IELTS Speaking Exam Tips
1. Practice speaking English before your test. Practice expressing your opinions on different topics and talking about your past experiences.
2. This is an informal interview/chat with an examiner. So be friendly and open. Explain what you mean.
3. Be chatty. The more willing you are to use English, the better.
4. Listen to the question and answer it directly. Be direct. This applies for part 1 and part 3. For part 2, you will have a chance to prepare your answer.
5. Add more information (details, examples, description) to all answers. Keep talking until the examiner stops you.
6. Don’t ever be silent. There is never a reason for your English to completely stop working.
7. Don’t focus only on vocabulary. Vocabulary is only 25% of your marks. However, do make sure you use relevant topic-based vocabulary. For example, if your top is Happiness” then you will use words such as “smile, laugh, giggle, contentment, joyful, fulfilment” as well as antonyms (opposites) such as “sad, depressed, feeling low or feeling down”.
8. Idioms are not the key to a high score. Most candidates overuse idioms that are too common or outdated. The examiner will note if you use idiomatic language but that doesn’t necessarily mean idioms. Instead use phrasal verbs – calm down, bring up, work out, get over etc. Phrasal verbs are the best types of idiomatic language to use in IELTS.
9. The questions are not aimed to test your knowledge. Each question is just a chance to show your English.
10. You can wear anything you want. This is not a job interview. Clothing does not affect your score. Aim to be comfortable.
11. Use a range of grammar tenses in your test.
12. American or British English pronunciation can be used. A mixed accent is also fine. The key is to make sure your words are easy to understand.
13. Ask the examiner to repeat the question if you need it.
14. If the examiner interrupts you, don’t worry about it. It’s a normal part of the speaking test. Just focus on the next question.
15. The examiner will provide a pen and paper to prepare your talk for part 2. The examiner will not look at your plans and will only mark your talk. It is fine to look at your notes and at the cue card during your talk, but also try to make eye contact.
16. May people are worried they won’t understand the cue card. Don’t be. The cue card is always written in simple English and topics are common topics.
2. This is an informal interview/chat with an examiner. So be friendly and open. Explain what you mean.
3. Be chatty. The more willing you are to use English, the better.
4. Listen to the question and answer it directly. Be direct. This applies for part 1 and part 3. For part 2, you will have a chance to prepare your answer.
5. Add more information (details, examples, description) to all answers. Keep talking until the examiner stops you.
6. Don’t ever be silent. There is never a reason for your English to completely stop working.
7. Don’t focus only on vocabulary. Vocabulary is only 25% of your marks. However, do make sure you use relevant topic-based vocabulary. For example, if your top is Happiness” then you will use words such as “smile, laugh, giggle, contentment, joyful, fulfilment” as well as antonyms (opposites) such as “sad, depressed, feeling low or feeling down”.
8. Idioms are not the key to a high score. Most candidates overuse idioms that are too common or outdated. The examiner will note if you use idiomatic language but that doesn’t necessarily mean idioms. Instead use phrasal verbs – calm down, bring up, work out, get over etc. Phrasal verbs are the best types of idiomatic language to use in IELTS.
9. The questions are not aimed to test your knowledge. Each question is just a chance to show your English.
10. You can wear anything you want. This is not a job interview. Clothing does not affect your score. Aim to be comfortable.
11. Use a range of grammar tenses in your test.
12. American or British English pronunciation can be used. A mixed accent is also fine. The key is to make sure your words are easy to understand.
13. Ask the examiner to repeat the question if you need it.
14. If the examiner interrupts you, don’t worry about it. It’s a normal part of the speaking test. Just focus on the next question.
15. The examiner will provide a pen and paper to prepare your talk for part 2. The examiner will not look at your plans and will only mark your talk. It is fine to look at your notes and at the cue card during your talk, but also try to make eye contact.
16. May people are worried they won’t understand the cue card. Don’t be. The cue card is always written in simple English and topics are common topics.
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