Are you confused about timing in the different portions of the IELTS Speaking test?
Today we got a question from a listener:
“If I speak for more than two minutes in Speaking Part 2 will my score go down? Will the examiner stop me when the time is up?”
Here is exactly what will happen in Speaking Part 2: The examiner will say, “Now in this part I will give you a topic and you will have one minute to think about your answer and you have to speak for 1- 2 minutes.
***Warning! Those instructions are a lie because if you only speak for a minute your fluency score goes down. You do need to keep talking for the whole two minutes. The examiner is listening to you carefully the whole time. They won’t comment.
Don’t expect any response from the examiner. It’s your job to fill that whole two minutes.
For that reason we suggest you tell a story in IELTS Speaking Part 2.
At the end of the two minutes the examiner will put up her hands and will say “thank you” and may ask a follow up question.
You have to practice Speaking Part 2 because it’s very hard to fill in the time.
Two minutes is a long time.
When you practice with the right strategies you know exactly what two minutes feels like.
What should you do?
- Get to know the specific functions of speaking part 2: Describe a person, place, event/experience, or an object
- Now you need to practice. Brainstorm ideas and practice under test conditions with the right timing.
- Also you need to know what the examiner is looking for in Speaking Part 2.
How can you prepare for Speaking Part 2?
Start with what the examiner wants then figure out how to give it to them.
It’s not as easy as just practicing your fluency because if you do that you may not be adding in everything that you need to get the 7 or higher that you need.
Many native speakers make this mistake- they do not include the linking words and they do not organize their answer in the way that the examiner wants.
What’s the biggest Speaking Part 2 mistake?
The biggest mistake that we see people making in Speaking Part 2 is focusing on the bullet points on the card.
Bad IELTS teachers will tell you to do this.
You DO NOT need to focus on the bullet points.
Do not even look at them.
If you stare at the card you won’t get the fluency and coherence score you need.
Your answer will be disconnected and you will not have a story or linking words.
Next, go deeper! Click here to get everything you need to know about IELTS Speaking Part 2.
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