The IELTS Speaking test is considered by many people to be a "nightmare" because it requires the test taker to interact directly and does not have much time to prepare. But rest assured that it is completely possible to turn this "nightmare" into a "beautiful dream"! I will show you 5 extremely effective tips to overcome your fear of IELTS Speaking so you can easily pass the test and get a high score.

1. Understand the IELTS Speaking scoring criteria

To deal with the fear called "IELTS Speaking", one of the first things you must do is to master the scoring criteria from the IELTS examiner. From there, practicing and sticking closely to the requirements of the standard scoring scale will both shorten your preparation time and be effective in your exam.

IELTS Speaking scoring criteria are published by IDP and British Council 

Fluency and Coherence:

• Speaking speed is the top factor when considering Fluency & Coherence criteria

• Speaking slowly helps the examiner easily hear your answer.

• Speaking clearly and fluently is also important. 

• Need to be able to speak continuously for long periods of time answering questions without stumbling, using um, uh, er.. a lot.

Lexical Resource:

• Ability to use vocabulary focusing on the Topic you encounter when taking the exam 

• Ability to explain concepts you don't know in English 

• Paraphrase ability 

2. Use diverse and accurate sentence structures (Grammartical Range and Accuracy):

• This criterion evaluates the sentence structures candidates use when answering the examiner's questions. 

• Candidates should not use all simple sentences but should use complex sentences. 

• Avoid making tense and basic grammatical errors.

• Using linking words between sentences will make your speech more coherent and coherent.

Master the exam structure

 

Is this your first time taking IELTS? So do you know how the Speaking test is structured? It is a fact that even those who have taken the test many times do not know about the structure of the IELTS test and how the examiner scores candidates. This is such a big mistake!

3. Keep calm

The more nervous and uncomfortable you are, the more difficult it will be to speak fluently and maintain cohesion between ideas in the IELTS Speaking test. It can be overwhelming to use a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures correctly to express what you mean. The secret for you to overcome this situation is to learn how to control your mind. Tell yourself “I can do this”.

4. If you don't hear the question clearly, just ask again

Many of you didn't really hear or understand the question but didn't (dare) ask again, so you answered incorrectly or were extremely confused. 

5. Answer to the point

At the beginning of the test, you only need to provide the necessary information instead of expanding your answer too much.

Every fear always has its final destination, and the fear of English is not an exception. Use the 5 tips above to eliminate anxiety during your preparation and IELTS Speaking test. Wishing you great results!

THANK YOU!