When you want to study overseas, you have to pass the IELTS proficiency test in order to get admitted to your preferred international college. Therefore, speaking and listening are the two significant parts of the IELTS examination, where speaking takes only 11-15 minutes. As this guide is all about IELTS speaking practice, we will discuss the nitty-gritty of this exam. Therefore, this precious guide to IELTS speaking covers the challenging part of this examination, the major pointers to follow for hassle-free speaking, and others. So, let’s get started.
What is IELTS Speaking about?
IELTS speaking is an informal and face-to-face discussion with an IELTS interviewer, similar to both general training and academic. This major test has three parts, and each part is specially designed to assess your fluency, vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.
IELTS Parts
Part 1
In part 1 of the IELTS exam, you will have to communicate with an IELTS inspector about yourself. Here the probable topics would be:
- Family
- Work
- Personal interests
- Home life
Part 2
In the second part of the IELTS speaking exam, a topic will be given to you, written on a card. After that, within a 1 min time frame, you have to take notes on that topic and create your answer on a paper. Once the time is up, you will have to speak on that given topic for two minutes.
Part 3
In the last part of the IELTS exam, you have to communicate with that IELTS interviewer based on the topic provided in part 2, while talking about it more precisely. In brief, the part 3 speaking test should be completed in 4-5 minutes.
IELTS Speaking Practice
Innumerable ways are there for your speaking practice. Hence, the most vital things to remember are:
- It is necessary to do self-practicing instead of not doing it at all. Never let your partner’s deficiency be while you practice speaking.
- Various ways are available online to practice with a partner.
- You must focus on the 4 marking criteria, which is important.
- Become a reflective learner, and record your practice sessions and assess your performance.
- Understand your weakness, and take relevant actions to boost those.
Rules and Marking Criteria for IELTS Speaking
The marking criterion of IELTS consists of four parts:
- Pronunciation
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Accuracy and Range
- Fluency and Coherence
Pronunciation
Top band scores of IELTS will be achieved by those partakers whose pronunciations are fathomable for a native speaker. Scores get reduced for mispronunciation if the interviewer can’t comprehend the examinee’s message. In brief, without sheer pronunciation, it doesn’t matter how excellent your fluency is.
Lexical Resource
This one requires your vocabulary ranges, and you will be evaluated on your competency of using words in the correct context. IELTS speaking test lauds those examinees with wider vocabularies. Moreover, sometimes students who have a wrong notion of using high-level words or idioms will get their desired score. It’s lowering your score for sure!
Grammatical Accuracy and Range
Your competency in grammar will be analyzed in the speaking exam, where you need to use a wide array of the right grammatical constructions. You can acquire high band scores by showcasing that you excelled in intricate sentence structures, verbs, and other advanced grammar features.
Fluency and Coherence
The speaker’s communication ability is evaluated with fluency and coherence to communicate clearly and logically. An ideal IELTS band score of 9 indicates that the speaker doesn’t need to pause to remember words, and instead, they can emphasize the message they are willing to convey to the examiner.
Coherence is part and parcel of fluency, but it’s a bit different. It actually computes how well a student can sum up their thoughts together. An elevated band score dictates that a student should seamlessly use a wide array of discourse markers and cohesive features to provide comprehensive ideas.
IELTS Speaking Tips
- Try self-speaking in English every day
It would be better to practice daily and hone your skills gradually instead of speaking your mother tongue.
- Do a 24-hour English warm-up session
Most IELTS students take a warm-up time of 10-15 minutes and perform to the best of their capability on that day. It implies you have to speak, read, write, and listen to English for 24-48 hours prior to the speaking test.
- Provide complete answers
During an IELTS speaking test, a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ might not be sufficient as the examiner doesn’t understand your proficiency in English.
Conclusion
This guide has equipped you with the essential knowledge about the IELTS speaking practice. We explored the format of the test, including the three parts and the different topics you might encounter. More importantly, we provided valuable strategies to improve your speaking skills and achieve a high band score. Remember, consistent practice and focusing on the four marking criteria – pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and fluency – are key to success. By following these tips and diligently preparing, you can confidently face your IELTS speaking test and gain admission to your dream university abroad.
