I ’ m a candidate from China .I ’ m required to get 6.5 in general and no less than 6 in each section .
I have taken ielts two times , but I got 5.5 in speaking both times .
Part 2 seems to be the most difficult part for me . First time I spoke 2 mins but nothing to do with the topic , and second time I stopped before 1 min ,I didn’t know what to speak .
I don’t think Part 3 is too difficult ,but suggestion is also in need .

Could anyone give me some advice ?

By the way, may I ask to have a new topic if I think I ‘m not familiar with the one I get ?
Thinks a lot !

Dear Lockon Kane,

In Part 2 it’s very important that you make very good use of your 1 minute preparation time.

Use this time to study the task carefully and make notes on each part of the question.

For example, you may be asked to describe an interesting city you have visited but you will also be asked sub-questions such as:

where is it?
how did you get there?
who did you go with?
what did you do there?
why was it interesting?

Make sure you can answer all of the questions and give as much information as you can. It’s better to say too much than not enough.

In order to give a longer answer you need to give reasons, examples and personal opinions. So, if you’re having problems thinking what to say, ask yourself WHY?

Why did you go there?
Why did you like it?
Why would you go there again?

Or if you run out of things to say, think of some negative points you can mention. This is a great way to show that you can use contrasting linkers.

For example;

X is a great city because ......... However, one thing I didn’t like about X is .........

For more tips on how to improve your fluency and accuracy for Part 2 of the Speaking Test, check out the iPass Speaking Modules which have excellent exercises for you to practice, plus videos and podcasts of IELTS practice interviews:

http://www.ipass.uk.net/index.php/ipass/cont_speaking/

Good luck!

Jenny

Thank you very much .
I think the WHY may help to improve my speaking a lot . Maybe it is the very factor I ignored before .

And how about Part 3 ?
I don’t know how to describe my problem in Part 3 , so please give me some advice in general .

Another question is how to be fluent . Once I pause ,it takes me some seconds to think of things i’m going to talk . During these seconds , anything i can do ?

Hi,

In Part 3 it’s important to give as much information as you can by giving examples and reasons to support your ideas and opinions. Remember Part 3 should take the form of a mini-discussion so you need to express your opinions clearly and be able to justify them.

Maintaining fluency is also a crucial part of holding a discussion although it’s perfectly ok to make natural pauses, which you can ‘fill’ with a range of expressions which are explored in the following Speaking Modules:

Yuko - techniques to improve fluency
Cynthia - narrative ‘fillers’
Helia - techniques for improving fluency
Oscar - “filler” expressions
Bo - repairing breakdowns in communication and avoiding repetition

Best of luck!

Jenny