Tried & True Tips to Get Band 7 in the IELTS Speaking Test

The IELTS Exam is quite famous among those who want to study or immigrate to an English-speaking country. For many students, IELTS speaking is the most troubled of the four sections of the IELTS exam. The blog contains the best IELTS speaking tips to help you score well in your IELTS Speaking Test. Read on for IELTS speaking tips that will help you feel at ease on test day and contribute to improving your IELTS speaking score.

Effective IELTS Speaking Tips to Get Band 7 in the Exam:

1. Comprehend the Exam

You cannot ace any exam unless you thoroughly understand it. As a first step, it is important to know the IELTS Speaking Test Format, the types of questions you will be asked, and the examiner’s expectations from you. Let us have a brief discussion about this.

Fluency and coherence, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation are the four primary factors that determine your IELTS speaking score.

The 11-14 minutes IELTS speaking exam consists of three sections. 

Part 1 includes general questions like questions about you, your family, your work and your hobbies. 

In part 2, you are given a topic to speak up with a minute of time to prepare. After preparing, you need to speak on the topic for 1 or 2 minutes.

Part 3 is a two-way conversion on the topic given in part 2. It takes around 4 to 5 minutes to finish. 

2. Speak Confidently

Because the IELTS exam is an important segment on your path to achieving your life goals, being nervous during the exam is normal. However, this nervousness can lower your IELTS speaking score. So, you are required to work hard to boost your performance. Remember that the examiner is not only checking your English but also your confidence level. While answering, try to maintain a slight smile. This will not only strengthen your spirit but will also help you to convince the examiner.

3. Think Before Speaking

Though it is limited, you may get time to prepare your speech. Make the most of this time. Also, if you become stuck at any point, you can set aside some time for yourself to think logically. In this scenario, phrases such as “let me see,” “that’s an interesting question,” “let me think,” and so on can be useful. Make sure this doesn’t happen often. 

4. Use Suitable Vocabulary

The vocabulary you use is of major interest to the examiner. Of course, simple and repetitive vocabulary will not sound good, but using complex and unfamiliar words will also not earn you an extra IELTS speaking score. Select words that appear standard and pertinent to the subject. In addition to using formal vocabulary, choosing idioms and phrases occasionally can help your IELTS speaking score.

5. Keep a Check on Your Grammar

A single grammatical error can alter the entire meaning of your message. You must be certain of what you want to convey and what you actually convey, and adequate grammar knowledge is required for this. Have a deep understanding and learn to use the grammar nicely before you appear for the IELTS Test. 

6. No Fillers

Fillers indicate that you lack the ability to express yourself verbally and do not have sufficient exposure to the language. Hence, using fillers like ‘umm,’ ‘yeah,’ and ‘ahh’ are not going to please the examiner. Fillers should be prevented as much as possible in your IELTS speaking exam.

7. Linking Words are Important

Linking words such as but, also, additionally, and finally are important components of your vocabulary. If you use them correctly, you will be on your way to a high IELTS speaking score.

8. Don’t Give a Monotonous Speech

If you have the thoughts, words, and grammar to explain everything, but you are not presenting correctly, you are jeopardising your IELTS speaking score. Your facial expressions, hand movements, emphasizing specific words, and taking pauses as needed are all important to make the speech interesting.

9. Don’t Memorize

The IELTS speaking exam follows a general pattern that everyone is familiar with. Just because you know what you’ll be asked in the IELTS speaking exam doesn’t mean you should start memorising the answers. The examiner in front of you is intelligent and will easily identify rehearsed answers. He is there to assess your English speaking abilities, not to listen to previously learned speeches. So, if you are targeting a high band score in your IELTS speaking exam, try to be as natural and normal as you can.

10. Don’t Hesitate to Ask

It is possible that you did not properly listen to or understand the question. In such cases, rather than answering incorrectly or irrelevantly, there is no harm in asking the examiner to repeat the question. However, you must ensure that this does not happen again and again, as it will give the impression that you are not paying attention during the exam which will result in a lower IELTS speaking score.

11. Practice, Practice and Practice

It makes no difference how many books you read or how many hours you devote to IELTS test preparation if you don’t practice. English is not a subject that can be learned simply by reading books. In fact, it is a language that can only be mastered through daily practice. Communicate in English with your family, friends, and coworkers. The more you practice, the better your pronunciation and fluency will be.

It is also a good idea to practice IELTS speaking exam previous topics to become acquainted with the IELTS Speaking Test pattern, learn time management, and broaden your vocabulary. To learn about what to practice, you can use the internet or contact experienced IELTS coaching professionals.

Miscellaneous Tips

• Reach on or before time for the IELTS speaking exam. Don’t be late.
• Do not elaborate the answers unnecessarily.
• Don’t speak too fast or too slow. Maintain a natural pace.
• Look neat, well-dressed and confident while entering for the IELTS speaking test. Don’t forget to greet the examiner. 
• Don’t give incomplete answers. Stop only when the answer is complete.
• Your pronunciation should be clear and correct. 
• Don’t look here and there while answering. Maintain eye contact with the examiner.
• Be attentive when the examiner says something. 

The tips above are certainly useful, but by far the most crucial thing to remember is to practice. You will need a lot of practice to get the required band score on your IELTS speaking test. Upon exploring, you will quickly find an abundance of material on the internet which will leave you with questions such as where to begin and what to prepare. 

The right approach to overcome the issue is to enroll in a reputable IELTS coaching in your area. IELTS coaching professionals, with their years of field experience, are sure to provide you with the right and necessary guidance to gear up for the IELTS speaking exam.