Spend 6 minutes learning what NOT to do in the IELTS Speaking Test
This IELTS Speaking Masterclass PDF outlines some of the most common mistakes IELTS candidates make during the speaking section of the test.
Discover how to avoid them - and what you should do instead.
Mistake 1
- Not greeting or introducing yourself properly at the beginning of the test.
- Not responding appropriately when the examiner asks to see your ID.
What Should I Say?
Want to make a great first impression? Start off with a friendly "Good morning/afternoon. My name is [Your Name]."
When the examiner asks for your ID, just say, "Sure, here's my ID," and hand it over nicely. It shows you're prepared and that you respect the process.
Mistake 2
- Providing overly memorized or rehearsed answers about personal details, like where you work.
- Failing to talk freely and originally about topics.
What Should I Say?
So, to deal with these issues, just be real and spontaneous when you're talking about your life. Instead of trying to memorize answers, get comfy chatting about your experiences.
If the examiner asks about your job, you could say:
"I'm currently working at [Your Company], doing [Your Specialization]. I love it because [Reason you love your job]."
This way, it feels like you're just sharing bits of your life, making your answer sound legit and way more interesting. Don't forget - the examiner just wants to see if you can use English like you would in real life. So, keeping it authentic is the way to go.
Mistake 3
- Giving answers that are too short.
- Not providing enough detail or explanation in your responses.
What Should I Do?
To tackle this challenge, aim for a happy medium in your responses. Offer answers that are neither too brief nor excessively lengthy.
How do you do that? Start by directly answering the question, then elaborate by adding a relevant detail or personal experience depending on the complexity of the question asked.
Simple Question Example
Question: "What's your favorite color?"
Response: "Oh, I'd say blue. It's always been the color that calms me down and reminds me of the ocean."
Detailed Question Example:
Question: "Can you describe a memorable moment from your childhood?"
Response: Well, I've got this vivid memory from when I was around ten. My family went to Yellowstone National Park, and it was my first time seeing geysers and hot springs. I was blown away by how big and beautiful everything was. We got super close to some bison, too! That trip really made me love the great outdoors and appreciate nature on a whole new level. It's one of those experiences that just sticks with you, you know? It's definitely fueled my passion for traveling and exploring more places.
Mistake 4
- Straying off-topic during the 'long turn' two-minute talk.
What Should I Do?
When you're your 'long turn' (Candidate Task Card) in the speaking test, stick to the question. Going off on a tangent or rambling can mess up how well your answer hangs together and might knock your score down.
What Should I Do?
- Plan Your Answer: Take a minute to organize your thoughts. A clear setup that begins, moves through the middle and ends well will help you stay on track.
- Stick to the Topic: Keep your answer relevant to the question asked. If you find yourself veering off-topic, steer back by connecting your point to the original question.
- Use Conversational Signposting Language: Using signposts in your response makes your answer clearer and more structured.
Native speakers use signposting words or phrases such as:
- "Let's start with," or "First off," to introduce their answer
- "Also," "Plus," or "Not to mention," to add something else
- "But," "Then again," to indicate a change or contrast
- "Like," "For example," to introduce an example
- "So, to sum up," "In a nutshell," to indicate finishing the response
These phrases act as cues to the examiner about what part of your speech is coming next, helping them follow along with your arguments or stories more easily.
- Practice Active Listening: Listen carefully to the question and answer it directly. Don't ignore the examiner and give a memorized answer.
- Check Your Timing: Practice talking for two minutes about different things. Getting used to the time helps you learn how much you can say without getting sidetracked.
- Include Examples: Examples are a great way to add depth to your answer and demonstrate your ability to use English in real-life contexts. Just ensure they are directly related to the question.
Mistake 5
- Repeating yourself in your responses.
- To keep things fresh and avoid sounding like a broken record, native speakers use a few clever tricks:
Use Different Words
Learning new words helps you say what you mean in many ways - so you don't keep saying the same thing. People who speak the language well often use different words or say things in a new way to make the same point.
Practice Active Self-Monitoring
By paying attention to what they say, native speakers can avoid repeating themselves. Being self-aware helps keep their answers clear and to the point.
Use Easy Linking Words
Adding simple linking words like "however," "therefore," "additionally," and "moreover" can help connect ideas and make your answer sound more polished.
Mistake 6
- Overusing certain words, phrases, or expressions.
- Depending too heavily on specific vocabulary or language patterns.
When IELTS candidates use the same words or phrases too much, their speaking can get boring very quickly. This happens when they stick to words they know well, which stops them from sharing ideas in a lively and interesting way. Overusing the same words can also show that you might not know many other words or ways to say something.
Native speakers often have a broad and diverse vocabulary that they use to keep conversations fresh and engaging.
How can you do this?
- Expand Your Vocabulary: Discover new words and expressions. Reading a lot of different things helps you learn new words and see how language is used in various ways.
- Be Creative with Language: Do fun writing or speaking activities that help you use words in new and different ways.
- Listen Actively: Really focus on what others say, noticing the small details and different ways they say things.
Mistake 7
- Using overly formal language instead of conversational language.
This is a common mistake - using very formal language, big words, and complicated sentences that you'd find in academic writing, not a regular conversation. This can make your speaking seem 'awkward' or inappropriate.
Here are a couple of examples:
- Formal Phrase 1: "I believe"
Conversational Alternatives:
"I think"
"In my opinion,"
"I reckon" - Formal Phrase 2: "Allow me to elaborate on that?"
Conversational Alternatives:
Let me explain that a bit more..."
"Let me give you some more details..."
"I'd like to say a bit more about that..." - Formal Phrase 3: "In the event that"
Conversational Alternatives:
"If"
"Just in case"
"Should there be"
Mistake 8
- Overusing filler phrases or comments to buy time.
Filler Words Explained
Filler words are like small breaks we take while talking, often without realizing it, as we think about what to say next.
Words like "um," "ah," "you know," "like," and "so" are common examples.
They can give us a moment to think, but using them too much can make our talking less clear and effective.
Using Filler Words Appropriately in IELTS speaking test:
- Introducing an Opinion: "Well, you know, I think that the government should invest more in renewable energy sources."
- Buying Time to Think: "Hm, that's a good question. Um, I believe that the most important change needed in education is more practical learning opportunities."
- Clarifying a Point: "So, what I mean to say is, there should be a balance between work and personal life to ensure mental health."
Mistake 9
- Speaking too quickly, compromising clarity and intonation.
To improve speaking clarity and intonation, especially for the IELTS speaking test, try these strategies:
- Speak Slowly and Clearly: Read out loud slowly. Make sure to say every word clearly and pause between phrases. This can help you stop using extra words to fill silent moments.
- Record and Listen: Use a recorder when you practice. Listening to it can help you see how fast you speak, how clear you are, and if you use too many filler words. Becoming aware of how you sound to other people can help you find what you need to get better at.
- Do Speaking Activities: Take part in activities like impromptu speaking clubs or online challenges where you have to speak without preparation. This helps you get better at expressing your thoughts clearly when under pressure.
Mistake 10
- Making minor grammatical errors or small mistakes and worrying excessively about them.
- Thinking the examiner is solely focused on counting errors rather than overall performance.
Good communication skills are more important than being perfect. Small grammar mistakes or errors in the IELTS speaking test aren't a big deal. The main point is to share your ideas well and have a good conversation.
Examiners look at how fluently you speak, how well your ideas are connected, your vocabulary, and your grammar use. They DO NOT focus on counting errors - so focus more on expressing your thoughts clearly and confidently instead of worrying about every little mistake.
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