Strategies for the IELTS Speaking Test

Part 1 - Warm-up

The questions are easy, so the examiner cannot be sure of your level from only Part 1. You can give very easy answers, but this is a chance to make a good impression. If you give easy answers, the examiner will not know if you are Band 4 or maybe Band 5. If you give good, specific answers with explanations, the examiner will think you could be Band 6 or Band 7!

You can use this time to practice making good sentences. If you wait until Part 2 and Part 3 to give longer answers, you might not do so well. Athletes and musicians always take time to warm up. You should too!

Part 2 - the "Long Turn"

The biggest mistake students make is to not take notes. The examiner will give you a piece of paper and a pencil to take notes because speaking for two minutes without stopping is not easy. Even native English speakers will have trouble speaking for two minutes! Students who don't take notes often say, "Uh, I think maybe, um.... Um..., well... It seems to me...". "Uh" and "Um" are Band ZERO! Use notes to help you remember what you want to say. If not, you WILL get a low score.

Use the P.R.E.P. method. Start with "P" - make one sentence about your main Point. Then give two or three sentences to provide "R", a Reason. Next give "E", an Example. Describe the example using two or three sentences. Finish by repeating "P", your main Point, but use a different sentence. If you have extra time, give a second example.

You must practice! Use a watch and give yourself one minute to take notes on a topic, then two minutes to make four or five sentences using the PREP method. You should practice one or two topics every day before the test.

Do not worry about the time. That is the examiner's job. He or she will tell you when to stop.

Part 3 - General Questions

Part 3 is the hardest part of the Speaking Test and it comes very fast. Most students aren't ready. When you hear the examiner say "And now I'd like to ask you some more GENERAL questions RELATED to your Part 2 topic", you know Part 3 is starting. Be ready!

Do NOT take so much time. Two sentences for each answer is usually enough. If you have a long introduction, the examiner will think you don't know how to answer the question.

Use the General-Specific technique. As soon as you hear the question, give a general opinion about the topic. Then give a specific reason or example in the next sentence or two.

General tips for Speaking

Before the test

• Try and talk in English as much as possible.

• Go to the Informal Activity meetings organized by the Self Access Centre (SAC) in the ELC. Ask in the SAC for details.

• Remember the more familiar you are with everyday social English the more fluent you will sound.

• Make sure you are familiar with the structure of the test.

• Listen to as much English as you can – watch English TV channels, listen to English radio - RTHK (567AM) & BBC (675 AM), and watch films in the SAC.

• Talk aloud to yourself and tape yourself.

During the test

• Your appearance may have an unconscious effect on the examiner, so dress neatly.

• Arrive early. Sometimes examiners get ahead of their schedule.

• Try to look confident. Don’t fold your arms.

• Keep eye contact with the examiner, especially in parts 1 and 3. Don’t speak to the cassette recorder.

• Don’t worry if the examiner does not look at you in part 2. He or she will be listening and checking the criteria for assessing you.

• Don’t worry about being nervous. Everyone is nervous doing these tests. Don’t say to the examiner ‘I’m nervous’!

• Remember speaking ‘fluently’, does not mean speaking ‘quickly’.

• Don’t be afraid to correct yourself if you make a grammatical mistake.

How to prepare for IELTS – Speaking Contents

Details of the Speaking Test Structure of the test

The speaking test is the last test you do on the test day. You will be given a time slot between about 2pm and 6.30pm.

There are three tasks or parts to the test which takes the form of an interview lasting between 11 & 14 minutes:

1. Part 1 Introduction & Interview (4-5 minutes)
2. Part 2 Individual long turn (3-4 minutes)
3. Part 3 Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes)

The tasks test your ability to perform the following functions in English:

• provide personal and non-personal information
• express & justify opinions
• make suggestions
• speculate
• express a preference
• make comparisons & discuss contrasts
• summarise
• relate personal experiences
• analyse
• repair conversation & paraphrase