Essential tips for Maximizing Your IELTS Speaking Test Score

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Essential Tips for Maximizing IELTS Speaking Test Score

1. Remain calm

The more anxious and uncomfortable you are, the more difficult it’ll be to keep up your fluency and maintain coherence. It may feel overwhelming to have to use a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures accurately and with the intended meaning. But you have to keep your mind under control. Tell yourself, “I can do this.”

Just remember, the examiner means to help you and it’s her job to make you feel comfortable. The test format is designed to foster (encourage) this as well, as you’ll first be asked some basic questions about familiar topics like family or your home. The examiner may feel a bit “robotic” at times, but that’s due to the scripted nature of the test and the fact that the examiner is focused on administering the test, reading the questions and giving instructions – all this while assessing and grading your language! No wonder they’re tense, it’s a hard job.

2. Know what’s coming

Are you taking IELTS for the first time? Do you honestly know how the Speaking test is structured? Even students who’ve taken the test multiple times can’t answer questions about the structure of the test and how the test is administered. What a huge mistake! Knowing how to take the test if half the battle. Once you know what to expect, you’ll answer questions faster and more easily. Here are some simple questions you should really know the answers to:

How long is the speaking test?

How many parts or sections are there?

What does each part consist of?

What areas of my language are assessed?

Who grades my performance – the examiner or somebody else?

3. Just answer the question

Sample IELTS Speaking question: “What type of weather do you enjoy most?”

OPENING (optional)	Hmm. It’s hard to say because I like all seasons but…
ANSWER	I would say summer would have to be my all-time favorite.
REASON/EXAMPLE	You know, the summer is just great. There are so many things to do outside, you can be near the water, yes…if it’s too hot, it’s better to hang out at the beach. I really love the beach and water sports like surfing…
CLOSE	so, yeah, if I had to choose one, it would be summer for sure.

It should be fairly obvious, but make every effort to answer the question. Don’t refuse or “give up” on the question:

RATHER THAN…	TRY THIS:
I don’t know… I can’t answer that question.	Hmm, that’s a tricky question. Let me think   about that… yeah, I guess I would say that…

4. Remember that the examiner’s lips are sealed

It’s important to understand that the examiner reads from a script, and she can say very little beyond what’s written in her test booklet.

This can lead to some awkward moments if you try to ask the examiner a question.

5.  Extend your speech                          

Try to speak at least more than the examiner. If you are asked a question using one sentence, respond with two or more. And never give short, uncommunicative replies:

Examiner: Do you do any sport?
You: No, I don't like sports... [Don't stop there!] I'm not a very active person and I've never liked P.E. in school. But I like playing intellectual games instead. For example, I find chess very interesting.

6. Give yourself time to think

(Implement key phrases strategically)

If you are unsure how to answer the question, you can give yourself a bit more time to think by using this tip. First of all, you can say: "That's a tricky question...", "I've never thought about that before..." or "That's an interesting question...". This way you'll have some extra time to plan your answer.

You can also reformulate the question:

Examiner: What was your favourite book in the childhood?
You: What book did I like as a child? Let me see...

7. Made a mistake? Don't panic!

If you made a mistake - don't panic! Try to correct yourself as smoothly as possible. And if you can't - just continue speaking, you won't lose many points for a few mistakes.

8. Make a good first impression

Look good, smell good and feel good. Be confident. Although it may not seem very important, a strong first impression will go a long way.

9. Strengthen your language skills                  

Join voiced chats. Technology has advanced a lot in terms of social networks so, wherever you live, you’ll find a chat-room to join.
Talk and record yourself. This may sound funny, but it will help you realize how you can improve by repeating the recording several times till you feel happy with the results.
Talk to your classmates in English when you are not in class. You can even make a group to play games, have a meal or just chat together.

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