IELTS Speaking Test: 10 Vital Tips

Introduction

Welcome to this IELTS speaking lesson!

In this lesson, you’ll get ten essential tips to prepare for your IELTS speaking test.

What’s unique about these tips?

• They are based on feedback from real IELTS test-takers.
• We interviewed IELTS examiners to give you accurate, up-to-date advice.
• These are tips that are often misunderstood or hard to find online.

Are you ready to boost your speaking skills? Let’s get started! 🚀

Tip 1: Train for Speed

• In Part 1, the examiner aims to ask 12 questions in 4–5 minutes.
  • This means you have around 15–20 seconds per answer.
• To improve:
  • Practice answering questions with a timer set for 20 seconds.
  • Focus on giving clear, concise answers with 1–2 sentences.

Tip 2: Expect to Be Interrupted

• Examiners may interrupt you in Parts 1 and 3 for various reasons:
  • Your answer is too long or off-topic.
  • You give personal examples in Part 3 instead of general ones.
  • The examiner wants to move on to more challenging topics.
• Don’t be annoyed! Interruptions are normal and don’t necessarily mean you did something wrong.

Tip 3: The Greeting Section Does Not Count

• The introduction (e.g., “How are you?”) isn’t assessed or included in your score.
• Use this time to warm up and get comfortable, but don’t stress about it—it won’t affect your score!

Tip 4: The First 4 Questions in Part 1 Are Predictable

• The first topic will always be about:
  • Where you live or what you do (job or studies).
• Examples of questions:
  • "Tell me about where you live."
  • "Do you live in a house or an apartment?"
  • "What do you do—are you working or studying?"
• Tip: Listen carefully to the exact question. If confused, ask the examiner to repeat it.

Tip 5: Fast Start in Part 2

• You have 1 minute to prepare and 1–2 minutes to speak.
• Avoid pausing for too long (e.g., more than 5 seconds) before you start speaking.
  • Long pauses can reduce your fluency score to Band 4.
• Be ready to start as soon as the examiner finishes saying:
  • “Can you start speaking now, please?”

Tip 6: Make It Clear When You’ve Finished in Part 2

• Speak for at least 1 minute.
• If you finish before the examiner stops you, signal that you’ve completed your response.
  • Example: “That’s everything I have to say.”
• This avoids the examiner thinking you’ve run out of ideas.

Tip 7: Use 3rd Person Examples in Part 3

• In Part 3, avoid personal examples like:
  • “I usually give my family gifts at New Year’s.”
• Instead, make your answers general:
  • “Most people give gifts to their families at New Year’s.”
• Why? Examiners want you to discuss topics in a general way in Part 3.

Tip 8: Stay On Topic

• Always answer the question directly.
• If your response isn’t relevant:
  • The examiner may interrupt you and repeat the question.
  • Your fluency and vocabulary scores could drop to a Band 6 maximum.

Tip: Pay attention to every word in the question, including whether the words are singular or plural (e.g., “problem” vs. “problems”).

Tip 9: Don’t Memorize Answers

• Memorized language is easy for examiners to detect and could limit your scores:
  • Vocabulary and fluency scores may drop to Band 6.
• Instead, focus on practicing natural communication skills.

Tip 10: Speak in a Natural, Informal Way

• Avoid using overly formal linking words like “furthermore” or “nevertheless.”
• Use contractions (e.g., “won’t” instead of “will not”) to sound natural.
• Focus on intonation and try to copy the rhythm of native speakers.

Practice Exercises

1. Speed Training (Tip 1):
   • Set a timer for 20 seconds and practice answering these questions:
     • "Do you enjoy your job/studies?"
     • "What do you usually do on weekends?"
2. Part 2 Practice (Tip 5):
   • Use a cue card question like:
     • "Describe a person who inspires you."
   • Prepare for 1 minute and speak for at least 90 seconds.
3. Part 3 Generalization (Tip 7):
   • Practice changing personal examples into general ones:
     • Personal: “I like to exercise in the mornings.”
     • General: “Many people prefer exercising in the mornings.”

Conclusion

By following these 10 tips, you’ll be better prepared to face the IELTS speaking test confidently:

• Train for speed and clarity.
• Stay natural and on topic.
• Avoid memorized answers and focus on real communication.

Good luck with your IELTS preparation! 🎉 If you have questions or ideas, feel free to share them.