5 Easy Steps to Practice IELTS Speaking Alone | PDF Guide

Getting ready for the IELTS Speaking Test on your own can be tough, but don't worry - even without a native language IELTS speaking partner - with the right tips, you can improve your English speaking skills.

Here are five ideas to help you practice IELTS Speaking alone:

Contents

How to practice IELTS speaking alone

  1. Practice Speaking Aloud Regularly
  2. Use AI IELTS Speaking Prompts
  3. Expand Your Vocabulary
  4. Watch and Listen to English Media
  5. Join Online Speaking Communities

Bonus Strategy:

IELTS Speaking Practice


1. Practice Speaking Aloud Regularly

Daily Practice



Set aside at least 15-30 minutes each day to speak English aloud. This could involve reading articles or blog posts, discussing a topic, or summarizing your day. Daily IELTS speaking practice is essential to make progress quickly.

Record Yourself

Use your phone or a recording device to record your IELTS speaking practice. This will help you identify areas for improvement, such as pronunciation, fluency, and coherence.


2. Use AI IELTS Speaking Prompts

Sample Questions



Find authentic IELTS speaking sample questions online or in preparation books. Practice answering these questions as if you were in the IELTS test. Always try to use authentic IELTS practice tests.

Simulate Test Conditions

When you practise IELTS speaking, time yourself to answer each part of the speaking test. Aim for 2 minutes in Part 2 (the long turn) and try to speak fluently and coherently in Part 1 and Part 3.


3. Expand Your Vocabulary

Learn New Words Daily

Make a habit of learning a few new words each day and try to use them in your speaking practice.

Thematic Vocabulary

Focus on vocabulary related to common IELTS topics such as education, environment, technology, and health. This will help you articulate your ideas more precisely during the test. You can see many sample answers on this site.


4. Watch and Listen to English Media

Watch English Shows and Movies

Pay attention to the dialogue and mimic the intonation and pronunciation. Try to discuss the plot or characters afterward.

Listen to Podcasts and Audiobooks

Choose topics that interest you and listen to native speakers. This will improve your listening skills and help you get used to different accents and speaking speeds.


5. Join Online Speaking Communities

Language Exchange Platforms

Websites like:

can connect you with native English speakers or fellow learners for practice.

IELTS Preparation Forums

Participate in forums like the IELTS subreddit or other online communities where you can share practice experiences, provide feedback, and exchange speaking prompts with others.

By consistently using these strategies in your daily routine, you will enhance your speaking skills and become more confident in your ability to perform well on the IELTS Speaking Test.


Bonus Stratgey

Shadowing is a language learning technique where you listen to a piece of spoken language and repeat it as closely as possible, mimicking the pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm of the speaker.

This method is particularly useful for improving listening skills, pronunciation, and speaking fluency.

How to Practice Shadowing

1. Select audio materials suitable for your level

  • These could be podcasts, news reports, audiobooks, documentaries, or even movie dialogues. Start with shorter, simpler recordings and gradually move to more complex ones.
  • Transcripts are helpful. Choose materials that come with a written transcript so you can read along and check your accuracy.
  • Check out YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Netflix and similar streaming sites for documentary videos with subtitles.

2. Listen First

  • Listen to the entire audio segment once or twice without speaking. Focus on understanding the content and getting a feel for the speaker's intonation and rhythm.

3. Repeat After the Speaker

  • Play the audio again, and this time, try to repeat immediately after the speaker. Aim to match their pronunciation, speed, and intonation as closely as possible.
  • You can break the audio into smaller chunks or sentences, pausing after each one to repeat.

4. Practice with Transcripts

  • Read the transcript while listening to the audio. This helps you connect the spoken words with their written form and improves comprehension.
  • Practice shadowing again, this time without looking at the transcript to focus purely on listening and speaking.

5. Record Yourself

  • Record your shadowing practice sessions. This allows you to compare your pronunciation and intonation with the original audio.
  • Listen to your recordings to identify areas for improvement and track your progress over time.

Speech Shadowing Tools

  • Forvo: Provides pronunciations of words by native speakers, which you can listen to and repeat.
  • YouGlish: Allows you to search for words or phrases and hear them used in context across many YouTube videos.

Benefits of Shadowing

1. Improves Pronunciation

Mimicking native speakers helps you develop more accurate pronunciation and reduces your accent.

2. Enhances Listening Skills

By closely following the audio, you become better at picking up nuances in speech, including different accents and speeds.

3. Increases Speaking Fluency

Regular practice helps you become more comfortable speaking at a natural pace and improves your overall fluency.

4. Builds Confidence

As you get used to the rhythm and flow of English, you'll feel more confident in your speaking abilities.

Shadowing is a versatile and effective technique that can significantly improve your English speaking skills, vocabulary and grammatical range when preparing for speaking exams like IELTS.

Good luck with your IELTS speaking exam!


Frequently Asked Questions

The IELTS Speaking test has three parts. In Part 1 you’ll answer short questions about common topics like hobbies or work. Part 2 gives you a cue card with a topic: you have one minute to prepare and then speak for two minutes. In the final part (Part 3), the examiner asks follow up questions to discuss deeper ideas related to your Part 2 topic.
Focus on learning grammar structures used in everyday English like past tense or conditionals. Write sentences using new rules and say them out loud. If you have a study partner online ask them to give feedback. Recording yourself and listening back helps spot mistakes.
Lexical resource means using a wide range of words correctly. Examiners check this to give you a high score. The best way to expand yours is to learn new vocabulary daily especially words related to common questions (e.g., environment, technology). Use synonyms instead of repeating the same words!
Practice with cue cards daily. Use your one minute to prepare by writing quick notes. Speak until the time limit ends (even if you finish early add more details!). Most students find it easier after practicing with a timer.
Yes! Start practicing alone by talking to yourself, using AI tools or recording answers. To improve your speaking join online forums to give feedback to others – they might help you too!
Questions often cover various topics like family, travel or education. Focus on familiar topics first then move on to new ones. Watching English shows or reading sample answers helps you prepare for common questions.
Stress patterns (emphasizing the right syllables in words) are a big part of English. Mimic native speakers in movies or podcasts. Practice this daily and improve your speaking and score higher.
Yes! Work hard by following the steps in this blog like daily recording and shadowing. Use more tips like timing yourself and learning grammar structures. The great thing about practicing alone is you can focus on your weak areas!

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