What is the best advice for the IELTS speaking exam? There are many possible tips. The first and most important is to take it seriously and prepare properly for it. It’s noticeable how IELTS forums are full of questions about the writing paper but contain very little about the speaking. That represents a problem. In my experience candidates fail as often on the speaking paper as the writing paper. To redress matters this post gives you 10 of my top tips for the speaking paper. These are all general tips. In later posts I will be expanding on these and giving more particular advice for each part of the paper. Please note that easily the most important tip is number 1. 1. In the exam – listen to and answer the question The best advice for IELTS speaking is very simply to listen to the question and answer it. The reason for this is for this is the one time you are face to face with the examiner and nerves are a sigificant problem. If you are trying to remember complex advice, you are likely to become more nervous and not perform to your best. Keep it simple. One example here is in part 1. If you here a question in the past tense: Eg “What sports did you play as a child?” A good answer will use the past tense – the examiner will be listening for this. 2. Before the exam – practice Following on from the previous advice, you need to practice before the exam to make sure that the appropriate skills are automatic. This will only happen if you practice sufficiently. However, you also need to practise the right skills – each part of the speaking paper tests a different skill. 3. Immediately before the exam – speak English
Transcript
What is the best advice for the IELTS speaking exam?
There are many possible tips. The first and most important is to take it seriously and prepare properly for it. It’s noticeable how IELTS forums are full of questions about the writing paper but contain very little about the speaking. That represents a problem. In my experience candidates fail as often on the speaking paper as the writing paper.To redress matters this post gives you 10 of my top tips for the speaking paper. These are all general tips. In later posts I will be expanding on these and giving more particular advice for each part of the paper. Please note that easily the most important tip is number 1.
1. In the exam – listen to and answer the question
The best advice for IELTS speaking is very simply to listen to the question and answer it. The reason for this is for this is the one time you are face to face with the examiner and nerves are a sigificant problem. If you are trying to remember complex advice, you are likely to become more nervous and not perform to your best. Keep it simple.One example here is in part 1. If you here a question in the past tense:
Eg “What sports did you play as a child?”
A good answer will use the past tense – the examiner will be listening for this.
2. Before the exam – practice
Following on from the previous advice, you need to practice before the exam to make sure that the appropriate skills are automatic. This will only happen if you practice sufficiently. However, you also need to practise the right skills – each part of the speaking paper tests a different skill.
3. Immediately before the exam – speak English
The problem for many people is not speaking English, rather it is moving from their own language into English. The advice here is plain: make certain that you are already speaking English before you go into the exam.
4. Key advice – extend your answer appropriately
If there is one key piece of advice, it is to extend your answer appropriately. For example, this is inappropriate:Question:” How many languages do you speak?”Answer: “Two. Chinese and English.”Better would be:Answer: “I speak two languages. My first language is Chinese and I speak English too. I’ve been learning English since I was 10. I started learning it when I was in primary school.”Be aware, however, that very long answers are not always a good idea. It is possible that you will go off topic and lose coherence.
5. Make eye contact
A large part of communication is non-verbal. You are marked by the examiner in the room and you should do everything you can to show that person that you are a good communicator. If you do not make eye contact with the examiner, s/he is probably going to be less impressed with your performance.
6. Do not learn answers
One temptation is to learn answers before the exam. Do not. The examiner will notice and your score will be badly affected.
7. If you don’t understand the question – ask
This is a speaking test and not a listening test. If you don’t understand the question, ask the examiner to repeat or explain it – you should not be penalised for this. If you try to answer a question you do not understand, you will almost certainly become incoherent.
8. Give yourself time to think – repeat/reformulate the question
In parts 1 and 3 you are not given any thinking time: you are supposed to start speaking immediately. This does not mean, however, that you need to start answering the question straight away. What you can do is start by repeating/reformulating or commenting on the question:“What did I enjoy doing as a child? Let me see…”“That’s not something I’ve thought about before. It’s an interesting question.’This has several benefits. It is good communication. It allows you a little time to think. It should also make you answer the question and not the general topic.
9. Correct yourself – if you can do it immediately
If you make a mistake and you can correct it immediately, do so. This will show the examiner that you have control over the language. If, however, you are unsure how to correct yourself, move on: the examiner may not have noticed the mistake in the first place and if you try unsuccessfully to correct it, a small mistake may become a much bigger one.
10. Do not relax too much – it’s not a conversation
This is an exam and you need to show the best side of your spoken English. If you relax too much and become too conversational, your English may suffer. You need to recognise that this is not a true dialogue between two people: it is more of an interview with one person speaking and the other listening.In a conversation the speaking conventions are quite different: you expect the other person to share 50% of the talk time and to react to your comments, typically one person will not speak for any length of time.
Tips to pass the IELTS Speaking test
The speaking examination of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) takes between 11 and 14 minutes to complete. This is a face-to-face, one-on-one interview with an examiner. The exam is recorded.
The exam, a requirement for migration to an English-speaking country, has three parts. In Part 1, candidates will be asked questions about themselves (e.g. Describe yourself) or about familiar things, such as their family (Describe a person close to your family), work (Can you tell me something about your work?), studies (What is your favorite subject?) or interests (Describe a recent book you have read). This usually takes four to five minutes.
In Part 2, the examinee is given a card with a main question and some bullet points on what they need to cover in answering the question (e.g. Describe a party you recently attended). An examinee will be given one minute to compose an answer and can make notes. After one minute, he or she will be asked a question and will be given two minutes to answer. The examiner may ask one or two more questions related to the main question.
In Part 3, candidates will be asked questions related to the questions in Part 2 (e.g. Do you think it is important to celebrate special occasions with your loved ones?) These questions will be geared towards abstract issues or ideas. This part lasts between four to five minutes.
Compared to the listening and writing portions, the speaking test is one of the most anxiety-provoking parts of the IELTS exam. This could be due to the fact that many Filipinos are afraid of face-to-face encounters with foreigners, especially if they are outside a social context. Most candidates feel intimidated when speaking with a foreigner or a Filipino examiner in English. Remember the speaking exam is about assessing your English-speaking skills. It is nothing personal. You will be speaking to a professional so you have to be professional as well. It is not about using big words and a fake accent that you think will impress the examiner.
Here are some tips:
Be positive
Never argue with the examiner. Always be positive. Try not to say anything that will be offensive to a particular race, gender, person with a different sexual orientation or persons with disabilities. It is best that you speak without any burden of trying to win an argument. Try to speak candidly and do not stop unless told to do so.
Read out loud
To prepare for the speaking exam a candidate can get a newspaper and read the text out loud in front of the mirror.
Prepare some answers
You should prepare a short list of answers for questions related to personal information. This saves you the trouble of thinking of an answer during the exam itself.
Get a buddy
You can also get a buddy or partner whom you can practice your English conversational skills with for at least 30 minutes a day (you can ask a call center agent to do this with you or you can do this with some of your friends overseas through Skype).
Dress for success
It is highly recommended that you wear business attire during the examination. This has a positive effect on your psyche and will reflect on your attitude and performance. While it is not mandatory to get “dressed up,” do it anyway.
Answer in English
If you are asked about your favorite food, try not to answer using the Filipino term, for example, “siomai.” (The proper term is “dumpling”). Also, give an answer that is not too complicated.
Add details
When answering it would be a good idea to add details by answering the questions who, what, where, when, how and why. This will help you say more without straying too much from the topic.
Tips by IELTS examinerI was fortunate to meet a very special person, former IELTS examiner. He sent me an email and it was filled with GREAT tips, real inside information and, of course, I wasn’t going to keep them to myself :) .
IELTS Writing tips
It is better to write in regular, not very sophisticated English, than to use phrases or structures you don’t fully understand.
If you need Band 6 – no need for complex sentence structure. If your goal is Band 7 – then show advanced sentence structure, language and vocabulary.
Don’t write more than 260-265 words in IELTS Writing 2 task. Why? Not because you will get lower mark, but because of these 2 reasons:
1) It takes more time2) More words = more mistakes
if you are told to cover specific points in your essay/letter – cover every point, examiners actually count them.
Don’t overuse connecting words (like However, Furthermore, Moreover, etc) – examiners are watching for you to do that.
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 Test questions
Here are some real reading test questions that students from India recently had in their exam:
Speaking test #1
Interview1. Is bicycle a best/good transport?2. Do you think that there should be separate lane for bicycles?3. Why should a child have bicycle?4. Are you working or a student?
Cue cardDescribe a famous person, you should say:Who he is?Why is he famous?Would you like to meet him/her why?
Follow up questions:1. Which quality should a famous person have?2. Why do young generation copy them?3. Who were the famous persons 50 years ago and who will be famous in the next 50 years?4. Should they have personal life?5. If you get a chance to be famous what would be your attitude?
2. How can I call you?3. Can I see your identification?4. What do people usually do on weekends in your country?5. What do you do on weekends?6. Did you think art is important in life, like painting and sculptures?7. Did you draw anything when you were at school?8. Are there any art galleries and museums in your home town?
Cue cardDescribe an animal you saw, which you find very interesting. You should say:Where you saw it?How you felt about it?Why do you think it was interesting?
Follow up questions1. What kind of animals people have in their home?2. An animal you saw which is very rare to see in your home town?3. Why people have pets in their home?4. Do you think people do not give respect animals in these days. What about 50 years ago?5. Earlier people used animals for their work. Now, what people use to do their work?6. Researchers are conducted on animals, is this a good idea?7. So many animals are extinct in these days. What do you think? why it is happening?
Speaking test #3
Interview1. Recent changes of home town.2. Meaning of your name?3. Why your were given this name?4. How may I address you?
Cue cardDescribe a recent happiest event you had.
Follow up questions1. What moments make other people happy?2. What moments are happy for elderly?3. Are rich people happy?
Speaking test #4
Interview1. What is your full name?2. How may I address you?3. Where are you living?4. How long have you been living there?
5. What are the advantages of your home town?6. Is there any swimming pool?7. Have you visited any swimming pool any where?
Cue cardDescribe a famous person in your country.
Follow up questions1. Why do people want to get fame?2. How can a person be famous?3. Which person get inspiration by famous people?4. Which type of people get inspiration from celebrities?5. What sort of people were famous in past, say 50 years ago?
------------------------------------------------------he questions below were remembered and share by P, who had an IELTS exam in Mumbai, India recently.
Speaking testIELTS test in India
Interview
- What is your name?- Where do you come from?- Please, describe your city.- Is your city a good place for younger generation?- How many languages do you know?- Is it difficult to learn a second language?
Cue Card
Describe a city/town that you like to visit. Please say
- What town is it?- Why do you like it?- How do you know about this town?- What attracts you the most in this town?
Discussion
- What are the differences between rural and urban lifestyles?- What other benefits do you get from the city except for health, education and transport facilities?- When more people move from rural to urban areas, what would the consequences be?
The following Speaking questions were shared by our friend D from India (thank you!).
Speaking test IELTS test in India
Interview
- What is your name?- What shall I call you?- Do you work or study?- What is your job?- Is it difficult to find such a job in your country?
Cue Card
Describe a situation that angered you the most. Please say
- Where and when did it happen?- What exactly made you angry?- How did you handle this situation?
Discussion
- When you replay this situation in your mind, do you still feel angry?- Do you think expressing your emotions is important? Why?- How do people in your country express their emotions?- What are the effects of positive or negative emotions on health? Explain both.- Do you like to dance?- Why do you like dancing?- When do people in your country usually dance-----------------------------------------------------he questions below were shared by our Indian friend S who recently took a Speaking test in Bangalore.
Speaking test
Interview IELTS test in India
- What is your full name?- Where do you live?- Do you work or study?- What do you like about your job?- How did you prepare for this job?- Did you play any indoor games when you were younger?- Is there a particular indoor game you liked?- If you wanted to learn an indoor game, what would it be? Why?
Cue Card
Talk about something that you lost. Please say
- What was it?- Where did you lose it?- How did you feel about it?
Follow-up question: Do you lose your things often?
Discussion
- What do people do to protect their things?- Has crime and theft increased?- What is the reason for the increase in crime and theft?- What do people lose often?- What would you do if you found a stolen item?- Do you think people return stolen things?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------The questions below were shared by A from New Zealand (thanks!)
Speaking test IELTS test in New Zealand
Interview
- What is your full name?- What country are you from originally?- Do you study or work?- Who had helped you to get this job?- Did you work overseas?- Do you like your neighbors?- How do they help you?
Cue Card
Talk about your favorite thing that you have lost recently. Please say:
- What did you lose?- How did that happen?- Why was that item important to you?
Discussion- Do you often lose your things?- What things do people lose the most?- Why do people forget things?
- What precautions should people take to care for their belongings?- How do people show their moral principles when they find someone’s lost property?- If you find something, what would you do to return it to the owner?...........................................................................................................................Our kind friend N from Saudi Arabia shared the IELTS exam below:
Listening test IELTS test in Saudi Arabia
Section 1. A father and his daughter were choosing a hotel for her wedding.
Section 2 – 3. Don’t remember.
Section 4. A tutor was talking to a student about his assignment.
Reading test
Passage 1. About paid family leave in California.
Passage 2 – 3. Don’t remember.
Passage 4. About the painting of a woman by Johannes Vermeer, a Dutch painter.
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)
Write a thank you letter to the public transport authority about the manager who helped you to find something you lost and say
- What did you lose?- Why was it so important to you?- How did the manager help you find it?Writing Task 2 (an essay)
Some people say that for a hobby to be enjoyable it should be difficult to a degree. Do you agree or disagree?
This IELTS exam was shared by our kind friend D from India.
Listening test IELTS test in India
Section 1. A girl’s father and her teacher were talking about her class discussion.
Section 2. A radio presenter was discussing his FM channel and the type of services it provides to the local community.
Section 3. A professor was discussing with students the course of action before, during and after placements.
Section 4. A flow chart of a certain process in a company.
Reading test
Passage 1. Railway facilities and the discounts available to frequent users.Questions: True/False/Not Given.
Passage 2. A description of various restaurants and particular questions about each restaurant.
Passage 3. About a university and its rules and regulations.Questions: short-answer type (no more than X words).
Passage 4. About the Dodo bird.Questions: filling in blanks, multiple choice, True/False/Not Given, match paragraphs to statements.Writing test
Writing task 1 (a letter)
Write a letter to the event organizer to let them know you are not happy with the hotel that was booked for your meeting. Please say
- What meeting was it?- Why didn’t you like the hotel?- Suggest what the organizer should have done differently.
Writing Task 2 (an essay)
Nowadays people are forgetting national celebrations and enjoying themselves on other days that are important to them personally. Discuss and give your opinion.
Speaking test
Interview
- What type of house do you live in?- What transport is normally used in your city?- Which kind of transport do you use often?- Are you annoyed by other passengers while traveling in public transport?
Cue Card
Talk about a culture you became familiar with recently. Please say
- What culture was it?- When did you learn about it?- What was the occasion?
Discussion
- Is knowing a culture can be an advantage?- If you know the language is it easier to learn the culture?- Does technology help in learning a culture?- Is it necessary to go to another country to learn about the culture?.................................................................................Tips for a higher IELTS score from Ravinder (Band 8)
Ravinder Singh, who won second place in our latest ‘Best IELTS results’ competition, comes from India. His first language is Punjabi, but it turns out that his English is almost as good – since he got Band 8 overall with an amazing 9 in Listening in a recent IELTS exam.
Here are a few tips that Ravider wanted to share with everyone:Band 8 in IELTS
“I think there is no real quick way to learn English truly. It is a slow process where you adopt a language in your daily life. If one is solely looking for a good score in IELTS (Band 8 and above), the following can be done:
1. Practice – it makes one perfect (at least 2-3 hours daily for 60 days). It helps you to tune yourself to the format of the test.
2. Read – get into a habit of reading (newspapers, novels, etc). This helps with absorbing English faster. Sentence structure, grammar, vocabulary will improve faster. This was the takeaway from the institute that helped me prepare for the exam.
3. Think – Start thinking in English, talk to yourself in English. You may call this a part of point 1 above.
More specific tips for the Listening and Reading Modules in IELTS:
a. Read ahead in the pauses in listening, skim the paragraphs in Reading.
b. Try to understand the context of sections being played.
c. Don’t panic if you couldn’t hear or concentrate and missed the conversation being played in Listening, concentrate on what you still have (the rest of the recording).
d. In Reading, don’t read the questions one by one and find answers. Read 2-3 questions (as many as you can remember) and try to find asnwers in comprehension.
I think the score also depends on current mastery of English, the practice efforts the student can make and a mix of analytical (for Listening and Reading modules) capabilities and interest (for Writing and Speaking modules) that one shows.”
Our kind friend R shared the questions he remembered from the recent IELTS Speaking exam:
Speaking test IELTS test in Australia
Interview
- What is your full name?- Do you work or study?- What subjects do you study in your course?- Do you like reading books?- What kind of books do you like to read?
Cue Card
Describe something that you learned about another culture. You should say
- What did you learn?- What is the new culture?- How did you find out about it?
Discussion
- Is it easier to learn a language if you know about the culture?- Does visiting a different country make learning a language easier?- Does visiting another country help you learn your own culture better?.............................................................................................................................IELTS test in Ireland – April 2012 (Academic Module)
Our kind friend A from Ireland shared the recent IELTS exam below:
Reading test IELTS test in Ireland
Passage 1. About human’s impact on nature.
Passage 2. About ancient coins.
Passage 3. About road building in Africa.
Writing test
Writing task 1 (a report)
Describe a graph about daily calorie intake across the globe.
Writing task 2 (an essay)
Some believe elderly people should live in nursing homes, others think they should live with the younger family members. Discuss both view and give your opinion.
Speaking test
Interview
Don’t remember.
Cue Card
Describe your friend. Please say
- Who is he/she?- How did you meet?- Why do you like him/her?
Discussion
- Why is friendship nowadays so volatile?- Why is exercising important?
