6 Tips on IELTS Speaking

We are going to give you 5 tips on IELTS Speaking that you should keep in mind. But, let’s take a quick look at the IELTS speaking test first.

The general format of the IELTS speaking test

This section lasts from 11 to 14 minutes.

The speaking test is the same in both the IELTS test formats (general and academic), and it has four parts.

Part Zero: Includes identity check and greeting

The reason why we called this part zero is that it is not evaluated and marked. You take that as a tension-relieving part, overcoming your stress. This section is about 2 to 3 minutes long, and the examiner introduces himself, asks you to introduce yourself and checks your ID card.

Part One: Includes Introduction and Interview:

The IELTS examiner then asks you general questions on general topics such as family, work, education, and your interests. This part of IELTS speaking will last about 4 to 5 minutes. Your answer to each question will be up to 40 seconds long, and this part will lasts 4 to 5 minutes.

Part Two: Includes a long one-sided conversation

This part of speaking is about 3 to 4 minutes. The examiner gives you a card with a certain topic on to read and then speak about. It includes the points that you have to cover in your speech. You are also provided with a pencil and sheet of paper and have a one-minute chance to note your ideas down. Afterwards, you are expected to talk about the topic from one to two minutes with the fewest pauses and least fumbling. Whenever the examiner realizes your speaking would be enough, he/she interrupts you and asks you one or two more questions related to the same topic on the card. You have to formulate your answer in the specified time.

Part 3: Includes a two-way conversation

Part 3, the discussion part, is about 4 to 5 minutes long, and the assessor will ask you questions that are required to be discussed and explained. These questions will give you the opportunity to talk about more controversial issues and ideas and get a better score.

6 tips on IELTS speaking:

Imagine that you are talking to a friend. This helps you stay calm and not get stressed out. Remember that your comments and ideas will not be evaluated, but what will be evaluated by the examiner is how you express yourself in English such as task relation, fluency, coherence and word bank and grammar.
Try to structure your ideas before starting offering your answer. It must not take long, so you need to practice structuring your ideas as quicker as possible.
Try to avoid repeating the words which the assessor uses in their IELTS speaking questions. Use your own words. This will show your full ability and knowledge in English which means how able you are to take advantage of thesaurus you have in mind to get a better score.
Speak clearly and fluently in a normal pace not too fast, and avoid rushing. If you speak too fast, you may make a mistake or mispronounce words. Some think if they speak fast with an accent, they can get a higher mark. In this regard, here is a useful article answering this misconception.
Answer the question in as much detail as you can. Do not give the examiner one-word or brief answers like saying yes or no. If you do so, you will be in danger of losing mark because you have not presented enough to prove your competence of a higher mark.
Try to expand your answer to each question. Use your own experiences or examples to answer the question. The examiner wants to know if you can talk about a range of topics for a longer period of time and have the ability to use a wide range of grammar with the fewest mistakes.