IELTS Speaking Essential Tips for Maximizing Scores

Are you preparing for the IELTS exam? Are you feeling nervous? Well, it’s quite common among the majority of IELTS aspirants. Especially when it comes to the IELTS speaking exam, students tend to become more worried. IELTS is one of the challenging English language proficiency exams. The speaking test includes face-to-face communication with a certified examiner. While most students find this section to be the hardest, scoring high is not something impossible. All you need to do is follow the right approach.

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So, if you want to maximize your score in the IELTS speaking test, here are some effective tips that can help.

Stay Calm

While it is quite common to feel anxious on exam day, you must try your best to stay calm. It is important because your anxiety can have an impact on your level of fluency. Make sure to stay calm and composed. Even when you are feeling anxious, try portraying a confident attitude. Try telling yourself that you can do it. This can help in keeping you calm.

Moreover, the best thing about the exam is that the speaking test format is designed in such a way that it gives you an opportunity to overcome your anxiety and fears. Initially, you will be asked basic questions on familiar topics to make you feel comfortable. So, the best way to score high is to stay relaxed, put on a smile, and answer the examiner’s questions without fear.

Don’t use Very Unfamiliar and Big Words

It’s very tempting to use the complex and big words in the IELTS speaking test to make a good impression on the examiner. However, if you want to stay on the safe side, try avoiding the use of too big and unfamiliar terms. When you use the unfamiliar words, there are chances that may make pronunciation mistake or use the words in the wrong context. This can negatively affect your score. But if you have a stronghold on vocabulary and know some flowery words relevant to the topic, you can go ahead and use it.

Avoid Asking Too Many Questions

When you are unable to understand a question, you can politely ask the examiner to repeat it. However, make sure to avoid too many questions. Also, do not ask the examiner to explain to you the meaning of the whole question. It is important to note here that the examiners are provided with a script from which they read out the questions.

They are not allowed to go beyond what is written in the script. Moreover, as the exam is recorded, the examiner cannot discuss the questions with you. So, make sure to listen to the questions mindful and give your answers without asking too many questions.

Know the Structure

One of the major mistakes that students commit is not having a clear idea about the structure of the IELTS speaking test. Knowing the structure and format will make it quite easy for you to maximize your scores. Having an idea of the structure will help you answer all the questions more easily and in much less time. Make sure to have knowledge about the length of the speaking test, number of sections or parts, areas of assessment, and the person responsible for grading your performance.

Avoid Memorizing Answers

When you know the speaking test format and have given several mock tests, memorizing answers may seem to be an easy way to score high. However, this can result in more harm than good. Even though you are likely to face similar questions as that of the mock tests in the real interview, avoid memorizing the answers.

Wondering why? Well, it is important because when you memorize answers, there are chances that you may mix answers and tell something that is irrelevant to the question asked. Moreover, forgetting the answer will make you panic and affect your fluency. So, it is always advisable to leverage the mock tests for effective practicing. But when it comes to answers, craft them right on the spot for better scores.

Pause to Think

While appearing for the IELTS speaking exam, it’s absolutely okay to take brief pauses to think and gather your thoughts. It can help you process the question better and avoid bluffing. To avoid awkward silence, you can let the examiner know that you need some time to think. In order to ask for some time, you can use phrases like “It’s an interesting question. Can you please give me a moment to reflect on it?”.

Try Answering the ‘Why’ Part of Every Question

When you are preparing for the IELTS exam, it is always advisable to inculcate the habit of answering the ‘why’ element of every question. Even for questions that can be answered in simple and short sentences, the examiner may ask you why. This is because the examiner wants to evaluate your fluency and hold on to the English language.

So, try to answer the question in full, including the ‘why’ part. Don’t always wait for the examiner to ask you the ‘why’ and keep prompting you. This can result in a deduction of your marks. Make sure to give full and complete answers. In simple terms, talk about all the topics in detail.

Avoid Monotonous Speaking

Often, students appearing for the IELTS speaking test do give the appropriate answers but in a very monotonous tone. This can create a negative impression on the examiner. Monotonous speaking basically means producing flat sounds with very few variations. It can make it quite difficult for you to actually express what you intend to say.

Moreover, it can also make it difficult for the examiner to determine the important part of the message. So, make sure to put emphasis or stress on some words and take pauses at different sections. This can make your answers more meaningful and engaging for the examiner. You can even use simple hand gestures to make the conversation more interesting.

Conclusion

Following these simple tips can help you become more confident and maximize your scores in the IELTS speaking test. Moreover, the tips can also help you reduce your stress and prepare better for excelling in the test. Good Luck!