This video shows the features and characteristics of speaking required to achieve a Band score of 9 in the IELTS speaking test.
The IELTS candidate in this example is asked some questions related to famous people.
Below is a description of why she scored a Band 9 in her IELTS speaking test.
The IELTS candidate’s speech is fluent and she rarely repeats what she says or needs to correct her own errors (self-correction).
When she hesitates, she is not thinking about vocabulary or trying to choose the correct grammar – but just to form her ideas.
When she speaks she is coherent and includes typical features of cohesion (e.g. "as you can see; I think it’s more; other than that; if you’re talking about...").
When using vocabulary she is precise and flexible at all times and she has a wide-ranging vocabulary including idiomatic language items:
The grammar she uses is accurate and precise throughout the entire interview. And she makes use of a wide variety of grammatical structures very naturally and different types of sentences with no obvious mistakes.
The phonological features she uses are incorporated precisely and with subtlety and she makes good use of intonation and stress while speaking, and her speech rhythm is constant throughout the entire interview.
She also has very clear pronunciation of sounds and words, which overall makes understanding her speech very easy.
How would you answer these IELTS exam questions about famous people?
The IELTS candidate in this example is asked some questions related to famous people.
Below is a description of why she scored a Band 9 in her IELTS speaking test.
How to get Band 9 in IELTS speaking
The IELTS candidate’s speech is fluent and she rarely repeats what she says or needs to correct her own errors (self-correction).
When she hesitates, she is not thinking about vocabulary or trying to choose the correct grammar – but just to form her ideas.
When she speaks she is coherent and includes typical features of cohesion (e.g. "as you can see; I think it’s more; other than that; if you’re talking about...").
When using vocabulary she is precise and flexible at all times and she has a wide-ranging vocabulary including idiomatic language items:
"have a tendency; be exposed to; the world is becoming more globalised; the norm; strikes a chord; communication tool; actors that sponsor; materialistically; cool gadgets; grasp of people’s mindset"
The grammar she uses is accurate and precise throughout the entire interview. And she makes use of a wide variety of grammatical structures very naturally and different types of sentences with no obvious mistakes.
The phonological features she uses are incorporated precisely and with subtlety and she makes good use of intonation and stress while speaking, and her speech rhythm is constant throughout the entire interview.
She also has very clear pronunciation of sounds and words, which overall makes understanding her speech very easy.