It is natural to be nervous before any test, especially if competing against half the world for limited seats in your favourite university. Yes, we are talking about IELTS. It is a standardised test of English for non-native English-speaking candidates. In order to get selected in any university abroad, you must undergo certain tests, and for universities in the UK, Australia and Canada, the IELTS speaking test is the one you must qualify for. However, students who are in the mind of appearing for this exam must read more about it before applying to have clear ideas.
If you are tense about your upcoming exams and worried about how you will ever crack the test, we will help you. We will share some efficient ways to help you ace your IELTS exam, and you will qualify with flying colours. But before we jump right into the tips, let us get familiar with the pattern.
IELTS Test Pattern
The IELTS speaking test is divided into 3 parts. The first part will comprise anywhere between 3 to 5 minutes where you are required to talk about yourself. It is basically an introduction round where you must familiarise your examiner briefly about your education, interests, family etc. You may or may not be cross-questioned in this section.
In the second phase, you will be handed a card that will have the topic you must speak on. As soon as you get your topic, you will be given a minute to prepare your response and then go on speaking for the next two minutes.
Once you are done speaking, you and the examiner will discuss the topic in-depth, and this segment can involve a lot of two-way discussions.
Efficient Tips to Practice IELTS Speaking
Now that you know what to expect let us dive into the tips that will make your game stronger.
Do not Memorise
Your tuition centre, seniors, websites will come up with a bunch of IELTS speaking topic suggestions that can be extremely helpful for you. The more topics you explore, the better. However, we strongly advise against trying to memorise. You will not have the time to visit your memory and recollect data, and that will inevitably make you fumble.
Use Simple and Concise Words
Try staying away from jargon. Big words do not impress examiners as they understand if the word comes organically into the sentence or are you simply trying to sound smart. Therefore, work on your vocabulary, but at the same time, try to use the right words instead of the big words.
Practice
One cannot perfect anything without practice. And IELTS speaking is no different. Try making a list of the most important IELTS topics and practice them at home. You can take help from your friend or relative and ask them to assess your speech. You can also take part in online and offline debates and speaking competitions. Such competitions train your mind to articulate your thoughts neatly.
Do Not Extend Your Unnecessarily
Do not try to oversimplify things when speaking to the examiner. Make sure that you have put forward your thoughts and views in full clarity without extending your answer unnecessarily. Wait for the examiner to ask questions, and when he/she does, stress on explaining only then.
Be Confident
Being confident will get you through more than half the interviews you will ever appear for. Do not try to guess what the examiner is thinking and only answer what seems logically correct to you. Even if you wish to put forward an unpopular opinion, do so but have solid reasons backing your argument.
With these tips accompanying your hard work, nothing can stop you from clearing your IELTS speaking test.