Commencing the journey to pass IELTS is an integral step for individuals aspiring to Live, Work, and Study abroad to English-speaking countries in search of academic or professional opportunities. Academic institutions and employers often require higher IELTS scores for admissions and employment. Furthermore, immigration processes often rely on good performance in the speaking test as authorities evaluate IELTS scores to gauge an individual’s proficiency in the English language. A key component of the IELTS is the speaking test, which can be especially challenging for a lot of candidates, but not to worry, for these challenges can be overcome with strategic practice.
Various facets of the language are evaluated via the speaking test, including vocabulary, pronunciation, grammatical accuracy, and overall coherence. A strong performance on the speaking test not only signifies a comprehensive command of the English language but also ensures confident, seamless interactions in the individual’s day-to-day life in an English-speaking environment, thereby enhancing their cultural adaptability and testifying to their learning agility.
The perks of preparation for success in the speaking part of the exam extend beyond the test setting. In a world that recognizes English as a global language in education, business, and diplomacy, success in the IELTS speaking section becomes a valuable asset, facilitating effective communication in multicultural settings. A strong score on speaking can boost the candidate’s overall confidence and prepare them to incorporate English into their regular communication practices, thereby preparing them for a life in countries besides their home.
Success in IELTS Speaking can further compensate for potentially weaker performance in any of the other components of the exam and elevate the candidate’s final band score. Success in the speaking test is, therefore, a multifaceted achievement which opens doors to academic and professional opportunities while simultaneously equipping individuals to engage with communities effectively in a language that connects several global contexts.
This comprehensive guide is designed to help you achieve your desired scores on the test and also attain the confidence needed for success in the aforementioned aspects that go beyond the test.
1. Gain a robust understanding of the test structure
To ace the speaking test, you first need to know what happens in each part of the test. For both IELTS on paper and IELTS on computer, the face-to-face speaking test comprises three parts. In Part 1, you will converse with the examiner about yourself for about four to five minutes. In Part 2 of the test, you will be assigned a card with a topic. You will have one minute to make notes about the topic. You will then speak on the topic for two minutes. In Part 3, you will have a conversation with the examiner about your response to Part 2 and elaborate on it further. Part 3 should take about four to five minutes to complete. To prepare, select random topics and practise delivering articulate responses. You can practise with a peer or enroll for classes designed specifically for preparing for the IELTS.
2. Develop a strong vocabulary
A wide vocabulary is indicative of higher linguistic proficiency and thus, an important domain to consider during preparation. To develop a rich vocabulary, consume English language media like newspapers, movies, blog posts, books, and podcasts. It is helpful to incorporate synonyms of commonplace words in day-to-day conversation to build an extensive vocabulary. For instance, if you want to say you are happy about something, try using adjectives like “ecstatic” instead of “happy.” By doing so, you can make yourself more and more comfortable with the language. You can look up words for synonyms online that will help you find a plethora of similar words.
3. Practise pronunciation
Clear and precise pronunciation is integral to succeed on the speaking test. Engaging in pronunciation exercises—like practising tongue twisters, shadowing a TED Talk speaker and repeating their speech line after line, or recording yourself reading a paragraph from a text and identifying areas of improvement—can be of great help. You can also use online dictionaries like Cambridge and Merriam-Webster where you can listen to the accurate pronunciations of words and repeat them. Alternatively, you can engage in conversation with an instructor or a native speaker and ask them to give feedback on your pronunciation. Singing songs can also help with pronunciation and fluency.
4. Be mindful of your body language
Communication is not limited to verbal expression. Non-verbal cues play a pivotal role in conveying your message. Be confident, and do not memorize your answers. Memorized answers cannot convey an accurate measure of your proficiency of the language to the examiner. Also, an examiner might be able to tell if you have memorized your answers from your body language and rate of speech. Pay attention to non-verbal cues. Use hand gestures to emphasize details, maintain eye contact with the examiner, use voice modulation and avoid speaking in a monotone, and use facial expressions judiciously. Such non-verbal cues make your speech sound more natural than mechanical and contribute towards maintaining a well-rounded communication style.
5. Pay attention to grammar and tenses
The correct usage of different grammatical structures in sentences and consistency of tense are major indicatives of one’s language proficiency. Do grammar exercises regularly which involve practising complex sentence structures. Try to integrate different tenses corresponding to different times in your speech while describing, for instance, a personal experience. Ensure consistency as needed, for example, maintain coherence by using past tense while describing something that happened in the past. You can record yourself or practise with a peer or instructor to identify errors and correct them. You should also use signposts to help the listener navigate whether you are talking about the past or present. Signposts include words like “nowadays,” “right now,” “currently,” “when I was young,” “years ago,” “in the past,” etc.
6. Utilize fillers carefully
Using fillers like “um” and “uh” is common in everyday speaking, but overusing these fillers can impact your fluency score. Instead of resorting to such fillers, try judiciously implementing pauses into your speech while gathering your thoughts. This deliberate approach not only minimizes the usage of fillers, but also represents a composed and thoughtful communication style. If you need time to answer a question you can also request it from the examiner by simply stating “Can I think about it for a moment?”, as this is commonly used in everyday conversation.
7. Focus on your pace
Fluency and pace are cornerstones of a strong grasp of any language. It is important to make sure that you can communicate your ideas as clearly and effectively as possible, which mark your fluency. Maintaining a natural pace is also key; your speech should not be too fast or too slow. The examiner should be able to understand your responses effortlessly. You can practise pacing yourself while maintaining fluency by reading out loud newspaper articles, paragraphs from books, or blogs. Try reading out loud at varying paces and see what sounds the most natural to you.
8. Engage in mock interviews
You can create an interview setting with a trusted peer or instructor and practise all sections of the speaking exam. This exercise can help familiarize you with dynamics of the interview as well as help you obtain constructive feedback with a comprehensive identification of areas of improvement. You can find hundreds of prompts available online; just look up “IELTS speaking practice questions.”
9. Actively listen and respond
Active listening is a multifaceted skill tested in the IELTS speaking test. Listen to the examiner’s questions carefully. Moreover, pay attention to your own responses and allow real-time correction of mistakes. This process would facilitate both comprehension and self-assessment and would come handy outside of the IELTS exam.
10. Speak more than the examiner
Despite the setting being of a conversation between the examiner and you, you should always aim to speak more than the examiner because the goal of the test is to evaluate your skills. Consider yourself an interview subject and the examiner your interviewer whose job is to listen to your answers. Avoid answering a question in a single short sentence; instead, build on your answer and use complex grammatical tools like modals, conditional clauses, etc. You can read about these tools online. Using your own life experiences during the exam is also a tool that enables you to achieve a higher score.
Succeeding in the IELTS speaking part involves a combination of linguistic proficiency and strategic preparation using techniques like the ones detailed above. By keeping in mind these techniques while preparing for the test, you can elevate your scores and approach the test with confidence and poise. Keep in mind that consistent practice, active engagement, unwavering dedication, and a confident and positive mindset are the keys to excelling in the IELTS speaking exam. Good luck with your preparation as practice makes perfect!