The Speaking section of the IELTS is an intensive module that many test takers find challenging, but that can be a five-finger exercise if one has a clear understanding of a few aspects.
- Structure of the test
- Correct Approach to different questions
- Scoring pattern
I. Understanding the IELTS Speaking Test Structure:
| Part 1 : The Introduction & Interview Round (4-5 Minutes) | In Part 1, the examiner asks questions related to you; these are predominantly close-ended questions.Note: Do not answer in 1 word. |
| Part 2 : The Cue Card Round (3-4 Minutes) | In Part 2, you get a cue card with a topic and 3-4 prompts, based on which you have to give a talk of around 2 minutes. |
| Part 3 : The Discussion Round (4-5 Minutes) | In Part 3, you are asked general questions focusing more on your opinion. The general temperament of this section is discursive.Note: Always explain with a ‘why’ and an example. |
II. Now the question is – How should one answer appropriately in these three parts of the test to get a higher band score?
In Part 1, where most of the questions are close-ended and you don’t find more than a word to answer, you should try to paraphrase the question and elaborate the answer as much as possible.
For Example: Question: Do you like eating fruits?
Answer: Yes, I prefer eating fruits as they are rich in nutrients. I particularly like Mangoes & Strawberries.
In Part 2, where you get a topic to give a talk for around 2 minutes, you should take care that you
- Utilize the ‘1 Minute’ before the talk wisely to jot down key points rather than the whole speech.
- Speak for at least 2 minutes.
- Cover all the prompts mentioned on the cue card in the first 1-Minute and then revolve the story around them.
- Give the talk a proper introduction, body and conclusion.
- End your talk on a good note asking the examiner if he would like to ask you something more about it.
In Part 3, where you are asked more of your opinion, you should give at least 2 good reasons to support your answers and answer in such a way that the following question is derived from your given answer.
III. An equally significant aspect of tackling this section is to know that the IELTS Speaking Test is scored using four components – Fluency & Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Pronunciation – to assess your speaking skills.
- communicate clearly, logically and fluently
- use a high range of vocabulary accurately
- use appropriate grammatical constructions accurately
- use compound complex sentence structures
- articulate the sentence correctly
At Option Training Institute, we help you hone your speaking skills through interactive classroom sessions to ensure that you achieve the desired band score and also acquire a long time skill for communicating.