Discourse on IELTS Speaking Module

Day 35

Discourse on IELTS Speaking Module

The speaking module is the same for both categories. The same kinds of questions are asked. A candidate is interviewed for around 15-20 minutes, and the interview is divided into three parts.

Part 1 introduces a candidate. You wil be asked basic questions about your life, background and general interests to make you feel comfortable. This session lasts five to six minutes.

In Part 2, you will be asked questions related to general topics. These are not subject-specific. For example, you may be asked questions related to food, fashion, culture, weather, environment, etc.

In Part 3, you are made to speak at length. You will be given a cue card with a topic written on it; you have a minute to prepare before speaking for one to two minutes. Once this is over, you will be asked questions related to the same topic.

1. Unless your pronunciation is particularly poor, don't waste time on pronunciation lessons. It is much more beneficial to spend the time acquiring a good range of vocabulary and structure.

2. This is easy to say, but don't be nervous. Think of is like this: if you are really nervous and can't speak then your score will be poor. If you are confident and speak freely, you will have no idea what your score will be - it could be great!

3. Remember your job is to give the assessor something to assess - if you only say 'Yes' or 'No' during the interview, the assessor won't be able to give you a good score. Your job is to give the assessor as much as possible to consider. This means speaking as much as you can. Don't go off topic and don't talk about anything that comes into your head, but speak as much as you can. The assessor will stop you when he is ready.

4. Remember the assessor won't prompt you to speak. If you don't say enough he/she will go onto the next question. If you continue not to say enough, the interview could be very short!

Discourse on IELTS Speaking Module

5. Don't ask the assessor what questions mean. All he/she can do if you don't understand is repeat the question. You can though ask the examiner to repeat a question if you are not sure you understood it.

6. As with the writing test, don't show off. Some candidates the interview as a way of showing the assessor what you know. They use sophisticated vocabulary and difficult grammar without really knowing how to use both. The result will be a decline in how well you speak and your score will go down.

7. Extend your answers by giving reasons:
a. "I don't really like going to the cinema."
b. "I don't really like going to the cinema because it's expensive and I don't like crowds very much."

8. In the first phase of the speaking test, the assessor will ask you questions about yourself. Research the topic! The assessor might say "Tell me about your parents' jobs." If you don't know anything about them, you will be stuck. It can be surprising how little people know about their own situation.

9. Consider this phase of the test meeting someone for the first time and telling them about yourself. Try to be relaxed and keep the conversation going.

10. Don't worry about lying - this is not a test of if you are a good person. If the assessor says "Tell me about your hobbies and interests" and you reply "I don't have any" then you aren't saying enough to allow the assessor to assess you. In situations like this, lie. Make up the wildest story you can imagine.

11. You can't ask the assessor direct questions about a presentation topic, but it is permissible to 'scope' what you can talk about in a presentation. For example you can as I talk about the hill tribes in Chiang Mai?" The assessor will answer 'Yes' or 'No'. 

12. Make eye contact with the assessor. Although theoretically you could speak great English with your head down, the fact is you may not come across as confident. Although there is no mark for confidence, you need to present yourself in as positive way as possible.