It’s National Storytelling Week in the UK. You might be asking yourself, “what’s the connection between National Storytelling Week and IELTS Speaking Part 2”. For those who don’t know, IELTS Speaking Part 2 is the section of the IELTS speaking exam in which candidates must talk about a personal topic for approximately 2 minutes. Essentially, this part of the IELTS speaking exam is a type of storytelling. In this blog we’re going to give you a few tips that you’ll find helpful in taking your IELTS Speaking Exam.
Be Prepared For Common Topics and What Language You Should Use
The topics you’ll be asked to talk about are always quite common and revolve around experiences that most people have had. This means that you can prepare for the question you’ll receive with more confidence. Common topics are hobbies, art, people you admire, and buildings that you find impressive. With these, because you’re talking about life experiences, you have the opportunity to use Present Perfect. “I’ve recently taken up a new hobby.” “I’ve seen many impressive buildings, but the Colosseum in Rome is the most amazing.” Descriptions are also key in IELTS Speaking Part 2, so practising how to use some key adjectives and descriptive phrases will be very helpful. Be prepared before you even go into the exam.
Organisation is Key on the IELTS Speaking Exam
Before you start speaking, you have the opportunity to make notes for one minute. The style in which you make notes is up to you. Every question card you get for this section of the IELTS speaking exam has four questions, so however you make your notes you should keep your answers to these questions separate.
This will help you stay organised while you speak. Make sure that your sentences aren’t disconnected. Notes will help you remember what to say in order, but organisation also means connecting your sentences and using organisational language. Remember, you’re supposed to be telling a story, not just reading a series of sentences. This is one of the best tips for the IELTS Speaking Exam. Don’t just memorise a story. The examiner will be able to tell.
Look for Models and Examples
Before you do your test, look up examples of other people who’ve done it too. Can you say what they say? Can you find any mistakes in what that student has said? This will help you judge your level and what score you can expect.
We hope you’ve found these tips for the IELTS Speaking Exam are helpful. Just imagine that you’re telling a story to your friend. Breathe, relax, and good luck!
This is Ingla School of English‘s weekly blog, intended as reading practise for our students in Turnpike Lane, in London, and around the globe. We hope you’ve enjoyed it and take a look at the rest of our writing, much of which has activities for teachers to use in the classroom.