【IELTS-Speaking-B-17】Ex-examiner reveals most common IELTS Speaking mistakes (前考官揭露雅思口說考試中最常見的錯誤)

【 口說 Speaking 】 結構 : 3部分，11-14分鐘。 Part 1：個人問題（4-5分鐘）。 Part 2：獨白（3-4分鐘，含1分鐘準備）。 Part 3：深入討論（4-5分鐘）。 高分技巧 : 流利優先，適度停頓無妨。 擴展答案，加入例子/理由。 使用多樣詞彙與句型，避免重複。 保持自信，眼神接觸。 練習常見話題（教育、工作、環境）。
Structure: 3 parts, 11-14 minutes. Part 1: Personal questions (4-5 minutes). Part 2: Monologue (2 minutes, including 1-minute prep). Part 3: In-depth discussion (4-5 minutes).
High-Score Tips: Prioritize fluency; occasional pauses are fine. Expand answers with examples/reasons. Use diverse vocabulary and sentence types, and avoid repetition. Stay confident, maintain eye contact. Practice common topics (education, work, environment).
The cue card section (part 2) is the most important and challenging section of the speaking test. Here are some speaking cue cards with example answers to help you speak effectively in your IELTS exam. Prompt Question Template  Describe an important journey that was delayed. You should say: Why was it important? What caused the delay? What happened at the end? Describe what caused the delay? Example Answer: India is a beautiful and diverse country and there are so many things I love about it. Unfortunately, its public transportation is not one of them, especially trains and buses in India. Trains and buses often get delayed because of reasons like traffic, fog and other unforeseen circumstances. Today, I am going to talk about one time when I got delayed because of something unexpected. My parents and I were travelling to Ahmedabad for my cousin's wedding, and it was the middle of the monsoon season. However, we were travelling through Rajasthan, which is one of the drier parts of India. So, we weren't expecting any rain, but nature had other plans for us. It started raining about five hours into the journey and it rained incessantly for hours. We still thought it was ok and it's just rain and it would subside sometime soon. But it didn't. In fact, our train stopped at one station because everything ahead was flooded. A railway official told us that it was one of the worst floods in the state and the railway tracks were submerged under 2-3 inches of water. I vividly remember one scene when we entered a railway office to enquire when the train would leave. All the chairs were floating, and the railway officials were sitting on the top of the tables. When we all think about that journey, it is the first scene that comes to mind. Finally, after hours the train moved again. We missed the wedding, but we did attend the reception which was the next day. When I think about it, I don't remember anything about the return journey. The floods did cause inconvenience, but it also made the journey much more memorable. Describe an occasion when you lost something and then got it back. You should say: What you lost? How you lost it? Where you found it? How you felt about it? Example Answer During the beginning days of my eleventh grade, I used to get pocket money for things like lunch and purchasing stationery. It was exciting to manage your own expenditure. I used to treat this pocket money as a treasure. So I purchased a shiny new wallet only to lose it a day later. Don't quite remember how I lost it because if I did, I would remember where it was, right? The only thing I remember was, that it was a Monday morning and I had it with me when I boarded the school bus. The small amount of money and the price of the new wallet put together seemed like a lot to me at that time, because my parents never topped up my pocket money, in case I finished it. I searched for it the entire day in classes, washrooms and wherever I had been all day long. I even retraced my steps back home thinking that I might have mistakenly thrown it out of my bus window, it was a long shot but at that time no effort seemed futile. The next morning, sitting on the aisle seat of my bus, I had completely accepted the fact that I had lost it forever. I bent down and looked for the last time under the seat and just at that moment, I spotted my wallet under the same seat that I had occupied the previous day. So, when I alighted from the bus I felt like a rich person again. I felt very relieved to have finally found it, I don't think I'll ever keep a wallet in shallow pockets. Describe the life-changing experience you have had. You should say: Where it took place? Who was with you? What happened & how you feel about it? and explain how it changed your life. Example Answer   Telling a lie is always considered as an evildoing that only brings disasters in life?and when it begins, it does not stop until the man who told the lie is ruined?completely. Thereby, it is imperative to get rid of the habit. I had the experience at my college and I was the student of the beginning?year. In fact, I used to tell lies and have survived the situations but this was the?greatest learning of my life and has changed the directions of my life as well. I?did not bring the homework and falsified the information with the teacher. But?I was unable to understand that the teacher would be so strict that he would?take me home to check if I have done the work or not. We had a group that used to bunk classes and homework as well. When one of?us was in trouble, everyone came forward to help the troubled one. But at this?moment, I was helpless and nobody could come to my help. Usually, the?teacher asks the questions and we are to answer the questions from our?homework copies. But on that day, the teacher checked if everyone had?brought the copies or not. Unfortunately, I did not do the homework and when the teacher asked about the answer copy, I simply replied that I left the?exercise book at home as I was in a rush to come to the college.? I did the biggest mistake of my life by telling the lie with the teacher. Generally,?I got rid of such situations by telling lies and it turned into a habit for me. I?thought I would get rid of this time as well. But things were different. The?teacher asked me twice about the homework and I replied the same. Then he?asked me to take him to my home. I was thundered because none of the?teachers has offered such a proposal to me. I know that I have not done the?homework and if I take the teacher my home, my parents would be shocked?and most importantly they would stop talking with me. So, I felt sorry inside?and acknowledged that I lied to the teacher.? The teacher was a great man. He did not rebuke me but simply advised me to?be honest with everything. He told me that honesty was the best thing that?anyone could achieve in life. Without being honest, we are to fail in every?attempt, he added. I realized the importance of honesty and promised to?myself that I shall never tell a lie again in my entire life. I felt ashamed before?the entire class but the teacher handled everything smoothly. He explained?that issue to the class and his speech encouraged everyone to become honest?and avoid telling lies, especially. I am really grateful to the teacher for his?advice that has changed my life indeed. Now I never lie to anyone even if?telling the truth invites serious risks for me. Describe an accident you have seen or heard about. You should say: Where it occurred? What harm it caused? How you felt about the accident? and explain how dangerous this accident was. Example Answer   Accidents are always unwanted and cause several damages to the lives and?properties. There are different types of accidents and all of them are?unwanted. In the past week, I heard about a road accident that took place?right before my college.?I heard from the witnesses that a small boy was crossing the road after his?school. He was alone and his parents might have forgotten about his pick up from the school. It was a busy road of New Delhi and everyone is rushing to their respective places and thus they are driving in speed. As a result, it becomes impossible for almost all of the drivers to stop their vehicles amid in the rush. But fortunately, the bus driver somehow managed to stop his car and the little boy was slightly hit by the front part of the bus.? The little boy was shocked at this event, after the witnesses? statements. They?also said that the little boy tried to cross the road but since he was alone, he?could not. Besides, there was none other to help him cross the road. So,?whenever he found a gap, he started the run, and unfortunately, he could not?reach on the road divider. He had to stop in the middle of the road when he?saw a large bus was approaching him from his right direction. So, when the?bus managed to stop, the bumper of the bus hit the boy that took about two?or three yards away from his position. Luckily the boy did not get hurt except?some scratches on his hands and feet. His water bottle, made with glass, was?broken and his books were scattered on the road.?I was deeply shocked to hear about the accident. Something serious could?have happened if the bus driver would not have stopped his bus at the right?moment. The boy could have got killed as well or also might have got some?serious injury like breaking bones of the body. But nothing has happened like?that. Thanks to God. But I was surprised to hear that nobody helped the boy to?cross the road which he told to the people who rescued him. The boy asked for?help from people standing near his school as his parents were making late to take?him home. So, being confused that his parents will not come to take him, he?himself started the journey to home and became the accident victim.?The accident was not that dangerous but it could have been. The little?boy has been saved for the expertise of the bus driver. Usually, it is really?difficult to stop a bus with great speed on the road and in that case, the bus?may fall victim to an accident. Part 2 Speaking Cue Card Qu: What to say if you run out of things to talk about? Ans: Talk about the future Example 1: A special holiday - when you return? - will you recommend this holiday destination to other people? - will you go on holiday with the same people again? - where will you go for your next holiday? Example 2: A book to read - will you read the book again? - will you recommend the book to other people? - will you read any books by the same author? - will you read any books in the same genre? Speaking Part 2 - Unsuccessful Example 5 Reasons People Don’t Do Well In Speaking Part 2 1) Don’t speak for the full 2 minutes. 2) Run out of things to say. 3) Have an unstructured talk. 4) Read their notes rather than speak naturally. 5) Panic because they think they know nothing about the topic. Details How long to speak for A common question from students is, “Do I have to talk for exactly 2 minutes?” The simple answer is “No”. Keep talking until the examiner stops you, which will be at around 2 minutes. If you stop before 1 minute 40 or 1 minute 50, this will probably affect your score as you may lose marks for fluency & coherence. Why people finish early It’s because they’ve run out of things to say. The reason they don’t know what else to say is generally that they haven’t used their 1-minute planning time wisely. This is most likely because they don’t have a good planning strategy. Poor planning leads to an unstructured answer with ideas popping up all over the place and not really tying together. You'll find 3 strategies for your IELTS Speaking Part 2 talk on these pages: Part 2 Planning Strategy - Method 1 : ‘question prompt’ + planning notes & sample answers. Part 2 Planning Strategy - Method 2 : ‘brainstorming’ + planning notes & sample answers. Part 2 Planning Strategy - Method 3 : ‘the 5 senses’ planning notes & sample answers. Reading out notes Another classic mistake candidates make is to read out their notes rather than talking naturally. This has several consequences. If you read your notes, your speech will sound like ‘reading’ not ‘speaking’. It will have unnatural fluency, sentence stress and pronunciation. This will not please the examiner. They’re there to test your speaking skills, not your reading ability. Focussing too closely on your notes while speaking may also cause you to move quickly from one bullet point to the next without developing your ideas. You're likely to reach the end with lots of time still to go and nothing more to say. Use your notes as a guide only. Don’t panic Don’t be that candidate who completely wastes their planning time because they’re convinced they don’t know anything about the subject they’ve been asked to talk about, and go into brain meltdown. Most topics are related to everyday life and common experiences. I guarantee that I could ask you about any subject in these categories and you could tell me at least three or four things you know about it, even if the topic was something you believed you knew nothing about. Three or four things are enough to create an answer. Then you just need a few strategies for developing your talk around them. (Scroll up to see the links to 3 planning methods and Part 2 Speaking sample, or find them at the bottom of the page.)   The examiner will not be expecting a degree-level answer. They just want to know what you  know about the topic – a few facts and your own thoughts, opinion and feelings. The content of your talk is not nearly as important as how you say it, that is, your fluency, grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary. Be confident that you can deal with any topic because you can. Demo: IELTS Speaking Examples - Part 2 IELTS Speaking Part 2  Methods: Method 1 – Using Question Prompts Example : Describe something healthy you enjoy doing.  You should say: what you do where you do it who you do it with  and explain why you think doing this is healthy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 question prompts: what where who why when how ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Examples Answer : I’m a real fitness fanatic and do loads of things to stay fit and healthy but the one I’d like to tell you about is circuit training. I do this for an hour every Tuesday evening with a group from my rowing club. We meet at TM Fitness, a gym owned by my friend and crewmate Linda and her son Tom. Tom actually runs the gym but we hire the hall and Chris, another of our rowers, leads the session. The great thing about circuit training is that it involves lots of different types of activities so this keeps it interesting week by week. We’re never quite sure what we’ll be doing when we turn up. With a conventional circuit, you work every part of the body in turn, doing aerobic activities and also body conditioning using weights. I like these types of circuits best. Sometimes, if there aren’t many of us there, we do a session on the spin cycles. This is really tough if you don’t get out on a bike very often as I don’t. I used to cycle a lot but don’t have time since I took up rowing. Anyway, spin is hard but I always feel good afterwards. One of my favourite pieces of equipment is the punch bag. If you’ve had a stressful day at work, putting on a pair of boxing gloves and thumping the bag gets rid of all the negative energy. I really enjoy exercising with other crew members from my rowing club. It helps to create a team spirit and we encourage and motivate each another. Our rowing club has members of all ages from teenagers to several people in their 60’s and everyone works out at their own level. I like to really push myself so that I get the most out of the session. There’s no point in going if you’re not going to get the greatest benefit out of it that you can. There can be no doubt that circuit training keeps me aerobically fit and also gives me a strong body. Although I do it mainly to improve my fitness for rowing, I enjoy it so much that I think I’d still keep going even if I gave up rowing. Method 2 – Brainstorming Example: Describe a place near water you have visited. You should say: where this place is what you did at this place who you went there with  and explain why you liked this place. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Brainstorming Ideas Fremington Quay 2 miles from home busy port years ago railway all gone now popular café with play area walk from here & cycle fish from quay walk dog stony beach along river quiet on beach so peaceful estuary birds when tide’s out black ibis field at end big sky no-one else there chases ball in field favourite time evening sun going down ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Example Answer: I’m lucky enough to live by the coast so I’m close to many wonderful places near water. I’d like to tell you about my favourite. It’s called Fremington Quay and is only two miles from my home. Many years ago it was a busy port with a railway line and station but the ships and trains are all gone now. About 20 years ago, the old railway station was turned into a café and it’s very popular with local people. Locals also park at Fremington Quay to go walking or cycling along the old railway line which has been made into a lovely footpath and cycle route called the Tarka Trail. Furthermore, the quayside is a great place to fish from and you can usually see at least two or three fishermen there whatever the weather. However, it’s none of these things that draw me to Fremington Quay several times a week. I go there to walk my dog on the stony beach alongside the estuary. Not many people go this way. I can’t understand why as it’s a beautiful place, but I’m glad they don’t or it wouldn’t be so peaceful. There are many different sorts of seabirds on the shoreline, especially at low tide. I love to hear their cries and watch them digging about for food in the mud. At the moment there’s a black ibis feeding there, which is a rare sight around here. It’s a very exotic bird for the area. About a quarter of a mile along the beach is a slope up to a hidden field and this is the most special place of all for me. The sky always seems so big when you stand in the middle of the field and the views all around are stunning. I hardly ever see anyone else there and it’s perfect for my dog to chase his ball around. My favourite time to be there is in the evening when the sun’s beginning to go down. It spreads a golden trail on the water and casts a soft light on the surrounding countryside. It’s so beautiful. The tranquillity is unbelievable. I do hope my field stays a bit of a secret place as it wouldn’t be the same if lots of people started going there. I’d still love it though. Method 3 – Using The Senses Example : Describe a food you used to dislike but now enjoy.  You should say: what it is what you disliked about it how long you disliked it for  and explain what changed so that you now enjoy it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5  Senses sight smell touch taste hearing ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ smell       touch       hearing       sight        taste words expression and terms figs Christmas brown  & sticky crunchy seeds strange texture musty smell shrivelled up round box nibbled one each year might taste better  – didn’t walking holiday in Spain great guide vineyards – tasted different grapes passed fig tree picked fresh figs soft & warm purple   velvety skin tasted it delicious sweet, fresh smell ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ beginning: an introduction to the subject of your story middle: the main event – what happened end: a conclusion to neatly round off your story ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Example Answer: I have to say that I like most foods and I’m always keen to try new types, especially traditional food in other countries. However, I can think of one thing that I used to really dislike but now absolutely love. It’s something that always used to appear at Christmas time when I was a child – figs. They came in a round box and were all squashed in. They looked horrible, all brown and shrivelled up, and they had a musty smell. They tasted just as bad as they looked and had a really strange texture, which was part of the problem. You’d bite through the sticky outer layer into crunchy seeds in the centre that would get stuck in your teeth. Not nice at all!Each Christmas, I’d have a little nibble of one, hoping it would taste better than before, but of course, it never did. Dried figs were never going to be my idea of a festive treat. Then, many years later, I went on a group walking holiday in Spain. We had an excellent guide who was keen for us to learn about and experience as much of the local area as possible. There were vineyards everywhere, and he would sometimes pick a bunch of grapes so that we could taste the different types used to make different wines. One afternoon, we passed a large fig tree. Our guide started to pick the ripe fruit and hand them around to everyone in the group. I immediately thought of those dried figs at Christmas, but quickly realised that what I had in my hand was something completely different. For a start, it was soft and warm with a velvety purple skin. Everyone else was eating theirs, so I decided to give it a try as well. I bit into it, and an amazing taste filled my mouth. It’s difficult to describe, as it’s not like anything else, but it was delicious. I must have had a look of total surprise and delight on my face because suddenly everyone was looking at me and laughing. Now, if anyone asks me if I like figs, I say that I adore them, but only fresh ones. Although I must admit, I’ve never tasted one quite as good as that fig picked straight off the tree in sunny Spain. Part One Improving your Responses This lesson uses a quiz to teach you how to best answer questions in part 1 of the IELTS speaking test.  Types of Speaking Questions In this IELTS practice lesson, some of the common types of questions that appear in part 1 of the test are explained. The aim is to improve the accuracy of your answers to questions. Tips and a Technique for the Best Answers in Part 1 Your answers should be concise but interesting. This lesson provides tips and a technique for doing this, plus some IELTS speaking practice. Part Two Extending Your Answer In this lesson, learn some tips on how to extend your speaking for part 2 of the speaking test.  Mind Map: Structuring your talk This lesson explains how you can use a mind map to help you brainstorm and organise your talk for part 2 of the test. There is also a sample answer. Using "would" to Describe Hypothetical Situations Learn when to use "would" to speak about an unreal future situation in part 2 of the IELTS test. Part Three Describing Changes You often have to discuss changes in part 3 of the speaking test. This IELTS speaking practice lesson provides you with grammar tips to answer these questions.  Talking about the Future You often have to discuss the future in part 3 of the speaking test. This lesson provides you with grammar tips to answer these questions.  Giving & Justifying Opinions Learn some useful phrases for giving opinions in part 3 and justifying those opinions.  Talking about Personal Experiences Many students make the mistake of talking about themselves in part 3. This is ok, but only for examples. Learn more about it here. Parts One to Three Formality & Getting the tone right This lesson explains what tone you should use when speaking to help you sound natural. Useful IELTS Interview Expressions This lesson provides you with a set of useful expressions that you can use to help you in all parts of the speaking test, particularly part 3.  Common Questions about the IELTS Speaking Test Here we look at 10 frequently asked questions about this section of the test. Fillers to Improve Fluency: Avoid Saying 'Uhm' 'Eh' In this lesson, we teach you some useful fillers to avoid a low fluency score for using bad fillers like 'Uhm' and 'Eh'. Key Phrases for IELTS Speaking This lesson provides you with lots of key phrases to improve Fluency and Coherence , one of the criteria you are graded on in the test. How to Paraphrase for Band 8 To get a band 8, you have to be able to paraphrase effectively. Learn more and practice. Discourse Markers for Fluency and Coherence Learn how to use these to make your speech more organised, coherent, and engaging for the examiner. Examples: Cue Card Examples IELTS Speaking Part 2: Common Topics, Assessment Criteria, Tips for Success IELTS Speaking Part 2 Samples Describe an exciting sport you know - Example

Part 1: Introduction and Interview [This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself and checking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview.]
A face to face interview with the examiner (4-5 minutes)
12 Questions based on 3 Topics
Questions based about yourself, your life and your country. Topic: Childhood
Did you enjoy your childhood? What is your first memory of your childhood? Did you have a lot of friends when you were a child? What did you enjoy doing as a child? Do you think it is better for children to grow up in the city or in the countryside?
https://ieltstutorials.online/sample-questions/cue-card https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/ielts-speaking-samples.html
50 Recent IELTS Speaking Topics for Parts 2 and 3 for IELTS 2025
https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-speaking-part-1-topics/ IELTS Speaking Sample Questions with Answers for IELTS Speaking Part 3 https://www.ieltsjacky.com/ielts-speaking.html https://ieltsmaterial.com/50-ielts-speaking-part-2-3-topics-2020-with-model-answers/ https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-speaking-free-lessons-essential-tips/ https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-ielts-english-practice-tests/speaking https://ielts-up.com/speaking/ielts-speaking-test.html https://leapscholar.com/exams/ielts/practice-test/speaking/part-1 https://ielts.org/take-a-test/preparation-resources
IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors  - Speaking Assessment Criteria What is the IELTS Speaking test?   Four Skills   33 interview questions for students (with sample answers)   Interviewers usually ask these questions for students to learn about their basic knowledge and abilities. They also ask these questions to get a better understanding of your interests, attitude, and personality. Some common general questions include: Can you tell us about yourself? How did you learn about our organization/ university? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses, and how do you overcome them? Why did you choose your school? What motivates you? How do you believe you can contribute to our growth? Where do you see yourself in the next five years? Can you tell us why you think you're the best fit for this role? Do you have any questions for us?
Experience and Background The interviewer may ask questions about your background and experience to understand your responsibilities in previous roles and how you handled them. They also ask these questions to envision you in the role and determine whether you fit their company culture. Below are examples of these questions: Tell us something about your field of study. Which academic accomplishment are you most proud of? Do you have prior experience in this role? Do you have any academic goals you hope to achieve before you graduate? What are they? What skills and experience do you hope to gain in this job? Do you have plans to further your education? Do you participate in any extracurricular activities? What are they? What do you wish you knew before choosing this career path? What steps have you taken for your professional growth and development? Do you think your education helped to prepare you for this role? In what way?
In-depth Questions Interviewers ask in-depth questions to get detailed information about your behaviour or abilities. These questions usually relate directly to the role and give the interviewer an idea of how well you'd perform. Examples of in-depth questions include: Can you give an example of a time you applied your leadership skills at work? How do you work under pressure? How do you handle stress? Do you prefer working alone or with a team? Why? Tell us about a time you exceeded your expectations. Have you ever missed a deadline? Why and what was the result? Describe how you organise your schedule and prioritise your tasks. Have you ever managed multiple tasks simultaneously? How did you handle them? How do you manage two projects that are due at the same time? How do you intend to make an impact in this role?
Discussion Questions (Tests) (1) What images spring to mind when you hear the word ‘test’? (2) Do you get nervous when you take tests? (3) Are there any kinds of tests that you love? (4) Do you follow any special routines before you take a test? (5) What test has made you most nervous? (6) What do you think about while you wait for the result of a test? (7) Have you ever cheated on a test? (8) Have you ever taken an IQ test? (9) Do you think testing is useful or a waste of time? (10) Do you think your test scores reflect your true ability and intelligence? (11) Do you like taking tests? (12) Are you good at taking tests? (13) What was the last English test that you took like? (14) Have you ever had a blood test? (15) Would you be more nervous before your driving test, a blood test or an English test? (16) What’s the best way to prepare for a test? (17) What medical tests have you had? (18) What was the worst test you ever took? (19) Are there too many tests in school? (20) How do you feel when you fail a test?