IELTS speaking test may seem like a challenge but can be overpowered if handled using a few essential tips:
- Understanding the pattern of the Speaking exam: Here are a few things which you need to be sure of about the IELTS speaking exam.
- Timeframe: IELTS Speaking test takes around 11 to 14 minutes in all.
- No. of Sections: The speaking section consists of three sub-sections.
- Contents of the sections: The first section has an introduction round.
- The second section is an extempore round on the basis of the cue card given by the examiner.
- The third section is a question-answer round based on the round 2 topics.
- Conducting body: The IELTS certified examiner conducts the speaking test in person.
- Knowing the band descriptors well: Before proceeding ahead with the preparation of the speaking test, it is advisable to understand the marking criteria. So, In the speaking exam, you are assessed on the following descriptors:
- Fluency & Coherence: Communicating fluently with spontaneity in the speech without any repetition or hesitation is a major factor in the speaking exam. In order to improve fluency, record your speech each day using good vocabulary and replay it to identify the areas you in which you falter, then fix them. Try to connect the ideas in a way that all the spoken content should look inflow. Use different transition/ connecting/ referent words but avoid overuse of transition words. Referent words are used for referring previously mentioned content. Practice organizing your spoken content mentally before speaking so it looks logical and well-structured.
- Lexical Resource: Use a wide range of vocabulary which is appropriate to the topic and is clearly understood by the examiner. To enhance your word power, read a lot each day and gather new words, maintain a diary of the same, review it each day to memorize it. Use the new words in your speech but try to understand that the words used should have a correct meaning and should be related to the topic. Also, paraphrasing the question statement can help you learn better synonyms. Besides that, learn Idioms, Phrases, and Collocations to use in your speech. The most important thing is to converse more by using new words, idioms, phrases, and collocations.
- Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Use a vast range of error-free sentence structures such as a combination of simple and complex structures. Use all the grammatical syntax such as tenses, verbs, pronouns, subject-verb agreement, etc. correctly and accurately. Touch up the grammar rules to update your language skills. You can rectify the grammatical mistakes by recording your speech and listening to identify the mistakes. Persistent efforts will help you be more accurate in your grammatical skills.
- Pronunciation: In the IELTS speaking test, the accent is not necessary but the clarity of words means a lot. So the use of words precisely is a must. Listen to different native English speakers to see how they pronounce the words. Put the right stress on the right words as that can make your speech impactful. Intonation is another important factor where the emphasis is given at the right places giving a rhythm to your speech. The rhythm which is created using high and low pitch in your communication is essential.
- Body Language matters: A person gets jittery when appearing for the IELTS speaking exam as he has to face the examiner in person and being nervous or anxious can mar your confidence. The best way to deal with that is to remain Calm & Composed and answer the questions as it comes. There is no need to overthink the forthcoming questions, rather just go with the flow, after all, it is just an exam.
- Keep it simple: When you begin with your first section, keep your answers crisp and short, give the relevant answers as much is required. There is no need to answer each question of this section in-depth. The questions will be based on your home, family, education, profession, like, dislike. Always keep a simple format in your mind to answer any question:
- The opening statement of the answer which is mostly the main point and paraphrasing the question to clarify that you got the question correctly.
- Answer the question along with the details, reason or real-life example related to the topic.
- Closing line- add a line that sums up your answer in an affirmative way.
- If, you are unable to answer or you are unable to understand the question, then ask the examiner rather than not answering. You can ask by saying: “Could you elaborate the question for me?”, Or “I haven’t come across this question before, can you explain it more?” or “This is a tricky question, I will try to answer it.”
- Also, when you are unsure of any question or topic, always ask “why” to yourself, you will be able to answer the topic. And this will come with practice.
- Section 2 being an extempore round needs a more organized and well-structured answer. This round will judge you mostly on the cohesiveness of your thoughts. So, jot down the key points as an outline for the topic and then elaborate it further by using relevant vocabulary.
- Section 3 is a question-answer round wherein the questions may be asked randomly by the examiner based on the round 2 topics. It is just to assess you on how well you know about the topic. So make sure whatever you speak on in round 2 should be something relevant and you are aware of it.
- Environment matters: The environment you are in plays a crucial role. If you want to improve your English speaking skills, being in that kind of environment and having a circle which is like-minded really helps. Ultimately, talking in English will only help you to hone up your speaking skills. There are no shortcuts to that. Stay around the people who converse mostly in English and that can help you identify your weaknesses and fix them.
- Find a speaking partner: Find a speaking partner on the online portals or by approaching a professional coaching class, you will find many minded people who are willing to help. Speak in English with them, ask them to identify your errors and help you to rectify them. This really helps in enhancing your English speaking not only in fluency but also in grammatical accuracy.