IELTS Speaking Tips You MUST Know Before Your Test

Summary

In this video, Chris helps Priyanka, a student who failed her IELTS speaking test four times, by offering four simple yet effective tips. By focusing on fluency, grammar accuracy, simple vocabulary, and pronunciation, Priyanka was able to improve her speaking score from band 6 to band 8 in just two weeks. The key takeaway is that complex ideas and fancy vocabulary aren't necessary for success; instead, using basic but accurate language and relaxing during the test leads to better results. With these changes, Priyanka achieved her dream of moving to Canada and succeeded in her IELTS test.

Takeaways

• 😀 Priyanka struggled with her IELTS speaking test, failing four times, but she achieved a significant improvement in just two weeks with the right guidance.
• 😀 Fluency issues are common, with pauses like 'um' and 'ah' being natural, but they can be reduced by focusing on simpler ideas.
• 😀 Trying to use complex ideas during the speaking test can lead to anxiety and confusion, which impacts fluency and performance.
• 😀 The IELTS speaking test doesn't require complex ideas; the key is to answer questions naturally with simpler ideas and avoid overthinking.
• 😀 Grammar accuracy is more important than range; simple, correct grammar structures tend to score higher than complex ones with mistakes.
• 😀 You don't need to use fancy or complex vocabulary to score well; using the right words for the job at hand is more effective.
• 😀 Students often try to impress with complex vocabulary, which leads to mistakes, lowering their score. Simple vocabulary is often better.
• 😀 The real way to improve your score is to use the English level you already possess, demonstrating genuine language ability.
• 😀 Speed in speaking can negatively impact pronunciation; slowing down helps improve clarity and overall pronunciation.
• 😀 A relaxed, natural speaking approach leads to improved fluency, pronunciation, and overall performance on the test.
• 😀 Priyanka's final improvement came when she relaxed, used simple ideas, and focused on using her existing vocabulary and grammar effectively.

Q & A

Why did Priyanka fail her speaking test four times in a row?

Priyanka struggled with fluency, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary, which caused her to fail her speaking test repeatedly. She was also trying too hard to come up with complex ideas, which led to mental blocks and poor performance.

What was the main issue with Priyanka's fluency in her speaking test?

Priyanka's fluency was affected by excessive pauses and 'um's, similar to Elon Musk's speaking style. This was due to her trying too hard to think of complex ideas, which overloaded her mental processing and caused her to freeze or struggle.

How did simplifying her answers help Priyanka improve her fluency?

By focusing on simple ideas instead of complex ones, Priyanka was able to speak more naturally and fluently, reducing the mental strain that caused her pauses and improving her overall performance.

Why is complexity of ideas not a significant factor in the IELTS speaking test?

The IELTS speaking test does not evaluate the complexity of ideas. It assesses fluency, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Students should focus on answering questions naturally with the language and grammar they already know.

What advice did Chris give to Priyanka regarding grammar?

Chris advised Priyanka to simplify her grammar and focus on producing error-free sentences. He emphasized that a simple, grammatically correct answer would score higher than a complex answer with errors.

How does grammar affect the IELTS speaking score?

To achieve a high score in IELTS speaking, fifty percent or more of a student's sentences must be free of grammatical errors. Producing accurate, simple sentences is more important than trying to demonstrate a wide range of grammar with mistakes.

What mistake did Priyanka make regarding vocabulary use?

Priyanka was advised by previous teachers to use complex vocabulary, but this approach led to errors in her speech. Chris explained that using simple, familiar vocabulary is more effective and avoids mistakes that can lower the score.

How did Priyanka’s pronunciation improve before her test?

Priyanka improved her pronunciation by relaxing and speaking at a natural pace. This allowed the examiner to understand her perfectly, and as a result, her pronunciation score increased from a band 6 to a band 8.

What did Chris suggest was the key to success in the IELTS speaking test?

Chris emphasized that the key to success is to speak naturally using the language and grammar the student already knows, rather than trying to impress the examiner with complex ideas or vocabulary.

How did Priyanka’s performance change after following Chris’s advice?

After following Chris's advice, Priyanka's fluency, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation all improved significantly. As a result, she achieved a band 8 on her IELTS speaking test and was able to move to Canada.