This page is a resource of information about the speaking exam including IELTS speaking tips that can be used by both by the students who are taking the exam and the teachers who are training them.
Before we start on the tips, lets focus on what the IELTS speaking test consists of, so that you are prepared and know what to expect.
In fact one of the best IELTS speaking tips we can give is that your preparation should include studying the format of the test as well as what you will be graded on.
Tip Number 1: Read the IELTS Speaking Test Public Band descriptors. These will give you an idea of how the exam is graded as well as what the levels are for each band. IELTS Band Descriptors.
About the IELTS Speaking Test
The IELTS Speaking test is a formal examination of your ability to use the English language to communicate effectively. It takes place in a room with just you and the examiner, and your test will be recorded using a voice recorder.
Your examiner will be testing and grading you on four levels: Fluency, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Pronunciation. In order to do this he/she will ask a variety of questions. Although he/she will be asking you questions you will not be able to ask questions back and if you do they will not be answered.
Tip Number 2: Remember that this is a formal exam not a friendly. conversation: do not attempt to ask questions of your examiner – instead listen carefully, follow instructions and answer the questions to the best of your ability.
The test has three parts and will last for between 11 and 14 minutes. The first part lasts for between 4 and 5 minutes. It consists of a brief introductory discussion followed by questions about where you live or work and then simple questions based on two separate topics.
In the second part of the IELTS speaking test the student will be given a conversation topic and be asked to talk about it for between 2 and three minutes. The third part involves a discussion based on the topic in section two.
Tip number three: Remember that the IELTS speaking exam has three parts: 1- introductions and questions based on two simple topics; 2- Between 1 and 2 minutes of you speaking uninterrupted about the topic on a card given to you by the examiner; Part -3 – a few minutes of discussing the topic in section two including abstract questions.
Now that we know that the IELTS Speaking test can be divided into three, let’s look at these sections a bit more closely and look at how we can be better prepared. Also read and study the IELTS speaking tips in red included in each of the three sections.
The IELTS Speaking Test – The Introduction, Part 1
This section of the IELTS speaking exam lasts for between 4 and 5 minutes.
It begins with a scripted introduction read out by the examiner in which he will introduce himself and you – remember the exam will be recorded. The first time you speak will be when he asks you what you like to be called, or what shall I refer to you as. This is a friendly introduction.
Tip Number 4 – Know the meaning of the question: What shall I call you. This is a different question than ‘What is your name.’ For example a person whose name is Anthony Marshall may prefer people to use the shortened version ‘Tony.’ Or a Chinese person whose name is Ma Jiang, may prefer to be referred to as Sarah while they are in England.
IELTS speaking test tip number 4 shows that you need to be aware of the difference between a full name and what you like to be referred to as, or what shall I call you. See the two examples below.
Examiner: what Shall I refer to you as
Anthony Marshall: You can call me TonyExaminer: What shall I call you?
Ma Jiang: Sarah
Your examiner will then move on to ask you questions about one of two topics
- Where you live and your living arrangements
- Your study or work, including your opinion of your college/workplace
These question provide you an early opportunity to use more complicated grammar than just the present simple. For example if your examiner asks you ‘how long have you lived in England,’ you could respond using the present perfect continuous ‘I have been living in England for three years.’ This will be an early demonstration that you are able to use more complicated grammatical forms. You can also expand on your answers, for example:
Examiner: How long have you lived in the UK?
Student: I’ve been living in the UK for three years: two as a student and now I work as an engineer’
IELTS Speaking Tip 5 – Be prepared to speak about where you live or where you work/study. Try and think of ways you can use interesting grammar and vocabulary. For more help see the Grammar and Pronunciation sections, below.
After talking about where you live or work/study the examiner will move on to ask you questions about two topics.
Typical topics include:
- Food
- Leisure activities
- Shopping
- Your routine
- pets
- Travel
- Hobbies
- Reading
- Birthdays and other celebrations
- Pets
- Sport
- Childhood
- Memories
IELTS Speaking Tip 6 – prepare a list of vocabulary for the topics above that you can use in the exam. Do some research on the internet and in your IELTS course books. Make a list of other topics that may come up and prepare a vocabulary list for each topic.
The IELTS Speaking Test – The Long Turn, Part 2
This part of the test lasts for between 3 and 4 minutes.
The examiner will give you a card or a piece of paper with a topic on it which you will need to speak about for between one and two minutes. You will also be given a piece of paper and a pen so you can make brief notes to help you organise your talk. An example question might be as below:
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Describe a person who you think is a good parent You should say:
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The examiner will hand the student the card, a piece of paper and a pencil to make notes. The student then has one minute to decide on their answer and prepare their talk, or long turn as it is known.
IELTS Speaking Tip number 7 – Use your pencil and paper to organise your answer. Think about ways you can use linking words to link your sentences. Make short notes, don’t write full sentences.
Here is some more help:
Also think of some adjectives you can use other than good or nice. When you are preparing for the exam you should make a list of adjectives that you can use with each topic. You should then investigate how these words correctly within sentence structures.
For example, if you are preparing for the topic of architecture some of the adjectives you may choose to learn and use may be:
IELTS Speaking – The Discussion, Part 3
When you have completed your long turn (part 2) the examiner will then ask you a series of questions about the topic you have just spoken about. So if your long turn was the question about parents (above) you will be asked questions about parenthood in part 3. The questions will get progressively more difficult. For example you may be asked to consider if parents should allow children to own a mobile phone. Similarly you could be asked whether parents should give their children pocket money or make them do chores for money.
This is the section of the test where it possible to achieve a really high grade for speaking – Ie 7 or above. To do this you must be able to answer the more complex questions fluently using some complementary grammar patterns and interesting vocabulary.
IELTS Speaking Tip number 7 – Do not allow there to be a long silence during part 3 of your IELTS speaking test, but give yourself time to think. Use phrases such as ‘That’s an interesting question’ while you are thinking about your answer.
How to Get a Good Score in Your IELTS Speaking: Fluency, Vocabulary, Grammar and Pronunciation
The IELTS Speaking exam is graded from 1-9 using four criteria: Fluency, Vocabulary, Grammar, Pronunciation. Therefore we have organised the rest of this essay according to these criteria, with advice and tips for how to score well.
Fluency
It is important that you show confidence and an ability to use English to speak competently about a wide range of subjects. These could include any of the following or more:
- Education
- The Environment
- The Arts
- Technology
- Globalisation
- Relationships such as parent and child, teacher and student, friends
- Charity work
- Culture, for examples celebrations, food, traditions in your culture
- Health, food and diet
You should be able to speak fluently about these topics therefore it is important that you read about the topics in English and prepare a full list of vocabulary for each topic that you can use with ease.
IELTS Speaking Tip Number 8 – Charity work is a popular topic in the IELTS Speaking test. Learn the difference between the verb form of volunteer and the noun form: to volunteer; a volunteer.
Having a good vocabulary and knowledge of this topics is not enough to get a higher grade. If you want to get a really good grade in your IELTS Speaking test then it essential that your sentences link to each other and you can show a progression in your ideas. If you just use simple linking words like and, but, so it will lower your grade.
More complex linking words are preferred for example, therefore, this mean that, in fact.
You should practice using linking words to make your ideas and vocabulary more coherent.
To achieve a high score for fluency you should also show that you can speak without stuttering or taking long breaks.
IELTS Speaking Tip Number 9 – Record yourself speaking or get a friend to do a mock IELTS Speaking test with you so that you can listen back and check for long pauses or stuttering.
Vocabulary
Good variety is essential if you want to get a good grade in your IELTS speaking for vocabulary. Study the topics in the Fluency section and make a list for each of relevant vocabulary you can use. Make a vocabulary list for each word type, for example:
| Education | ||
| VERBS | NOUNS | ADJECTIVE |
| Enrol | College | Primary |
| Apply | School | Secondary |
| Pass | Head Teacher | Compulsory |
| Fail | Playground | Private |
Use a study dictionary to see how these words are used and write practice sentences for each word that you don’t know.
IELTS Speaking Tip Number 10 – Invest in a good study dictionary. We recommend the Longman Active Study Dictionary by Pearson.
If you don’t know a word or forget it during your IELTS exam then you should attempt to paraphrase. If, for example, you don’t know the word garage then you can say it is part of your house, has a big door and you put your car in it – the examiner will know what you mean!
Grammar
You should be careful to listen to the tense in the questions so that you use the right tense in your response. You should also try and use a variety of tenses in your responses. In part one of the test when you are asked about where you study or live you could respond, ‘I have been studying English for four years now, I like it because….’ This will show that you can use the present perfect continuous tense.
You should also show that you can use the present perfect tense. For example ‘I have studied in England for 18 months.’
Try to use comparatives during your long turn (part 2). An example could be ‘There are more things to do in my city than there are in Manchester, that’s why I prefer living in Paris.’
Use some ‘If” sentences to show your mastery of conditionals. Below are some examples:
‘If you go on holiday to Paris you should visit the Eiffel Tower as it is amazing!’
‘If I had more time I would also study French.’
‘If you visit my country you will realise how friendly people from China are.’
Use phrasal verbs!
Use Collocation!
Pronunciation
Study common errors in pronunciation that are made by people who come from your country. You can the start to work on these errors by learning the English phonetic alphabet (see below), concentrate on the errors that people from your part of the world are most likely to make.
Books and websites that can help you with your pronunciation include:
- Cambridge Phonetics Focus
- Study Dictionaries
- Ship or Sheep
