Probably you have been to a zoo and have fed some animals. I am sure you have noticed how stubborn a monkey could be when it wants something particular. If it wants a banana, chances are that it wouldn’t be happy with an orange. So, if monkey wants banana, give monkey a banana. I am not saying all that because I want to imply that taking the IELTS exam is some monkey business or your speaking is a banana, not at all. I am saying that because I want you to remember that when you take the IELTS exam you need to give what is required.
So, how the Speaking banana looks.
It has 4 mains characteristics and these are the criteria, based on which your speaking performance will be graded.
The criteria are : 1. Fluency and coherence 2. Vocabulary 3. Grammar 4. Pronunciation
You need to understand what these fancy words mean in order to improve your speaking skills and get what you are aiming for.
In this post :
I will help you to understand what the four criteria ARE and what they ARE NOT.
I will give you some tips on how to improve your speaking
I will share four videos about these criteria, provided by British Council
I will share some resources that can help you to meet the standards of these four criteria.
I will share with you the public version of Band Descriptors
So, let's get started.
Fluency and Coherence
What fluency IS: Fluency is how smoothly you can speak. If you are fluent, you don’t need much time to find your words, to present your ideas, to come up with examples, to share your experience. It means that you don’t need to stop very often in order to answer a question, to speak on a topic or discuss a problem.
What fluency IS NOT. Fluency is not your speed. You can speak slowly, if this is your normal pace, and still be fluent. Also, fluency is not speaking without breathing. You can pause from time to time because it is the normal way we are talking, even when we speak in our language. If you are hesitating, because you are looking for content, but not for language, your are fluent.
What coherence IS: Coherence is when your ideas and sentences are logically connected and linked together. Coherence is when you can express yourself clearly.
What coherence IS NOT: Coherence is not long sentences, it is not a bunch of sentences put together. If you produce 10 sentences about a topic but they are not logically connected and organized, you are not coherent. Coherence also is not the quality of your ideas. Your ideas can be simple or complicated, common or alternative, boring or crazy, but nobody cares about this, because there are no good or bad ideas in IELTS and the examiner is not there to evaluate your ideas, but your speaking.
Tips
Go from Slow to Fast. First try to answer the questions slowly and then more quickly, but don’t speed up, talk with your normal pace.
Answer the questions with more than one sentence and think about how you can link these sentences together.
When you answer the question, use a simple sentence. When you extend, use complex and compound sentences.
Separate your ideas in separate sentences, don’t overuse linking words.
One simple, but very effective technique that I’ve tried with my students is clapping during practice. For example if you want to present three ideas, clap your hands after you’ve presented the first idea, and then again after the second one and the third one. Later on, you can clap in your head.
Learn some pausing vocabulary and try to use it during practice when you are looking for content.
Find an IELTS buddy and practice with them
Resources: ( click the titles to open the links )
Vocabulary
What vocabulary IS: There are three important aspects of vocabulary that will be considered. First, the examiner will check if you can use your words in the correct way. Probably you have been in a situation where you know some fancy or academic words but you are not sure how to use them. The second aspect is whether you can use what is called topic vocabulary e.g. if you talk about your hobby which is baking, can you use verbs, nouns, adjectives, collocations connected with baking. The third aspect is the variety of your vocabulary which means using synonyms. If you are talking about your last holiday and you are using only the adjectives “good” and “nice” you won’t get enough points for vocabulary.
What vocabulary IS NOT: Vocabulary is not flooding your speaking with fancy or academic words which you are not sure how to use. Vocabulary is not repeating the same words many times and making very long sentences in which the same words are repeated.
Tips:
Get familiar with the topics which have been given at the IELTS Speaking test.
Study topic vocabulary, don’t study individual words.
Learn words in families, for example noun, verbs, adjective, adverb.
Learn synonyms.
Recycle the vocabulary by using it in different contexts and situations. For example try to answer similar questions from Speaking test Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
Check the use of academic vocabulary in sentences.
Make your own flashcards using Quizlet or any other app for flashcards.
Record yourself speaking on a topic or answering questions. Do it several times until you are happy with the result.
Try to relax and be yourself but don’t use slang or street language.
Don’t use fancy or academic words if you are not sure how to use them.
Read questions with examples, but don’t memorize them because you will get caught.
Resources: ( click the titles to open the links )
Academic vocabulary in sentences Dictionary: Macmillan Dictionary Books: Vocabulary for IELTS (Cambridge ) English Vocabulary in Use – Elementary (Cambridge ) Test your English Vocabulary in Use – Elementary (Cambridge ) English Vocabulary in Use – Pre-Intermediate and Intermediate ( Cambridge ) Test your English Vocabulary in Use – Pre-Intermediate and Intermediate ( Cambridge ) English Vocabulary in Use – Upper Intermediate ( Cambridge ) Test your English Vocabulary in Use – Upper Intermediate ( Cambridge ) English Vocabulary in Use – Advanced ( Cambridge ) Test your English Vocabulary in Use – Advanced ( Cambridge )
English Collocations in Use Intermediate ( Cambridge ) English Collocations in Use Advanced ( Cambridge )
Academic Vocabulary in Use ( Cambridge )
Apps: Quizlet
Grammar
What grammar IS: Well, grammar is many things but maybe one of the most important is how well you can use grammar tenses like present, past, future, simple, perfect or continuous. Grammar is your ability to create correct simple sentences, but also complex and compound sentences. Grammar is also using a variety of grammatical structures (parallel structures, conditional, passive voice, relative pronouns, different parts of speech, comparative and superlative adjectives, regular and irregular verbs etc. )
What grammar IS NOT: Grammar is not answering the question quickly without using the correct tense. Grammar is not answering the questions using one type of sentences e.g. only simple, or only complex. Grammar is not speaking without having the proper word order so your sentences don’t sound clear.
*the criteria of grammar and vocabulary will be used for IELTS Writing module too, so practicing will help you for both skills
Tips:
Do some exercises on grammar topics which you find difficult or unclear.
Before applying a variety of grammar structures in your speaking, make sure you are comfortable with using them.
Speak in front of a friend or family member who knows English grammar and ask them to take notes only on your grammar mistakes. Use the notes and try to fix these mistakes with your friend or alone.
Download a grammar app on your phone and practice when you are commuting or having some free time.
Learn different parts of speech e.g. verb, noun, adjective, adverbs.
Practice grammar in context. For instance when you speak about your last holiday, use the Past Simple Tense or when you speak about your daily routine, use the Present Simple Tense etc.
Choose a speaking topic and record yourself. When you listen to the recording, focus on the grammar mistakes. Record yourself again, this time trying to avoid the mistakes.
When speaking don’t make grammar your first concern, because it will affect your fluency.
Don’t correct your grammar mistakes during the exam unless you are sure that this is how it should be.
Resources: ( click the titles to open the links )
IELTS podcasts (Sentence structure) IELTS Dominic Cole Englishpage
Books: Grammar for IELTS (Cambridge ) English Grammar in Use, Raymond Murphy (Cambridge )
Apps: English Grammar in Use, Raymond Murphy (Cambridge )
Pronunciation
What pronunciation IS: This is the way you pronounce individual sounds in words, sentences and connected speech. Pronunciation is also your intonation when you speak, which in English is rising and falling, but not flat.
What pronunciation IS NOT: Pronunciation is not your accent, so don’t worry too much as long as you can be understood.
Tips.
Listen to podcasts or audio books suitable for your level so you can concentrate on pronunciation, not on understanding.
Ask your friends who are English native speakers to correct your pronunciation mistakes.
Learn about group of words which don’t follow the rules when pronounced i.e. words with silent letters or words with French origin.
Use the imitation and shadowing techniques when learning how to pronounce English words in connected speech
Shadow native speakers. Listen to the speaker until you have the feeling you “became” this speaker, so you can shadow him / her with confidence. ( an example of shadowing is included in the list of resources )
Create flashcards in Quizlet as the platform has a feature of pronouncing the new words in English
Resources: ( click the titles to open the links )
Finally, for those of you who would like to read the detailed explanation of the band scores, click on this link. You can see that the four criteria are present in the description.
So, this is how your Speaking banana looks.
Don't forget: Monkey wants banana, give monkey a banana.
Happy learning.
