IELTS Speaking tips
If your goal is Band 6, you don’t have to speak complex English - just don’t make mistakes in simple English.
Don’t experiment with new words during your interview - it is not the time. Use only words and phrases you are sure about. For example, if you were reading a newspaper yesterday and saw a new word, but you’re not sure what it means or when people use it - forget about using it in IELTS.
No one will judge you on your ideas, only on your English. If there is a movie you can’t describe (your favorite) and there’s a movie can describe (that you have recently seen) - choose the second one. They are not interested in the truth, only in your English.
You have to think about what and HOW you are going to say.
Expose yourself to as much English as you can. Not just to learn new words and phrases, but to also practice until you master them.
If you make mistake - that’s bad, if you correct yourself - it’s not that bad. Examiner doesn’t count your mistakes, and it makes a good impression when you show that mistake you have made was not intentional.
If you say “economic” instead of “economy” and make more mistakes like that - its band 5. If you make a couple of such mistakes - it could be band 6. If examiner can’t understand you - it’s band 4.
Band 7 people should show they can use a little of special vocabulary. Explain ideas very well, very clearly, and use not just simple words, but more special words, like “economic environment”, “favorable conditions” etc.
IELTS Speaking - interview tips
Speak until they stop you, don’t just answer the question and stop. Display you best English. Behave as if it was a driving test - keep going straight until told to turn right, left or park.
It is quite possible that you have to speak about something you have never heard of, or have no opinion of. If you don’t know the subject - tell the examiner immediately, so he could ask you another question. If you don’t tell him and start trying to speak, he might think that it is not a knowledge problem, but a language problem.
IELTS speaking: what else to expect
In Reading or Listening sections it is quite easy to predict what will be your IELTS score. You do some tests at home, count how many questions you answered correctly, do the math - for example 34 out of 40 equals Band 7.5.
But how do you measure yourself when it comes to Speaking - that’s the question!And here comes answer: using the same criteria your examiner is going to use.I was looking for those and found them in to IELTS official site (of all places )
So basically this is what they say:
You belong to Band 5 if you
· Keep sentences coming slowly (without pauses), repeat words and correct yourself
· Can use simple sentences easily, but complex are difficult for you and it shows (you stop, get confused or start to repeat yourself)
· Can not say the same thing in a different way (rephrase) or use a synonym for a word
· Use grammatically correct simple sentences most of the time. It is rare that you use more complex sentences and when you do - you make grammatical errors or it is difficult to understand what you’re saying
You belong to Band 6 if you
· Can speak for some time keeping the right speed (like your first language), with little difficulties when you repeat words, correct yourself or get lost in words and stop making sense.
· Use some connective words, even if it is not always appropriate
· Can discuss topics (familiar or not) for a long time, using wide vocabulary and making yourself clear.
· Successfully rephrase and use synonyms
· Mix simple and complex sentences when you speak, but the in complex ones you mistake a lot. Mistakes are mostly grammatical and examiner can still understand you.
You belong to Band 7 if you
· Have no problem speaking for some time keeping the right speed (like your first language), your speech is smooth and easy to understand, it is rare that you pause and look for a word to say, repeat or correct yourself.
· Can discuss any topic using a lot of smart words, use English expressions correctly.
· Use complex sentences without a lot of grammatical errors. There are much more correct sentences in your speech than incorrect.
I gave you here description of Band 5,6 and 7 because these are the IELTS bands most people want to know about, but you can see the full description of all bands here.
IELTS Speaking - what to expect (Discussion)
Its topic will be related to the topic of second part (Speech), but the difference is that here you should EXPRESS AN OPINION and explain why it is what it is. This is the part where you should compare two opinions, present several points of view, say what your perception is, what future developments might follow, etc.It usually takes 4-5 minutes.
Just for you to get a feeling of what it’s like, click here to listen to recorded session , and here is the transcript, all from official IELTS site.
This is really the part where you’ve got to have an opinion on anything and everything.Any topic you get - you must have something to say about it. So here is a good idea - go over this list of topics here and think about them a little bit, see what vocabulary you are going to need, try to discuss them with a partner or just talk to yourself.
Here is an example of such card from IELTS official site:
Describe a teacher who has greatly influenced you in your education.You should say:
· where you met them;
· what subject they taught;
· what was special about them;
· and explain why this person influenced you so much.
As you can see, your main task here is to DESCRIBE things. So try to do that as well as you can.It is very important that you say something about EVERY question that is on the card.The best thing is to say 2-3 sentences about every bullet. This way your speech will take at least one minute - the minimal time you have to speak.
A good way to practice (requires 2 people) is to give someone a copy of your card and to start speaking. Ask him/her to put V on bullets you’ve talked about. Then look how many bullets you’ve missed in your speech. If you study alone, you can record yourself and then listen and check for missing bullets.
Practicing with a clock is a very good idea. You need to get a feeling of “how long is 2 minutes”. When you will speak in front of real examiner, it is best that you don’t look at your watch and if you have practiced enough - you won’t have to.
And at last, for you to get a complete picture of Speaking part 2 - here is a sample question, a recording and a transcript (all thanks to official IELTS site). Enjoy!
IELTS Speaking - what to expect (Interview)
I’ve neglected the Speaking tips for a long time, so this post is about how to do well in IELTS Speaking. It doesn’t matter what kind of IELTS you are taking, General or Academic - Speaking part is the same in both.
As you know, there are 3 parts in the Speaking sub-test : Interview, Speech and Discussion.
Now to the Interview: you can and should be prepared to questions they will ask you.The questions are predictable, look at this great list I found in one of IELTS forums - click here.
If you speak well, just go over it and prepare an answer in you head for every question. If you have someone to practice with - do it, if you don’t - I suggest that you record yourself. You can do that using your PC or voice recorder or even one of those MP3 players that can tape you as well.
To get the feeling of real IELTS Speaking test you can listen to sample of test here, look at the questions here and the transcript of the tape is here.
Best advice to those who speak not so well:
1) Write your answers on a piece of paper.
2) Memorize them.
3) Speak to yourself - ask questions and answer with whatever you wrote. It will improve your pronunciation and make you more confident. This is how you overcome the initial shock of speaking English.
4) Practice a lot with you wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend, at first you may look at your paperand then don’t - test your memory.
I prepared my students this way and it helped them a lot.
One more important thing - in Speaking you can not receive half band, like 5.5 or 6.5.Your score will be full band, like 5 or 6.
I will continue with more Reading tips in my next post.
Speaking at a glance
This is the fun part of the test, for many reasons. You get to rest before it, you are a little tired from previous 3 parts and it makes you more relaxed. The examiners are trained to smile no matter what, so you feel as if you were speaking to your best friend.
First sub-part of Speaking test is an interview, which means that the examiner asks you questions about yourself, your work, studies, parents, brothers/sisters, pets, etc. This is an easy task to prepare for.
In the second sub-part of Speaking test you receive a card with 3-4 questions. After one minute, that you have to think about something to say, you should give a little speech for one to two minutes, which answers those questions. In the end the examiner might ask you a couple of additional questions.
In the third sub-part of the test you have a discussion with examiner. The topic is somehow related to the one from section two, but it is about more abstract ideas. You have to express and justify an opinion.The examiner will record your session on tape. Don’t worry about it; the tape is to test the examiner and not you.