7 Common mistakes to avoid in IELTS Speaking: An Insider's Advice

Who would say no to a Band 8? We all want to pass the IELTS Speaking Test with flying colours, but only a few can exceed the desired score, especially in IELTS Speaking Tests. Knowing how to avoid common mistakes can help you achieve better score and save you from the last-minute fuss. This blog gives an account of an insider's views and tips to stay away from the 7 common mistakes made in IELTS Speaking Tests.

Content:

Rote Memory and Broken Language:

Memorized responses will not work if you target anything higher than Band one in your IELTS Speaking Tests. Instead, you could practice a range of topics on a Daily Basis, though you need to cover different Titles for each of the Three IELTS Speaking Test Parts.

Broken language is not good either. All it could give you is a slightly higher score, Band 2 or 3. Here is an example of Broken Language:

"You tell, I Do. You no tell, no do."

No One-line Answers:

One-line answers are the second major factor that prevents even an advanced-level speaker from getting the high scores he deserves. When it would sound artificial to give a paragraph answer to a simple question like "Where are you from?", short answers like "I am from Trichy" should also be avoided. You can make use of Complex sentence structures or at least Appositives instead.

Example:

I'm from Poombukar, a historical town in Tamil Nadu, known for its Art and Architecture.

Fillers and Long Pauses

While it's natural to use fillers when organizing your thoughts, you should not make it noticeable to the examiner, as overuse of Fillers like 'Ahh, MMM, AAmm, like' affects your fluency, coherence, and Grammar. Further, it leads to repetition and run-on.

Pro Tips:

For most of us, it becomes a habit to say Mmm, Ahh…, Ammm. Though it's hard to get rid of it at once, you can still make it a point not to use fillers. How to make it work? Easy. First, try to be silent instead of saying ‘MMM, Ahh, So’. Second, time your silence. Third, limit the duration.

Referencing is a Must

Pronoun reference is essential in the IELTS Speaking Test, as it helps you achieve clarity, brevity, and coherence. So, don't mess with it. Many beginner level speakers use 'he' for 'she' and 'it' for 'they'. Remember, if you make mistakes under a specific category, say Pronouns or Articles all the time, it will affect your scores. So, revise the smaller grammar portions, and practice them more if needed.

Stay on Topic

An advanced-level speaker does not hesitate to discuss a range of topics, known or unknown, with ease and grace. If you are an intermediate speaker aiming at Band 8 or more, it's wise to stay on topic. Don't beat around the bush if you don't know what the examiner asks you about. You can request to repeat the question or even ask for an explanation.

Tips:

Expand your vocabulary on a range of topics like art, culture, education, job opportunities, and social media, as it will allow you to develop a comprehensive response.

Try a Range of vocabulary

A: You want to have some bread toast?

B: Yes, but please remove… the outer layer of the bread slices… I mean the brown corners. I don't like them.

As you can see, the second speaker would have saved so many words if he just had said 'crust'. Building vocabulary on a range of topics will definitely push you towards Band 9, as the IELTS Speaking Test evaluates the candidates' precision, flexibility, spontaneity, and accuracy, which are all the off springs of a rich and colourful vocabulary.

Go for Phrases, not Words

The ESL Test-takers tend to pronounce every word with almost the same stress, or they, naturally, are inclined towards their mother tongue. You may come across a native Tamil speaking English just like Tamil or a Hindi speaker talking English just like Hindi. Speaking English phrase by phrase could help you drop the mother tongue accent, increase your fluency, and reduce fillers.

Remember, knowing these tips will not help you score better until you practice regularly. Get feedback from a Language Expert, work on your problem areas, and be in practice. With a realistic plan and sheer determination anyone can achieve the ideal score.

By KLS Team