Are you losing your sleep over the thought of the IELTS speaking test? Well, it is natural but unnecessary. Just follow these 8 expert tips and do plenty of practice and you will be good to go in no time!
1. Do not use big, unfamiliar words
You might want to impress the examiner with complex and fancy words in your IELTS Speaking test. However, to avoid mistakes, use words you're familiar with. There is an increased risk of making mistakes if you mispronounce words or use them in the wrong place and making repeated mistakes can impact your final band score.
Make a selection of vocabulary that you do well at using with respect to the topic you are speaking about. Make particular word lists or mind maps to aid you with learning a lot more words and expressions connected to your topic area.
2. Try not to memorize answers
Memorised answers don't necessarily provide the examiner with an accurate assessment of your English language skills. The examiner can recognize if you have memorized your answers, and this may affect your band score.
3. Make use of grammatical structures
Your IELTS examiners look at your fluency and coherence, your lexical resources, your grammatical range, and your pronunciation. Be sure to use a variety of grammatical structures in complex and simple sentences in order to express what you want to say. Pay attention to your errors, and speak with your friends or family in English to check to see if you're making any mistakes. If you believe you have made a mistake, make sure you correct it yourself.
4. Don’t think about your accent
Rest assured that an IELTS examiner knows and understands a wide range of accents; the single most important point is to communicate well and express your thoughts. Though do bear in mind any particular sounds you may have difficulties with and always be mindful of stress and intonation as English is a stress-timed language. Regularly practice with your friends and see if they can work out what you mean.
5. Pause
Taking your time to think before speaking is not a symbol of weakness; it actually shows you are considering the best possible way to answer. So, do not hesitate to pause and think. You can also use some phrases before you get to the point. Phrases like “Let me see” or “That’s a good point you have there…” etc. usually help.
6. Don’t Use Fillers
Pausing, however, should not be confused with using filler words like “Umm” or “Ahh” or “Well” or “Like”. These types of words show uncertainty and used too frequently can make you seem like you are unprepared. Avoid using these; instead, use the phrases from the previous tip during your IELTS speaking segment.
7. Extend the answers
By this, we do not suggest that you speak unnecessarily. Rather if there’s a question from a topic that you have practiced a lot, then extend your answers and do not wait for the examiner to prompt you. This shows your knowledge and eagerness and helps you rank high.
8. Try not to speak in a monotone
Speaking in a flat, monotonous voice makes it difficult for the listener to identify which part of your answer is important. It also makes your speech boring. So, try and use variations and stress on particular sections so that it becomes more engaging, like a real conversation.
These basic tips should help you get started but if you need professional help with your IELTS speaking skills, visit VCANXL. Besides IELTS coaching, we also help with personality development, PTE, and spoken English.
To know more, call us at +91-9872323762 or drop a mail at vcan@vcanxl.com.
