IELTS Speaking Tips: Building a Band 7.0 Mentality

July 14, 2021

To work in the USA, internationally educated Registered Nurses need to pass the IELTS Speaking Test with a band score of 7.0, demonstrating that they are advanced speakers of English.

Now, let’s be honest – getting a band score of 7.0 on the IELTS Speaking Test is not the easiest task in the world from a psychological standpoint. However, there is good news! If you consistently practice all three parts of the IELTS Speaking Test and build the right mentality for success, you will significantly increase your chances of having a cool, calm, and collected performance on test day.

But what exactly is the right mentality for success on the speaking test? Below we will go through some IELTS Speaking Tips that could be essential for your success!

The Right Mentality for IELTS Speaking Success

In general, candidates who score a band score of 7.0 or above on the IELTS Speaking Test show similar thought patterns. Some of these thought patterns include:

• Not letting an examiner’s presence fill them with fear or concern.
• Controlling feelings of discomfort, tension, or anxiety from start to finish.
• Being ready to talk about any topic at length.
• Making examiners feel like it is easy and comfortable for them to speak in English.

Not letting an examiner’s presence fill you with fear or concern.

If there is one thing you should realize, it is that YOU are in control of the Speaking Test. It is you who does all the talking and sets the tone of the room; the examiner is just there to ask the questions and make sure your answers are recorded.

When you enter the room, set a positive tone for yourself right from the beginning. Smile. Tell yourself repeatedly that you are okay, you are prepared, and you can do this. Sit comfortably. Keep breathing and focusing on your language and ideas. Be yourself. If you make a mistake, shake it off and do not let it phase you – after all, you can still make mistakes and get a 7.0.

Another good point to remember is that you never have to look at an examiner’s face if it makes you feel too nervous. Remember, you are only scored on your verbal language (i.e., what is audible on the recording), not your nonverbal language like facial expressions, eye contact, or gestures. You should never do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable; if you start feeling uncomfortable, your mind may create feelings of anxiety. 

Controlling feelings of discomfort, tension, or anxiety from start to finish.

One of the main reasons some people feel anxious on speaking tests is that they are getting stuck in their own head.

They may get stuck in their head because they are too focused on just one of the band descriptors (remember that you are scored on four band descriptors: fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation). Getting overly concerned with your grammar, for example, may cause you to forget vocabulary words. When you start forgetting words, you may stutter more and have a harder time organizing your ideas (an issue of fluency and coherence). When you stutter more, it becomes more difficult to understand your pronunciation. Consequently, all these events can add up into one giant heap of anxiety and, unfortunately, a lower band score.

To avoid this, you should keep equal weight and attention on all 4 band descriptors throughout the exam. Realize that scores are balanced: if you happen to trip in one area, you can still redeem yourself and score high in the other three areas and still get a 7.0 as a result.

Another reason people tend to get in their own head is that they try to be someone else and use someone else’s language (ex: super academic language that is taught by a friend or coach). It is a lot more stressful to use language that is not your own; instead, focus on being yourself and expressing yourself authentically. A person who scores a 7.0 on speaking is very comfortable expressing themselves freely, and that is exactly what you should aim to do. Focus less on looking like the “perfect” test candidate and focus more on being yourself and answering in a way that is true and honest to who you are!

Being ready to talk about ANY topic at length.

IELTS Speaking topics can be about almost anything under the sun, so it is important that you always stay on your toes and accept the reality that you may have to discuss a topic that you have never really experienced or thought about before.

In these situations, remember that you are given a score on the language that you use to tell the story. You can base your story off a person you know, a show you have watched, a book you have read, etc. Just remember that when you say that other person’s story, change the pronouns to “I” and tell the story like it is your own. The point of Part 2 is for you to talk about your own experience, not someone else’s. So, do not forget this important grammatical swap.

Making examiners feel like it is easy and comfortable for you to speak in English.

If there is one big difference between a person who scores a 7.0 and a person who scores a 6.0 on the Speaking Test, it is the impression an examiner gets about that person’s levels of comfort and flexibility when speaking in English. A person who scores a 7.0 shows the examiner that he/she is flexible, natural, and comfortable when conversing in English; a person who scores a 6.0 gives the impression that it is still a bit awkward or challenging for them to speak in English, and they use a lot less natural language or creative/flexible language.

To give an examiner the feeling that you are comfortable and flexible with your speaking, pretend that you are talking with a friend. Be open with your Part 1 answers and be true to your experience. Answer Part 2 like you were telling a real story to a colleague who is interested to learn more about your experience with the topic. Answer Part 3 like you are in a coffee shop having a deep conversation about life with your close friends from school.

The more you approach the exam from this standpoint, the more naturally and easily your vocabulary, grammar, fluency, and pronunciation will flow, and the less anxious you will feel overall.

Conclusion

With the above IELTS Speaking Tips, you can score higher on the IELTS Speaking Test simply by swapping a few negative, anxiety-inducing thought patterns with more affirmative, self-assured, and positive ones. The more positive and confident you feel about the exam and your English speaking skills, the greater your chances of earning your 7.0 in the IELTS Speaking test and your work visa to the USA!

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