Have you scheduled your IELTS exam? Are you seeking confirmed strategies for passing the IELTS Speaking exam? If you remember our four top tips, achieving your desired band score on the IELTS Speaking test is simpler than you might imagine.
Four criteria are used to evaluate the performance on the Speaking test: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. We present one silver bullet for each of these four criteria in this blog.
Learn to observe actively in order to provide pertinent responses
This one is fairly evident. You will be speaking for approximately 85% of the exam. You will spend the remaining time listening to the proctor ask you questions. If you do not pay close attention to the examiner, you will not be able to provide relevant responses. Therefore, practise active listening by employing the following techniques:
For example, if the examiner asks you, “Are traditional methods of cooking food disappearing?” you should concentrate on the keywords. And you speak about traditional foods, you have not been attentively listening. Traditional culinary methods were the keywords here, not traditional cuisine. Learn to concentrate on keywords. Do not be embarrassed to ask the examiner to restate a question if you did not understand it the first time. However, remembering once or twice is sufficient. You may ask the examiner to elucidate any word you do not comprehend. If you require clarification, rephrase the examiner’s query as “so your question is…”
In addition, the best method to prepare for the part 2 extended turn topics is to listen to podcasts, TED talks, radio/television programmes, etc., so that you have sufficient material to speak for two minutes on any given topic. The best method to ace this section of the speaking examination is to generate ideas after listening to the podcast/teletalk/audio clip on a specific topic. If you have listened to a podcast about your favourite type of food, you can prepare for your own presentation by generating ideas regarding your finest dish/food item. You can create a mind map by using wh queries like
What types of cuisine are accessible in India?
Which cuisine is your favourite?
Why is this cuisine your favourite?
Where is it typically accessible?”
How is it cooked?
Who cooks it well? /Can it be cooked or must it be ordered?
What constituents are utilised in its preparation?
How does it taste?
After the extended turn, you are expected to engage in a lengthy discussion on the topic with the examiner. In this section of the exam, you must be able to defend your position, provide examples of your responses, and draw parallels between past and present situations. For instance, queries that could be posed in section 3 on the topic of food could be about people’s eating preferences, healthy versus unhealthy eating, and how food is grown…. Create a list of potential queries using the ideation technique outlined above, and formulate your responses accordingly. Consider the opinions of others on the subject of sustenance. In conclusion, if you want a higher rating on the criteria for fluency and coherence, you must listen and generate ideas.
Study “words from lexical fields” to increase your vocabulary.
Do not memorise a list of difficult words and then use them arbitrarily on the speaking exam, such as “plethora,” “mesmerising,” and “ecstatic.” Instead, construct lexical fields on frequently-asked topics, which will enrich your vocabulary and help you achieve a higher test score. For instance, if you are preparing for a paper on food, you should compile an inventory of all the uncommon words from the lexical field of food flavour. (delicious, flavourful, peppery, tart, piquant, pungent….). Also, Google some phrases and idiomatic expressions related to food (finger-licking delicious, dissolve in your mouth, have a sweet appetite, everything from soup to nuts…) and attempt to use these words and phrases as naturally and meaningfully as possible when discussing this topic. Similarly, you can create vocabulary lists for all other prevalent IELTS speaking test topics. This will allow you to demonstrate a broad range of lexical resources and earn a higher grade for this criterion.
Learn to reason in English to avoid elementary grammar errors on the exam.
Many of us have the tendency to ruminate in our native language and then translate the sentence literally into English when we speak. As the sentence structures of Indian languages differ from those of English, this results in numerous grammatical mistakes. It also slows down the rate of speech because it requires too much time to think in Hindi, translate it in the mind, and then speak in English. As a first step in learning to think in English, begin by considering commonly used English words, then progress on to phrases, then full sentences, and ultimately engage in internal conversations in English. Soon, you will develop the ability to think in English if you do this consistently for at least a half-hour per day. This will allow you to eradicate some common grammatical errors, particularly those involving word order, and help you obtain a higher grammar score.
Learn the “music” of the English language to enhance your pronunciation.
Each language has its own distinct melody. It is not sufficient to simply know the correct pronunciation of the word. English has a syllable-timed cadence, whereas most Indian languages have a stress-timed rhythm. To obtain a higher score on the pronunciation criterion, you must master the specific intonation, stress patterns, and rhythm of the English language in order to be readily understood by a native speaker. This brings us back to the starting point. Develop the habit of attentively observing how proficient speakers of the language employ stress and intonation patterns. Observe and record yourself practising tongue twisters. Replay the recording and begin again until you get it correct.
Remember that the more you listen, the better your speaking will become. In addition to IELTS practise sessions for the actual exam, Perfect academy Irinjalakuda offers a simulated speaking test administered by an IELTS assessment expert.
Do your absolute best and have confidence!
