Top Tips to Improve Your IELTS Speaking Score (Part 2)
In the previous part, we spoke of how it is best to avoid memorised answers in the IELTS Speaking test. Here’s another way to be yourself during the interview.
State YOUR opinion, not the examiner’s
Bad example
| Examiner: | Let’s now talk about the role of advertising. Do you think advertising influences what people buy? |
| Candidate: | Hmm… No, I don’t think so! |
| Examiner: | Well, how do we then explain companies spending billions on advertisements? |
| Candidate: | Oh, OK; I guess advertisements do influence people in some ways. Sorry! |
The Speaking module has three parts:
- Introduction and interview (4 – 5 minutes)
- Individual long turn (3 – 4 minutes)
- Two-way discussion (4 – 5 minutes)
The third part gives candidates an opportunity to state their views on abstract topics and justify them. Sadly, some candidates don’t express how they really feel about a topic; instead they agree with whatever the examiner says the whole time!
As a candidate, you are assessed on your language, not your ideas or views. All the examiner wants to know is how wide your range of language is, so focus on exhibiting that. If your opinions are different to those of the examiner, feel free to disagree with him/her. Be confident and speak your mind.
Good example
| Examiner: | Let’s now talk about the role of advertising. Do you think advertising influences what people buy? |
| Candidate: | No, I don’t think so! |
| Examiner: | Well, how do we explain companies spending so much money on advertisements? |
| Candidate: | In a highly competitive market, it becomes necessary for companies to promote their products and services. Advertising helps them reach out to billions of people. How else would people notice a particular product or come to know of its existence? But the question here is whether it influences consumer behaviour. Now, I strongly believe that there isn’t enough evidence to …. |
Remember, always be frank and express your thoughts; do not change your opinion to mirror that of the examiner – just be yourself!
GLOSSARY
| be yourself | ||
| Form | : | phrase |
| Meaning | : | behave or act naturally |
| Example | : | Why do you put on an accent, Tom? Have the confidence to be yourself! |
| abstract | ||
| Form | : | adjective |
| Meaning | : | describes something based on general ideas, not anything in particular |
| Example | : | They spoke about love in abstract terms – for example, is it valued in today’s world? |
| justify | ||
| Form | : | verb |
| Meaning | : | to show that something is right, especially when others think it is wrong |
| Example | : | It’s difficult to justify paying huge salaries when the company is making a loss. |
| exhibit | ||
| Form | : | verb |
| Meaning | : | to show something such as a quality or skill |
| Example | : | He exhibited his skills during the football match. |
| speak your mind | ||
| Form | : | phrase |
| Meaning | : | to honestly say what you think, usually in a direct way |
| Example | : | Clara always speaks her mind, which sometimes gets her into trouble. |
| frank | ||
| Form | : | adjective |
| Meaning | : | describes someone who is honest about their opinions |
| Example | : | Dan was completely frank about the problems he was facing in his marriage. |
| mirror | ||
| Form | : | verb |
| Meaning | : | to match the feelings of someone |
| Example | : | He always makes sure his views on office matters mirror those of his boss. |