Mindset for IELTS - Level 3 (Unit 08: Culture)
Sample answer
1. Students who have rested before an exam tend to do better. In addition, the language you need for the exam is very different from what you would hear in movies. What's more, by doing this you are practising listening, not speaking.
2. There is a big risk in memorising answers for the exam. It is highly unlikely you will be asked a question that corresponds exactly to what you memorised and the examiner will most likely realise what you are doing and this could lower your score.
3. Many students are not aware of mistakes they make when they speak, but recording yourself gives you the chance to notice consistent errors and correct them.
4. Smiling makes you seem more confident and friendlier, and eye contact helps you focus on what the examiner is asking you, as you can see their body language. It also stops you mumbling (speaking unclearly).
5. You are already stressed on the day of the test, so don't add to this by risking being late.
6. Fluency is not just about speed, but also clarity. It is more important to speak clearly and accurately, so try not to rush your answers. Use phrases for buying time to allow you to think of good answers rather than saying the first thing that comes into your head.
Good advice: Practise functions like comparing and contrasting, speaking hypothetically, speculating, and learn different language structures for these functions.
The best way to improve your speaking is to speak more often, especially by doing practice tasks under test conditions. Don't panic if you make a mistake. One mistake will not ruin your overall score, and, if you realise, why not correct yourself so the examiner sees you realise the mistake?
Bad advice: Ask other students who did the test recently what questions they answered, and learn your own answers by heart. Keep your answers short and your grammar simple so that you avoid mistakes?
Don't ask the examiner any, questions, even if you are unsure what to do.
Keep talking, even if you are not answering the question, because you want the examiner to hear your English.
