Is your IELTS exam date close? Worried that your speaking skills are not good enough to achieve your desired band score? If so, don’t be. This article can help you out. Integrate the following dos and don’ts into your IELTS review efforts to elevate your English-speaking skills for the life-changing test.


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DO speak in English as often as possible.  

Like any other life skill, English speaking requires time and effort to master. So, take every opportunity to practice yours. Talk to your friends and family in English. Worried that they won’t take your practice seriously? Let them know why you’re honing your verbal communication skills. If they really care about you, they’d support your efforts to develop your speaking abilities and confidence. Make English-speaking a common part of your daily life.

DON’T be afraid to ask questions.

Apply this tip not only during your classes at your review course for IELTS in the Philippines, but also every time you talk to someone. Here’s why.

·         It’s the best way to understand and remember new words and expressions.
·         It can open new points for discussion and expand the conversation.
·         It can give you new insights into an issue or a topic.

So, don’t hold back your questions. Follow this tip when you take the actual exam as well. No, you can’t ask the IELTS examiner to explain an entire sentence. But, you can ask him/her to explain what a word or two means. Make sure you don’t abuse this rule. Otherwise, it’ll reflect poorly on your fluency.

DO keep it simple.

The biggest mistake that IELTS takers commit while developing their speaking skills is focusing too much on underlining their linguistic competency. Meaning? They insert as many uncommon words and phrases as they can into their answers—sometimes, even if they contribute nothing to the discourse. Don’t make the same mistake. Get used to providing concise and straightforward responses during your speaking exercises. If you really want to use an expression, make sure it adds something to your answer.

DON’T confine your speaking exercises to common conversation topics.

Talk about as many topics as you can during your IELTS review period. Find a conversation partner and discuss the latest news in your community and dissect the hottest international issues. Share the most interesting things that happened to you in the past months. Talk about your short-term and long-term plans. Ask your conversation partner to share their insights and stories as well.

Don’t stop with your speaking skills. Supercharge your listening, reading, and writing skills for the high-stakes exam as well. If you still have a week or more before your test date, enroll in one of the best providers of review for IELTS in the Philippines!

References:

Dawdy, Jessica. “How to Speak English Well: 10 Simple Tips for Extraordinary Fluency.” Fluentu. Accessed September 24, 2018. https://www.fluentu.com/blog/english/how-to-speak-english-well-fluently/

"IELTS Speaking Tips." IELTS Pie Chart: Band 9 Strategy. Accessed September 24, 2018. http://ielts-up.com/speaking/ielts-speaking-tips.html.

Pell, Christopher. "IELTS Speaking Tips." Home. May 06, 2018. Accessed September 24, 2018. https://www.ieltsadvantage.com/2015/05/28/ielts-speaking-tips/.

“Speaking Test Advice.” Take IELTS British Council. Accessed September 24, 2018. https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/prepare-test/test-day-advice/speaking-test-advice