IELTS Speaking: Tips to Improve Your Score to Band 9

You are all set to make your study abroad dreams come true and are planning to take IELTS by the horns. There’s just one problem: you are unsure of your English speaking skills. Despite how comfortable you are with reading and writing in English, speaking presents its own unique challenges. Common problems include limited vocabulary, pronunciation issues, grammatical errors, native-language influence, and a lack of practice speaking English. That being said, all these problems are easy to overcome with the right strategies. To tackle these challenges and to improve your IELTS speaking score, you have to focus on these IELTS speaking tips. Read more for Band 9 IELTS speaking tips. 

What is the IELTS Speaking Test?

The IELTS, or International English Language Testing System, is an English language test that assesses four key areas of language proficiency for non-English speakers: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It is designed especially for students and professionals who want to study or work in an English-speaking country.

The IELTS speaking test is usually conducted in person between the candidate and the examiner. The test lasts approximately 11-14 minutes, consisting of three main areas:

• Introduction about personal life, work, studies and areas of interest.
• Speaking on a given topic for 1-2 minutes, followed by answering follow-up questions.
• Discussing the previously assigned topic for 4-5 minutes and expressing opinions.

Read Also: Essential Things to Know Before Your IELTS Test

IELTS scores candidates, both students and professionals, on four criteria: fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. To improve your IELTS speaking score, target these areas.

Watch: Difference between IELTS, TOEFL and PTE

IELTS English Speaking Practice Topics

• Travel 
• Transport 
• Education
• Environment 
• Family
• Sports
• Recreation 
• Crime 
• Punishment
• Internet
• Advertising 
• Retail

How to Improve English Speaking Skills for IELTS

To achieve a high score, such as Band 9 in IELTS, some tips –both broad and specific – can go a long way. Some must be done at the practice level, while others are required at the test-taking level.  

Here are some things you can do at the practice level. 

Think in English to Improve IELTS Speaking Skills

Native speakers think in the language with which they are most proficient. Although it may seem like a challenge initially, candidates who want to score Band 9 in IELTS speaking test should make a conscious effort to turn their internal monologues into English. Thinking in English will help you:

• Remember words faster
• Improve speech coherence
• Give you confidence
• Reduce grammatical errors

To think in English, consciously try to translate all your thoughts into the language in real time.

Read Also: How to Improve at IELTS Writing: Task 1 and Task 2 With Samples

Speak in English Every Day

This may seem like a no-brainer, but if you have to gain confidence in any language, you should regularly practice speaking it. All high IELTS speaking scorers improved their speaking skills with regular practice. Engage in conversations, ideally with people who can correct you and guide you with vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and fluency. It could be your friend, mentor, or family member.

Regularly speaking in English will familiarise you with the flow of the language and its idiosyncrasies, improving your confidence by leaps and bounds. In fact, once your confidence in English speaking improves, you will find yourself depending less on filler words such as “like” or “you know.” 

Learn New Words Every Day  

Since vocabulary is such a massive part of the IELTS scoring system, you should focus on enriching your language by adding new words to your lexicon every day. Read the thesaurus and dictionary daily; start with handheld versions or the apps. Subscribe to “A Word a Day” newsletter to learn a new word every day.  

Reading reputable publications such as The Hindu, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, etc., to gain knowledge of new words. Read classical English literature and make a list of all the new words you come across. 

However, learning just the words won’t be enough. You have to understand the usage of the words in a specific context and use them while you are speaking. Find synonyms of commonly used words and use the less common versions in your speech. 

Focus on words and phrases that are related to common IELTS topics.  

Use a Range of Sentence Structures  

There are three basic types of sentences in English: simple, compound and complex. 

Simple sentences are easy to understand, have one core idea and are less likely to cause grammatical errors.  

For example:

• The sun is shining.
• I am a hardworking person.
• Narendra Modi is the PM of India. 
  

But using simple sentences throughout can make your speech sound childish and mechanical.  

Compound sentences have two equally essential ideas joined by a coordinate conjunction like “and,” “but”, and “so”. The following are some examples of compound sentences: 

• • I wanted to go for a walk, but I am exhausted.
  • She is happy and having the best time of her life.
  • The manager is currently on leave, so please send an email.

These sentences are also simple to understand and leave less room for errors. But using too many compound sentences can sound wordy, awkward and somewhat confusing.

Complex sentences, unlike compound sentences, have two ideas, but one is dependent on the other. They are joined by subordinate conjunctions like because, since, whether, unless, while, etc. Examples include: 

• If you are ready, we have just the idea for you.
• The cat waited patiently while the dog ate. 
• Unless you have your own vehicle, it’s difficult to travel in the city. 

Too many complex sentences can again make your speech sound mechanical and leave room for grammatical errors. 

Ideally, your speech should have all three types of sentences interspersed to make it sound natural, proficient and rich. Focus on connecting words such as conjunctions to make your sentences layered and vibrant.  

Avoid Fillers Like the Plague  

A common sign of a lack of proficiency is the dependence on filler words such as “like,” “you know,” and “umm.” It’s a sign that your speech cannot catch up with your thinking speed. It’s a common problem that new speakers face, especially when they are in the process of finding their way around the language. 

If you find yourself depending on these words to complete your speech, you may have to make a conscious effort to reduce their usage.  

• One way to do this is to catch yourself while using them and make corrections in real-time.  
• Another way is to ask someone to call you out whenever you find yourself using these words. 
• Speak slowly and avoid being in a hurry to finish sentences. The more time you have to think, the more clearly you can articulate your ideas and complete your sentences.
• Replace fillers with pauses and deep breaths. 
• Replace fillers with words that don’t seem like fillers. For example, instead of “like”, say “as I was saying,” “Let me think for a second.” 

Time Your Practice 

The IELTS speaking test lasts 11-14 minutes, comprising three subsections, each ranging from 1 to 5 minutes. To improve your English speaking Skills, time your practice: talk about a given topic for precisely the amount of time allotted by IELTS. This is the best way to manage time pressure and to gather your thoughts and articulate them in test-like conditions.  Refer to the common IELTS speaking topics above for practice.  

Record Yourself Speaking

You can turn into your best critic by recording your speaking practice. Often, you may not be conscious of the mistakes you are making while speaking. A recording will help you understand where you are faltering and help you identify your pronunciation errors, grammatical mistakes, usage of filler words, etc.

Work on Words and Sentences

Practice using more descriptive words or adjectives to express your ideas and opinions. For example, “the food was good” can be expressed as “the food was scrumptious/ delectable/ flavourful/ lucious.”

Here are some tips to follow at the test level:

Don’t Memorise Responses

One of the cardinal mistakes of IELTS speaking tests is when candidates memorise answers and responses. It’s a futile task because you cannot predict the topics you will get for your test. And even if by some stroke of luck, you get a topic you have prepared for, the examiner will be able to detect speech that is rehearsed instead of spontaneous. 

Don’t Speak Fast

Enunciate clearly and slowly, but not too slowly or too fast. The idea is to allow your examiner to catch up understand what you are saying clearly. Speaking too fast will cause grammatical, pronunciation and vocabulary errors. Speaking fast can also interfere with your thinking process, causing lags and delays. Eventually, you end up using filler words to cope, which creates a bad impression in front of the examiner.

Give Detailled Answers

Avoid giving, short answers to questions that seek detailed explanations, especially in part 2 and 3 of your IELTS speaking test. Expand your answers by giving reasons, explanations and examples to showcase your communication skills. However, by detailled answers, we don’t mean you should prattle on endlessly. Stick to what the question expects from you and communication that in your answers. 

Don’t Parrot Questions 

Don’t repeat the examiner’s question to buy time. Firstly, you are given a short window to articulate your thoughts. So don’t waste it by repeating the question, which serves no value. Secondly, he IELTS examiners are trained professionals who can identify tricks used by students to delay the response and buy some thinking time. They can see right through the ruse and will reduce your score. 

Breathe Deeply 

Do breathing exercises before the test. Taking IELTS can be nerve wracking for students who put months into practice, hoping for a good score. In stressful situations like this, breathe deeply to clear your mental blocks, rein in your anxiety, create confidence, reduce panic attacks, and maintain a positive state of mind before answer your questions. 

Frequently asked questions

How is the Speaking Score Calculated in IELTS?

The IELTS speaking score is calculated based on four parameters: fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. Each criterion is scored out of 9, and the final score for IELTS Speaking is the average, rounded off to the nearest score. 

So if you score 7 for fluency, 7 for vocabulary, 8 for grammar and 9 for pronunciation, your average score would be (7+7+8+9) / 4 = 7.75, which is rounded off to 8, according to IELTS conventions. 

What are the Common Mistakes in IELTS Speaking?

Speaking without confidence, straying from the topic, repeating words, not elaborating, using filler words, exhibiting poor pronunciation, using weak vocabulary, repeating the examiner’s question and staying silent are some of the biggest and commonest mistakes in IELTS speaking. 

How to Talk in IELTS Speaking Test?

For the IELTS speaking test, candidates will be given a short window to express their thoughts through speech. You have to speak clearly, confidently and concisely using correct English pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary. 

What Are the Common Topics in IELTS Speaking Test?

Common topics for IELTS speaking test are as follows: personal information, career, hobbies, education, travel experience, work, technology, transport, environment, advertisement, culture, social issues, food, etc. 

How to Boost IELTS Speaking Score? 

To boost your IELTS speaking score, regular practice is important. Begin a few months in advance where you immerse yourself in the English language. Listen to videos, shows and podcasts and try to summarise what you have understood through speech. Always practice with a friend or a mentor who can correct your errors and improve your diction. Practice with common IELTs speaking test topics and record yourself whenever you can. Get feedback for your performance and identify areas of improvement. 

How Can I Get 8.5 in IELTS Speaking?

A band 8.5 is a top tier IELTS score, just short of the perfect band 9, preferred by top universities globally. To achieve this score, you have to start early, depend on the level of your fluency in English. Since you will be judged on fluency, vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar, if your speech reflects good organisation of ideas, clear grammatical structures, a rich lexicon and a comfort with the language, you can score a band 8.5 and above in IELTS speaking.

Lastly, remember for the IELTS prep [for ‘Speaking Test’] it is important to practice consistently. Do not expect overnight results. Use the above-mentioned tips along with IELTS online training or coaching from experts for better scores.