DO: Practice Daily

• Familiarize yourself with common topics in the IELTS Speaking such as family, education, work, hobbies, travel, etc. You can practice with friends, family, peers and co-workers, and a tutor. You can also record your responses and apply the Standard Assessment Criteria for IELTS Speaking to identify areas for improvement.

DO: Focus on Pronunciation

• In order to develop an understanding about how certain words are pronounced in the English Language, you should watch English content such as (movies, podcasts, and other forms of media). The goal here is to pronounce words correctly with proper intonation and emphasis on syllables.

DO: Use a Range of Vocabulary

• You should try to apply the vocabulary you have built and avoid repeating same words. Use synonym along with other words and phrases to use in your responses. Practice using complex and compound sentences to show your enhanced vocabulary.

DO: Use Correct Grammar

• Although you should use a variety of tenses, modals, and sentence structures, practice using correct grammar and try to avoid making common mistakes people make with parts of speech.

DO: Answer Entire Question

• Listen to the question being asked so you can organize your thoughts and speak. For Part 2, be sure to read the question fully in order to provide detailed answers to the question.

DO: Elaborate Your Answer

• Support your answers with examples and justifications. This is your opportunity to show how organized your thoughts are and how you can think on the spot to answer fully, which will demonstrate your confidence.

DO: Speak Clearly and Confidently

• The final point has to do with Confidence but you must speak clearly because you are being evaluated on your understanding, pronunciation, grammar, and overall speaking ability for all three parts.

DON’T: Forget to Practice Regularly

• As mentioned above and reiterating the same, you should be consistent with your efforts to make improvements, which is only possible if you do not ignore practice.

DON’T: Memorize Your Answers

• You should be yourself and use pauses when and where needed. However, memorizing responses will take points away from your natural delivery. Furthermore, do not sound monotone as you need to show your ability to make natural sentences.

DON’T: Give One-Word Answers

• Do not give short one-word answers such as “Yes” or “No” as that shows lack of preparation and understanding. Expand on your answers to show your language ability. Short-Answers are acceptable in Part 1 but avoid one-word responses.

DON’T: Digress or Go Off-Topic

• Avoid run-on sentences or going off topic when expressing your ideas and thoughts. You should stay focused on the question and be present-minded… The moment you feel you have or are moving away from the topic, try to steer back.

DON’T: Interrupt the Speaking Examiner

• It is okay to ask if you do not understand the question, but you should wait for your turn or when you are prompted. However, interrupting can come across as rude and it can negatively impact your band score. If you really want to ask, you should wait for the Speaking Examiner to finish their sentence and then respond.

DON’T: Worry if you Make A Mistake

• Mistakes are common as we are humans but since you are being tested, you should try to remain calm and not panic. It is alright for you to make a mistake, and you can make corrections and continue speaking.

DON’T: Speak Too Loud or Appear Quiet

• Just like speaking too fast can make your speech difficult for the examiner to understand, speaking loudly, or appearing silent can also show signs of nervousness or frustration. If you have done your practice, you should listen actively and talk in a calm and composed tone. Pay attention to your volume (especially if you are doing the computer-delivered test), pace, and intonation.

DON’T: Overlook Non-Verbal Communication Skills

• Last but not the least, and perhaps the most important part of Speaking is the Non-Verbal Communication Skills. These include your posture, eye-contact, hand movements, fidgeting, etc. and are often ignored by most test takers and some instructors as well. While the focus in on your Verbal Communication Skills, do not ignore the Non-Verbal Communication Skills.