Essential Skills for Excelling in IELTS Speaking Part 1

The International English language Testing system or IELTS as it is popularly known, is a standardised and widely recognized measure of English language proficiency. While it enables institutions and organisations to assess and verify English language skills, IELTS plays a crucial role in helping individuals achieve their educational, professional, and personal goals.

Online coaching for IELTS can be a highly effective way to prepare for the exam, offering flexibility, personalised learning, and access to experienced instructors. Potential test-takers, while scouting for the best online classes for IELTS, soon realise that speaking and writing are the tougher modules to crack as compared to listening and reading. Speaking and writing are productive skills, which require candidates to actively produce language. This calls for not only knowledge of the language but also the ability to organise one’s thoughts and articulate them clearly. 

Listening and reading, on the other hand, are receptive skills, where candidates receive and interpret information. These skills involve comprehension and recognition rather than production.  Our focus in this article will be on the speaking module test only, that too only on section 1. Let us begin by understanding its format.  

Structure of the Speaking Test:

The speaking test is of a very short duration and it is divided into 3 parts. The questions asked in each section are of different types and have specific purposes. All the top IELTS online classes  will help test-takers understand the purpose of each section and thereby enable them to prepare more effectively and perform better in the exam.

Section 1 -  Personal Questions 

This is a question answer round in which students are asked around 10 to 12 personal questions or questions on familiar topics. The questions could be about the candidate’s background, such as where they live, their job or studies, their accommodation, hometown and their hobbies and interests. The topics often include queries about family, leisure activities and daily routines.

The purpose of these questions is-  

To assess the candidate’s ability to communicate personal information and talk about familiar topics.To evaluate basic fluency, coherence and the use of everyday vocabulary and grammatical structures.

Part 2: Long Turn

In this part, the students are given a card with a specific topic on which they have to speak for two minutes. The students also get a minute to prepare themselves before they start speaking. The topics can cover a wide range of subjects but normally require the test-taker to describe a person, place, object, or event.

The purpose of these questions is-

To assess the candidate’s ability to speak at length on a given topic without long pauses, unnatural pauses and repetition.To evaluate their ability to organise thoughts, and be coherent over a longer stretch of speech.

Part 3: Discussion

This is again a question answer round like section 1, but unlike the personal questions in section 1, these questions are  abstract and involve a discussion on aspects related to the topic from Part 2.  These questions require more critical thinking and complex language.

The purpose of these questions is-

To evaluate the test-takers ability to express and justify opinions, speculate, and discuss issues in depth and at length.

As is evident from the overall format of the test, it calls for not only linguistic ability but also content generation and expressing the content in one’s own words.

Key Skills for Succeeding in IELTS Speaking Part 1

As one of the best IELTS online coaching centres, our aim in this article is to focus on just one section of the speaking test, which is section 1, and get an understanding of the specific skills that a student needs to hone, to excel  in speaking part 1, ensuring clear and engaging communication. Fluency is key when it comes to speaking part 1 questions. It is not just one’s ability to articulate words clearly. It requires a seamless flow of language at an appropriate pace,  logical transition of thoughts and the ability to convey ideas without long pauses, unnatural pauses and repetition. Achieving fluency in section 1 of the speaking test will require fine-tuning of the following skills- 

Fluency:

Fluency while answering section 1 questions entails the ability to speak with a natural flow without frequent, long pauses, or unnatural pauses and sans repetition. Achieving fluency to answer questions on familiar topics should be a piece of cake since one doesn't need to think too much while answering questions about oneself, as long as the answers are genuine and not fabricated.   Practising to speak candidly and at a moderate pace, which gives the student a few additional seconds to think,  can do the trick to fine-tune fluency to answer personal questions. 

Coherence:

In coherent speech, there is clarity and a logical transition from one thought to the next. When the test-taker is coherent, their thoughts are well connected, making it easy for the listener to follow and understand. Coherence is crucial in effectively conveying your message, especially when answering personal questions. Improving coherence involves structuring your responses clearly and logically. Section 1 answers are required to be about three to four sentences long, so ensuring coherence is not difficult. Be sure to answer the question directly and then add one or two related points to make it a 3 to 4 sentence answer. To add more information, you could make comparisons with the past or future, give examples or explanations. 

For instance, if the question is - How often do you socialise with friends?

A coherent answer would be - I usually see my close friends several times a week. For instance, this week, I’m meeting my best friend for drinks on Friday, after work. Then, on Saturday, I intend to have dinner with a close friend from my school days and if I am up to it, I will be attending a barbecue party on Sunday with another group of friends.

Using Transitional Words/Phrases:

Developing the skill of incorporating linking words and phrases, also known as cohesive devices, in your section 1 answers helps in organising your thoughts, linking your thoughts effectively and making your speech more coherent. Some examples are-

 “I enjoy several hobbies. For example, I love reading and hiking.”“I enjoy reading. In addition, I like hiking on weekends.”“I love reading mystery novels. However, I also enjoy spending time outdoors.”

Developing a rich and extensive vocabulary:

The ability to use uncommon words and advanced language while answering speaking section 1 topics is another skill to polish to do well in the test. This also requires one to use idioms and collocations.  To build one’s lexical resource, one can refer to the free resources provided by most institutes, which provide the  best online classes for IELTS. These will have specific word lists for commonly asked questions in section 1 of speaking test. 

For instance,  a commonly asked question could be about one’s ‘daily routine’. Such resources would include words such as "habitual," "leisure," and "commitments" to answer such a question. To illustrate an answer -

"My daily routine includes several habitual activities. I ensure that I  balance my commitments with some leisure time. After all, ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’".

Additionally, reading regularly, listening to podcasts and watching English movies and web-series exposes one to advanced language used by native speakers. It helps us to internalise vocabulary and use it to do better in part 1 of the speaking test.  

Paraphrasing:

Paraphrasing is an extremely important skill, which a test-taker should employ to use language which is different from the language used by the examiner to ask the questions in speaking part 1. For example, if the question asked is - “Have you ever travelled abroad?”, the paraphrased answer could be - “Although I am a travel buff, I am yet to visit a foreign country. However, I have plans to visit Bali later this year. I am keeping my fingers crossed and am hoping they materialise.” This showcases the command that the student has over the language and their ability to use the language with flexibility and precision. It will get the student a better band score for lexical resource.

Managing Fillers and Pauses:

Using fillers and managing pauses can help maintain fluency without sounding unnatural in section 1 of the speaking test. Use fillers like “well,” “you know,” and “let me think” to give yourself a moment to gather your thoughts without breaking the flow. To illustrate, if the section 1 question is - “Who is your favourite person in your family?”, you could begin your answer with a filler, which would give you some time to think. The answer could be - “Well, to be honest, I have never given it a thought. However, if I had to choose one person, it would be my mother.”  Additionally,  short, natural pauses can help emphasise points and give you time to think. However, it is important to avoid long, awkward silences, which adversely impact the natural flow and fluency.

Mastery over Grammar:

Mastering grammar is crucial for effectively answering Section 1 questions in the IELTS Speaking test. Ensure that you have a strong grasp of the basic rules of the language. Ensure you are comfortable with the fundamental rules of grammar which include subject-verb agreement, tense usage, and sentence structure. Next, practice using compound and complex sentences. This not only shows language proficiency but also allows for more detailed and nuanced responses. By practising speaking to answer section 1 questions, the potential test-takers can internalise grammatical rules, making them second nature during conversations about themselves. Free resources for practice provided by the top IELTS online classes can be used for this purpose to perfect one’s grammar.

Pronunciation and Intonation:

Pronunciation and intonation are critical skills  for perfecting spoken English  that significantly impact how well you communicate your ideas. In IELTS Speaking Part 1, where you answer personal questions about familiar topics, clear and effective pronunciation and intonation can greatly influence your overall score. Correct pronunciation ensures that the examiner understands every word you say. Mispronounced words can lead to confusion and misinterpretation. 

For example, if the section 1 question is about your favourite dessert,  pronouncing "desert" (abandon)instead of "dessert" (sweet course) will not convey the intended meaning and might confuse the examiner. Section 1 answers should flow naturally as you are mostly conveying information about yourself. Secondly, good pronunciation and intonation contribute to a natural and fluent flow of speech. This makes your responses sound more conversational and less rehearsed. Lastly, proper intonation helps emphasise important points in your responses. For instance, it draws the attention of the examiner to what you love doing - “ I absolutely love travelling".

Active Listening:

Active listening is essential for effectively answering questions in IELTS Speaking Part 1. It ensures that you comprehend the questions correctly, and thus enables appropriate and relevant responses.  Misunderstanding a question can lead to irrelevant or incorrect answers. By fully understanding the questions, you can provide relevant and precise answers, showcasing your language proficiency and ability to stay on topic. To illustrate, if asked about your favourite type of music, you can directly talk about your preferences and why you like them, rather than giving a general response about music.

Best Online Classes for IELTS

To refine all  the skills mentioned in this article, in order to excel in IELTS speaking part 1, students should consider enrolling in the Best IELTS Online Coaching For IELTS Classes. The Best IELTS online coaching centres provide a structured curriculum designed specifically to cover all the skills that need refinement in order to do well in the speaking test. They help the test-takers identify and focus on areas where they need the most improvement, providing targeted practice.

The instructors at top IELTS online classes  provide valuable insights and strategies tailored to the test. Additionally, regular practice with mock speaking tests simulates the actual exam environment, helping students become more comfortable and confident. All in all, it goes without saying that enrolling for  a course with a  reputed  coaching centre like Yuno Learning will help students hone their speaking skills required to excel not only in section 1 but the entire speaking test, which will get the students the band score they desire!