In the IELTS Speaking test, try not to repeat every word the examiner uses when you start to answer a question. In other words, don't be a parrot! You should avoid doing this because it sounds unnatural and you can easily make grammatical mistakes. In this post I will give you an example of what I mean.
Correcting yourself in the IELTS Speaking test
In the IELTS Speaking test, it is okay to make mistakes and correct yourself. This shows the examiner that you realised you made a mistake. However, if you correct yourself too much, it will have a negative effect on your fluency score. Mistakes can be language mistakes (grammatical, lexical, etc.) or perhaps you said something in an unclear clear. In this post we will look at some simple ways of correcting yourself.
How to finish speaking in Part 2
In Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test, you are asked to talk about a topic for 1-2 minutes. If you manage to speak for 2 minutes, the examiner will ask you to stop. However, if you speak for less than 2 minutes, you have to stop yourself. Many candidates talk for about one minute and then try to think of something more to say and then become nervous, sit silently or make mistakes. Don't make this mistake! In this post, I will give you a tip on how to finish your answer.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: A well-known person (Band 6.5)
In this post I'm going to share with you a video of a 'Band 6.5' candidate talking about a well-known person in Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test. Below the video I've included the examiner's comments. If you are aiming for Band 7 or higher, this should give you an idea of what the examiners are looking for.
Be natural in the IELTS Speaking test
In my materials, I present lots of useful expressions for asking the examiner to repeat something, gaining time to think about what to say next, expressing an opinion, connecting your ideas, and so on. However, you should use always these expressions in a natural way. Do not use them only to impress the examiner! Let me give you a couple of examples.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Hobbies (Band 7)
In this post I'm going to share with you a video of a 'Band 7' candidate answering a question about hobbies in part 3 of the IELTS Speaking test. Below the video I've included the examiner's comments. If you are aiming for Band 7 or higher, this should give you an idea of what the examiners are looking for.