IELTS Speaking Section: 8 Common Mistakes To Avoid For An 8 Band Score
Among most of the IELTS test takers in India, there is a unanimous concern regarding the Speaking section. You鈥檙e not only required to speak confidently but there are a few important parameters that you must keep in mind such as grammar, vocabulary, diction, and syntax.
It is no surprise that this causes immense anxiety in students, especially since the IELTS Speaking Section is administered as a face-to-face interview.
Want to know more about the IELTS test format in detail?听
Download our “Definitive Guide To IELTS Academic” – A free eBook that covers every section in detail as well as scoring patterns & testing parameters!
But, before we dive into some important tricks & techniques to ace the Speaking Section, let鈥檚 understand some of the common challenges to watch out for.
Common Challenges In The IELTS Speaking Section
#1: Not knowing what to expect:
One of the gravest mistakes you can make is going to the test center not knowing what is coming. Before your test, make sure to thoroughly acquaint yourself with the test format and pattern by taking some practice tests, so that there are no nasty surprises on the exam day.
#2: Lacking confidence
The IELTS interviewers aren鈥檛 expecting you to be a brilliant orator: it鈥檚 more than enough if you talk as you normally would to a friend or colleague. That said, it is important to make good eye contact with the interviewer, smile every now and then, and talk politely and courteously.
#3: Giving yes/no answers
The objective of the IELTS is to test your English language fluency, so it is necessary that you answer at least at some length and do not simply give monosyllabic answers.
If you鈥檙e asked where you鈥檙e from, don鈥檛 simply reply with Coimbatore.
Instead, say something like 鈥淚鈥檓 from Coimbatore, which is one of the major cities in Tamil Nadu. It鈥檚 a wonderful place, with a lot to see and do.鈥
#4: Going off-topic
Many students, in the midst of their interview, lose sight of the question asked and tend to go off on a tangent. Talking more is not the same as talking correctly.
Remember, the interview questions are usually straightforward and simple, and don鈥檛 need more than a 3-4 sentence long answer.
#5: Remaining silent
Giving no answer is much worse than giving a poor one鈥攁gain, remember that these questions are about you鈥 there is nothing you don鈥檛 already know. If there鈥檚 a word or phrase in the question you don鈥檛 understand, it is perfectly OK to ask the interviewer to clarify it, but choosing to give no answer will be seriously detrimental to your overall score.
#6: Memorising answers
It is usually very easy to tell when a candidate has memorized his answers, and doing so is likely to reflect poorly on your scores since the interviewers are looking for spontaneity and ability to respond correctly and quickly.
#7: Wrong pronunciation
A native-like fluency is not expected of you, but it is important regardless to only use words whose pronunciations you are confident about; otherwise, choose a synonym you can actually pronounce.
#8: Repeating the same word
One of the things the IELTS seeks to examine is the breadth of your vocabulary, and using the same word over and over again will not win you any favours.
For instance: I found *xyz* experience very interesting because it put me in touch with interesting people and interesting ideas.
Phew! That鈥檚 a long list.
But now that you know what to watch out for, read this 7 Genius Tips To Speak Confidently and Correctly!听
Sir Please, tell me about GPA requirements to get admitted to the US universities.
Very good and knowledgeable blog…
Thank you for such a beautiful blog…
Thanks for these wonderful tips. I think that practicing for competitive exams can help you crack the tests. But it is also a truth that finding right stuff is not so easy.