If you wish to study abroad then, you will inevitably have to qualify for an English language test to prove your fluency in the language. The most preferred English test among students is the IELTS test which consists of 4 different sections in which the student has to represent his fluency and skills. This article is all about some common mistakes in IELTS Speaking and how to fix them.
Speaking of IELTS, the exam is divided into 4 parts, viz. IELTS Speaking, IELTS Reading, IELTS Listening and IELTS Writing. Out of these, students find the IELTS Speaking and Listening sections quite challenging due to the differences in pronunciation. For this reason, we have come up with this blog that students aware of the common mistakes they can make during their IELTS Speaking exam and the effective ways to correct them. But first, let us learn more about the IELTS Speaking section and some of the IELTS Speaking topics.
- What is IELTS Speaking?
- Common IELTS Speaking Topics
- 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid in the IELTS Speaking Test
- How to Fix Your Common Mistakes in the IELTS Speaking Exam?
What is IELTS Speaking?
IELTS Speaking is equally important as other parts of the IELTS test. The IELTS Speaking test aims to assess the candidate’s speaking and conversing ability. All the responses from the students are recorded so that they can be reviewed in future if required.
In this test, the candidate gets interviewed face-to-face by the interviewer who in turn judges the candidate’s fluency, pronunciation and ability to hold a conversation in the English medium. For students, this is done to analyse their ability to comprehend the daily lessons (which will be taught completely in English) and other day-to-day conversations to survive in a foreign country.
The IELTS Speaking test is inclusive of 3 parts. In Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking exam, the interviewer asks some general introduction questions regarding the work, family and hobbies of the student.
In the second part, Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking exam, the student is given an IELTS cue card with a topic. The student is given a pen and a paper to note some points on the topic for 1 minute post which the student is required to speak on the topic for 2 minutes.
In Part 3 of the IELTS exam, the interviewer put up questions from the students based on his response in Part 2.
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Common IELTS Speaking Topics
Below are some common IELTS Speaking test topics, asked in Part 2 that you should prepare before appearing in your IELTS Speaking test.
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| Food |
Family |
Neighbourhood |
| Education |
Music |
Weather |
| Shopping |
Hometown |
Home and Accommodation |
| Travel |
Hobbies |
Animals |
| What is Your Country Famous for? |
Are Clothes Important to You? |
Business |
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5 Common Mistakes to Avoid in the IELTS Speaking Test
Below is a comprehensive list of 5 common mistakes that students often commit in their IELTS Speaking exam.
1. Trying to Memorise Responses
Memorising the answers to some common topics such as educational and family background can put the candidate’s chances of passing the exam at stake. This is because the interviewer in the IELTS Speaking exam is highly skilled and trained to detect the candidate’s fluency and hold on to the language and an answer which is crammed can be easily pointed out by them.
2. Not Speaking with Confidence/Aloud
Not speaking aloud or mumbling in front of your interviewer may leave a bad impression. Even though a student is not expected to speak like news reporters, avoiding eye contact and not answering with confidence can speak otherwise for them.
3. Going Off the Topic/Subject
No matter whether you speak less/more on the given topic if your response does not answer the question, you’ll end up losing the dedicated marks of that part. When you go off the topic, your interviewer may take it as a sign that you didn’t understand the question properly or you don’t know the answer.
4. Responding merely with Yes/No to the Interviewer’s Questions
The IELTS Speaking test is conducted to assess your proficiency in English. If you do not converse properly with the interviewer and give one-word or yes/no answers, it will be difficult for your interviewer to judge your skills.
5. Overuse of the Transition Words
If you use transition words like “for example”, “in that case”, and “on the other hand” too often while answering, you will waste too much of your speaking time. At the start of each round, the interviewer will mention the strict durations for answering your question. If you waste too much of your dedicated speaking time in using transition words then, you will shorten your time to speak on the actual topic and this might get your scores deducted.
Note:- If you wish to ace your IELTS Speaking test practice, you may consider Free IELTS Online Classes on Shiksha.com. These are free online practice classes for IELTS. The classes will be conducted on all weekdays of the month and all the topics from the 4 sections of the IELTS exam will be discussed.
How to Fix Your Common Mistakes in the IELTS Speaking Exam?
Now that you have learnt the common mistakes that are often committed in the exam. Here are a few points that can help you avoid such mistakes.
- The IELTS exam speaking test is conducted in a conversational format. So, students are advised not to learn their responses to the common questions about their family, home and hobbies. It is better to practice speaking in English in person or with your family or friends before the exam.
- It is okay to feel nervous before your IELTS Speaking exam. Your IELTS interviewer will understand the stress that you might be going through regarding your exam. In such situations, try to relax and calm your thoughts down and speak with confidence to your interviewer. Speak clear words and frame complete sentences.
- Listen to what is asked of you in the interview attentively. Correctly understanding the question can help you give a good response without going off-topic.
- Do not use the same phrases and words often in your answers. This will indicate that you are short of vocabulary. Learn some synonyms of the common words that you use in your day-to-day conversations and try to expand your vocabulary.
This was all about the common mistakes in the IELTS speaking test, IELTS speaking topics, IELTS speaking practice, and the ways to avoid these common mistakes in the IELTS speaking test topics. If you wish to study abroad, then you can get assistance from Shiksha Counselling Services for free. You can also drop your queries in the comments section below.
There is no pass or fail in the IELTS exam. Students taking the IELTS exam are graded on their performance in the IELTS test using Bands from 1 – 9 for each skill of the test: Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. Candidates would also receive an overall band score which would be the average of all the individual scores received by the candidate and rounded to the nearest half band. The IELTS exam does not have a passing score. Universities abroad would have an IELTS minimum score requirement which is often referred to as the IELTS cut-off. This is the minimum score that candidates need to achieve to apply to the university. Candidates should note that getting the minimum IELTS score does not guarantee admission to the university. Candidates are required to score higher than the expected IELTS cut-off.
A good IELTS score can vary depending on your specific goals, such as study abroad requirements, visa applications, or employment opportunities. Different institutions and organizations may have different score requirements, so it is essential to research and understand the specific score expectations for your intended purpose. In general, a score of 6.5 or higher is considered a good IELTS score. However, this may differ based on the individual's needs and the requirements of the institution or organisation they are applying to.
Some universities and programs may have higher score requirements, especially for competitive programs or fields of study. It is crucial to review the score requirements of the institutions or organizations you are interested in and aim to achieve a score that meets their criteria. Additionally, consider your own personal goals and requirements when determining what constitutes a good IELTS score for you. Get more details at What is a good IELTS score?
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After learning the complete format familiarize yourself with all the topics that you need to cover while preparing for the test. You can get online practice tests and make sure to do it while following the time. Prepare for the Listening test by listening to the audio recordings. Similarly, prepare for the Reading and Writing sections accordingly. Make sure you do as much practice as possible in order to get a decent IELTS score.