How to Master the IELTS Speaking Test

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the most popular standardized tests in the world. It’s used in more than 120 countries to evaluate the English language ability of students and job candidates and can lead to faster visa processes or even permanent residence permits. Even if you’re not applying for a visa, you should take the IELTS if you want to study abroad or progress your academic career by enrolling in courses taught in English around the world.

Understand the format and structure of the test

The Speaking test is conducted by a trained examiner and lasts for 11-14 minutes. The Speaking test consists of six tasks, which will typically include:

1. general questions about yourself and your family, 

2. describing pictures, 

3. telling a personal experience or event from your life, 

4. answering questions on topics such as personal opinion and work, 

5. asking and answering questions about people in general or their lives today (e.g., What are the advantages of living in a big city?), 6. talking about hobbies (e.g., Which hobby do you enjoy most?).

Make use of every minute in your 2 minutes prep time

IELTS Speaking test is a half an hour long. The first five minutes are for you to prepare your ideas and understand what your examiner wants from you. In this time, it is important that you have a clear idea of what you want to say, and how you are going to say it. It can be really useful if you have some cues or prompts written down, like questions or topics that could come up in the conversation.

In these five minutes, we recommend that you take a few deep breaths and then start talking as soon as possible. It's also important not to worry about anything other than expressing your thoughts clearly - don't try too hard or worry about grammar mistakes!

Don’t waste any time during the exam

If you have time remaining after you complete your speech and any questions, it's a good idea to share a little more information about yourself. This is usually done in an informal way at the end of your response. 

It's important to use language that is suitable for native speakers and appropriate for different audiences; this means using language that is correct and clear, as well as avoiding slang expressions or regionalisms. 

By following these tips, you'll be able to give a successful IELTS Speaking test!

Introduce yourself quickly, clearly and professionally

I'm Rab Nawaz, an ESL Teacher from Pakistan. IELTS is a standardized test of English language ability for non-native speakers and is required by universities, colleges and employers around the world. There are four sections on the exam: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. The Speaking section tests your ability to speak fluently and communicate with clarity in both spoken and written English.

Be prepared for unpredictable questions

The Speaking test measures your ability to speak English in a relaxed way on topics and issues you are familiar with, such as:

- talking about your home, family and hobbies - telling a story or recounting an experience.

- describing people you know, including what they look like, their personality and activities they do together.

Speak with confidence

The most important thing for anyone taking the IELTS Speaking test is confidence. The examiner will know if you're nervous and it will affect your score. Try speaking in a confident tone of voice and avoid pausing too much when you answer questions - make sure you maintain eye contact with your interviewer at all times. Remember, it's not just about what you say, it's how you say it!

Know what happens when you finish

When you finish your test, you will be given a marks sheet with a list of all your answers. You will also be given an answer sheet which lists all of the possible answers for each question and which one is correct. Make sure that you have both these pieces of paper when filling out your feedback form. Fill in your name, contact information and any other details that they ask for on this form. Your examiner will then provide their feedback based on how well they think you performed in each area of the test: reading, listening, speaking and writing.

Don't leave anything out

The IELTS Speaking test is a 60-minute test of speaking skills. You will have 2 tasks, one of which is an integrated task and the other is a separate task. The integrated task asks you to do two things: first, talk about an experience from your own life; and second, speak about an opinion on a topic.