Having a conversation in a language other than your primary language can be challenging. Learning an additional language, such as English, often takes sustained effort because you may not have constant exposure to it or a cultural and linguistic context in which to use it.
Furthermore, speaking places you under real-time constraints, unlike reading and writing, where you usually have an opportunity to reflect and revise. Many educational institutions accept IELTS as evidence of English-language proficiency, although score requirements vary by institution and program. IELTS assesses four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. This article focuses on the Speaking test.
To help our readers improve their language abilities and work toward a higher IELTS band score, we have created a detailed article with relevant tips below.
Overview of the IELTS Speaking Test
IELTS includes four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training have the same Listening and Speaking sections, but their Reading and Writing sections are different.
At a test center, the IELTS Speaking test is a face-to-face interview between the test taker and an examiner. The test is recorded, lasts 11–14 minutes, and is divided into three parts. For IELTS Online, the Speaking test is conducted by video call with a human examiner. Certified IELTS examiners assess your speaking performance throughout the test.
Your Speaking score is based on four equally weighted assessment criteria. IELTS results are reported on a 0–9 band scale. There is no universal passing score, as institutions and organizations set their own requirements.
- Fluency and Coherence: How well you speak at a natural pace without excessive hesitation and how clearly you organize and connect your ideas.
- Lexical Resource: The range of vocabulary you use and how accurately and appropriately you use it to express meaning.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The variety of grammatical structures you use and how accurately and appropriately you use them.
- Pronunciation: How clearly you speak and whether you can be understood without too much effort.
Tips & Techniques to Increase Your IELTS Speaking Test Score
Many institutions accept IELTS scores as evidence of English-language proficiency. However, each institution or program may set its own requirements. Here are some useful tips to improve your performance on the IELTS Speaking test.
Tip 1: Develop a Richer Vocabulary
Lexical Resource is one of four equally weighted assessment criteria for the IELTS Speaking test. It is also one of four equally weighted criteria used to assess each Writing task. To perform well, build a broad vocabulary and learn how to use words accurately and appropriately in context. Expanding your knowledge of topic-specific vocabulary can also help you express your ideas more clearly.
Tip 2: Evaluate Your Capabilities and Weaknesses
Learning a new language can be difficult because it may be challenging to identify your own mistakes. Regular practice and self-evaluation can help you recognize the areas that need the most improvement.
Consider your performance in each of the four IELTS Speaking criteria: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. It is not productive to give equal attention to skills you have already mastered and skills that require more work.
Avoid using the same phrases and expressions repeatedly. Try to minimize long pauses and digressions while maintaining a balance between grammatical accuracy and fluency.
Tip 3: Have Variation in Intonation
Speaking with very little variation in intonation can make your responses sound monotonous and may make your meaning harder to follow. Emphasizing important words and pausing naturally at meaningful points can help you communicate more clearly.
Practice varying your intonation while speaking. Focus on delivering your ideas clearly rather than speaking in a flat or overly rehearsed manner.
Tip 4: Practice Pronunciation
Improving your pronunciation can help you communicate more clearly during the IELTS Speaking test. Examiners assess whether you can be understood without too much effort.
You do not need to imitate a particular accent. Instead, focus on clear pronunciation, natural stress, rhythm, and intonation. Study and practice the pronunciation of new words as you learn them.
Many reliable online dictionaries include audio recordings and phonetic transcriptions so that you can hear how words are pronounced and review their pronunciation. One useful resource is the Cambridge Online Dictionary.
Identifying the pronunciation mistakes you make most often can help you focus your practice. Online audio dictionaries, podcasts, and other listening resources can help you become more familiar with natural pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.
Tip 5: Don’t Use Unnecessary Fillers
Try not to overuse filler words or repeat yourself unnecessarily. Excessive use of fillers can make your speech less fluent and may suggest that you are struggling to access the language you need.
Practice using meaningful phrases instead. Common fillers that you may want to reduce include “like,” “you know,” “um,” and “ah.”
Tip 6: Enhance Your Responses
One effective way to improve your performance on the IELTS Speaking test is to answer the examiner’s questions with relevant detail. Avoid waiting for the examiner to ask you to elaborate. When appropriate, explain your ideas and provide examples.
The examiner may ask follow-up questions that encourage you to explain your reasoning or discuss a topic in greater depth. Practice expanding your answers naturally without relying on filler words.
Tip 7: Avoid the Use of Jargon and Complex Phrases
During the IELTS Speaking test, you may be tempted to use complicated words or phrases to demonstrate your language skills. However, it is better to use vocabulary that you understand and can use accurately. Unfamiliar words are more likely to be mispronounced or used in the wrong context.
Use a varied vocabulary, but make sure that your word choices fit the topic and express your meaning clearly.
Tip 8: Be Confident
Try to remain calm and confident during the assessment. Nervousness can make it harder to speak clearly and organize your ideas. Regular practice can help you feel more comfortable answering questions under time pressure.
Tip 9: Master Popular IELTS Topics
In Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test, the examiner gives you a task card with a topic. You have one minute to prepare before speaking about the topic for up to two minutes. Rehearse with friends, family members, or study partners so that you become more comfortable speaking at length.
Practice discussing a wide range of familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies, interests, hobbies, travel, and technology. You should also practice giving opinions and discussing broader or more abstract issues, as these skills are useful in Part 3.
Tip 10: Do a Self-recording
Finally, record yourself answering sample IELTS Speaking questions. Listen to your responses afterward and evaluate your fluency, grammatical range and accuracy, vocabulary, pronunciation, and clarity. Use your observations to identify the areas that require more practice.
IELTS is accepted by thousands of employers, professional associations, governments, and educational institutions around the world. However, required scores vary by organization and program. The Speaking test can feel challenging, but regular practice and familiarity with the assessment criteria can help you improve your performance.
We hope this article will help you prepare for the IELTS exam. Make sure to also check out our IELTS Page for more tips and related articles!
