Are you going to waste your money and time preparing in the wrong way for the IELTS speaking test?
Many students are wasting money and time doing the wrong things and we want to show you what NOT to do today.
To get the speaking score you need, you can’t just practice general conversation.
You can’t just grab a native speaker and try to speak with them.
What should you do differently?
You should learn the speaking strategies and understand the exam when you prepare for the speaking test.
You need to know the rules and the strategies so that you are not practice incorrectly.
You want to know what the examiner wants before you begin your speaking test practice.
The formula for success is to have two types of speaking preparation: Get a speaking partner, chat with them a few times a week to get your fluency up AND learn the format, rules, strategies of the speaking test and if you can, do some speaking test practice where you are pretending to be in the exam.
Even native speakers don’t always get a perfect score because they don’t have the strategies.
They usually get a 9 for pronunciation but they may not get a perfect score on vocabulary, fluency and coherence because they don’t know the rules of the exam.
In Part 1:
You must answer in complete sentences and you can’t give one-word answers.
Your fluency and coherence score will go way down if you do that.
In Part 2:
You are given a topic card and you have a minute to take notes and think about your answer.
People who have not studied for the test think they have to answer every question on the card.
That’s not the case.
The examiner doesn’t care if you answer every question on the card.
The questions are meant to guide you.
Click here to learn more about your goals for IELTS Speaking Part 2.
In Part 3:
A good rule of thumb is to organize your answer in the same you organize an academic essay.
Put an introduction, examples, details, and the conclusion.
Use the same structure for every question on Part 3.
Learn the linking words that you need to use.
Then you need to practice, practice, practice.
Read more about how to use idioms on the speaking test.
Leave us your comments below.
What questions do you have about preparing for the Speaking test?
What are you most nervous about?