IELTS Test Results competition

Part 1 of these IELTS Speaking tips was published yesterday, here is the rest. Enjoy!

4. Energize you answers with thrilling content and passionate delivery. The tutor will have sat through numerous responses on the day, many of which may be very similar. Answers that are relevant yet stand out offer them welcome respite, and the scope for higher marks.

For example, the question “why did you like that shop” may be answered in both the following ways :

“The shop holds a wide array of books, which are reasonably priced. The owner is an old friend, and his shop has a certain old-world charm about its musty corridors and shelves. Sometimes, I can even find books that are over a hundred years old”.

I answered “The reason I am in love with the shop is because it is enchanted. There is a vast treasure trove of books, and the musty corridors of the shop drip with the honey of a good age, long gone and alive only in our precious memory. The owner and I are close allies and conspirators, jealously guarding our Alladin’s cave of knowledge from the unsympathetic glare of the modern sophisticated book-buyer. When I visit this shop, I do not go to buy old books at sensible prices, but to experience the transport to a world of magic”.

Further, in the final question (“what are the risks of online shopping”), I included the obvious and main points (online fraud, loss of personal touch leading to a solitary society etc), and I further commented on the three most important aspects affecting our society :

– Cross-border online purchases offer criminals and terrorists a golden key to launder ill-gotten gains, proliferate contraband items like narcotics, and acquire sophisticated arms,

– The effortless ease of unbridled online shopping may lead to a rampant consumerism to now spin out of control,

– Such profligacy in dealing with the earth’s resources will only add to environmental misery.

OVERALL: It is important to be aware of the time. I answered question 1 and 3 just within the prescribed time limit, but stepped in question 2, and the examiner cut me short. I was concerned that this would affect my marks, but the other aspects of my answers appear to have impressed her as she awarded me grade 9.

In a nutshell, the “science” of communication is the conveyance of information in a simple, user-friendly and memorable manner. The “art” of communication, however, is making the listener feel better about himself and the world.

Best of luck in your exams, and I hope you find the tips useful.

After a long break we come back to Debashis, who scored Band 9 in IELTS and has shared his tips for success.

Tips for the IELTS Speaking test

Key points – A good vocabulary and content are important, but in my opinion, “Presentation precedes content, fluency precedes vocabulary” for the speaking exam. Adopt good presentation skills (eye-contact, pauses, speaking not too fast or slow). Read up and visualize a few possible questions. Make your answers exciting and passionate.

1. Possessing a good stock of words is important, even more so than the writing exam (where you have the luxury of review and edit). However, fluency takes precedence over vocabulary, and if you feel you have forgotten the words, it is better to display a level of fluency with simple terms you know rather than struggle with numerous pauses while searching for the perfect word.

2. Remember to adopt basic presentation skills.

– Freshen up before the speaking exam (there is usually a gap between the writing and speaking exams).

– Please ensure your breath is fresh by chewing on a few mints. The marker is unlikely to award high marks if he/she is semi-comatose from an examinee’s lethal halitosis.

– Maintain good eye contact with the marker, and adopt a friendly demeanor. Remember that she is there to help you achieve high grades, not stall and obstruct your progress.

– Speak at a reasonable pace, neither too fast or slow. You can practice this by recording your normal speech and monitoring it, or foisting yourself on a good English speaking person and asking for his feedback.

– Modulate your tone. Raise and lower your voice a few times. While I am not advocating yodeling an entire cantata through your larynx, remember that the synonym for boredom is monotony – mono tone.

– Use you hands in an expressive way, but don’t flay them about. Maintain a mild smile, but don’t giggle frivolously.

3. There are many websites that offer a good selection of possible questions. Read these and visualize your answers. This was the one area where I spent 6-7 hours preparing, but the actual questions turned out to be completely different!! Further, the link between the three questions was extremely tenuous, and I was asked to :

– Describe my favorite shop and discuss why I liked it.
– Discuss the shopping habits of my generation.
– Comment on the risks of online shopping.

As such, preparing beforehand will only confer limited benefits, and you need to rely upon your personal skills to get good marks.