Speaking Tips For IELTS: How to Prepare For IELTS Speaking

IELTS is an essential exam for people seeking opportunities in English-speaking countries. It can be related to work, studies, or general immigration. The exam has four parts – reading, listening, speaking, and writing. It costs around Rs 14,700.

The IELTS speaking test might seem difficult but you can overcome it easily with a bit of practice. This can improve your speaking skills as well as the overall IELTS score.

Effective IELTS speaking tips to improve your test score:

What is the IELTS speaking test?

The IELTS speaking test is a face-to-face interaction required for both paper-based and computer-delivered exams. Your speaking skills are judged by a certified IELTS examiner and the process lasts for 11-14 minutes.

The test has three parts:

Part 1 (4–5 minutes)

This section covers the basic introduction and interview. Apart from confirming your identity, the examiner will give a brief introduction and will also ask you for the same. You will be asked some generic questions about your family, education, work, and interests.

Part 2 (3–4 minutes)

This is a speaking test where you will be provided with a card along with a topic. You will get one minute to prepare notes and important points related to the topic. You will get a pencil and paper to write down your notes. Once the preparation is completed, you will get another two minutes to speak on the topic.

Part 3 (4–5 minutes)

This is a conversation section where you need to interact with the examiner. You will be asked some questions related to the topic provided in Part 2 of the speaking test. You need to utilize this opportunity to offer more ideas about the topic.

Although spontaneous speaking is appreciated, examiners don’t expect you to speak like an orator. They don’t even expect very rational and organized answers. You will be judged based on your ability to,

1. Speak confidently without interruption

2. Use good vocabulary

3. Avoid grammatical mistakes

4. Pronounce words correctly

More Resources to Read About IELTS:

IELTS speaking tips and tricks for aspirants

You can improve your speaking score by following the below-mentioned simple IELTS speaking tips and tricks.

1. Talk to everyone in English

Before appearing for the exam, start speaking with everyone, including your friends, family members, and peers in English. Listen to yourself via recordings to understand how confident you were while speaking. This way, you will know if you need to improve on your pronunciation and communication.

2. Don’t memorize answers

If you memorize answers, the examiners may not be able to judge your English-language skills properly. Examiners can catch you easily if you utter memorized answers. This will impact your final band score.

3. Do not use big and uncommon words

Don’t try to impress the examiner with unfamiliar words. Avoid words that you don’t understand properly. You may end up pronouncing and using them incorrectly. Instead, use simple words that are relevant to the topic.

4. Use a range of grammatical structures

An IELTS examiner evaluates your speaking skills based on parameters like fluency, vocabulary, grammatical range, and pronunciation. Use a range of grammatical structures combining complex and simple sentences to express yourself. Speak in English with your friends and family members, and identify errors. If you come across an error, rectify it yourself.

5. Be emotional

Don’t speak like robots, speak with emotions like humans. The tone of the speech separates the expert from the novice. Express your feelings as if you are speaking in your native tongue.

6. Extend your answers

Answer the questions completely. If required, extend your answers, and don’t let the examiner cross-question you. Short answers imply that you are unable to discuss the topic in detail. If the examiner asks, “Why?”, it’s because he/she is looking for an elaborate answer. Moreover, if you answer with reasons, it implies that you have a good grip on grammar and vocabulary.

7. Don’t overthink

Humans commit mistakes, so don’t get scared if you give any wrong answers. The examiner will only see how eloquent you are in expressing your views in English. You will not be judged based on the answers you give, but on how well you can express your opinion.

Important Resources to Read About IELTS:

8. Practice common IELTS topics

In the second part of the speaking test, you’ll need to speak on a given topic for about 2 minutes. So, practice some common IELTS topics with your friends, family members, or colleagues to improve your speaking and vocabulary.

Common topics for the IELTS speaking test:

a. Tourism and travel

b. Education

c. Transport

d. Environment

e. Family life

f. Sport and recreation

g. The internet

h. Advertising

i. Retail

9. Don’t use fillers

Avoid using filler words like well, you know, ahh.., yeah, etc., while answering. These words imply that you can’t comprehend the language or the ideas. Instead, try to use phrases like “let me see”, “that’s an interesting question”, “that’s a difficult question, but I will try to answer it”, etc. to impress the examiner. 

10. Make a good first impression

A strong first impression will boost your confidence and go a long way.

IELTS is a highly competitive and demanding exam for those who want to pursue a rewarding career in English-speaking countries. The above IELTS speaking tips will help you pass the exam with flying colors.

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