IELTS Speaking Guide – Tips, Tools and FAQ Materials

What is IELTS?

IELTS is an International English Language Testing System which assesses your English proficiency with four different modules: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. This test is taken by the candidates who aspire to go abroad to settle or for study purpose and this test is widely accepted across the globe.

Based on the type of Visa applied, the test is divided into two categories: General Training (for immigration) and Academic (for study purpose). The validity period of the IELTS Certificate is two years. This test is paper-based as well as computer-based. The score of IELTS ranges from Band 1 (lowest) to band 9 (highest), and the bar is set as per the profile of the candidate.

IELTS Speaking Guide:

IELTS Speaking is one of the most challenging modules for candidates from a Non-English speaking country. IELTS Speaking test consumes 11-14 minutes depending on the interviewer who is a trained certified examiner. This test comprises of three sections:

• General question:

This is also called an introduction round where the examiner asks you the questions related to you, your likes and dislikes followed by ‘whys’. The examiner starts the test by his/her brief introduction which is followed by the candidate’s introduction and verification. All the questions asked in this section are familiar.

• Cue-card:

A topic is given with the prompts or key points and candidate is expected to speak about it for two-minutes after a minute given for preparation. This is the turning point of Speaking Test where the examiner gets the chance to ascertain your level of English. This is a one-way conversation.

• Discussion or counter questions:

In this section, the examiner asks the question pertaining to the cue-card. This part of the speaking test gives a fair chance to the candidate to expand their answers and speak at length with supporting examples and reasons.

Remember: As the test proceeds, the difficulty level increases.

What is Examiner Looking for?

Examiner measures the English proficiency of the candidate based on four rubric categories:

• Fluency and Coherence:

Fluency and coherence are two different things, yet related. It measures how well you are able to convey your answers with logic and flow. It is important to adhere to the topic asked. The best way to stick to the topic is using the range of transition words or signposting words or discourse markers.

These words give a direction to your thoughts without hampering your fluency. Fluency doesn’t mean talking too fast but talking effortlessly. The topic must be developed coherently and appropriately.

• Lexical Resource:

The capability of the candidate to use the vocabulary with flexibility, without repetition of words. In order to get a higher band score, the candidate must use the idiomatic expressions skilfully and with negligible inaccuracy.

Vocabulary doesn’t here mean the usage of new words, but it also includes the collocations meaning juxtaposition of a particular word with another word. Your range of words must convey the topic precisely, and paraphrasing must be done successfully.

• Grammatical Range and Accuracy:

Grammatical Range and accuracy account for 25% of Weight-age in the IELTS Speaking test. Band score increases depending on the range of complex and compound sentence structures used with flexibility and with least errors. Punctuations and sentence construction must be accurate.

• Pronunciation:

Pronunciation plays a vital role in any language. In IELTS too, the examiner measures your skills of using pronunciation features accurately which are individual sounds of words, stress, and intonation. The speech must be effortless to understand. Mispronunciation of individual words may lead to confusion and reduces clarity.

Practice IELTS Speaking:

IELTS Speaking Lessons and Tips:

Master four skills in IELTS Speaking and you are likely to achieve band 9!

• Smile and be Confident: Since you are going to face the examiner for an interview, you must be confident in your skin. If you smile, you create an illusion that you are confident. That creates a great First Impression.
• Maintain an Eye-contact: You must stay focused and pay attention to the examiner’s question which would help you to build a positive rapport with the examiner and will release your nervousness.
• Show Willingness to Speak: Try to speak all the answers at length as the examiner controls the length of your answer. Keep speaking till the examiner stops you.
• Get into the Habit of Answering Why: Most of the questions will be followed by ‘Why?’, so you must develop the habit of critical thinking. That would help you to develop the content.
• Avoid Repetition: In order to achieve a better band score than 6, you must develop the skill of paraphrasing. This will help you prevent the repetition of the words and sentence structures.

IELTS Speaking Topics:

1. Work
2. Study
3. Home/Hometown
4. Art
5. Birthdays
6. Dreams
7. Money
8. Technology/Computers/Internet/Mobile phones/ Media
9. Television
10. Age
11. Daily routine
12. Friends
13. Family
14. Travel/Tourism
15. Sport
16. Food
17. Restaurants
18. Lifestyle/Health/ Healthy Lifestyle
19. Colour
20. Sky
21. Weather
22. Books/Library/Reading
23. Movies
24. Environmental problems
25. Humour
26. Museums
27. Flowers
28. Sea/rivers/lakes
29. Water sport
30. Transport
31. Fashion/clothes/bags/watch
32. Pets
33. Seasons
34. Trees
35. Wedding
36. Smoking
37. Shopping
38. Festival
39. Your country
40. Games
41. Neighbours/Neighbourhood
42. Leisure time
43. Communication
44. Transportation
45. Happiness
46. Hobbies
47. Newspapers
48. Cooking
49. Childhood
50. Value

Vocabulary tips:

As mentioned earlier, in order to Improve the Vocabulary, you must use the exact word that fits perfectly with the other words in the sentence. Here are ways to improve the vocabulary apart from watching English movies/ BBC documentaries/ listening podcasts.

Adding information:

• Moreover,
• Furthermore
• In addition

Stating Multiple Reasons/Examples:

• For instance
• Such as
• Firstly
• Secondly
• Lastly

Contradiction/Contrast

• However
• On the contrary
• On the flip side
• On the other hand
• But
• Although
• Even though

Time Sequence:

• Now
• Then
• After
• Before
• While
• Nowadays
• Since
• Previously
• These days

Fillers:

• I think
• I believe
• I reckon
• I opine

Conclusion:

• Thus
• Therefore
• Hence

FAQs: