Everything you need to know about IELTS Speaking Section

Welcome to part two of our ongoing series on how to ace the IELTS exam.
Here’s where we’re at:

• Part 1: Acing the Reading Section
• Part 2: Acing the Writing Section
• Part 3: Acing the Listening Section
• Part 4: Acing the Speaking Section (This Post)

I got a 9 on Speaking section of the IELTS. 

My secret sauce: environment that encourages english speaking.

In this post, I will share everything you need to know about the IELTS Speaking Section so you can truly ace it.

Let's get started!

Fundamentals

As always, we’ll begin with the fundamentals.

The speaking component is the same for both tests (IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training). There are three parts and the test is recorded.

Introduction & Interview
(4-5 minutes)

• The examiner introduces him/herself and asks you to introduce yourself and confirm your identity. The examiner asks you general questions on familiar topics, (e.g. family, work, studies and interests).

Individual long turn (3-4 minutes)

• The examiner gives you a task card which asks you to talk about a particular topic and which includes points you can cover in your talk. You are given one minute to prepare your talk, and you are given a pencil and paper to make notes. You talk for one to two minutes on the topic. The examiner then asks you one or two questions on the same topic.

Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes)

• The examiner asks further questions which are connected to the topic of Part 2. This gives you an opportunity to discuss more general issues and ideas.

Strategy

• Practice Regularly:

Remember! Without practice, you cannot get better at speaking. You can read all the tips and watch all the tutorials but unless you try it out on your own, your english speaking abilities won’t improve.

So, get in the habit of speaking without shame. Don’t worry about what other people might say. Engage in conversations, discussions, or even speak to yourself about various topics.

• Expand Your Vocabulary:

Vocabulary and your way of communication matters which is why a great vocabulary allows you to get your point across effortlessly. Large vocabulary doesn’t mean you know all the big words but the right words for the context.

The more familiar you are with the words, the easier it will be for you to pronounce them and use them in conversations with confidence. You can build your vocabulary by reading news articles or listening to english podcasts on YouTube or Spotify. While you’re listening, pay attention to the usage and pronunciation of each word. It allows you to learn by mimicing, which I highly recommend.

• Work on Your Pronunciation:

Mispronouncing words can affect your final score because it can cause miscommuncation and signal lack of familiarity. Without working on your pronounciation, getting a 9 on the speaking section is impossible.

You can practice with phonetic exercises and use guides to improve your pronounciation.

• Don’t worry about your accent

In a face-to-face IELTS Speaking test, the examiner will be familiar with many accents, so they'll understand you. If you communicate effectively and clearly, there's nothing to worry about.

However, you should pay attention to sounds you struggle with to cover up your weak spot. Practice with friends, and they'll let you know if they have trouble understanding you.

• Record and Review:

Record yourself while speaking English, then listen to the recordings to identify mistakes and areas for improvement. This will help in recognizing issues with your pronunciation, grammar, or fluency. Over time, reviewing and adjusting based on these recordings can significantly improve your speaking abilities.

• Focus on your communication and not speed:

Speak slowly and thoughtfully. No need to rush because you will end up babbling and using filler words that will have a negatively impact your rapport with the examiner. You need to stay relaxed and use simple language to answer each part of the speaking test.

Remember, it’s a test of your ability to communicate effectively, not a test of your speed or accent.

30-Days Plan

Weeks 1-3: Building English Speaking Capabilities

• Daily Vocabulary Expansion:
  • Learn 10 new words or phrases each day. Use them in sentences to understand their usage.
  • Read English newspapers, listen to English podcasts or watch English TV shows/movies to expose yourself to different accents and styles of speaking.
• Daily Speaking Practice:
  • Allocate at least 1-2 hours daily for speaking practice.
  • Engage in conversations with friends, family or language exchange partners.
• Record your conversations and play them back to identify areas for improvement.
• Pronunciation and Intonation Practice:
  • Spend 30 minutes daily on pronunciation exercises.
  • Practice stress and intonation through sentence reading and mimicry exercises.
• Grammar Refinement:
  • Work on grammar exercises and seek feedback from language learning communities or apps like Grammarly.

Week 4: IELTS Speaking Section Preparation

• Understanding IELTS Speaking Test Format:
  • Familiarize yourself with the IELTS Speaking test format which consists of three parts: Introduction and Interview, Long Turn, and Discussion.
  • Understand the assessment criteria which include fluency, pronunciation, and grammar.
• Practice Common IELTS Topics
  • Tourism and travel
  • Education
  • Transport
  • Environment
  • Family life
  • Sport and recreation
  • Crime and punishment
  • The internet
  • Advertising and retail
• Daily Mock Tests:
  • Take daily mock tests under exam conditions, and review your performance.
  • Record your responses, listen to them, and work on the feedback.
• Feedback and Improvement:
  • Seek feedback from friends, teachers or online communities.
  • Focus on improving fluency, coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.
• Relaxation and Mental Preparation:
  • Practice relaxation techniques to manage anxiety.
  • Go over useful phrases and vocabulary, and prepare mentally for the test.

By following this structured plan, the initial three weeks will allow you to build a solid foundation in English speaking, and the last week will ensure you are well-prepared for the IELTS Speaking test.

Conclusion:

Following this well-structured plan, you'll notably enhance your English speaking abilities initially, then adeptly transition into focused IELTS Speaking section preparation in the final week. This balanced approach not only fortifies your foundational skills but also finely tunes your technique for the IELTS, positioning you for a commendable performance on the test.