The IELTS Speaking test is a crucial part of the complete IELTS evaluation. It evaluates your ability to communicate clearly in English through fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammatical accuracy. While many test-takers are well-prepared, they often fall into common traps—grammatical slips, disorganised thoughts, or over-rehearsed answers—that reduce their band score.
Although it may seem helpful to memorise answers, doing so usually backfires. Recited answers often lack authenticity and flexibility, making your responses sound mechanical. Remember that the examiner isn’t looking for perfect English—they’re assessing how well you can respond naturally and appropriately to a question in real time. If your answers sound overly rehearsed or fail to directly address the question, it could impact your coherence score.
This guide explores seven mistakes to avoid in the IELTS Speaking test and offers practical tips to help you avoid them. Whether you’re preparing for the IELTS Academic, General Training, or UKVI format, these strategies can help boost your confidence and improve your performance.
1. Fluency & Coherence Mistakes
Fluency and coherence are essential in the IELTS speaking test, contributing 25% to your score. If you speak too slowly, pause too often, or lose sight of the question, you may struggle to respond correctly, which could affect your score.
Speaking Too Slowly or Too Fast
If you speak too slowly, it may appear that you’re struggling to find the right words. On the other hand, speaking too fast can lead to mumbling, unclear pronunciation, or rushed responses that the examiner may not fully understand.
Frequent Pauses & Hesitations (“um,” “uh”)
While occasional pauses to gather your thoughts are natural, excessive use of filler sounds such as “um,” “uh,” or “err” can break the rhythm of your speech and signal uncertainty.
Overuse of Fillers (“like,” “you know”)
Expressions like “you know,” “like,” or “sort of” are often overused when we’re unsure. While they’re common in casual speech, using them too frequently in the test setting may hurt your clarity and coherence.
Lack of Logical Flow in Responses
Jumping from one idea to another without proper transitions can confuse the listener. For instance, answering a question about your hometown by abruptly switching to a story about a holiday without linking the ideas may lose you marks.
How to Fix Them
Incorporate linking phrases such as “For instance,” “That being said,” and “In contrast.”
Practice timed responses to build fluency and avoid over-reliance on memorised scripts. Responding naturally and spontaneously is often more effective than sounding rehearsed.
2. Vocabulary (Lexical Resource) Mistakes
Vocabulary use also comprises 25% of your IELTS Speaking score. A strong vocabulary demonstrates your ability to express various ideas with precision and variety.
Using Basic or Repetitive Words (“good,” “bad,” “nice”)
Saying “good,” “bad,” or “nice” too often limits your expression. Instead of “good experience,” try “enjoyable,” “rewarding,” or “memorable.”
Overusing Memorised Phrases
Although memorising answers could help with structure, the IELTS interviewer isn’t expecting rehearsed responses. Overused phrases sound robotic and unnatural.
Incorrect Word Collocations (“do a mistake” instead of “make a mistake”)
Phrases such as “do a mistake” instead of “make a mistake” or “strong rain” instead of “heavy rain” reflect gaps in understanding natural word combinations.
Using Informal or Slang Words (“gonna,” “wanna”)
Avoid slang terms like “gonna,” “wanna,” or “cool.” While acceptable in casual conversations, the IELTS Speaking test requires a more neutral or formal tone.
How to Fix Them
Widen your vocabulary by reading articles on different topics.
Learn topic-specific terms—for instance, if discussing climate change, use terms like “carbon emissions” or “renewable energy.” Practise paraphrasing ideas instead of repeating words.
3. Grammar Mistakes That Reduce Your Band Score
Grammatical accuracy and range form another 25% of your score. Errors that make it difficult to understand your meaning will lower your result..
Incorrect Tenses
Confusing past and present tenses is common. For example, “I meet my friend yesterday” should be “I met my friend yesterday.”
Subject-Verb Agreement Errors (“He go” instead of “He goes”)
Errors like “He go to work every day” instead of “He goes to work every day” are noticeable and can affect clarity.
Overuse of Simple Sentences
Relying only on basic structures—such as “I like books. They are interesting.“—can make your speech sound monotonous.
Misuse of Articles (“a,” “an,” “the”)
Using “a,” “an,” or “the” incorrectly or omitting them altogether is a frequent issue. For instance, “I saw movie” should be “I saw a movie.”
How to Fix Them
Take some time to revisit the basics of grammar, especially the areas you often get stuck on. When you practise speaking, try mixing up your sentence structures—don’t just stick to short, simple ones. It also helps to record yourself and listen back.
You might notice small grammar slips you didn’t catch while speaking. The more you can spot and fix these on your own, the more confident and natural you’ll sound during the actual test.
4. Pronunciation Mistakes That Affect Clarity
Pronunciation isn’t just about accent—it’s about clarity. If the examiner struggles to understand you, your score could drop, even if your grammar and vocabulary are strong.
Mispronouncing Common Words
Common words like “vegetable,” “comfortable,” or “February” are often mispronounced. Misplaced stress can change the meaning of a word entirely.
Speaking in a Monotone Voice
A monotone delivery makes it difficult to engage the listener and can come across as robotic.
Not Stressing Important Words
Emphasising key words helps convey meaning clearly.
Confusing Similar Sounds (“preSENT” vs “PREsent”)
In English, stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., “preSENT” vs “PREsent”) can alter the word’s function and confuse the examiner.
How to Fix Them
Listen to podcasts or news broadcasts in English and try to mimic the speaker’s tone and stress patterns. Shadowing practice—where you repeat immediately after hearing a sentence—can help improve your intonation and stress.
5. Mistakes in IELTS Speaking Part 1 (Introduction & Interview)
Part 1 involves general questions about familiar topics. Mistakes here can set a poor tone for the rest of the test.
Giving One-Word or Short Answers
Responding with “Yes” or “No” without elaboration fails to demonstrate fluency.
Repeating the Question Instead of Answering
When asked, “Do you like travelling?” replying with “Do I like travelling?” wastes valuable time and sounds awkward.
Not Providing Personal Examples
Generic responses such as “I enjoy reading” are not as strong as “I enjoy reading crime novels because they keep me engaged and help me relax after work.”
Try using the “Why + Example” technique: state your answer, explain why, and provide a short example.
6. Mistakes in IELTS Speaking Part 2 (Cue Card / Long Turn)
This section requires a longer, more detailed response. Many candidates find this part the most difficult.
Running Out of Things to Say
Struggling to fill the two-minute time slot often results from a lack of preparation or poor organisation of ideas.
Reading Directly from Notes
While notes are allowed, reading from them verbatim makes your response sound unnatural and stiff.
Not Covering All Cue Card Points
If the task says, “Describe a person you admire,” and you focus only on their job without describing their personality, or why you admire them, you’ve missed key points.
A useful method is PREP: Point, Reason, Example, Personal story.
7. Mistakes in IELTS Speaking Part 3 (Discussion)
This final section involves more abstract questions linked to the topic in Part 2.
Providing Short or Undeveloped Responses
Short answers like “Yes, I think so” don’t demonstrate your ability to expand on ideas.
Giving Personal Opinions Instead of Generalised Answers
Part 3 aims to test your ability to discuss broader issues, not just your own experience.
Use the “Cause → Effect → Solution” structure to provide well-rounded answers. For instance, if asked about environmental problems, discuss the cause (pollution), the effect (climate change), and possible solutions (renewable energy).
How to Improve & Avoid Common IELTS Speaking Mistakes
Even strong English speakers can lose marks due to nerves or oversight. Here’s how to strengthen your performance:
1. Self-Assessment & Practice Techniques
Record your practice sessions and analyse them to spot weak areas in grammar, pronunciation, and pacing. Practising with a partner or tutor helps simulate real-time interaction and encourages spontaneous responses.
2. Expanding Vocabulary Without Memorisation
When it comes to building your vocabulary, forget about memorising endless word lists. It’s far more helpful to see how words are actually used. Read articles, watch videos, or even follow English-speaking content creators. Pay attention to how they phrase things, especially collocations and idioms, and try using them naturally in your own conversations.
3. Developing Confidence for the Test
Simple breathing exercises can calm your nerves before the test. Make sure to maintain good posture and maintain eye contact during the interview. Speak clearly and naturally rather than trying to sound overly complex.
Expert Tips to Boost Your IELTS Speaking Score
- Think directly in English rather than translate it in your head.
- Mix sentence types—simple, compound, and complex—to show range.
- Use strategic pauses instead of fillers like “uh” or “um.”
- Don’t panic if you make a small error—keep going confidently.
Want to boost your spoken English skills? Check out our Conversational English Course.
Understanding the IELTS Speaking Test Format
The IELTS Speaking section is structured into three parts, each testing different skills:
Overview of the Three Parts of the IELTS Speaking Test
Part 1: Introduction & Interview (4–5 minutes)
Topics are familiar and simple: your hobbies, job, studies, family, or hometown.
Example: “What do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?”
Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card Response) (3-4 minutes)
You’ll receive a task card with a topic and prompts. You have one minute to prepare and two minutes to speak.
Example: “Describe a memorable journey you took. You should say where you went, who you went with, what happened, and why it was memorable.”
Part 3: Discussion Questions (4-5 minutes)
This section involves broader questions related to Part 2.
Example: “In what ways has travel changed in the last 50 years?”
How IELTS Speaking Is Scored
Each area contributes 25% to your total score:
- Fluency & Coherence
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range & Accuracy
- Pronunciation
For more details, visit What is IELTS?
Conclusion
When you avoid the usual mistakes, it can really boost how well you do in the IELTS Speaking test. Focus on speaking smoothly, using a wider range of words, tightening up your grammar, and making sure you’re easy to understand. All of this helps you come across as more confident and comfortable when you’re expressing yourself in English.
Need help preparing for IELTS? Browse our IELTS preparation courses or get in touch with English Explorer to take the next step toward your goals.
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