. Too short answers will not satisfy your examiner, and he could throw more questions. What he expects from you is how you can explain your topic in detail, and that helps you to achieve the motto of the test.
How important are facial expressions when taking IELTS speaking tests?
Tip 8: Imagine an actor acting without facial expressions? It’s like removing emotions and the feeling of your words. Be it a virtual or a face-to-face conversation, using basic facial expression affects your sound variation. For example, smiling – This helps you to calm your anxiety, enunciate clearly and have a friendly gesture in your talk. This adds to using pronunciation features for making your speech effective.
Is it important to emphasize words?
Tip 9: When you stress on a particular word, you tend to emphasize on that point and its retains in the examiner’s mind and affects your result. A flat or monotonous sound with no variations is like a watching a horror movie by muting it. Balancing the art of stressing and intonation gives you better results.
What to do if I make a mistake while speaking?
Tip 10: “To err is human” but don’t panic. Be vigilant and cover the patch smoothly without hesitating and smartly with coherent speech (use linking words or phrases). Rather, this is the real test. With your strategic approach, you can win your examiner in this situation.
Keeping in mind these 10 expert IELTS speaking test tips and practicing them over time creates fluency in your speech and helps gain the maximum points. Get in touch with our PTE experts to be well versed in the IELTS English test and to clear this test wisely.