Tips to pass the IELTS Speaking test

The speaking examination of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) takes between 11 and 14 minutes to complete. This is a face-to-face, one-on-one interview with an examiner. The exam is recorded.

The exam, a requirement for migration to an English-speaking country, has three parts. In Part 1, candidates will be asked questions about themselves (e.g. Describe yourself) or about familiar things, such as their family (Describe a person close to your family), work (Can you tell me something about your work?), studies (What is your favorite subject?) or interests (Describe a recent book you have read). This usually takes four to five minutes.

In Part 2, the examinee is given a card with a main question and some bullet points on what they need to cover in answering the question (e.g. Describe a party you recently attended). An examinee will be given one minute to compose an answer and can make notes. After one minute, he or she will be asked a question and will be given two minutes to answer. The examiner may ask one or two more questions related to the main question.

In Part 3, candidates will be asked questions related to the questions in Part 2 (e.g. Do you think it is important to celebrate special occasions with your loved ones?) These questions will be geared towards abstract issues or ideas. This part lasts between four to five minutes.

Compared to the listening and writing portions, the speaking test is one of the most anxiety-provoking parts of the IELTS exam. This could be due to the fact that many Filipinos are afraid of face-to-face encounters with foreigners, especially if they are outside a social context. Most candidates feel intimidated when speaking with a foreigner or a Filipino examiner in English. Remember the speaking exam is about assessing your English-speaking skills. It is nothing personal. You will be speaking to a professional so you have to be professional as well.  It is not about using big words and a fake accent that you think will impress the examiner.

Here are some tips:

Be positive

Never argue with the examiner. Always be positive. Try not to say anything that will be offensive to a particular race, gender, person with a different sexual orientation or persons with disabilities. It is best that you speak without any burden of trying to win an argument. Try to speak candidly and do not stop unless told to do so.

Read out loud

To prepare for the speaking exam a candidate can get a newspaper and read the text out loud in front of the mirror.

Prepare some answers

You should prepare a short list of answers for questions related to personal information. This saves you the trouble of thinking of an answer during the exam itself.

Get a buddy

You can also get a buddy or partner whom you can practice your English conversational skills with for at least 30 minutes a day (you can ask a call center agent to do this with you or you can do this with some of your friends overseas through Skype).

Dress for success

It is highly recommended that you wear business attire during the examination. This has a positive effect on your psyche and will reflect on your attitude and performance. While it is not mandatory to get “dressed up,” do it anyway.

Answer in English

If you are asked about your favorite food, try not to answer using the Filipino term, for example, “siomai.” (The proper term is “dumpling”). Also, give an answer that is not too complicated.

Add details

When answering it would be a good idea to add details by answering the questions who, what, where, when, how and why. This will help you say more without straying too much from the topic.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Five more gift certificates to a crash review course are available. If you’re interested, go online and look for this article at INQUIRER.net (Inquirer global pinoy section) and answer these questions in the comment box:  1) Why do you think some Filipinos are afraid to speak with a foreigner and how can this be overcome? 2) What is the address of Queens English Review Center. This time, it’s not a matter of being the first to answer. Coach Tony Santiago will be the sole judge of the best answer—and who will get the five remaining GCs. BTW: last week’s GC winners were: Lean, Dianne, Roy Alberto, StructureYouEssay and cocoy.