For those who want to make their Study in canada, it is important that you ace the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). You need to put the time and effort into improving your English and perfecting your test technique. If your goal is to study, work or live in an English-speaking environment, then you need to ace your communication skills with the language.
The IELTS is divided into four sections Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening covering all the aspects of the language.
Well, most of the students somehow prepare and complete the three sections reading, writing and listening, but when it comes to speaking they are not so confident as they have to present themselves in front of the examiner, but it is a very important part of the paper and the student needs to work it out. Well, you do not have to worry about the preparation of the IELTS Speaking Format, we have some amazing tips to cope with the preparations.
What is the IELTS Speaking format?
It consists of Introduction & Interview (4-5 minutes) . The examiner introduces him/herself. And, they ask you to introduce yourself. Then, the examiner asks you general questions on familiar topics, (e.g. family, work, studies and interests). Then is Individual long turn (3-4 minutes). After the first part, you talk about a particular topic.
The examiner gives you points you can cover in your talk. You can prepare your ideas for a minute, and you are given a pencil and paper to make notes. You talk for one to two minutes on the topic. The examiner then asks you one or two questions on the same topic. It is followed by Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes). The examiner asks further questions which are connected to the topic of Part 2. This gives you an opportunity to discuss more general issues and ideas.
During this session many aspirants lose confidence and struggle to answer well. To ease out this situation we have some examiner approved tips. They are straight away telling us what they require. We need to understand and follow it.
- Before appearing for the Speaking test, make sure you take the time to practise speaking English. For example, you can practise with friends, at work and on the phone. You could also consider recording yourself, so you can listen back to your responses to help you improve. Practising more will make you more confident.
- One needs to understand that this test is just a conversation. There are no right or wrong answers in the Speaking test. The examiner will assess you on how well you can express your ideas and opinions.
- Imagine you are talking to a friend. It will help you to feel relaxed if you imagine you are talking to a friend. Remember that you are not being assessed on your opinions, rather on your use of English. So, it is vital to relax first and be calm in front of the examiner and answer the questions thoughtfully.
- We all make common mistakes of repeating the same words. Try to avoid repeating the words used in the examiner’s question. Use your own words, to show the examiner your full ability. So, when the examiner asks: “Tell me something about the city you live in,” it’s probably best that you don’t start your answer with “Ok, let me tell you something about the city that I live in.” That makes sense, right?
- Another important thing, you need to speak clearly and at a natural pace. If you speak too quickly, you may make mistakes or pronounce words incorrectly. Remember, an IELTS examiner won’t penalise you for Speaking with an accent, as long as you pronounce your words clearly and correctly.
- What if an examiner interrupts the question or answer? Sometimes the examiner may have to stop you mid-sentence to ensure the test is fair for all candidates. It just means that you have spoken long enough! It will not mean the examiner is not interested or is not listening to what you have to say. Remember, the Speaking examiner is there to support you to get the best demonstration of your language skills.
- Do not cut short your answers. Try to answer in as much detail as you can. Don’t just answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Try to develop your response to each question. For example, you may look for your own experience and give examples. The examiner wants to hear whether you can talk at length on a range of topics.
- Another important part is that one has to use the correct verb tense when answering questions in the Speaking test. So, listen carefully to the question and notice which verb tense is used.
- Practise the pronunciation of numbers to be sure that your meaning is clear. For example, many numbers can sound very similar when spoken, so be sure to say them clearly, e.g. ‘Thirty’ and ‘Thirteen’, ‘Forty’ and ‘Fourteen’, ‘Fifty’ and ‘Fifteen’ etc. There are lots of other words that sound the same, but mean something different.