The first round of IELTS speaking consists of questions that are very direct in nature. You will be asked general questions about yourself such as describing your hobbies, how you spend your free time, who all you stay with and the like. Facing the examiner tends to get unnerving but one needs to remain as calm as possible so that one does not fret while interacting. This round is supposed to warm you up before the other speaking rounds so that your speech does not sound underdeveloped or incoherent.
The IELTS speaking course proves to be helpful in this regard as it prepares the candidate well before they attempt the main test.
There are a couple of common mistakes that most candidates make during the first round of the IELTS speaking test as well as during IELTS speaking practice. We will touch upon each one of the blunders and discuss ways of countering them.
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Providing Brief Answers
If you’re asked questions about yourself such as ‘How do you spend your free time’ or ‘Where have you completed your schooling from’, do not reply using just a few words. Do not say ‘ I read’ or ‘From Delhi.’ Such terse answers sound very incomplete and also give off the wrong impression in front of the examiner. During IELTS speaking practice, make sure that you reply to questions properly. Always reply in 2-3 sentences and pause once you’re done answering the question asked.
Memorizing Answers in Advance
Most candidates are aware of the kind of questions that come for these rounds. They mug up certain answers assuming they will be asked similar questions. When they speak in front of the examiner, they sound monotonous and dull as they are only replying in a manner in which they’ve practiced. The right IELTS Speaking course will help you understand where you’re going wrong.
Students need to refrain from memorizing answers of common questions that are asked and sound spontaneous during the actual round. Hold discussions on anything under the sun with your peers and friends and take the lead while talking. This will help you practice speeches that are more informal in nature.
Using Incorrect Tense
This round also assesses your ability to use past, present and future tenses in the correct manner. If you’re asked a question in the present tense, do not use the past tense to answer the question. If the examiner asks you something like ‘Do you see yourself as an Educator in some years from now?’ , you are supposed to answer something along the lines of ‘Yes , I see myself as an Educator some years from now.’
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Revealing too Much
Disclosing more information than is needed could lead to the wrong impression. While answering a question, only speak about what’s relevant to the question asked. If you are asked something like ‘How many members are there in your family’, you should say something like ‘My family consists of my parents and me. There are three of us who stay together.’
Do not say ‘ My family consists of 3 members. We also have an aunt who visits every week and an uncle who stays nearby. We do not like attending family functions.’
Not only does this sound random but it also deviates from the question asked.
Saying ‘I don’t understand you’
Never give off the impression that you haven’t understood something. Instead of saying ‘I don’t understand’ , say ‘Could you please say that again’ or ‘Were you talking about so and so’
By rephrasing, the examiner knows that you have partially understood the question and is not reluctant to repeat it.
Conclusion
Listed above are the five mistakes that students commit while attempting the IELTS Speaking test. Make sure that you do not repeat these while you’re delivering your speech in front of the examiner. Remember to enter the exam center with a composed mind and take deep breaths before you sit down to face the examiner.
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