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Dealing with the IELTS Speaking Test is quite a struggle. The biggest frustration to bear is with Part 2 of the Speaking Test. Obviously, many find it difficult to speak continuously for 2 minutes, and some go numb. Are you stuck in the same loop?
You are not alone! Many of us have become speechless during the test even with the simplest questions. Apart from recalling vocabulary, applying complex sentence structures and difficulty with coherence and cohesion, the most troubling thing to address is generating ideas for the given subject.
Brief Understanding of the IELTS Speaking Test
The Speaking Test is the shortest as compared to all other modules and lasts only 11-15 minutes. For IELTS Academic and General Training, the format remains the same. The evaluation is done based on your natural speaking skills which comprises Fluency, Grammatical Range, Coherence & Cohesion and Vocabulary.
The Speaking section is further divided into three parts: :
Part 1: Introduction Questions (about yourself, friends or family, choices, opinions, likes/dislikes, education, career/work)
Part 2: Cue Card (speaking on a given topic)
Part 3: Follow-Up Questions (More questions based on Cue Card)
In the cue card section, you will be given a topic and sub-questions. You will be given a pencil & paper to prepare your notes for one minute. After the minute is over, the examiner will ask you to speak on the topic. Now, speaking continuously for 2 minutes on a topic that you are not familiar with terrifies most IELTS aspirants. The nervousness takes over when you sense that you will either run out of time or may not have sufficient content to speak for two minutes.
Storytelling
Developing a strategy to help students overcome this problem is significant to score high bands. The most common concern faced by a candidate is to deal with the subject like walking on an edge. Having observed a lot of students who have achieved higher band scores, narrate stories to come up with a beautiful response that weaves the subject like a soul to the body, and even fascinates the examiners. The weightage of these two minutes of the whole IELTS Speaking test conveys the volume of your language abilities and how comfortably you have addressed the subject. Let us show you how:
Follow a Pattern
It is important for you to structure your answer in IELTS Speaking Part 2. Most candidates try to cover the subtopics given in the cue card. Now this can shorten your answer against the time limit, and the outcome will be rigid. A natural progression of the subject will help you to develop an idea into a story, and will definitely fetch you better scores.
Stories are Interesting
Everyone loves hearing stories ever since we all were kids. An interesting story can help the examiner to pay attention to what you are saying
Be Creatively Fake
Storytelling is no less than an art in itself. It has to begin and end somewhere. Making up stories is allowed, and it will not affect your band scores. Furthermore, You can bring in a lot of inputs to support your vocabulary and complex grammar structures. However, it is difficult to develop an abstract story and stick to its relative components. Hence, narrate something that you can own up to and tell all if counter-questioned.
Cover the Topic & Stick Around
The story you wish to put forward may go beyond your topic at times. So, kindly ensure that the narration is around the subject provided and useful to produce your English language abilities.
Simply following the topic and subtopics on the card is ok, but most of the candidates fail to deliver it quantitatively. But when you have a strategy to follow, the preparation becomes much more convenient to crack the IELTS Speaking test.
Easy tips to Score High in IELTS Speaking test Part 2
Keep it Natural
It is always good to realize that the IELTS Speaking test is to judge your English language abilities and not your accent. Faking accents can really annoy the examiner while making it difficult for them to comprehend what you want to convey. So please avoid challenging yourself for the same!
Recall your experiences
Most of the subjects that appear before you may have been a part of your past experiences in life, be it personal, read or discussed. Picking up references from these experiences can really make it easy for you to develop a story following a pattern.
Do Not Memorize Topics
There are hundreds of topics on the internet, and provided by the coaching centres to prepare you for scoring a minimum benchmark of 6 Bands. Most of the time, the students have failed to understand the topic. A little twist in the subject kills the overall task response because you have relied on keywords while mugging up. It is not so difficult for the examiner to catch you, and which will push them to ask more tough questions to verify your language capacity.
Never Try to Read Examiner’s Expressions
The examiners are professionally trained to make the atmosphere comfortable and friendly for the test takers. Do not assume their smiles as a positive sign that you are doing good, or consider their disappointment as mocking your responses. Their expressions are totally irrelevant to your test, and it should not let your moral down. Just be conscious of what you are saying, and how you can improvise moving forward.
Trust your opinions and preferences
To keep the conversation natural, the candidate should always put his / her true word forward regardless of what the examiner would make of it. Positive or negative is not their concern. Being true to yourself will pump in a lot of confidence. Simply focus on important components like fluency, grammar and pronunciation, that will actually be assessed in your conversation.
Finally, regular practicing is the only way to score successful bands. You can always look up to a partner who can have speaking sessions with you, wherein you can help improvise each other and work on enhancing English language skills.
We hope you found this article helpful in understanding the IELTS and its significance for studying in the USA. Remember, a good IELTS score is more than just a number; it’s a key that can unlock your dream of studying abroad. It reflects your ability to adapt to an English-speaking academic environment and can greatly influence your educational journey.
As you prepare for your IELTS test, we encourage you to make use of various resources available to you. Practice diligently, focus on areas where you need improvement, and familiarize yourself with the test format. There are many books, online courses, and practice tests that can help you prepare effectively.
Also, don’t forget to regularly check the specific requirements of the universities you are interested in, as they can vary. Stay updated on any changes in IELTS patterns or scoring methods and tailor your preparation accordingly.
Finally, remember that learning and improving your English skills is a journey. It takes time, effort, and patience. Whether you are just starting out or are close to reaching your target score, stay motivated and keep practicing.
For more resources and guidance on IELTS preparation, studying in the USA, and other related topics, be sure to explore our other articles and resources. We wish you the best of luck in your IELTS preparation and your future academic endeavors!
