IELTS Speaking Tips And Tricks

The IELTS Speaking test is about how effectively you can express yourself in English in terms of the relevant skills. The examiner aims to assess your ability to respond to certain questions and express opinions on various experiences shared in day-to-day life. It means that you will have to set your ideas logically, speak without breaks, and be capable of defending your opinions.

The test has three parts:

Part 1: You will tell your name and occupation and describe your home, work, hobbies, etc. This segment assists you to start the test most comfortably and you will speak fluently. Mainly, stable and unambiguous reactions are expected.

Part 2: Will give you a task card with a topic to discuss for 1 - 2 minutes. The timing of the test is 1 minute, but you can work on notes. This is the best time to put some order in the ideas you hold. Some exam tips include speaking continuously since the examiner will not interrupt the flow of the conversation.

Part 3: Continues the topic of Part 2. Here, you’ll be more specific on ideas and matters of an abstract nature. This part concerns analysis, guessing, and writing elaborated answers.

All together the entire test takes 11-14 minutes from the time of pressing the start button. You’re assessed on four criteria: vocabulary, cohesiveness and cohesion, lexical resource, syntax, and phonetics. Such scores are whole bands and half bands. Be calm, articulate during advocacy, and think of the points systematically.

Here is a breakdown of tips and tricks for Speaking IELTS for each section: ‍

1. Part 1

You can use this section to warm up and become comfortable talking to the examiner. Let’s look at some IELTS speaking part 1 tips and tricks that are important.

• Give clear, natural responses instead of short or one-word answers.
• Expand briefly on your answers with a sentence or two.
• Practice discussing familiar topics like family, work, studies, and hobbies.
• Stay calm, smile, and maintain eye contact, as it helps you relax and sound confident.

2. Part 2

In this section, you will have to start thinking before you put your ideas out there. Let’s look at IELTS speaking part 2 tips and tricks: 

• Use your one minute of preparation time to write down key points or ideas.
• Structure your response with a brief introduction, main details, and a conclusion.
• Keep speaking for the full 1-2 minutes, even if you feel nervous.
• Focus on fluency rather than perfect grammar — avoid long pauses

3. Part 3

In this section, you have to be more alert, think on your feet, and speak well. Here are the IELTS speaking part 3 tips and tricks: 

• Provide detailed, thoughtful answers by explaining your opinions clearly.
• Support your ideas with examples, reasons, or personal experiences.
• Use linking words like "because," "however," or "for example" to connect your thoughts.
• If you don’t understand a question, don’t panic, as you can always ask the examiner to clarify.

Let’s look at some general tips and tricks for IELTS speaking:

1. Stay Calm and Confident: Relax and speak naturally like you are talking to a friend. Taking deep breaths before the test can help you stay calm and avoid overthinking about the test. 
2. Practice Speaking Daily: Talk about different topics regularly with friends. You should also record yourself on your phone to assess yourself and improve your fluency and pronunciation.
3. Don’t Memorize Answers: Examiners can easily recognise memorised answers. Focus on understanding the question and give natural and spontaneous answers. Even if it’s wrong it’s fine but keep it natural and real.
4. Use a Variety of Vocabulary: Show your language skills by using synonyms and different expressions. Avoid repeating the same words too often, and don’t use words that are too heavy. 
5. Speak Clearly and Loudly: the examiner should be able to hear you properly. Pronounce your words clearly, and avoid speaking too fast. 
6. Expand Your Answers: Add a reason or example Instead of short replies. You can also give personal details to support your answers and show that you are fluent.
7. Don’t Worry About Mistakes: If you make a mistake, correct yourself if possible. But don’t panic about it since fluency matters more than perfection.
8. Don’t use too many fillers: Words like “um” and “uh” are natural, but overusing them can affect fluency. Practice reducing them during speech.

Here are some IELTS speaking tips and tricks to overcome challenges

1. Challenge: Nervousness and Anxiety

Tip: When speaking, take calm breaths. Joining a group of friends to take mock tests frequently so that you gain confidence and discard away nervousness.

2. Challenge: Running Out of Ideas

Tip: To keep the conversation going always introduce personal experience or example. You can also dive into similar topics and keep talking.

3. Challenge: Misunderstanding a Question

Tip: If you are not sure, ask if they can repeat their question which they have just asked. It’s better than guessing and telling the wrong answer. 

4. Challenge: Limited Vocabulary

Tip: Understand different variations of actually used words and try to use them in one or another form in a particular sentence. This also shows range and should help your score. 

Use these IELTS speaking tips and tricks for preparation: 

1. Mock Interviews: When people practice responding, they should do it in a way which is as close to the real test as possible, with friends or tutors being useful in a practice exam.
2. Record Yourself: Take recordings of your answers and then listen to them to be able to identify errors and fluency breaks.
3. Shadowing: Imitate what native speakers say and how they speak. Pay attention to the pronunciation and context.
4. Timed Responses: To maintain speed and coherence, answer the questions within the stipulated time during the preparation process.
5. Daily Conversations: You can talk to people on various topics frequently to reduce barriers and facilitate fluency.

Avoid these common mistakes: 

• Speaking too quickly or too slowly. It becomes difficult for the examiner to follow.
• Giving one word or overly short answers without elaboration.
• Memorising answers instead of responding naturally to the questions.
• Using slang or informal language inappropriate for the test.
• Overusing filler words like "um," "uh," or "you know."
• Mispronouncing common words or speaking unclearly.
• Avoiding eye contact, which can make you seem confident.
• Not organising your ideas clearly before answering.
• Focusing too much on grammar and pausing frequently.
• Panicking when you don’t know an answer. Stay calm and think aloud.

Now that you know the top tips and tricks for IELTS speaking you should be able to fly through this section. Just practice properly and regularly and you will do well. Stay calm and confident.

1. How Long is the IELTS Speaking test?

The test takes between 11 – 14 minutes for all three parts.

2. Is it okay to Have the Question repeated?

Yes, politely, you may request them to repeat the same thing or explain it again.

3. Is it Okay to make Grammar Mistakes when Speaking?

Yes, small slips of the tongue are acceptable so long as the speaker doesn’t keep repeating the same mistake.

4. May I use Informal Language as well as slang Expressions?

No, and keep the language used in a piece simple, precise, and professional.

5. Can I Memorize the Answers for the test?

Well, even if you memorize the answers, the questions sound artificial, and your score will go down.