This section of IELTS “Speaking Test” assesses 4 criteria of the examinee:
1. Fluency & coherence
2. Lexical resource
3. Grammatical range and accuracy
4. Pronunciation
Fluency & coherence during IELTS Speaking test:
This describes how fluent and connected your English sounds. Do you speak without much hesitation and do you use a range of different ways to connect your ideas?
Use a range of discourse markers flexibly: word or phrase whose function is to organize discourse into segments, for examples
I mean,
for sure,
Lexical resource during IELTS Speaking test:
This describes how wide your vocabulary is. Can you talk accurately about any topic and use idiomatic language?
Use vocabulary flexibly to talk about a variety of topics, use idiomatic expressions,
Grammar during IELTS Speaking test:
This describes both the range of different grammatical structures you can use and how well you use them.
Use short sentences, complex sentences are also often accepted but ensure to avoid confusion with them
Pronunciation during IELTS Speaking test:
Can you be easily understood at all times?
Avoid mispronunciation, if committed, try to be understood throughout the conversation
Explain your answers by giving reasons for what you say.
Use: because, as,
Ask for clarification with the examiner if necessary.
Develop your answers. Give full, relevant answers to the examiner’s questions. This will help get the interview off to a good start.
Always expand your answers to simple, ‘yes’ or ‘no’ closed questions. (Questions beginning ‘Are you…’, ‘Do you …’, etc).
Talk as fluently as possible and be spontaneous.
Speak more than the examiner.
Relax, be confident and enjoy using your English!
Always use your one minute preparation time – make notes of the points you’d like to talk about, ideally three points for each question on the task card. Practice making notes quickly with example questions, until you can do this easily.
Use the task card to structure what you want to say. It will provide you with a simple beginning, middle and end structure.
Begin by telling the examiner what you’re going to talk about, so that they know what to expect.
Tips & Tricks on IELTS Writing Test
IELTS Task 1 and Task 2 Writing test (specially Academic writing) examines four different variations as band descriptors – based on which IELTS band of 0 to 9 is scored. This is what the examiner looks for in the Writing test of IELTS.
- Task achievement (for Task 1) / Task response (for Task 2): How well you do everything the question ask you to do. Do you successfully do everything the question asked? Do give full answer to the question with well-supported ideas?
- Coherence and cohesion: How well organized your ideas are! Are they organized logically into the paragraphs with a clear progression thru the piece of writing?
- Lexical resource: Do you use a wide range of vocabulary and structures?
- Grammatical range and accuracy: How about the grammar, accuracy and different tenses being used on the tasks?
IELTS Writing Band Descriptors for TASK 1
IELTS Writing Band Descriptors for TASK 2
Resources & Sources:
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/understanding-ielts/2/steps/41189
http://grammar.about.com/od/d/g/discoursemarkerterm.htm
Speaking test marking criteria, how IELTS speaking test is marked?
